Jumped on some cheap flights to Portland in end of May. I don't know too much of the area. Will be renting a car and open to go north to Seattle. Would definitely like to spend a few nights hiking and camping. Total trip will be 7 days. Looking forward to escaping the Memorial Weekend heat! Appreciate the advice!

Thanks

I've done the same trip and had a great time driving up the coast. Definitely recommend Rialto Beach / Olympic NP if you get the chance

Thanks, will keep in mind! I was recommended that along with Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St Helens. I wouldn't mind hitting up some breweries in Portland either.

Go to the San Juan islands in Puget Sound! You won't regret it!

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Thanks, will keep in mind! I was recommended that along with Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, and Mt. St Helens. I wouldn't mind hitting up some breweries in Portland either.

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Unless you are mountaineering I would skip Mt. Adams. It isn't as accessible as the other two and there isn't enough unique to it IMO to justify the time sink if you are here for a limited time.

I'm a bit tight on time to give much more in the way of recommendations right now - if you do a google search though for this forum on seattle and/or portland you should get quite a few results to start browsing.

I recommend Olympic NP as well for some great hiking and the Rialto Beach portion for some camping. If you are looking for a fun but touristy tour, do the Seattle underground tour. You always stop over in La Push and look for sparkling vampires ;-)

Check out the Columbia River Gorge. Its east of town and is a more scenic route to Mt. Hood.

my cousin mentioned the Columbia River Gorge. I googled it... does look pretty awesome. I hope I don't fall in love and not come back!

Look into Cape Disappointment State Park and Cape Flattery as well.

Too much to do in Portland and the surrounding area, don't drive up to Seattle Area unless you are just wanting to see the highlights.

Portland Downtown Area:
- International Rose Test Garden - Amazing Views of the City and you get to see all the Roses
- VooDoo Donuts - Go to the Original
- Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House - Main Brewery is in Bend, but this is a great place for lunch or dinner. I love Deschutes Beer
- Doug Fir Lounge - Look at the line-up and see if anyone is playing that you like. Great For Lunch or Early Dinner, but then it turns into a lounge music venue.
- Waterfront Park - often had festivals right next to the river. Check the schedule
- Breweries in General - Lots of great breweries in Portland. Fun to do a Pub Crawl around the area.

Columbia Gorge:
- Waterfall Highway - just off I-84 take the scenic route and check out all the waterfalls. Some are short hikes, others are longer hikes or the most famous is right off the road Multnomah Falls. Take the Bridal Veil exit.
- Multnomah Falls - I am sure you have seen the pictures, very famous waterfall. Hike to the top, not to hard a hike, they have a paved path all the way.
- Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls - Great Hike (45 minutes from Portland). Some very narrow paths with steep dropoffs.

Mt. Hood and other Mountains
- Timberline Lodge - You will remember the outside of the lodge from the Shining. It will not look like the Shining on the inside because that was just a Hollywood Set, but good place to have lunch and hangout for awhile.
- From there you can take chair lift or hike up to the Palmer Glacier and either ski, play in the snow or just hike around. You can ski here year round.

Mt. Bachelor/Bend/Sisters
- Not too far from Mt. Hood is Bend/Sisters/Mt. Bachelor. Lots of stuff to do in area.
- Black Butte - excinct volcano that you can climb to the top or drive to the top
- Sisters is a touristy area lots of shops and restaurants.
- sisters is a group of similar mountains that have lots of trails and camping opportunities
- Bend is the town at base of Mt. Bachelor and home to Deschutes Brewery
- Lots of nice dining options in Bend, great down tow.

Oregon Coast
- Not a long drive from Portland. Newport, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Many More Places to Go
- Newport is home to Mo's Clam Chowder and Rogue Brewery (Great Halibut & CHips)
- Lots of Sea Lions and other sea life around Newport
- Beverly Beach is a great place to go camping. The campsites are in the wooded area but there is beach access. We have camped here often.
- Seaside is a nice beach town, with a good beach area.
- Remember that the water in Oregon is cold year round. Not really a swiming beach anywhere, water is too cold for most people.

And can get more detailed on camping places and or drinking/eating establishments if you want

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Forgot about Timberline and he is right it is a pretty spectacular place. We were there in July and the Fruit Loop is a must if you are a fat man like me. Best damn cherries I have ever tasted right off the tree.

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Eagle Creek to Punchbowl Falls - Great Hike (45 minutes from Portland). Some very narrow paths with steep dropoffs.

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this hike was awesome. my wife and i went out there a couple weekends ago and enjoyed it.

i would add visiting salt & straw.. local ice cream place with some random flavors (lucky charms.. pear & blue cheese, etc).. i like it's novelty better than voodoo but do both.

where are you staying? we've stayed at the nines and the monaco downtown and enjoyed both.

if you are interested in the nike employee store, shoot me an email.. no guarantees but rumor has it we may have extra passes during the month of may.. 50% off and no sales tax

Very informative and appreciated! I think we will have to make a stop in Seattle. My cousin lives there and my buddy I am going with has a female friend he is interested in seeing...

We will have one or two nights in Portland and we are definitely interested in their beer scene. I will look into those places mentioned. I've heard of Deschutes.

Columbia Gorge is looking like the front winner. We will probably be looking to do some over night camping and longer treks... are there permits we need to get for this?

Are you from the area? Again, thanks! I am looking forward to this trip. My buddy has hike all over California and we did a longer hike in Denali last year that was a blast.

cj,

I will check out that hike, looks good, especially the convenience of it.

We haven't decided on place to crash. I have a friend (A&M grad) who works at the port over there and my buddy met a hiker while out on the John Muir trail that lives there. We may just use their couches, but we would also like to spend some night camping.

I am not familiar with the nike employee store, but i'll shoot you an e-mail. Thanks!

with a camping lens forget the nines and Monaco recommendation.. those are better for a significant other.

check out
http://oregonstateparks.org/

lots of yurt and cabin options depending on your definition of camping

How could you not list a visit to spot where this occurred?

I tend to agree that there is so much to do hear Portland that you don't need to drive to Seattle. But if you're looking for an excuse to drive the coast, its as good as any. The coast is absolutely stunning.

Cape Lookout is a great spot on the coast due west. Great campsites and yurt rentals.

If you a mountain biker, Sandy Ridge (SE of Hood) is one of the greatest places you'll ever ride. 3 mile road climb, ski resort style network of trails going down. Certain times of year, the local clubs run a shuttle to raise trail building funds.

Agree with St. Helen's over Adams. Even in summer, Adams is just a long slog up in the snow. St. Helen's might be clear enough to summit by May, depending on this year's snowfall. I don't know that I would climb solo because there is quite a bit of scrambling and lots of loose stuff to turn an ankle above treeline. If you decide to summit, make friends along the way, take 2x the water you think you'll need and stash some at the treeline up above Climber's Bivouac.

Have fun, that's a great area.

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I recommend Olympic NP as well for some great hiking and the Rialto Beach portion for some camping. If you are looking for a fun but touristy tour, do the Seattle underground tour. You always stop over in La Push and look for sparkling vampires ;-)

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I did that underground tour as well, pretty awesome

At the end of your Columbia river gorge trip stop in the town of Hood River. Have a beer and lunch at the Double Mountain Brewery.