Oregon Wine country trip for wife's 40th b-day

Hello,

Looking to take my wife to Oregon wine country for her 40th b-day. Need some tips or help in finding great place to stay and wineries to visit. Never been to this region before...help!

Oregon Wine country trip for wife's 40th b-day

Maybe the first thing to say is, don%26#39;t expect Napa or Sonoma. ;-) You might even consider staying in Portland, since the best of Oregon%26#39;s wine country is less than an hour away, southwest of the city. If you%26#39;re looking to stay in the vineyards, Black Walnut Inn and Youngberg Hill are most often mentioned. Oregon in McMinnville would also be worth a look.

Black Walnut is in Dundee, the heart of wine country, set on a hillside near a couple of Oregon%26#39;s better know wineries, Archery Summit, Domaine Drouhin, and Domaine Serene. These three wineries all make highly rated, and very high priced pinot noirs, but are definitely worth a stop. Youngberg Hill, also in McMinnville, was rated by Sunset Magazine a few years ago as the best place to stay in Oregon%26#39;s wine country. Nice place, but a little more of a drive to other wineries.

Other wineries to consider (in no particular order): Adelsheim, Scott Paul, Penner-Ash, Cuneo, Carlton Winermaker%26#39;s Studio, Willakenzie, Eyrie....... And there are many more. The best, however, are boutique places that taste by appointment only. If you%26#39;re interested in those, ask, and we can come up with some recommendations.

Oregon Wine country trip for wife's 40th b-day

Ooops! That should be Hotel Oregon in McMinnville......

Thank you so much for this info!!! It gives me a good starting point.

We like Archery Summit, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, Ponzi, Sokol Blosser and the Scott Paul ';Audrey'; Pinot Noirs. We recenlty had a very nice bottle of the Archery Summit wine with our 25th anniversary dinner in Laguna Beach.

Where are you going to dinner? We enjoyed a very nice, elegant meal at the Joel Palmer House, I have heard great things about the Painted Lady. Tina%26#39;s or Dundee Bistro are both nice choices for lunch before starting out your wine tasting. Happy New Years and have fun! :)

I agree with mistleto, who happens to live very close to our Oregon wine country.. it is no Napa or Sonoma.

And I agree that Portland, being so close and an easy drive , would be the best place to stay for the night.

Black Walnut is so beautiful, and Hotel Oregon is very different from the Black Walnut but has its own charm in its original building and atmosphere..but nothing like the Black Walnut as far as luxury.

You don%26#39;t say when you will be here, that makes a big difference in the Wine area as well as where you might want to stay.

Trust the Oregon locals though, while I have lived here for over a year, they always give me good advice still!

syrahgirl, when you come back to Oregon, you will have to go to the Painted Lady and see for yourself how good it is..

I%26#39;m glad i could find postings on Oregon wine country. I%26#39;m also trying to plan a trip over Labor Day 2007. I was hoping to see Portland for a few days and then on to wine country for a few days.

I%26#39;m open to any and all suggestions on where to stay, where to eat and what vineyards to visit.

Thanks.

dmbsocal and TravelandTannins (like the screen name),

With more details, we could be more helpful, but I think you%26#39;ll find that two days in wine country will be sufficient. Most wineries open late morning and close between 4:00 and 5:00pm, but are close enough together that you can easily fit 4 - 6 visits into an afternoon. The question remains, do you want to stay in wine country or Portland? Good dining and lodging options are relatively limited in wine country, but there are lots from which to choose in Portland.

Steiger Haus B%26amp; B in McMinnville is always the best deal and is the best-located inn in the region. Walk to main drag but is located in quiet neighborhood short walk away. Good breakfast, nice rooms. I hav been staying there for over 10 years as a professional wine writer. You should also not miss the wineries in the Eola Hills region; most visitors only see the wineries in the Dundee area. I highly recommend Cristom and Bethel Heights in the Eola Hills area, about a 1 minute drive from McMinnville.. Portland is a world away, traffic-wise. But if you do stay in Portland, I recommend Heron Haus, in the NW neighborhood, close to downtown, and eat at Serrattos or Le Pigeon on East Burnside, next to the renovated Jupiter Hotel.

Welcome to the forums WineMan! How great, that you are a wine writer!

Glad you suggested Serrato, I love that place! :)

Tuscany Grill isn%26#39;t bad either, both on NW 21st, next to each other..

Welcome Wineman:)

I am down in McMinnville at least several times a week. This week, all week. And I drive past the Steiger Haus each time and have wondered about it. The location is interesting...sort of on the edge of campus, so in a mix of older homes and some student quarters.

Baker Street Inn looks very nice. I have not stayed there, but it looks nice and the location is great for wandering the downtown. It is on Baker, between Washington and 1st, and truly about a block from where all the nice shops and restaurants are. It sits on a main road, but sits back and is sort of secluded. I had been past it dozens of times before I realized it was there.

Another place right in town is A Tuscan Estate on Evans.

Upcoming Events in Portland..

I still get updates from the Portland Oregon Visitors Association...

www.pova.com

They are handy for residents also , there are so many events going on in town all year round, it makes it easier to keep up with what is happening .. the Wine and Seafood Festival starts in Feb with more than 65 wineries and 20 restaurants participating.

www.travelportland.com/deals/#seafood_wine

The 30th Portland Film Festival begins with more than 100 films, showing at various locations in the city, all sorts of interesting films and people show up :)

Following that will be the Portland Jazz Festival, so the winter here in Portland brings plenty of things to do and enjoy.

Hope this helps with your plans to visit or fellow Portlanders who missed this :)

Scarlett

Upcoming Events in Portland..

Thanks for the reminder, Scarlett. As a local, I sometimes get so caught up in routine that I don%26#39;t think outside of it. The seafood and wine deal looks right up my alley. :-) I wonder how long it%26#39;s been going on without my knowing about it?

Upcoming Events in Portland..

Thanks for posting that. I got that email too, but hadn%26#39;t read it yet. We have not been to the seafood and wine festival here, but used to go to the one in Newport each year. Somehow the Convention Center just seems wrong, lol!

So is it true ? Could Snow be an upcoming event in Portland? :)

LOL! That is what my kids tell me!

Driftwood Village in Newport

Has anyone stayed at the Driftwood Village? It has views and on the beach. What about the cabins at Ester Lees. We don%26#39;t know the area and any input would be helpful. Thank you

Driftwood Village in Newport

Never stayed there. It is a bit out of town, So you need to drive to go any where except the beach.

Ester Lee is sort of in town. You could walk the beach to Taft the south end of Lincoln City. Last trip to newport stopped there to check the place out. The cabins were built in 1940s, but think they are still in great shape, Ester Lee has a loyal following of regulars. Their lobby looks like a 1940 build. Big rouded window looking out to the ocean.

Never stayed there, but would guess we will, the cabins are partly dog friendly, Motel is not Motel built 1970 or so. but the cabins have decent price midweek in off season and have kitchens.

Driftwood Village in Newport

I stayed at the Ester Lee about 6 months ago and it was adequate. The room we stayed in (a pet-friendly cabin) was a little dated. The front desk service was very friendly. The access to the beach is down a steep road so you have to walk a ways. But, the view is very nice, which is one of their main selling points. Basically, I would stay there again when travelling with my dogs because it is hard to find a good pet-friendly motel, but would probably skip it otherwise.

Have you ever tried any of the beach homes there?

I just posted a review for the 5js Beach house. I don%26#39;t know where Driftwood village is, but vacation rentals offer some good choices.

Yes that is a good Idea, I think my husband is doing some checking.

We did stay at Lincoln City last week, I loved the beach it was so nice.

We stayed at Pelican Shores and it was good for 4 adults and 2 small children. Were going to be staying at Ester Lees Motel next week for 2 nights. I will give a review when we get back. We thought we would go by and check out a few hotels for the future.

Thanks

pimple treatment

Spa in/near Manzanita

Does anyone know of a nice day spa in or near Manzanita, specifically for a massage?

Spa in/near Manzanita

There is a spa in Cannon Beach. www.cannonbeachspa.com We like the spas in Seaside and Astoria. The Spa on Broadway in Seaside is very nice and the Columbia River Day Spa in Astoria is fantastic! Hope this helps! :)

Spa in/near Manzanita

How far are they from Manzanita?

Hi Warmwinds..I have heard that they are within 25 miles of each other. (Manzanita %26amp; Cannon Beach)

Manzanita to Cannon Beach is 14 miles, to Seaside 22, and to Astoria 40.

Since syrahgirl has not been to the one in Cannon Beach, she doesn%26#39;t have much to say about it. And I don%26#39;t either. But judging just by appearances from the outside, and what I know of the expectations of typical visitors to Cannon Beach as compared to Seaside or Astoria, I%26#39;d bet money that the one in Cannon Beach is just as good or better than those in Seaside or Astoria.

I actually found 2 right in Manzanita on my own, one is a spa called Skin Scent-Sations and the other a licensed massage therapist, her place is called Motion Management.

Great! I hope you are able to post back and let us know how great it was :)

Sigh - it%26#39;s not for me - a gift for someone else - but knowing myself I%26#39;m ready to fall asleep after a massage so didn%26#39;t want them to have to drive 14+ miles afterwards! Hope they enjoy.

