Recommendations please for itinerary from Portland Oregon

[lucydogz]

We've hired a car and have 3 weeks but can't make up our minds to go north, South or East. Any suggestions?

Oh wow no suggestions but lucky you with 3 weeks. We have 2 weeks but are starting in San Fran and going south to Monterey then east to Las Vegas, Death Valley and Yosemite.

I guess you could go south to San Fran then do Napa etc. Or north would be Vancouver and maybe Banff? Or could you drive east towards Chicago? There is just too much choice and not enough time so I have told DH we will just have to go back. When are you going?

Sitting in Heathrow now. We did roughly what you're doing a while ago, but Grand Canyon and Monument Valley instead of Las Vegas. Have a great time.

We have just come back from a 2.5 week trip to Oregon and wow it is a fantastic place. We drove from Portland down to Medford at the bottom of the State and stayed here for 4 days. went white water rafting, Oregon caves and Crater lake. then stayed in bend which is a fabulous city and I would go back there again - more lakes, rafting and walks plus the 1st Nation museum and finally stayed at Government Camp - lost lake, swimming under snow capped mountains etc. we also visited some of the vineyards and did some sailing on the Hood river as well as more rafting. message me for info as I have loads of it and don't want to bore anyone else! we decided not to do the coastal bits but will definitely go back as it was a brilliant holiday.

We have also just come back from 2.5 weeks in Washington state and Oregon. Our kids might be a bit younger than Mummymeister's (based on her activities) but still found plenty to do. We had 2 nights Mt Rainier NP, 2 nights Portland, 3 nights Mt Hood, 4 nights Oregon coast, 3 nights Olympic NP and 2 nights Seattle.

We looked at Crater Lake and also the San Juan islands but didn't feel we could quite fit in. However, maybe if we looked at stuff again we might make different choices - Mt Hood and Mt Rainier both fab but quite similar. Was did a day on the Olympic coast but had probably done enough 'coast' during our time in Oregon for example.

Do pm me if you want more details, happy to try to help.

I used to live in Portland and have done lots of travelling in the region. It really is a beautiful part of the world, but I think I would opt for north. Mt St. Helens, whale watching in Washington state, Seattle, kayaking around Vancouver Island, Vancouver and then further north up the coast road. Although I don't think you'll be disappointed whichever way you go. I wish I could go back

Thanks all, that makes me feel more energised. At the moment we've just arrived in a fairly grim hotel in Portland and I'm hoping that it's jetlag that made Portland look grim from the tram in. We've got 3 nights here - please tell me what we can do.

I would visit the Japanese Garden if the weather is nice, and the Pittock Mansion! Great views of the city from around there. Have fun .

If you have a car:
Head up the Columbia River and take in Multnomah Falls etc
Head up to Mt. Hood stopping for donuts at Joes in the way up.
Sports - baseball, soccer?
Shopping the boutiques in Nob Hill
Head out to the coast - Seaside, Cannon Beach, the cheese factory (!)

Multnomah falls are amazing. Wonderful wine in the Wilamette Valley.

We drove out to the coast and south to San Fran. The coast is incredible around there. We didn't make it to Crater Lake as it was the wrong time of year but that would be high on my list.

Check out where the fires are currently before heading out. Forest fires have been raging for weeks and weeks. Crater Lake was evacuated the other week, guess they're back now? 140 hikers were trapped near Tunnel Falls/Eagle Creek yesterday for about 24 hours between two different fires.

Have a look at a good guide book before you go? Top tip.