Pacific Northwest roadtrip

[50]

I'm looking for some advice, given I've never been north of San Francisco and am from the east coast. I'm planning on doing at least 5 days in a rental car with intentions of stopping in at least Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver. I was hoping to get some time on the beach coastline as well. I'd like to get a hike in on one of the days as well. Any suggestions for other cities to stop by and check out? Same goes for places to avoid, I've heard the pacific northwest has become a haven for white supremacists (and I am asian). Thanks

 

[Atomic Playboy]

If you want to get some time in on the coast, get off I-5 at Eugene and head to Florence, then take 101 up the Oregon coast to at least Lincoln City. You'll get a great view, you'll drive past Cape Perpetua, Yaquina Bay, Newport and lots of cool little beaches to check out if you're interested. If you stay on I-5 the whole time, you won't get within 60 miles of the ocean.

5 days isn't really that much time for a round-trip road trip from San Francisco to Vancouver (I'm assuming you mean BC) though. You'd basically be in the car the entire time with very little time to actually do anything. But if you do make it all the way to Vancouver, their aquarium was pretty cool. There's also an aquarium in Newport, but I don't like it as much (which I may not be allowed to say as an Oregonian).

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Head N on Hwy 101 from SF -

Beautiful scenery, lots of State & National parks that are worth a look. I'd take in the Del Norte Coast Redwoods to see some of the giant skyscrapers of trees.

Oregon beaches are pretty suck, and high winds & fog make them pretty miserable - even in the Summer.

From there - head to Grants Pass and along the way stop by for a tour of the Cave in Cave Junction. Take I-5 North into Eugene - stop off for an hour and walk the University of Oregon campus - see where Animal House was filmed, Nike was born, and the great Prefontaine ran.

Back on I-5 and North to Portland. Microbreweries, more titty bars per capita than any other city in the US and yes - full nude and full bar. Go bet a a few bucks at the Greyhound races at Multnomah park, take in the falls. Head to Downtown Portland walk around Pioneer Square and the waterfront.

Back on I-5 and head N - I have no other suggestions but 5-days in a car from SF to Vancouver in back - and you will not be doing much stopping - just driving and lots of it.

 

[OutHouse]

take the WA ferrys over to the san juan islands. we did that last year and had a pod of orcas swim right past us while on the beach. it was fricken cool to be that close to wild orcas.

go to WA penninsula and visit the La Push area. the sea stacks at sunset are really cool.

if you go in july hit up the fruit stands in Yamamia WA.

if you go in august stay in birch bay WA and go crabbing.

 

[Deeko]

Don't do it.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

take the WA ferrys over to the san juan islands. we did that last year and had a pod of orcas swim right past us while on the beach. it was fricken cool to be that close to wild orcas.

if you go in july hit up the fruit stands in Yamamia WA.

if you go in august stay in birch bay WA and go crabbing.

The San Juan islands are cool, great place to go kayaking.

 

[50]

Sorry I wasn't very lucid in my first post. I'm not from San Fran, I just have never been anywhere north of there and wanted to explore the pacific northwest. I'm flying into Seattle and going to be there 7/4-7/11 (scored a really good airfare deal I couldn't pass on). I figured spend 2 days in seattle, 2 in vancouver, 2 in portland (and the surrounding areas, respectively). I realize I'm cutting it pretty short, but these were the only days I could get off of work. The San Juan islands sound cool and could be doable with my schedule. Any other suggestions? Thanks

 

[AreaCode707]

Do you like cities or the outdoors more?

Seattle:
- Pike Place Market - a great half-day of wandering around
- Boeing Museum of Flight!! One of the best attractions in the Seattle area, even if (like me) you're not into planes. Incredible place.
- Skip the damn Space Needle. It sucks.
- Food. The local slow food movement is a pretty cool scene and there are a lot of nice places to go out and get a great dinner.
- Woodinville wine tasting

Greater Puget Sound:
- San Juan Islands - incredibly beautiful area, go whale watching, kayaking, wander around
- Port Townsend / Sequim - old Victorian town with a lot of art shops, and Sequim has big lavender farms. Out on the Olympic Peninsula
- Hoh Rainforest - it's like being back in the Jurassic era walking through those incredible moss-covered trees
- Mt Rainier - check out Paradise for good hiking

North :
- Victoria BC - take the Victoria Clipper up and see the Buchart Gardens and the city
- Vancouver BC - very cool city to explore
(I would do BC and skip Portland, personally.)