I chose the LMT rather than the spa - the spa%26#39;s website made it seem like they were more interested in selling you products than in the massage itself.

LOL, I know what you mean. I like having a facial and that sends me into a nap :)

Manzanita Spa is opening in the summer of 07.

A full service day spa right on the main street, Laneda

for more information contact Janice Gaines LMT in Manzanita.

503 368-4777

Good luck to you JBGE! :)

Portland Restaurants mentioned in Bon Appetit (Feb 07)

Le Pigeon - 738 East Burnside

The chef Gabriel Rucker ( formerly of Paleys Place %26amp; Gotham Building Tavern)and his sous chef Erik Vankley get a very good review..

A ';Bold menu';, lots of meats and a tartlet of baked Brie with garlic confit and for a dessert , apricot bacon cornbread with maple ice cream and warm bacon bits. And of course, other more down to earth goodies.

Siam Society - 2703 NE Alberta St . siamsociety.com

A Thai restaurant in a historic building, stylish space.. The chef, Adrienne Inskeep, who is from Brazil with a Thai mother-in-law.

Chiang Mai sausages, wrapped in cabbage leaves with fresh ginger and rost peanuts..scallops and roast duck, they say the desserts are ';outrageously good';....gotta go there!

and everyones favorite .....

Alberta Street Oyster Bar - 2926 NE Alberta St . albertaoyster.com

Oysters, French 75 cocktails, local wines, Dungeness crab...sigh.

Hope this helps with deciding on Where To Eat when you visit Portland or where just where to go if you don%26#39;t feel like cooking :)

Bon Appetit ~ Scarlett

Portland Restaurants mentioned in Bon Appetit (Feb 07)

Too bad none of these work for our lunch on Monday. Oh well, more places to try later!

Thanks for posting...Le Pigeon looks really good!

Portland Restaurants mentioned in Bon Appetit (Feb 07)

Considering the forecast for Monday, Silk in the Pearl is a good place for lunch, steaming hot bowls of Pho :)

Yes, definitely a good idea!

Why is relocation not a travel issue?

I realize this post will not last long but I am astounded to see that relocation questions are being closed. I moved here about a year ago and trip advisor regulars were super helpful and continue to help me with questions that really are travel related. I still need information on local attractions, from restaurants to lodging to camping and shopping. Just because you also want to learn about areas to live in should not preclude the discussion. I think TA needs to reevaluate this issue.

I am flying out of PDX in two weeks and was very interested in learning about the park and fly hotels. That%26#39;s travel related, right? Even though I live here?

Gimme a break.

Why is relocation not a travel issue?

Hi, Happy New Year!

I think that some questions are just worded more for Help me find a place to live than tell me about Portland where I am going to live.

(which is what you did)

**********************

';Our situation is this...we live in XXX in the city) and are tired of being in a huge city (traffic, stress, expensive). We had the opportunity to live in XXXfor about 9 months and fell in love with the ';big'; little city. We lived in a family oriented ';walking'; neighborhood where everything we needed (grocery, restaurants, park, zoo, healthclub, activities) were all within a 15 minute walk. My husbands commute was 20 minutes to downtown. We lived in a three bedroom home that was dated, but very functional (about $570K).

We are hoping we can find another big, little city and are wondering if Portland might be it.

Any info you can provide....hotels, neighborhoods, child friendly activities (we have a one year old daughter) would be much appreciated';

******************

This is not really travel related. It really does belong on another kind of forum.

I knew when the first post was frozen that this was the reason, so this time I will post regarding it.

If a person wants to know about moving here, relocation forums are good or books..then come here with specific questions about the area, as you did.

It is easy to just go into a forum and try to get all of your questions answered in one spot, but this won%26#39;t work here.

If the lady decides to try again, my advice would be to make her questions specific to certain areas, about visiting Portland it might last longer.

Why is relocation not a travel issue?

I too think it would be nice to have a ';relocation section'; or something like it on TA. In fairness to TA, however, its business is travel, not relocation, hence the advertising on TA which I assume is paid. Most relocation questions can be answered by competent real estate companies in the chosen area. But, and a big but, comments on this site qualify or elaborate on what agents might have to say - to the benefit of the person relocating..

chicogirl

I resist answering basic relocation posts. and rarely do, and if I do suggest they find a realtor. If these boards became a lot of help me find a place to live, I would not like it.

but your posts were more what can we do in PDX or Tigard. and it generated some spirited responses. I think they would have been helpful for anyone planning to visit here.

If the questions are centered around recreational opportunities in the area, which areas might be best suited under expressed preferences and places to stay while looking at relocating, etc, I%26#39;m all for them.

~Den~

Agree with Phril-

Seems like there could be another fourm for relocation discussion.

Discussing the nuances between Tigard and Tualatin doesn%26#39;t seem like a travel issue to me.

Of course I still subscribe to the Tom McCall philsophy(come to visit but please don%26#39;t stay) however out-dated and un- politicaly correct it may be. :) :)

Well folks I am here and you are stuck with me and I still need help figuring out where to go and what to do. I can%26#39;t even figure out if I am a duck or a beaver. My daughter just says she%26#39;s a platypus when asked.

And for the record, I never asked the nuances between Tualatin and Tigard....but I do love hearing the best spots to eat, the most desirable campgrounds and the ';don%26#39;t miss'; tourist attractions.

Next year I am going to ask all of you to help me figure out how to see the boat/ship parade. That sounded so neat! But I dunno where to go to see it.

Cheers! The sun came out today!

Sorry Chico-didn%26#39;t mean you specifically about the Tigard/Tualatin. I was just using that as an example of stuff people ask about that aren%26#39;t really travel related and more re-location related...

Oh I totally understood what you were saying and I realize some folks are really focused on neighborhoods, crime rates, taxes, the type of thing that a realtor should address.

I wasn%26#39;t offended. There is only one person on TA who offends me and ';he'; hasn%26#39;t been around much. I think all the good beer in Portland scares him away.

I think I will go post a restaurant review on the Tigard forum now. Just in case some poor traveler needs to know where to get the best teriyaki or tacos.

In about 5 years, my husband and I will be retiring. We now live near Boston, but we%26#39;ve long thought that we%26#39;d move back to the West Coast for retirement (we lived in Seattle and Portland for 12 years in the 1970-80s). We always thought of the southern Oregon area, but, alas, in the intervening decades, other people have discovered that area and housing prices have risen.

I would really like to find a forum to discuss what it%26#39;s like to retire in certain areas. Most that I%26#39;ve found have a decidedly commercial bent -- dominated by real estate agents.

I certainly don%26#39;t have the savvy to start such a site. But if anyone knows of one that%26#39;s populated by real people, please let me know.

We plan to spend two weeks this summer in southern Oregon to check things out, but it%26#39;s quite intimidating to figure out the best way to scope a retirement area, as opposed to a vacation trip. We%26#39;re not yet ready for an ';over 55'; community.

We are not people who have millions to spend.

callaloo--Try www.city-data.com. They have forums based on states and cities and you can get info from people who actually live there.

I do wish that TA would have a relocation forum. It seems to be a big topic on many of the boards, not just Oregon.

Weather in Portland for late February

Hello. My girlfriends and I would like to take a trip to Portland and Willamette Valley. for 4 or 5 days. Late February seems to be the best time for us. But I%26#39;m not sure what the weather will be like. We don%26#39;t mind some chill but rain would really put a damper on our trip. Could anyone tell me what kind of weather I can expect?

Thanks.

Weather in Portland for late February

You can almost count on rain in Feb and March and April etc....

We generally have been counting dry days as unusual, rain is the norm.

You can get around town and be fine regardless of weather, if you have warm clothes and a raincoat. Streetcars are great for that, there are so many shops and restaurants that you don%26#39;t have to walk far to go from one to the other..it is a great city for pedestrians.

Rain or shine, there are always a lot of people out.

We were out in the wine area not long ago, it started out grey and cloudy but ended rainy, but to tell the truth, it is not that pretty, as in Napa, so if you want to go to wineries, rain won%26#39;t stop you and it won%26#39;t make the views from the highway any less than they already are.

A winery trip here can be taken in a day anyway, or half day.

Hope this helps, ~

Weather in Portland for late February

www.wunderground.com/US/OR/Portland.html

Scarlett is right, expect rain. Most likely it will be in the 40%26#39;s or maybe low 50%26#39;s, but definitely damp if not very wet.

I live about 5 minutes from where the winery area typically begins. The views will be nil...but if you are only interested in the tastings, then yes go ahead. But if all of you are tasting, please hire a driver. The police are pretty vigilant in this area.

You know, this year is hard to predict. I would bring layers and a raincoat/umbrella.

I%26#39;m curious as to why you would travel here in that season... Everyone assumes the wines, but still...

I am with Voyaging. All the way from DC why pick Portland at that time of year?. specially if you can%26#39;t handle rain very well. You will get rain well into June but at least it is warmer.

If I had to pick date to visit Portland it would be late May early June. The foliage is out, many roses in bloom

What interests you in Willamette Valley?? Many other things of high interest near Portland. Columbia Gorge, Oregon Coast. Mt St Helens

I%26#39;d pick mid-July because it is early enough that everything is still green, yet late enough it will almost certainly be sunny and warm. May has traditionally been the best month, in my opinion, until the past several years. Seems the rain continues now until after July 4th before our never-ending sunshine comes home to roost for the summer. Seems our summers are starting later and ending later than ever before.

