Help planning 10-day roadtrip to Oregon

I%26#39;m planning a 10 day trip to Oregon this June with my husband and 2 kids (ages 11 %26amp; 4). The main purpose of our trip is to visit my husband%26#39;s grandparents who have yet to see all their grandkids. Since we%26#39;ll be in Oregon (for the first time!!!) we thought we%26#39;d make a roadtrip out of it and see as much as we could see. We%26#39;re going to do a straight shot from Rohnert Park, CA to Tillamook. We%26#39;ll spend the weekend in Tillamook and then head to Portland Monday morning. Please bear with me as I%26#39;m at the very beginning phase of planning so I%26#39;m still not sure about our itnerary so any suggestions would be very appreciated!!! Here%26#39;s a rough schedule of our plans:

Day 1 %26amp; 2 - Tillamook visiting family and visit Cannon Beach

Day 3 - Portland - thought about going to the zoo - is it worth it? Anything else to do there?

Day 4 - Mt Hood (staying in Portland) - is 1 full day enough?

Day 5 - Newport - Oregon Coast Aquarium - how much time should I alott for that?

Day 6 - Yachatas/Florence/Bandon - taking our time driving down the coast - is 1 day enough? Wanted to also see the Sea Lion Caves. Planning to stay in Bandon that night so any family friendly lodging suggestions greatly appreciated!

Day 7 - Bandon (West Coast Game Park)

Day 8 - Winston - we really want to visit the Wildlife Safari there. Anyone been there? How much time should I set aside for that? We plan to go to Crater Lake the next day. After the Wildlife Safari we plan to start heading towards Crater Lake. What town would make a good homebase for Crater Lake?

Day 9 - Crater Lake - plan to spend the whole day - is that enough time? I read somewhere that you could even take a boatride around it - is that safe for a 4 yr old?

Day 10 - back home

Is this doable? Am I spending enough time or too much tim in one place? I know we%26#39;re doing a little backtracking from Tillamook to Portland and then back to the coast, but couldn%26#39;t find a way around that. Any and all suggestions are appreciated. Our itinerary is not set in stone, but there are a few places the kids really want to see. We%26#39;re also foodies, so any suggestions for must stop places to eat along the coast would be appreciated. Thanks!!!!

Help planning 10-day roadtrip to Oregon

Yes, the zoo is great. I suggest going early in the day before the crowds. Another place our kids enjoy (and us) is OMSI.

Mt. Hood...what are you looking to do? A really good full day trip would include the gorge. Do a loop. Head out of Portland, going east, and get on the old scenic highway. Lots of places to stop for scenic views or to check out waterfalls. Multnomah Falls is the grandaddy...hike to the very top. Continue east to Hood River, then down around the backside of Mt. Hood. Go up to Timberline Lodge. Play in the snow or go hike. Continue back towards Portland.

I haven%26#39;t stayed here, but neighbors did (with their kids)...the Best Western in Bandon.

Crater Lake is a must see. The boat rides I don%26#39;t think start til July, but I hope I am wrong so that you can go. Age is not a problem for that. We had a great guide last summer on our boat ride. Spent some time around the lodge as well.

Help planning 10-day roadtrip to Oregon

By straight shot assume you mean I-5 to at least Salem.

Day 3, nice zoo, but not a highlight point for me, though mey be best thing for kids if you want a day in PDX

Day 4 I would drive the Old Columbia Gorge Highway and take most of day doing it. Those kids should enjoy the many waterfalls stop at Bonneville Dam, check fish ladder and the fish pond at nursery, some big sturgeon.

Days 5-7 Aquarium quite good, a bit expensive. but my grandkids enjoyed these coastal things more. Kayak trip on Beaver Creek from South Beach SP, dune buggy ride south of Florence, all 4 of you can go in one vehicle, Low tide tide pool visit at Seal Rock SP with naturalist. but you need to be lucky enough to catch a good low tide.

