starting to do preliminary plans on this year's family trips.

as far as our summer trip goes, looking at possibly going to Oregon.

it will be a family of 4 (wife; 14 y/o son and 16 y/o daughter).

over the years we've done a lot of national parks. As they've gotten older we've done these less and I've tried to mix in other things to do along with a few days at a park.

Thinking of going to Oregon and spending some time in a coastal town and a few days at Crater lake.

Any thoughts on things to do, places to stay etc?

we could go for a max of 9 days including travel (saturday to the following sunday)

thanks

Crater Lake is amazing! But accommodations in that area are lacking. I would stay in Bend, it has so many outdoor things to do! Hood River is cool too.

Have you ever been to OR? Crater is cool, but it's way down the list of things I'd recommend first.

Have you done Rainier or St Helens? Any specific activities (MTB, cycling, hiking, river, fly fishing, skiing)?

We live in Portland and adore Bend (would be there if not for jobs).

My quick list of OR / OR adjacent items for summer:

• Gorge Hikes: Lots of unique waterfalls / hikes. Stuff like Beacon Rock, Wahclella Falls, Latourell Falls, the infamous Multnomah Falls. Plenty of great food across Troutdale, Cascade Locks and Hood River. Hood River Fruit Loop. Windsurfing capital of the world!
• Hood: Timberline runs the palmer lift through August. So you can ski. We have amazing MTB at Sandy Ridge, Post Canyon, Timberline Bike Park, etc. if you / kids like MTB. Some great hikes on Hood (McNeal is our favorite). Awesome alpine lakes (Trillium / Lost Lake) for SUP / kayaking.
• You should see the coast, but just do Cannon Beach for a day. Hit Haystack, Ecola State and Short Sand/Oswald State (for the old growth giant trees).
• Trail of Ten waterfalls: a must - https://www.reneeroaming.com/hiking-the-trail-of-ten-falls/
• Then meander over to Bend and hit (https://oregonessential.com/tamolitch-falls-blue-pool/) Tamlitch on the way + Camp Sherman + Suttle Lodge. Stop in Sisters and shop.
• In Bend: Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway (Devil's is our favorite). Bach will have MTB park open. Phil's MTB, again, if you like riding bikes. Sunriver / Black Butte for golfing.
• Take a day to hit Crater and head back to Bend.
• I've got tons of recommendations on breweries / food across OR.

Just did Oregon for the first time this summer with the family.

We did 3 nights at Depoe bay on coast
Whale watching
Sand dunes on coast
Hikes in rain forest
Lots of tide pool exploring
Lots of playing at the beach

3 nights at hood river
Hit up the gorge and it's waterfalls
Visit mount hood did some hiking in forest and trout fishing
Picked cherries, blueberries, etc in orchard with mt hood and mt Adams in background
Great restaurants in hood river
Whitewater rafting down salmon river…pretty intense but kids still said it was funnest thing on trip
Lots of other things we ran out of time to do

Would highly recommend checking Oregon out.

Thanks. That is all great info

No, we have never been to Oregon as a family and I have never been there to explore.

Full disclosure, I was there last summer for a 5 days to play golf at Bandon (which was awesome) but we never left the property. This wasn't with the family, just my annual guys golf trip

Thanks again for all the advice

When I was 14, I went with my family to Oregon. Depoe Bay, Bandon, Crater Lake, Bend. We actually went up there a couple of summers in my teens. The two things that stick out the most in my memory are white water rafting in Ashland/Medford and Jet Boats on the Rogue River. Bend was a lot of fun as well, especially since we played some golf there too.

My wife and I spent 9 days in Oregon in 2019 for our 30th anniversary. Highlights of the trip.

1. The drive from Portland to Hood River
2. Orchards South of Hood River
3. Mt Hood
4. Jet Boat on Rogue River
5. Crater Lake (spent the day the there - fantastic)
6. The coast and eating seafood
7. Oceanside (great restaurant there - Roseanna's)

It was all fabulous. The boat ride in Crater Lake is fun and it did not open until mid July the year we went because of snowpack.

Have fun!

Wes '87

All the things mentioned above and add the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum (website). They've got the Spruce Goose, an old DC-3, jets, rockets, etc. It's really cool. You can actually go into the Spruce Goose.

We enjoyed the Columbia River Gorge a lot and could spend several days just hiking around that area.

The Grinder (99) said:

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Thanks. That is all great info

No, we have never been to Oregon as a family and I have never been there to explore.

Full disclosure, I was there last summer for a 5 days to play golf at Bandon (which was awesome) but we never left the property. This wasn't with the family, just my annual guys golf trip

Thanks again for all the advice

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Nice. Bandon is beautiful.

Let me know if you want any recommendations. I'm big into views and experience here in OR. The stuff you have to dig a bit for. E.g.,

We navigated parts of Oregon this summer. No shortage of things to do it's almost overwhelming.

We did Crater Lake driving from Brookings, OR. It's beautiful and totally worth the drive, but very remote.

Portland is a good spot to stay for good accommodations and you can easily hit Cannon Beach and Columbia River Gorge.

One cool thing we added to the middle of our trip was University of Oregon. This summer we were able to go inside their athletic center. More access than A&M.

My favorite waterfall Idleyld Park Toketee Falls.

montejr said:

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My favorite waterfall Idleyld Park Toketee Falls.

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I'll second that -- it's gorgeous!

My family went to Oregon in July 2023. We visited from family in Yachats on the coast and drove around and id a few other things. The waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge are nice, especially Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena Falls. I really wish we'd have hit Crater Lake at a better time. We stopped there briefly one evening and were attacked by gigantic mosquitoes. It was intolerable and we did not stay long. Maybe don't go in the evening during summer, or use some serious bug spray. If we ever go back I definitely want to try whale watching. We spent 1 night at Diamond Lake which is a rustic lodge on a lake, but so remote and peaceful. Very basic but the kids loved it!

Toketee Falls


Clearwater Falls


Crater Lake


Thor's Well (Yachats)


Diamond Lake

oldarmy76 said:

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Just did Oregon for the first time this summer with the family.

We did 3 nights at Depoe bay on coast
Whale watching
Sand dunes on coast
Hikes in rain forest
Lots of tide pool exploring
Lots of playing at the beach

3 nights at hood river
Hit up the gorge and it's waterfalls
Visit mount hood did some hiking in forest and trout fishing
Picked cherries, blueberries, etc in orchard with mt hood and mt Adams in background
Great restaurants in hood river
Whitewater rafting down salmon river…pretty intense but kids still said it was funnest thing on trip
Lots of other things we ran out of time to do

Would highly recommend checking Oregon out.

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I've done the White Salmon rafting 5 or 6 times. It was always a mist do for people visiting us when we lived there. Great memories