Rain in Feb - and cold.

Florida%26#39;s nice that time of year... :-)

Please don%26#39;t let the weather deter you. Yes, it will most likely be cold and wet here, but does it really matter? If you really want to avoid the rain, then do come July thru Sept for that.

J%26amp;S--Sorry...we have lived in FL...it is not always nice in February.

True, Mtngrl, we lived in Florida for a year and a half before moving to Portland. Tht first February was cold and we had rain 11 days in a row , .ugh...

Someone from Wash DC won%26#39;t have too much of a problem with the rain here, it still isn%26#39;t as cold or snowy as the NE :)

Historic Vintage Portland Oregon Hotels

Hi!

IM looking for a really nice historic hotel or vintage motor lodge in the Portland Area that is a nice stay and a nice price (under $100 or around there).

I am really into History and would love to know what some of the favorite places are for a historic stay.

Also, Ive seen pictures of a motel neon sign that says ';Motel and 6th'; but can not seem to find what this place is called or if its any good.

Does anyone have any sollutions?

Thanks!

Historic Vintage Portland Oregon Hotels

Hello,

The first thing that comes to my mind is one of the McMenamin properties. These would be especially workable if you are planning on renting a car. You can view their hotels on their webpage at www.mcmenamins.com FYI - I got married at the Kennedy School property. All of the properties have some historic value and are very funky and fun.

The Governor Hotel is also a good choice for a vintage atmosphere and is more centrally located downtown.

Have fun in Portland!

Jessica

Historic Vintage Portland Oregon Hotels

Do you have a link to the neon sign that say%26#39;s Motel %26amp; 6th? I think I might know where this is, but I%26#39;m not sure...

Thanks!!

www.flickr.com/photos/samgrover/41373737/

here is where I saw the motel.

Thanks!

I know I%26#39;ve seen the sign, and am pretty sure it%26#39;s the Sixth Avenue Motel, located on the south edge of downtown. Not a bad location, but not a great one, either.

Like PDXLadie, the first places that came to my mind were Kennedy School and Edgefield Manor, both McMenamins properties, and both (Edgefield in particular) a ways from the center of town.

A couple others to consider are Jupiter Hotel - http://www.jupiterhotel.com/ - a renovated 1940%26#39;s style motel, and Inn at Northrup Station - .http://www.northrupstation.com/. Both should be close to your price range.

The McMenamin%26#39;s properties are in historic buildings, but they were not hotels prior to the McM brothers. They are great properties, any of them.

Benson is historic hotel but not cheap. Mallory also historic, but that was converted and given new name (DeLuxe??) not sure if they maintained the historic. Heathman and Governor historic.

McMenamin property in McMinnville is in historic hotel, Hotel Oregon but 35 miles from portland. heart of wine country

Of course 6th Ave Motel- duh- I pass it while going to work- no wonder it sounded familiar! I%26#39;d probably just take a picture and stay some place else, especially if you want to be in the middle of downtown. It%26#39;s a walkable distance to most everything, but there would be better historic places more centrally located. I haven%26#39;t really stayed downtown, so I don%26#39;t know what to personally recommend.

Now I%26#39;m trying to recall neon signs in portland...

here are a few...

The Palms Motor Hotel; Capitol Hill Hotel, Viking

The alibi restraunt %26amp; lounge on n. interstate

I think Interstate Ave. has a few neon signs.... the neighborhood is improving, but i would still keep your eye out. There is even a paul bunyan around too...

Bagdad theater on hawthorne....

Of course the classic Made in Oregon sign (previously White Stag; White Satin Sugar, ect. sign with much luved history)

Go By Train and Go By Streetcar signs are neon

On Sandy blvd there was a cool 7Up bottling plant that had neon 7up fizzeling out of a green glass bottle. I think the neon is still there minus the fizzle, but adversizing some sort of beer.

A beautiful, friendly place to call home.

I go to Rockaway Beach Three or four times a year and I am happy to say, I Love It, The people are friendly and the beach is Beautiful.

If you let it happen, Rockaway will treat you with a pleasent vacation and you will be happy and proud to call it your second home.

Nothing is to far away and nothing is to close, sounds silly but when you are on a quiet time away from the hustle and bustle what else can you ask for. Rockaway is the best kept hideaway in Oregon.

Jim From San Diego

A beautiful, friendly place to call home.

Glad you found a spot on the coast you like, Jim! We recently spent our 25th anniversary in San Diego, you live in a pretty cool place, also! Happy New Year and welcome to the travel forums! :)

A beautiful, friendly place to call home.

Hi Jim,

Thank-you for your posting on Rockaway. We have a beach cabin there and you are correct once there you do not have to get in your car unless you wish too. The beach is beautiful and all locals are very friendly. We just got back from a week there and it%26#39;s hard to get back in the grove of city life again. I was raised in S Ca. and if I had to live there again it would be your stomping grounds for sure.

We are concerned as with the recent growth of Rockaway and plans we are hearing for our future althought great for us homeowners $$$ Wise, we do not want our little piece of heaven on earth to be turned into hectic little seaside town. All of us ';locals'; will continue our fight for the proper growth in Rockaway.

Linda from Portland

I go on retreat there once a year, going in a few weeks, I love the ocean view from the house we stay in. My fav place to shop is the crafty place that has all local crafters that put there crafts there in different areas within one shop, very neat, that and the thrift store is where I go.

Any good places to shop that you found?

pimple treatment

Dog friendly motels?

Any nice ocean front places that allow dogs?

Dog friendly motels?

Hi!

I only know of a couple in Arch Cape and Cannon Beach but here is what we use when we travel with our Pup.

http://www.petswelcome.com/

also www.dogfriendly.com

Dog friendly motels?

Soma, between Waldport and Yachats. Right on the bluff above a really nice beach and they allow pets.

Den

Check out the Coho Inn in LC, it is right on the ocean. We had friends that stayed here this summer and enjoyed it. They are pet friendly, also. www.thecohoinn.com is the website. Enjoy the Oregon Coast! :)

Check out www.esterlee.com. They are right above the beach with great views, and very affordable. With a pet you will have to stay in one of the cottages. They are fully equipped, clean and affordable. My wife and I were in one there in August.

Check out www.esterlee.com. They are right above the beach with great views, and very affordable. With a pet you will have to stay in one of the cottages. They are fully equipped, clean and affordable. My wife and I were in one there in August.

The Hallmark in Newport is dog-friendly (if I recall, they have specific ';pet rooms';).

Scarlett Sure you said but I forget. what is your pup?.

Our lives have been changed with addition of a squirmy pooch. all 10 lbs of her. after 15 dogless years. wife says she may retire this year so need to start learning this stuff. so we can plan a trip or two.

Does anyone know a kennel website for NW?? we have worldmark which does not allow dogs, but would be nice to take her. if we can mix the overnight stays. .

5 years ago I helped d-i-l come from Omaha to San Diego to Portland then to Japan with our two grandsons and a german shepherd. Friend of mine gave me that pet friendly site, which I passed on to her. She really did not need much help. Son already in Japan so he was of no help.

phirl--I don%26#39;t know about a kennel website for the whole nw, but the kennel we use is up on Chehalem Mountain. Their website is www.mountaintopkennels.com. There is a kennel over on Scholls Ferry, but I have heard they have very high staff turnover, but I heard that from the groomer so would avoid that one. The groomer is how I found the one we use. They also recommended one in Dundee called Tail Wag Inn. Our Golden goes with us most places, but there are times she has to stay behind, and we don%26#39;t always have a pet sitter for at home.

We use one in Lincoln City, when we go to Depoe Bay, a couple of staff there are just great. Our pup smothers them as bad as my wife.

Next week we try Windy Ridge in Sherwood, have her groomed there but not kenneled yet. but think staff pretty consistant.

I was wondering how I might search in Leavenworth, Cle Elum, port townsend etc,

phirl--Can I steer you away from Windy Ridge? I looked into that for our dog, but after talking to them and hearing good friends stories...I just would feel bad about not saying anything. One neighbor, their dog will not go back...they have tried. As far as Leavenworth goes, there is only one, Leavenworth Pet Lodge. Go to www.leavenworth.org and they should be listed. Otherwise the closest place would be Wenatchee. I know of a great little cottage that takes dogs if you are interested.

Handicap accessible hikes near Silver Falls State Park?

Hi all! My family is planning a trip in mid June to Sunset Bay State Park (yurt-3 days) then Silver Fall State Park (cabin 4-days) and onto Tumalo State Park (yurt-2 days). We have an 11 year old mildly disabled son who can hike about 1-mile. We have a large ';baby jogger'; stroller for him. Do you recommend any hikes that we should consider or avoid when we are staying at Silver Falls? Any other advice about things to do that would work well for us is greatly appreciated. I should also add that we have 2 other children 8 and 5. We are so excited to see the beautiful Oregon landscape! Your help is much appreciated!!!

Handicap accessible hikes near Silver Falls State Park?