Oh, and there isn't a big white supremacist movement in these areas. Asian folks make up a pretty large part of the population around Seattle . The white supremacist movement is centered in Idaho, not OR/WA.

 

[BoomerD]

It really depends on what YOU like to do...there's lots of things to do in the region...from playing on the beaches, (ice-cold water) to hiking in the mountains...Mt. Rainer has some beautiful places to spend a day...to experiencing the "city life" in Seattle and Portland.

I haven't spent any time in either in more than 30 years, so I can't give any recommendations for that...but Seattle USED to be a great place for concerts and such.
Of course, there's the usual touristy stuff like the Space Needle and surrounding area, (does the monorail still run?) That was uber-cool when it first opened...then got pretty run down over the years.

We like that part of the country. Not usually too hot in the summer, not usually very cold in the winter...but it's getting crowded, especially in the major cities. (we drove through in 2005...my how those cities have grown since I was there last...in the early 70's.)

 

[AreaCode707]

It really depends on what YOU like to do...there's lots of things to do in the region...from playing on the beaches, (ice-cold water) to hiking in the mountains...Mt. Rainer has some beautiful places to spend a day...to experiencing the "city life" in Seattle and Portland.

I haven't spent any time in either in more than 30 years, so I can't give any recommendations for that...but Seattle USED to be a great place for concerts and such.
Of course, there's the usual touristy stuff like the Space Needle and surrounding area, (does the monorail still run?) That was uber-cool when it first opened...then got pretty run down over the years.

We like that part of the country. Not usually too hot in the summer, not usually very cold in the winter...but it's getting crowded, especially in the major cities. (we drove through in 2005...my how those cities have grown since I was there last...in the early 70's.)

The monorail still runs. All six blocks or so of it. Makes more sense to walk. They have built a new light rail system from the airport to downtown though.

 

[BoomerD]

The monorail still runs. All six blocks or so of it. Makes more sense to walk. They have built a new light rail system from the airport to downtown though.

OK, I had to google it...I thought it was longer than that...apparently, it runs just over 1 mile...For some reason, I thought it was a bit longer...but again, I haven't been there in nearly 40 years...and according to my wife, my memory is the second shortest thing about me...I forget what she said was first... Probably my patience...:biggrin:

 

[Nik]

Don't forget to stop at the end of the Oregon Trail.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Don't forget to stop at the end of the Oregon Trail.

Note: ATOT is not responsible if you die of dysentery.

Seriously though I love the area around Portland. Things to check out, in this order.
Mt. St. Hellens.
Make a loop from Portland to Mt. Hood (and get a drink at the Timberline Lodge), to Hood River, to Multnomah Falls back to Portland.

If you head South from Portland there is the Evergreen Aviation Museum, Home of the Spruce Goose in McMinnvile and .

If you head West there is Cannon Beach (beautiful) and Tillamook (mmm cheese).

 

[rbV5]

*Hike down to short sands beach at Oswald West State Park (south of cannon beach) Daytrip from Portland includes drive up spots from Ecola Beach/Indian Beach, and down to the overlook at Neakanie Mountain

 

[rbV5]

* Another daytrip frpm Portland. Hike up Beacon Rock. Take the loop around the area by heading East on 84 and hooking up with the Historic Columbia River Hwy to Multnomah Falls, take the trip up to the lookout at the top as a warm up, and then cross the river and head back to Vancouver and stop at Beacon Rock State Park and take the trail to the top. Return to Portland via the Washington side through Vancouver.

 

[silverpig]

Ha, chances are you'll see more asians in Vancouver than non-asians