I would got to Sea Lion Caves spendy and may not see much. want to see the sea lions go to the docks in Newport

Day 8-9. Never been to Game Park someone else may help. Crater lake does not have a lot of overnight stuff. you might be able to get a room at lodge this early. it will be spendy. Diamond Lake has facilities. i have stayed there they are ok . Prospect has a hotel that others here like. since I have not stayed there can%26#39;t comment

whatever the case you need to make rervations soon.

Some decent campgroaunds near Crater Lake

With 4 year old I would not take the boat ride, it is the trail not the boat that would not be good, one mile down hill and then you have to go back up the trail. I you want boat ride kids would enjoy do Rogue River jet boat at grants Pass

Sounds like a very nicely planned trip. In Tillamook I would suggest visiting the Cheese Factory there as well as the Blue Heron Cheese place, they have a small petting zoo at Blue Heron that the kids should enjoy. We also enjoyed the Tillamook Air Museum, a very nicely done exhibit and educational, also.

A big yes to the Portland Zoo, it%26#39;s great fun and there is plenty to do and see there for an afternoon. I would also suggest taking a look at the Rose Gardens, gorgeous place with a nice view of Mt. Hood if the weather is clear for you. A stroll down the Nob Hill area of Portland would be fun, stop at Escape From New York for a slice of pizza or take the kids to the Moonstruck Chocolate shop for some yummy sweet treats and chocolate milkshakes. You may also want to take a ride on the new aerial tram in Portland.

We visited the Oregon Coast Aquarium last summer, it%26#39;s very nice. Allow a couple of hours or so to go through the exhibits, get a bite to eat, browse the gift shops, etc. The Tunnel of the Deep is a cool exhibit that the kids will enjoy.

We have not been to the Wildlife Safari for several years, but did enjoy the few times we did go here when all of our kids were young. If you like to wine taste, Abacela is in the area, a great place to taste some excellent Oregon wines. We love their Vintner%26#39;s Blend as a basic table wine and also their Viognier.

Crater Lake is gorgeous, very blue and is mostly a viewing lake. The boat ride that goes out to Wizard Island sounds fun, we have not been on the boat. I would be curious to see how how you like it when you return. We like to stay in Ashland at the Ashland Plaza Inn %26amp; Suites A very nice place for families, your kids would enjoy spending some time in Lithia Park feeding the ducks and swans.

Hope this helps and have a nice time on your travels! :)

phirl--You have a point with the trail. I guess it just depends on the child, and the family as well. Our kids have been backpacking with us for years, so it was not an issue with us. But honestly, the trail back up was much harder for adults than kids...the adults that were out of shape or were from flatlands so not used to elevation changes. There were benches along the way that we saw some people stopping to rest at.

The tram...it goes up to the OHSU (hospital). It was built as transportation between facilities, not as a tourist tram. If you go, please be respectful that the other people in that tram are most likely not very happy to be having to go to OHSU.

syrah--The boat ride goes to more than just Wizard Island. That is a stop, but it goes all around the lake. You should try it:)

I would got to Sea Lion Caves spendy .. my quote, what did I mean by that. let%26#39;s start over

I would not go to Sea Lion Caves

I would got to Sea Lion Caves spendy .. my quote, what did I mean by that. let%26#39;s start over

I would not go to Sea Lion Caves

On your way south, between Lincoln City and Newport, if it%26#39;s time for either lunch or dinner, stop at Depoe Bay and eat at ';Tidal Raves';. Great restaurant with an envious view.

I assume the grandparents know what there is to do in Tillamook. Nevertheless, don%26#39;t hesitate to sacrifice a stop at Blue Heron and/or Tillamook Cheese Factory for a chance to get up to Cannon Beach. You can always stop at the Cheese Factory for an ice cream cone on the way back. Realize it%26#39;s a 1+ hour drive to Cannon Beach, though.