Silver Falls SP would be a great place to go as it has quite a few amenities that would support your accessiblity requirements. It is one of my favorite places.

I would recomend the South Falls Lodge area- it has paved trails-even down to the South Falls. South Falls Lodge is the main area of the park so it should be ADA accessable. It also has a playground area and %26#39;swimming%26#39; in the creek if you really want to swim in June! I believe that most of the bike trails are paved as well(if bike trails aren%26#39;t paved they are well maintained and at least wide enough to accomidate a stroller) .

These falls are easily walkable from the road- South Falls, North Falls, Upper North Falls and Winter Falls.

Handicap accessible hikes near Silver Falls State Park?

North and Winter Falls are the two most accessible but all the trails are accessible at some level. Check www.oregonstateparks.org for more specific infromation.

~Den~

Not a hike per se but you could try the Oregon Gardens in Silverton.

North Falls is pretty level all the way to the waterfall and it not a long walk. We%26#39;ve taken the kids on the South Falls hike when they were the typical stroller age but it is very steep no matter how you go - great workout for the person pushing the stroller. There is a play ground near the parking lot for South Falls and large grassy area for a picnic right near the creek. Beautiful area for anyone to experience.

Otter Rock Home 5js Beach House

We stayed at the 5js beach home in otter rock for our vacation in October. We really loved the decor, all ship%26#39;s wood through out the the house and a nice coffered ceiling with antique looking tin tiles in the entry. There is a small stone fireplace in the living area with a pretty rustic mantle that has natural bark is high gloss and obviously hand crafted. Other hand crafted touches was a huge ships wheel and a ship ladder to access a loft.

The kids loved it and the kitchen had everything we needed. There are granite counters and separate areas through the house to curl up to a good book with good lighting for such, and books right there.

We were in the middle of a big storm but it was great being there and feeling like we were right at sea in the middle of it in our cozy house.

We found this house by chance on the web and found the owners very attentive and commited to help us enjoy our stay. At first, I was a little concerned about not being in the middle of Newport, but once we got to this house, we really didn%26#39;t want to leave. We just wish we could have stayed longer.

Otter Rock Home 5js Beach House

That sounds like a great place! How far from the beach? Is it pet friendly? Can you provide the website address where you found the house? :) Thanks!!!

Otter Rock Home 5js Beach House

I just googled it and it looks like its on the same road as the Devils Punch Bowl, with a couple of little shops just down the block.

Shooting Star Motel, Bandon Oregon

Any information on this Motel? Can%26#39;t find a place to stay in Bandon on September 17 other than very expensive, or the Inn right in the middle of town. Just need a place to sleep over, reasonabley clean.

Shooting Star Motel, Bandon Oregon

The Shooting Star is as good as the Gorman.

Shooting Star Motel, Bandon Oregon

';The Shooting Star is as good as the Gorman.';

That%26#39;s not saying much:). On the other hand, what a great location!

How do both of those stack up against the Lamplighter, binthar?

I don%26#39;t see that krazimomi is looking for a place on the beach. We used to stay at Lamplighter before Bandon Dunes decided to not allow advance tee times unless we stayed on site. If you%26#39;re just passing through, krazimomi, Lamplighter would be fine. Just remember, other than ';reasonably clean';, no expectations. ;-)

Heathman Hotel

I do not mean to be controversial however I%26#39;ve recently read some negative reviews about The Heathman Hotel. We stayed there about three years ago and enjoyed our stay. We particularly appreciated the helpful staff. I do not expect a huge room but I have higher expectations of the hotel staff.

I%26#39;ve booked a standard room in this hotel for the Jazz Festival in February and I have recommended the hotel for friends but now I%26#39;m having second thoughts. Has anyone any news, or comments about The Heathman?

Thanks for your help.

Kate

Heathman Hotel

We stayed at the Heathman last summer in the Symphony Suite and enjoyed our stay very much. The room was very nice, very comfortable bed with nice linens and comfy down comforter. We liked the French Press coffee that was in the room.

We enjoyed the massive lobby there and just the all around beauty of the hotel, we found the staff to be very helpful and very much enjoyed dinner at the restaurant and Sunday Brunch the next morning there. It%26#39;s our first choice for downtown lodging in Portland. I hope you have a nice stay! :)

Heathman Hotel

Nothing controversial about staying at a nice hotel in Portland.

If you have been there before you will know what to expect.

Sometimes controversy comes from visitors who have been to a hotel or restaurant once and they continually recommend that one place over the many very nice hotels in town..

A Local Expert here in Portland should be posting here soon, she is going to be staying at the 5th Ave Suites soon..while I have not stayed at the 5th Avenue Suitesin a year, athough I live here now, we have stayed over 30 nights at the hotel and I always recommend it.

Look at citysearch.com * put Heathman in your search* or look at the TripAdvisor reviews..personally, I never hear reviews one way or another on the Heathman, except for those that syrahgirl posts.

If you like that sort of large, older hotel, there is the Governor too..

Good luck, let us know if you need restaurant tips .. new ones are opening every day ( or so it seems :)

LOL, that would be me about the 5th Avenue Suites. Even though we live here, we have stayed a few times and really like it. We will be there again in two weeks.

I have not stayed at the Heathman for many years, so can%26#39;t comment on what it is like now.

I can comment on the 5th Avenue Suites, if you are interested. The hotel is beautiful, service is great, the valet parking is underground (so in Feb. you wouldn%26#39;t get wet like at the Heathman), and the location is great. Very easy to walk everywhere. The hotel is revamping, basically updating the furnishings. I am really curious to see it since it was beautiful before. We will have a newly done room on our upcoming stay, so I can let you know how it is.

Personally, if I have any doubts about staying somewhere, I find other options. I do not like to take chances if I am going to be spending a fair amount of money. Check reviews and the boards for various hotels and see which ones are more consistant and then go with your favorite of those.

Huh? What about Riverplace, syrahgirl?? We%26#39;ve been reading for years that it%26#39;s your preferred hotel in Portland.

I%26#39;m not aware that The Heathman has gone through any major changes in the last several years, traveltrooper, so I%26#39;d expect you%26#39;ll find it just as you remember. And It%26#39;s hard to beat that location for proximity to Jazz Festival venues.

Still, I have to plug Hotel De Luxe (my wife made me). ;-) With a retro %26#39;40s - %26#39;50s Hollywood theme, it%26#39;s a different look for Portland. We spent a night there a few months ago and liked it a lot.

I%26#39;ll be interested in your report on 5th Ave. Suites, Mtngrl. It%26#39;s usually rated near or at the top of Portland hotels, so Kimpton must be trying to raise the bar.

Although I live in Portland I have stayed at the Heathman several times and each time found the room and service to be very nice. It is an older building, but that is part of its charm. The bar and breakfast are great. Dinner has slipped a bit recently. Maybe a new chef?

Hi mamababoo, Happy New Year!

I read not too long ago about some sort of overhaul to the kitchen and some posters were swooning over the chef and hoping he would come out and speak to them ( rolling eyes!) but I am not sure that this would be the reason for your not so great meal..

We have eaten there many times in the past almost 3 years and not one meal has been great, there has always been Something that went wrong.

We decided that the bar on a good night can be just fine or high tea :)

Sometimes a Hotel Restaurant is still just a hotel restaurant, others seem to manage to rise above that, the Heathman seems to struggle with that on occasion.

Have you been to Ten01 yet ?

Thanks for the note Scarlett. Always a treat to connect with you. Yes, have been to 10 01 and do recommend it, especially before an evening at that wonderful new theater. We were there in the first week it opened and found it to be very good. I imagine it%26#39;s all the way to excellent by now. We will go back soon!

Yes, the Gerding Theatre! Beautiful job they did on the old Armory, no? I hope they are hugely successful..we are usually out with the dog right about the time everyone comes out after a performance, it is good to see how many people are enjoying it.

Pay special attention to the desserts at Ten01..I sort of kinda know the head pastry guy :) He deserves kudos for his sweet inventions.

I love the Gerding. Being a Broadway Show Junkie each year for two weeks in Manhattan, I have to give total Hat%26#39;s Off to the Gerding. Shows have been beautifully presented, the lobby is lovely and the seats are incredible with great legroom, ventilation and views of the show.

Lighthouses in April or May

Was hoping to visit the Oregon coast for a lighthouse tour in November, but couldn%26#39;t get away. Now we%26#39;re hoping to do it in April or May.

Many of you were very helpful with suggestions for the November journey and I%26#39;d sure appreciate your help with this one. Again, it%26#39;s me and my grandmother (who is crazy for lighthouses, but has never seen one in person.)

We%26#39;ll likely be flying into Portland on a Tuesday, leaving on Saturday morning. So we%26#39;ll have full days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Certainly planning on Yaquina Head and Heceta Head-- suggestions on what else we can reasonably add on?

Thanks!

Lighthouses in April or May

Since you are flying into Portland, it%26#39;s makes sense to drive hwy 26/6 to Tillamook and visit Cape Meares Lighthouse (LH). From there it%26#39;s an easy jaunt down hwy 101 to Newport and Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay LH. From Newport, it%26#39;s less than an hour drive to Heceta Head LH and from Heceta Head to Umpqua LH, Heceta%26#39;s sister LH, is only another 45 minutes or so.

