Visiting the Pacific NW

Bonsai Nut

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
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This summer (mid/late August) we plan to visit the Pacific NW.

My wife and I have been to Seattle and Portland (cities) but not much else. Our daughter (who has never been to anywhere in the NW) wants to go to see the forests and rugged character of the area.

For people familiar with the area, what would you lump into a week-long vacation? Where would you go, what would you recommend doing? We are more of an outdoors hiking/horse riding/site-seeing/wolf watching type of family, but would like to mix in a bunch of various things so we don't feel like we are living in our car.

Would love to spend the day out in the wild, but not be far away from good pub food, pizza, etc.
 
You should have a great trip........maybe a future road trip would see you heading even further north "eh".........lots to do and explore on Vancouver Island.
 
I have made a couple of trips for work to Portland and Seattle. I was happy to have some down time to do some site seeing but I would really like to go back to spend some time exploring.

Elandan Gardens and the Pacific Bonsai Museum are well worth the visit.

The Portland Japanese Garden is very nice.

I have been told Multnomah Falls is really nice but haven't had a chance to visit.
 
Whale watching is awesome up there! Orcas! Some even guarantee seeing whales. Also a City Pass is a good value. You can find them online see if it is something you want to do. The Tacoma zoo is a good place. Also you can go to Mt. Ranier(sp). Love Seattle! One of my favorite places to go.
 
The Portland Japanese Garden is not to be missed, and it backs onto Forest Park. The Wildwood Trail runs right behind the garden and is an awesome easy hike. The Columbia River Gorge just east of the city is spectacular, and the Old Historic Highway will take you along a beautiful route with lots of hikes and incredible waterfalls just off the road, including Multnomah Falls. If you stop at the Women's Forum Lookout you will get one of the most photographed views of the gorge. Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood is beautiful, and where the Shining was filmed. If you have time to get to the coast that is a very worthwhile adventure as well, and Ecola State Park is another view you will recognize from many posters and from the Goonies, and is about the shortest trip to the coast from the city. If you like wine and beer you will have lots of great places to check out. The Portland Saturday Market every Sat. and Sun. will give you a great look at the city and has wonderful locally made stuff. Pike Place Market in Seattle is iconic and it's fun to watch the fish throwers. Experience Music Project is an awesome museum unlike anything you will find elsewhere, and is right near the space needle. I can go on and on... If you have any specific questions please don't hesitate to reach out. This is a great area and I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip.
 
Folks tend to neglect the Washington Coast. Olympic National Park is gorgeous.

Other sights to see include the Oregon coast drive and the Columbia River Gorge. Northwest Trek in Eatonville Washington is a wildlife rehabilitation center that is always fun.

Consider staying on the West side of the Sound and visiting Seattle by ferry. Consider staying in Port Angeles or Port Townshend, and then you can take the Ferry up to Victoria BC for the day as well.
 
Cannon beach is pretty cool, crowd free though when we were there, don't know how summer would be. There are some old growth forests to see around there, such amazing trees, good hiking trails.
 
"Would love to spend the day out in the wild, but not be far away from good pub food, pizza, etc."
Crater Lake at Crater Lake Natl Park. Hike up Mt. Scott at lake see MANY beautiful Bonsai like Whitebark pines. Nearby see gigantic 12' + diameter Douglas fir. At LaPine State Park not far north see giant 8'+ diameter Ponderosa pine. Love trees:D:rolleyes:.
 
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If you are coming up the I 5 corridor and have some time, head west thru Corvallis and Philomath up to the summit of Mary's Peak. The highest mt in the Oregon Coastal Range. Up there you will find a loop trail thru an old growth Noble Fir grove. The summit view is great 360. You can see from the Pacific Ocean all the way to 6 or more of the high cascade peaks in Oregon if the weather cooperates.
 
Arcto said:
If you are coming up the I 5 corridor and have some time, head west thru Corvallis and Philomath up to the summit of Mary's Peak. The highest mt in the Oregon Coastal Range. Up there you will find a loop trail thru an old growth Noble Fir grove. The summit view is great 360. You can see from the Pacific Ocean all the way to 6 or more of the high cascade peaks in Oregon if the weather cooperates.
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That sounds really great! We are heading back that way in January, hopefully the weather would be good enough to try that out. I love old growth, nothing like it.
 
JudyB said:
That sounds really great! We are heading back that way in January, hopefully the weather would be good enough to try that out. I love old growth, nothing like it.
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Judy, just a heads up that January at the summit of Mary's Peak is a crapshoot. Could be fog, rain, high wind or just 5' of snow on the ground. Often the FS closes the road to the summit then. The hardy can Nordic or snowshoe up there if the conditions are good. Be sure to check conditions and road closures before committing. Otherwise, I'd recommend seeing it. The grove has aged to the point of overall decline. More of the big trees are blowdowns now. (Another reason to avoid going there during high wind events).
 
Arcto said:
Judy, just a heads up that January at the summit of Mary's Peak is a crapshoot. Could be fog, rain, high wind or just 5' of snow on the ground. Often the FS closes the road to the summit then. The hardy can Nordic or snowshoe up there if the conditions are good. Be sure to check conditions and road closures before committing. Otherwise, I'd recommend seeing it. The grove has aged to the point of overall decline. More of the big trees are blowdowns now. (Another reason to avoid going there during high wind events).
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Yeah, we had lots of ice to deal with last Jan., so we know plans are just plans, lol. You got any other old growth favs. along the coast? We're anywhere from Yachats to Cannon Beach and on up to Seattle weather permitting.
 
Try Drift Creek Wilderness east of Waldport. At certain times of year, you can see salmon spawning in the riffles.
 
Did you wind up making it out here this August? There have been quite a few significant changes in our landscape in the past week due to fires in the gorge.
 
Josh88 said:
Did you wind up making it out here this August? There have been quite a few significant changes in our landscape in the past week due to fires in the gorge.
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Sadly no... We haven't seen some of our family in years, so we ended up heading to Wisconsin.

I've seen all the news about the fires...
 
Bonsai Nut said:
I've seen all the news about the fires...
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Yeah, It been a bad year for them. Half the days in the last month our weather has been listed as "smokey." Some of the fires have been burning non-stop since June.
 
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