I might get flamed for this from a couple fellow locals, ;-) but I%26#39;d pass on the zoo too if it meant missing the gorge. There%26#39;s only one Columbia River Gorge on this planet!! And if you do as Mtngrl suggests and loop around Mt. Hood (good idea), your kids would probably also enjoy a stop at Ski Bowl, where during the summer they%26#39;ve got an alpine slide and a few carnival-like attractions. But, the way this winter%26#39;s going, they might still be skiing up there in June. ;-)

Like other locals who%26#39;ve responded on this thread, I%26#39;ve not been to the Game Park or Wildlife Safari, I guess because I don%26#39;t see them as unique to Oregon. If you want to see animals in their natural habitat, turn inland at Reedsport on hwy 38 for a few miles to the elk reserve. And, if you can fit it in, take a jetboat ride up the Rogue River. In any case, I%26#39;m sure the kids would love the dune buggy ride phirl%26#39;s suggesting.

Since there are so few accommodations near Crater Lake, you might already be too late in finding anything. Worse case, you could do just a drive-by viewing along the west rim road with a stop at Rim Village. East rim road might still be closed. What route are you planning up to the lake?

Wow! Lots of great advice! The more info I have the better :) I%26#39;m glad this itinerary is doable because it covers a lot of what the family wants to do/see.

Yes, we plan to take the 5 to Salem then head west to Tillamook. I thought about doing Crater Lake and the Wildlife Safari in Winston on the way up, but we need to be in Tillamook on the weekend and the earliest we can leave home is Friday am. I wonder, how long does the Wildlife Safari take? Maybe we could do that on the way up if it%26#39;s only a couple of hours to do. Then we%26#39;ll have an extra day to spend on the coast - any suggestions where?

As far as Mount Hood, well, we%26#39;re just there to see the sights and the waterfalls along the Columbia River Hwy (is this the same as the Old Columbia Gorge Highway?). We were planning to do the Mount Hood Loop. If there are short hiking trails, we may do that, but mostly we%26#39;re there to enjoy the scenery.

I%26#39;ll have to see about the trail to Crater Lake. We%26#39;ve done some hikes locally and my daughter did okay with 1-2 mile trails, but those were pretty level trails. Is the hike to Crater Lake really steep? Is it a dirt trail or paved? We did a short hike up to a bluff in Point Reyes once. It was really steep and she didn%26#39;t do so well. We made it to the top, but it took awhile and it was way less than a mile. If there are benches to rest along the way we may be okay. I quess we%26#39;ll have to play that by ear. I%26#39;ve read about driving the rim of the lake - would that be possible in mid-June? And what are the road conditions generally like?

Phirl - Why do you suggest not going to Sea Lion Caves? It%26#39;s not a priority and there are plenty of places in Northern Cal to see Sea Lions so we could easily skip it, but I was just wondering why you don%26#39;t suggest we go. Also, you suggested the Rogue River jet boats. Do you think a 4yr old would like this? She%26#39;s never been on a boat before.

Syrahgirl - As always, great advice on what the kids might like in Portland. Escape from New York and Moonstruck Chocolate is on the itinerary!! And, I think we%26#39;ll take your advice and stay in Ashland after Crater Lake. It gives us a good place to start to our trip back home

One last question, how is the weather there in June? Is there a big difference between the weather inland vs the coast vs the mountains? What kind of clothes should we pack?

The TripAdvisor forums is always one of the first places I go whenever I%26#39;m planning a trip! Again, thanks for all the advice and suggestions and keep them coming!

I might get flamed for this from a couple fellow locals, ;-) but I%26#39;d pass on the zoo too if it meant missing the gorge. There%26#39;s only one Columbia River Gorge on this planet!! And if you do as Mtngrl suggests and loop around Mt. Hood (good idea), your kids would probably also enjoy a stop at Ski Bowl, where during the summer they%26#39;ve got an alpine slide and a few carnival-like attractions

quote from Mistletoe

Right only one of them. So many waterfalls in such a short distance

I had forgotten at the Ski Bowl slide, we took 3 of grandkids there this summer and they would hardly quit, they are 10, 12 and 22. mom and dad and grandma went too. I baby sat the dogs

Also agree stop at elk viewing site east of Reedsport.