After Umpqua is Cape Arago LH, near Coos Bay. It can only be seen from a distance but it%26#39;s worth the trip. It%26#39;ll take you another 45 muntes to get there from Umpqua. From Cape Arago, it%26#39;s about a 30 minute drive down to Bandon and the Coquille River LH and from Bandon, another 45 minutes south will get you to Cape Blanco LH, the southern most of Oregon%26#39;s lighthouses.

Keep in mind, the driving times I list are approximate and are without stopping. You%26#39;ll certainly be stopping along the way and will want to take this into account.

For more information, visit www.oregonstateparks.org.

Hope this helps.

~Den~

Lighthouses in April or May

Den has good layout of time to see Oregon lighthouses, however his point of how much you stop can really affect that.

If she starts getting interested in all the other things on the Oregon coast, suggest you limit it to Cape Meares to Umpua. Yaquina Head and Heceta are the best. though I like them all.

There are two lighthouses in Wash at Ilwaco, north side of entrance to Columbia R.

I think it would be good to figure out which lighthouses you want to definetly see. If you want the trip to be just a lighthouse trip, Den%26#39;s trip would probably take you at least 2 of your 3 days-if you want it to be somewhat relaxing, i. e. explore/walk around the lighthouse areas, etc. Last time I went Heceta Head had a tour where you could walk up to the top of the lighthouse. I think it was a weekend-so Im not sure if they would be available during the week-just check on the State Parks website.

Sounds like you will be near Newport-the standard tourist stuff near here would be the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Cape Perpetua and don%26#39;t forget to make time to walk on the beach! :)

We do tours at Heceta daily, March through October and by request the rest of the year.

~Den~

And hey, if you decide to go through Tillamook, your going to have to visit the cheese factory and at least take a peak at the huge wooden blimp hangar.

And in Newport, you%26#39;ll need to go to the bayfront to get saltwater taffy and some remembrance item from your lighthouse visit. There a several eateries with fresh seafood down this way.

I don%26#39;t know if I mentioned that Cape Blanco gets some serious wind year round. Some would consider this to be the windiest area of the coast. If its rainy on the southcoast, I wouldn%26#39;t make the trip all the way down to be sand and salt blasted.

Good point Julauf. we were there one Oct day and it was very windy, but other stops we made on south coast were not too bad. We walked on beach evening and morning in Bandon.

We were traveling up the coast from Crescent City so was along the way except for the dozen or so miles it is off 101. .My wife is trying to got top of every lighthouse she can. I don%26#39;t do well coming down those stairs. I picked up a problem with heights somewhere along the way.

The Tillamook Cheese Factory is a fun and there is also the Blue Heron that we enjoy. You can wine taste at Blue Heron, their Brie cheese is really good here. The Tillamook Air Museum is also worth a look, very educational and fun also.

You may also want to consider a stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Stop in Gleneden Beach for lunch at the Salishan Lodge %26amp; Spa, a very nice resort with pretty grounds and good food.

Enjoy your time at the coast, we will also be in this area for several days in early April staying in the Astoria/Seaside area of the northern coast. :)

The keeper%26#39;s house at Heceta Head Lighthouse has a bed and breakfast. Do a google search on ';Heceta Head'; and you%26#39;ll find information. Since your grandmother is crazy for lighthouses, spending a night there could be the highlight of the trip.

These suggestions are just fantastic and I really appreciate them. I should have mentioned that I%26#39;ve been to the coast once before and seen several of these things, many of which I%26#39;m anxious to see again.

Let me ask this. I鈥檇 like to work in a bit of nature variety, perhaps in the form of waterfalls (ie. Multnomah Falls) and/or Mt. St. Helen鈥檚. I鈥檓 thinking if we only go as far south as Florence, that would allow a bit more time for something else. But it might just be too much wasted driving time to see the volcano.

Thoughts?

pimple treatment

space shuttle

I will try again with all the thread not there

www.snopes.com/photos/space/shuttlelaunch.asp

Sheck this shot of shuttle from air

space shuttle

Those are really cool, thanks! It threw me for a moment because the latest launch was at night, but then I noticed the date on the pictures as being from September (not the Dec. launch). Anyway, really interesting to see the pics since we were just at the last launch and it really is an amazing sight!

space shuttle

I thought about you when i got this from a friend. I thought you might have been there. I really did not notice date at first.

Yes, we were there, and I cannot begin to describe how amazing it was! Our friend (another OSU grad) was the pilot and invited us, so it was especially exciting.

I was lucky enough to get to see Mtngrls photos of the Launch. OMG! and when I asked about the sound , when looking at the %26#39;funnel'; cloud that it makes as it goes up, like a huge star, she said that the ground shook and it was very loud.

I cannot imagine how exciting it must have been to be there.

And to have a friend be in that shuttle!

That%26#39;s right, I almost forgot, I shared those pics with you this week, lol!

Yes, everything shook and it felt sort of like an earthquake. Course right after we had to hurry to the bus as the hydrochloric acid came down on us, lol!

LOL, I m sure it was not punishment to go to Florida at this time of year either!

How were the hotels ?

Well, it was dang cold when we were there! At least when we were over at Cocoa it was still warm enough to swim and hang out on the beach, but when we were in Orlando it was freezing!!!

The Hilton at Cocoa Beach...ehhhh...typical business class hotel, but we had an oceanfront room. Bathroom could have used some work, but the beds were great.

Boardwalk Inn at Disney was fantastic! Best location...less than a 5 minute walk into the back gate of Epcot, and the entire boardwalk area was so much fun. Great restaurants all right there, surrey bikes, you name it. The hotel itself was beautiful and our room was quite large with a nice little balcony. We sat out there in the mornings to have breakfast. With jackets on though, lol!

Best way to spend a day in Portland? (January 2007)

Hi all,

I%26#39;m going to be out in Portland the first week of January for business but am lucky enough to have one day to myself (Thursday). I was wondering what would be the best way to spend it...

For background info:

-I will be staying in Southeast Portland and have a rental car.

-I%26#39;ve been to Portland once before and got the chance to see Multnomah Falls/Columbia River Gorge, the Japanese and Chinese Gardens, Powell%26#39;s Books (loved all of them!)

I love hiking, snowshoeing, art, books, food, music... so I%26#39;m open to most suggestions. Thanks for your time!

Best way to spend a day in Portland? (January 2007)

I would consider Fenouil in the Pearl District for lunch. Then you could wander through the Nob Hill area of Portland. They have several nice boutiques there, it is a fun walking neighborhood. Paley%26#39;s Place or Wildwood are two of our favorites for dinner in this area. Escape From New York is fun for pizza.

The Pittock Mansion is also fun to tour, you will have gorgeous views from the back lawn, so bring your camera here. Pioneer Place is really fun for shopping, they have several nice stores here, it is in downtown Portland. If you want a meal in this area, I would suggest either the Heathman at the Heathman Hotel where we enjoyed a nice stay last summer or Higgins.

Take a stroll down by the waterfront area. If you like seafood, check out Harborside, they have good, fresh seafood and nice views from the inside. We like to sit up on the third tier here. Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a nice place to relax and people watch.

Enjoy Portland and Happy New Year! :)

Best way to spend a day in Portland? (January 2007)

Syrahgirl should be in a good position to respond here, since one day is about as much time as she spends on her infrequent Portland visits. But, unless you%26#39;re into Portland history and shopping, I think I%26#39;d pass on her recommendations. The view is nice from Pittock Mansion, and ';Nob Hill'; has funky-good shopping and dining, but neither is really unique.

Since it appears you%26#39;ve already seen most of the tourist-type attractions that Portland is noted for, I%26#39;d suggest you explore other interests. Mtngrl, another regular Portland forums poster can give you info on snowshoeing on Mt. Hood. I think she went last weekend with her family. If it%26#39;s of interest, there%26#39;s an ancient Egypt exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. Nothing like what you can see in NYC, but we%26#39;re pretty proud of it in Portland.

Have you been to Oregon%26#39;s wine country? It%26#39;s only 45 minutes SW of Portland. Wouldn%26#39;t be a bad way to spend a Thursday afternoon. All else failing, you can never go wrong with a drive to the coast. And if art is of interest, Cannon Beach would be the place. Some great galleries there. Not to mention Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park.

What kind of dining are you looking for? And where in Portland have you already been? The places syrahgirl suggests are, with the exception of Harborside, some good spots, but they%26#39;re generally standard Portland recommendations, and we might find something to suit you better.

Hi Gold Rush-

If you are interested in doing an out door pursuit by yourself(especially in the winter time), I might recommend hooking up with one of the many groups/clubs in Portland that offer hiking and snowshoeing trips for members and non-members alike.

Unfortunetly most trips are on the weekend, but you might get lucky and find a group doing something on that Thursday. You might have to do some web surfing to find a group. The ultimate hiking institution in Portland is the Mazamas. They have a link to other hiking groups in the area-I%26#39;m pretty confident that the groups linked to the Mazamas would be just as repuatable.

If that seems like too much work- a solo trip to the beach is always nice. I agree with mistletoe-Cannon Beach seems like your type of place.

Fenouil is nice ( syrahgirl, next time you are in Oregon, you have to try some new places) but there are so many good places for lunch in town...if you will be in the Pearl District, in case you want to visit Powells again , then you are a walk or streetcar ride from Silk on the Corner of Glisan and 10th..Vietnamese, bowls of hot soup (pho) and wonderful warming dishes..

Up the street is Cha Cha Cha, a popular neighborhood Mexican place, Glisan and 12th..

A great hot bowl of minestrone or a big bowl of pasta can be found at Piazza Italia..you can watch Italian tv while you have lunch :)

Since you will be in the Pearl, take time to look at the galleries scattered around, food/cooking shops such as In Good Taste and Sur la Table..and don%26#39;t forget Whole Foods!

REI is on NW Johnson and 13th..that is where you can browse/shop for hiking, showshoeing equipement/clothes ..

Since you say you will be here in January, odds are it will be chilly and wet .. the Pittock Mansion is lovely but I would skip trying to see the grounds in the winter, as I would skip walking along the waterfront in winter.

Some people who have only been here once or twice in the summer, like to recommend the waterfront but it is also very busy at this time with construction of one of the main roadways as well as a new apt buildings so it is not the prettiest place in Portland at this time.

I am afraid the only ';people watching'; you might do is to see a homeless person sleeping on one of the benches in front of the hotel down there lol.

Definitely take a stroll or streetcar to NW 23rd and just wander in and out of the shops there...

Downtown you will find the usual malls (Pioneer Place) and departments stores (Nordstroms) Since you are from NJ, I know you have great shopping there, so downtown might not be that appealing to you in the short time you have here.. .. but there is a great lunch or dinner spot called West Cafe on 12th %26amp; SW Jefferson..they have a fireplace also which makes them cozy in the winter.

Hope this helps..hope the weather stays dry for you :)

A Thursday would be great for getting out snowshoeing! You will avoid the masses, which is always good.

Go to REI and rent snowshoes, they are only $15 per day.

As mistletoe said, we were just out this weekend. Try Trillium Lake, up by Mt. Hood. Very easy to find, and if it is a clear day there is a great view of Mt. Hood from near the dam at the lake. It is only a 5 mile loop, but you can add to it if you like. We did the usual loop, but then did a loop right along the lake shore as well. It is also open to cross country skiing, if you want to do that. After a day of either, head up to Timberline Lodge and get a warm drink and a meal. The lodge is really interesting.

If you want to hike, try Forest Park up in the NW section of town. Lots of trails there, and you can hike from near the zoo up to Pittock Mansion.

Or head down towards Salem and over to Silver Creek Falls. The loop there is about 7 miles and there are 10 falls. Beautiful area.

If it were me though, I would go snowshoeing or skiing and hit Timberline.

As the other locals mentioned, hanging out in Portland along the waterfront in January is not the most appealing thing to do.

NJ.?? Have you seen the Oregon Coast? If not one day there would be great. Maybe Portland to Cannon Beach to Tillamook and back to PDX. It can be enjoyed from car. with brief stops to get out.

I hear the whales are out along the Coast too :)

Whales? Did someone say whales? That would be amazing!!

Another amazing thing is all the great suggestions you%26#39;ve all provided! One of the things that struck me most about Portland the last time I was there was how nice everyone is. Thanks so much for all your time :-)

I am now torn between the coast and snowshoeing at Mt. Hood. Being fron NJ (now don%26#39;t laugh too hard) I am very partial to the ocean. We have a few nice beaches here and I%26#39;ve always said I could never live somewhere that wasn%26#39;t along one of the coasts. But I did also just buy a new pair of snowshoes that I%26#39;ve yet been able to use due to our warm weather this year so it%26#39;s tempting to hit Mt. Hood. Maybe I%26#39;ll plan for both and make my decision upon arrive based on Thursday%26#39;s weather.

As far as food goes, I can%26#39;t remember the names of any of the restaurants I ate at last time. -I know I know, it%26#39;s sad- But I do remember having very good food and love just about anything so I%26#39;ll be sure to try at least one of the suggested restaurants. I%26#39;ll have Friday night to myself as well which I plan to devote to Powell%26#39;s and food.

Thanks again for all your help! Happy New Year!

well, our coast much different than NJ. we have visited the coast in FL, GA, SC, VA, MA and ME. Only thing close is Maine, we have the rugged headlands but have more beaches. Though in Jan mostly just good to look at and maybe walk a bit, bundled up.

I have been to the Jersey shore and the Oregon coast is so much more dramatic ! I think Seaside might remind you of parts of the shore, like Asbury Park :)

goldrushbrides, I have no doubt you will have a good time, have a safe trip! Happy New Year to you too :)

Time share

we have two time share weeks in hawaii this year which we probably can%26#39;t use. Has any one had experience with a company who will handle rentals of those?

Time share

No experience, but I%26#39;d probably look at a website like VRBO, Redweek, or Rentalo.com.

If it%26#39;s at a complex, like with RCI or II, then you only have to make the reservations - the resort company takes care of the rest, just like if you were staying there.

Crater Lake- Late May?

Hi there

We are a group of 6 planning a trip to Crater lake in late May. I%26#39;ve been reading up about the weather and looks like May might not be a good time to visit? And are the campgrounds closed at that time? If so, what would be the best place to stay... preferably not a hotel/motel but cabins in a rustic setting would be ok.

Also what are the activities around that time of year?

Thanks a lot in advance!

Crater Lake- Late May?

I do not keep track of when north entrnce opens. It is often fairly late. but it does open before the rim road on east side opens. South entrance to Rim Village opens first.

Best time to visit Creter lake in July the Sept. most things open then or have not closed yeti Late June and early Oct pretty good too.

Late May bit of a risk, if part of a larger trip i would chance it, and take what was open when there, but not sure I would plan trip from Seattle for just Crater Lake. in late May.

Diamond Lake has some fairly decent cabins. which can sleep six people. I have stayed there 3 or 4 times, but would not recommend to those who prefer the Hilton. They are preety basic, but if north entrance not open, long way to south entrance

Union Creek has cabins, but they are smaller than Diamond lake, and even more basic. Prospect has a hotel which some seem to like. I have not been there. except to go by.

Crater Lake- Late May?

The Lodge at Crater Lake doesn%26#39;t open until late May, which as phirl says, may be before the rim road opens. And the campgrounds in the park don%26#39;t open until June. But I believe the ';cabins'; at Mazama Village near the south entrance are open year round. We stayed in one a couple years ago; they reminded me more of a 1960%26#39;s style motel than a cabin.

You might also consider the Prospect Hotel, which isn%26#39;t really a hotel in the sense one usually thinks. And it%26#39;s got the ';rustic setting'; part covered.

Anytime we%26#39;re in that area, we include at least a night%26#39;s stay, and a play or two at the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

I guess I will chime in too-

I second the idea of going to Ashland and seeing a play, especially if you haven%26#39;t been there before.

Definetly the lodging in the area, with exception of the Crater Lake Lodge, is probably not up to most travelers expectations. Not that its bad, but FYI.

If there is enough snow left in May and you bring/rent your snowshoes/skis you might be able to ski around the rim???

Other activities- Lake of the Woods-I haven%26#39;t stayed there, but is centraly located to Crater Lake and Ashland(and lower in elevation)-and may have canoes available to rent then, etc. I%26#39;ve been there for a day trip and it was pretty nice.

I hope that you could consider coming to Crater Lake a little later in the season. I really like the area-so much to do when the snow is gone.

Hi! I spent 3 summers working at Crater Lake. It is beautiful-well worth visiting. The more I worked there, the more I loved it. I think it is beatiful any time of the year.

My family usually go there once every winter-just for the day, as my parents live about 45 minutes from the park-to cross-country ski, sled, snowboad, etc. Actually, we are going to go there either this coming weekend or the middle of next month.

In the winter, the rangers lead snowshoe hikes, which I believe they continue to do until there is not enough snow-sometimes all the way to the end of June or so. Much of what is available to do or happening at Crater Lake depends on the snow-and deep it is and how long it takes to melt or be plowed.

About a May visit, you may be able to go on a snowshoe hike or check out snowshoes from the rangers at park headquarters-I would call to see when they are doing it, though. Also, you can play in the snow, and most likely, view the lake from the Rim.

Rim Drive, the road around the rim, will most likely still be closed from snow. They usually hope to open it for Memorial Day weekend, but usually don%26#39;t open it until June. Sometimes, it isn%26#39;t open until 4th of July Weekend. You may be able to eat a picnic lunch at a picnic table if enough snow has melted. Bathrooms are open year-round, as is the main visitor%26#39;s center. The visitor%26#39;s center has some nice displays and shows 1-2 different short movies.

If you love the snow, like me, then you would probably love Crater Lake in May, but if you want to be able to do more hiking (not on snowshoes), go on the boat tour, possibly see animals, drive around the rim, see the waterfall, the pinnacles, or enjoy warmer weather, I would probably go a little later. The North entrance to the park is closed in the winter, and may still be by late May.

A good overview of tne Park is at: http://www.nps.gov/archive/crla/day.htm

or at the Park%26#39;s homepage:

http://www.nps.gov/crla

Oh, just checked-all lodging in the park is closed for the winter, but the lodge reopens sometime in May.

SamRam, the Crater Lake NP site has information that you requested. Posters have also advised. Since you apparently are in Seattle, you have other choices for your group if you are set on and must do a May trip. Otherwise, you do need to follow their advice.

Beware of Paulina Lake Lodge

We were entirely mislead about pricing

We arrived and were treated disrespectfully by the owner

We entered the cabin and it was absolutely filthy--mouse droppings, soiled linens, corroded and rotten sink and counter area, the dirtiest shower curtain i have ever seen. very thick dust everywhere, a very uncomfortable and extremely old saggy matress with years of stains, rags for towels, bathroom was disgusting.

Wayyyyy over priced. This place is a dump. the rooms should be 25 a night, or free.

Beware of Paulina Lake Lodge

Ironic timing as there was just an article in the Destinations section of our paper yesterday on Paulina Lake Resort. Is this the same place?

So what else did you do in the area? I hope any lodging issues didn%26#39;t keep you from having a great time in the area.

Beware of Paulina Lake Lodge

Yikes, that%26#39;s too bad. We have friends re-locating from Seaside to La PIne, I%26#39;ll give them a heads-up. Did you eat at the restaurant there? You may want to consider posting a review about your stay also. :)

Their website cherry picks views and facilities. Too bad you did not inquire, a lesson learned for all of us. We rent boats there when we stay in Sun River, but only to explore the environment and to bird. It%26#39;s really mostly for fishers and...

Best Little Road House used to be a pizza place?

I have been wracking my brain trying to remember the name of the pizza place that was located where Best Little Road House is now. In fact, my entire family was thinking about it over dinner. I moved away about 15 years ago, but we used to go to that pizza place every week. If anyone knows, please let me know and put my mind at reast, finally. ;)

Best Little Road House used to be a pizza place?

Where on earth are you talking about? Seattle, WA, PDX, OR?

Best Little Road House used to be a pizza place?

Are you referring to the Best Little Roadhouse in Salem? That building has housed several restaurants, including Mimi%26#39;s Pizza and Garden Golf. Before that I think it was called Walery%26#39;s (but now I am not sure and wracking my brain too!). I remember they had old yearbook pages from around the area on the tables... fun place!

Eureka! It was Dr. Munchies. :) (Walery%26#39;s is in West Salem)

Fiveforfun--Did you go to high school in Salem? I did...Sprague:)

Yes, Mtngirl ... I grew up in Salem and graduated from North. :) Go Viks!

My mom still lives there so we visit several times a year... especially during baseball season to watch the Volcanoes play in Keizer.

One of our very close friends went to North. He graduated in %26#39;83. My parents are in CA now, but we go back to Salem every time they visit to go see our old neighbors and such.

Salem is a mess today. Well, everywhere around here is, lol!

LOL, %26#39;83 was waay before my time at NSH. It%26#39;s just clear and cold in Bend today. I sure don%26#39;t miss the freezing rain...

LOL:) I was %26#39;84...so am I old? Please don%26#39;t answer;)

So far just snow here. But not looking food for later. DH tried to go to work this morning but with trucks overturned and such he came back.

pimple treatment

Oregon Coast Camping

I%26#39;m not familiar with the Oregon Coast at all, so I%26#39;d appreciate it if any of you can offer some ideas for your favorite/most beautiful places to camp/hike/mountain bike anywhere along the coast.

I%26#39;m looking for something remote/rustic, with campsites that are protected from the wind.

A good analogy would be Big Sur - spectacular scenery, good hiking, and a minimum of the typical tourist trappings.

I%26#39;ve noticed in my web searches that many popular coastal areas are populated with large, multilevel hotel/condo/timeshare complexes on the beach - that%26#39;s what I%26#39;d like to avoid.

Thanks!

Oregon Coast Camping

When are you traveling? How much time will you have to experience the OR coast? And you will find this is not the CA coastline in terms of development. Much of it is State owned and/or restricted from development.

Oregon Coast Camping

Mid August for about a week and a half. (Two weeks vacation, but must include travel time from/to San Diego.)

Hi ehere-

mid-August is the prime season for the Oregon Coast- so expect lots of tourists and a little less on the remote/rustic feeling during this time.

Oregon State Parks are pretty nice-don%26#39;t know if they fit your remote/rustic defintions(since I haven%26#39;t been to Big Sur). They are normally filled to capacity in the summer so again-not sure if that is an issue. I would recommend reservations at campgrounds that take them. Here are some state parks you might want to check out on the Oregon State Park website for camping

Sunset Bay- protected %26#39;swimming%26#39; beach %26amp; network of trails to other state parks

Tugman-not on the beach, but protected and out of the wind on Eel Lake.

Honeyman-great for families-tons of activites-canoeing, playing in sand dunes, etc

Washbourne-nice system of trails-including out to Heceta Head Lighthouse.

Cape Lookout- beautiful hike out to the end of Cape Lookout and a trail to the beach

Fort Stevens-Not for camping-it feels like sardine camping- but a very interesting area with lots of hiking %26amp; history. It has a really great beach that is free of hotels and the like-a nice walking beach.

I%26#39;m sure you will get lots of advice-there are regular posters here who give excellent advice on the Oregon Coast.

Chinookgrrrl gave some EXCELLENT advice; good choices and good recommendation regarding reservations (resys) in state parks.

I%26#39;ll add two other parks that, from your description, fits nearly perfectly: #1, Oswald West State Park. It is 10 miles south of Cannon Beach (4 miles north of Manzanita. It%26#39;s beautiful, a bit rustic (walk-in campground; no showers) and 15 miles of the multi-use Oregon Coast Trail. The downside here is there are only 34 (I think) campsites and they do not accept resys. To increase your chance at getting a spot, try weekdays and arrive around 9 am and wait for a capsite to vacate. If you%26#39;re bold, you can quiz campers to find out who%26#39;s staying or leaving.

#2, Ecola State Park. Located in north Cannon Beach, it also fits your description. They recently added rustic cabins on top of Tillamook Head, right along the Oregon Coast Trail. There are no ammneities in the general area, but it%26#39;s not too far from civilization.

Chinookgrrrl mentioned Carl G. Washburne, which is 15 miles north of Florence on the central coast. There are walk-in campsites here also, but again, Washburne is a non-resy park, so same scenario exists as at Os West.

There are a number of USFS campgrounds beginning with the Siuslaw National Forest in southern Tillamook County. They tend to be a bit more rustic than state camprounds and they have some nice locations, but it would be hard to argue that State Parks have most of the prime locations along the coast.

For more information on Oregon Statre Parks, visit www.oregonstateparks.org.

~Den~

Thanks chinookgrrrl and dengay for the great info. That gives me a lot to go on. (-:

Check out Cape Perpetua also. There is a hike to the beach though. You can see the Giant Spruce. Like I said, you%26#39;ll have to hike a couple of miles to the beach but the views are beautiful. There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and a visitors center.

Honeyman can sometimes be a little loud at night. Sometimes the partiers can make it miserable for other campers but I don%26#39;t think this happens all the time.

Hi ehere, I also enjoy both the Oregon Coast and Big Sur. Ecola State Park in Cannon Beach is gorgeous but Cannon Beach is very touristy in the summer, not what I would call remote at all. Fort Stevens is also very nice but can get very touristy in the summer. I think you would most enjoy Oswald West State Park, we surfed there a lot last summer. I have some photos posted on this site, as you can see from one of the photos, it can get VERY crowded on the weekends here with the surf crowds. Short Sands Beach is where the surfers and groups like to go.

The Central Oregon Coast has some very nice scenery and is less populated than the northern coast in the summer months. I have found the entire Oregon Coast from Brookings to Astoria to be very pretty, you may want to pick up an issue of Oregon Coast magazine to help you with your travel decisions. Have fun! :)

We have stayed at ';Beachside'; near Yachats several times and found it to be a very pleasant campground. We never had a problem with wind there. It isn%26#39;t very remote though, as it lies on a stretch between 101 and the beach!

You could try North of Lincoln city, in the Three Capes area. We were there in October (staying in a beach house) and there were many nice hiking trails and great scenery.

I camped at Honeyman about 7 years ago and won%26#39;t go back. That place is like a small city.

Some other places I like-

Pistol River State Park-one of my favorite beaches on the south coast-just beacuse there is nothing really there except miles of beach-hence not alot of people. :)

Cape Perpetua that Junlauf mentioned is also an excellent area. The tide pools here are pretty spectacular-if interested make sure you stop. -I like Cummins Creek Wilderness area located on Cape Perpetua for a %26#39;old-growth%26#39; forest hike.

Den-also gives EXCELLENT advice! :) You probably should visit Oswald West %26amp; Ecola-they are %26#39;classic%26#39; oregon views, but I find them so busy in the summer that it puts a damper on the experience. If you go try to go early in the morning if possible.

There are many pull-outs along the side of 101 for beach access as well. So if you find a place you like go for it!

I%26#39;m not sure which way you are traveling on Hwy 101 N to S or

S to N, but note that if you travel N to S you will be on the ocean side and the views and pull outs will be much more accessable.

One more thought ehere, I would make a reservation asap for mid-August, places fill up very quickly in the summer months, you don%26#39;t want to be disappointed if you really have your heart set on a certain area that sounds like it would work for you. :)

Jan 16th - Bad roads Ice and Snow

How%26#39;s it in your neck of the woods?

Jan 16th - Bad roads Ice and Snow

Except for the ummm..... nice people ;-) who don%26#39;t know how to drive in these conditions, I just love this weather. Even though it took me 45 minutes to get the four miles between my home and office this morning.

As I look out the window now (from my west Lake O office building), there%26#39;s a light snow falling, and about four inches on the ground. :-)

Jan 16th - Bad roads Ice and Snow

DH tried to go to work this morning. The overturned truck in the road made it impossible, so he was home by 6:30. He just left for Albany though, and will be stayed the night there as a precaution. He has a meeting in downtown Portland tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully all is thawed by then. Especially since he needs to pick up our Jax tickets at the Rose Quarter, lol!

We had over 6 inches at our house. Haven%26#39;t seen DS for hours...he is off with the boys somewhere on the street.

Julauf--You are in Albany, right? How is it there?

mistletoe--I can%26#39;t believe you made it to work! From what they showed of Scholls Ferry I assummed you were home.

Hello from the snowy Pearl in NW Portland!

We woke up to everything white and quiet and beautiful. The roads are still not clear ( we are from the NE , where plows are out with the first snow flake lol) but everyone is walking around, shopping and smiling.

We took the dog down to the Park Blocks where he ran without a leash because he was faster than any cars out today.

We enjoyed it , took photos of the Pearl in snow and Pup in snow. I think Pup wins the cute catagory.

Whole Foods was not too busy, Powells looked busy and the streetcars are running.

I reeeally like it :)

My pup has to leap from place to place her legs are so short. 4'; here on Bull Mountain

Glad I live where I do right now. It%26#39;s 40 ish and partly cloudy. We had heavy rain this mornin. Hwy 126 west was closed for a couple of hours due to frezing rain, which effectively put an end to my plans for an overnight stay in Salem tonight and meeting at Tryon Creek tomorrow.

Talked to the park manager at Nehalm Bay this mornin. He sent me a pic from last week of the entrance to the park with 8'; of snow and a x-country skier plodding along! Haven%26#39;t seen that much snow in that neck of the woods since 1991.

~Den~

Den--I thought of you this morning as I was taking pics of our Golden in the snow. She was funny...just laying there like it was 75 degrees outside, lol!

It is amazing how they seem unaffected by snow and rain. My girl (b4 she passed) used to seek out puddles to lay in and would root around in snow like a pig looking for truffles! My current pup is a little too spoiled I%26#39;m affraid.

~Den~

Mtngrl, since Julauf hasn%26#39;t answered, I guess I will: Albany is looking OK from where I sit - inside. We got the freezing rain this AM and a bit of snow that didn%26#39;t really stick. They closed the schools first thing, including LBCC later. Travel was pretty iffy because of the ice, not snow. Our contractor just left for Corvallis, though, so he seems to think that driving is OK now - he had cancelled a morning appointment there. According to the computer, it%26#39;s 37 degrees outside; according to my thermostat, it%26#39;s 42.

Den--LOL...our Golden is definitely a miss priss.

motherrobyn--Thanks! I%26#39;m not sure of DH will stay with family down there or what. Guess he will figure it out, lol! Glad that it has warmed up so much though and hopefully ice in the morning won%26#39;t be too much of an issue.

Shore Acres Christmas lights

Anyone been to see these lights. Any recommendations about parking or where to eat beforehand. Thanks. Marlyne

Shore Acres Christmas lights

Haven%26#39;t been to their Christmas light display, but plan on going this year. When we were there during summer, there was tons of parking available on site. I don%26#39;t know how crowded this place gets though.

Sorry I can%26#39;t provide anymore info, this is more to remind me later about this.

Shore Acres Christmas lights

This is an ABSOLUTE MUST SEE at least once!! It is truely an indescribable expericene that will be sure to set the mood for the entire Christmas season.

Parking can be pretty crowded on weekends, but during the week there is usually not a problem. Take a flashlight with you b/c if you end up parking at one of the spots farthest from the garden entrance, it can be quite dark.

One of my favorite restaurants in the Coos Bay area is in Charleston, just a few miles from the Park. The Fisherman%26#39;s Groto is located at the east end of the Charleston Bridge.

You can go to www.oregonstateparks.org for more informaion on Shore Acres and this year%26#39;s light show.

Den

Shore Acres is pretty cool especially with the lights. I%26#39;ve seen it a few times and it really gets me into the winter/CHristmas spirit.

I always like the Portside in Charleston. Its pretty spendy, but I thought it was really good and worth the price. It also has a nice view of the bay.

I have volunteered there the last two years and plan on it again this year. The lights are truly awesome. Each year with the donations they add more lights. Over the last few years they now have motion displays like a whale breeching, and a few others. Den is right that it is a little slow getting in on Friday and Saturday nights and pretty much every night the week before Christmas. People move through fairly quickly though. And after you stroll around looking at all the lights go into the small house there and see how all the rooms are decorated and get some hot cider or coffee and a cookie. Never know, it could be me behind the counter making cookie trays up or making cider and coffee. I think I gain 5 lbs. when I work there. Hey, you can%26#39;t serve broken cookies now, can you? LOL

As for a place to eat lets see.........

If you like Mexican food I recommend Los Dos Amigos in the Pony Village Mall in North Bend. Awesome food!!!! The Carne Asada is to die for. The wife loves their Chili Colorado.

If you like Mediterranean food the Cafe Mediterranean on Union in North Bend is very good. He was even on Rachael Ray%26#39;s $40 a day. ( www.cafemediterranean.net )

For Italian try Benetti%26#39;s in down town Coos Bay. If you like pasta bring a big appetite. Really good New York%26#39;s also. ( www.benettis.com )

For steaks and Cajun seafood try Oyster Cove Pub %26amp; Grill in Charleston. I have not eaten there yet and it is a bit pricy but I hear it is great. It was also featured on Rachael Ray%26#39;s $40 a day. ( www.oystercovepubandgrill.com )

For steaks and seafood the Portside in Charleston use to be really good. Haven%26#39;t been there in a few years but haven%26#39;t heard anything bad about them. I had some great prime rib there before. ( www.portsidebythebay.com )

And Oriental, my wife really likes Kum-Yon%26#39;s in downtown Coos Bay which is a nicer type of place. Myself I like the family style Tai%26#39;s Dynasty in North Bend.

The two restaurants in Charleston are fairly close to Shore Acres on the way out to it. The ones in Coos Bay and North Bend are farther away (about 15-20 minutes) from the Charleston area but pretty much go through them on your way to Shore Acres.

Hope this helps. Enjoy the lights and Oregon%26#39;s Bay area.

Thanks for all the great information. We will be at Shore Acres on December 20, 2006. We know we like Chuck%26#39;s smoked oysters in Charleston, so we probably will eat at a Charleston restaurant. My family owned a steak house at Pony Village around 35 years ago. This will be a nostalgic trip. My sister and husband and Mom will be meeting my husband and me.

The lights at Shore Acres truly are fantastic!!! The clam chowder and seafood platter at Portside was very good too. When we left Shore Acres, we had very few non-raining times. The waves were huge and we did get a little sunshine. The Oregon coast from Brookings north is hard to beat. Love it. Marlyne

And thank you for letting us know how it went.

Anthony Boudain

To anyone interested, I saw last night that this coming Monday (Jan 15) at 10 pm on the Travel Channel, Anothony Bourdain will be exploring the Pacific NW.

~Den~

Anthony Boudain

Everything you ever wanted to know about Anthony Bourdain can also be read on portlandfood.org...

I wonder when he was in Oregon last , he was in Lebanon during the bombing so I am not sure when he was actually here.

Anthony Boudain

Den, I googled it and it seems to be the episode from 2005.

But it still is good to watch .. :D

We were watching the Travel Channel last night and saw that about the show on Monday. We were laughing at the tidbits they showed:) Were you watching the Travel Channel last night by chance?

Yes! I rarely miss Samantha Brown. She cracks me up!! B4 that I was watching the family that traveled to New Zealand. That was pretty interesting.

~Den~

Den--Isn%26#39;t she good?! She has a great sense of humor! Last night, the little village of Eze...it reeled me in and I told DH I want to go there. Then the show on Edinburgh made us both want to go back. Sigh...I need to buy lottery tickets and hope, lol!

I am lacking in Travel Channel knowledge, obviously. I have not seen any Samantha Brown shows.

Samantha has been on the Travel Channel for couple of years. This past year they began a series of 1/2 hour segments with her traveling throughout Europe. Very interesting for those of us less traveled. DW and DS, who is 8, love her too. We rarely miss a show. Check it out on Thursdays on the Travel Channel.

~Den~

Scarlett--OMG, you will LOVE this show!!! Much better than Rick Steve%26#39;s or Rudy Maxwell (but I will watch anything when they show some great places, lol!).

The best travel show bar none is Globetrekker on PBS, but I liked Bourdain%26#39;s show as well.

I must have missed Bourdain in the NW when it was new - I%26#39;ll check it out.

It was a new (2007) show. I watched it and found it entertaining, especially camping at Lost Lake and clamming on Puget Sound.

Oh, and the maple bar with bacon on top peaked my interest!!!

~Den~