Planning a trip to Oregon...

[scrapperjade]

I need help ladies! DH and I are going down the Oregon coast with DH's parents this summer for about 4 days (not including the 3-4 days driving time to get there).

I don't want to be spending the entire 4 days we are there traveling because we are going to be tenting, and I really don't want to have to take down and set up my tent every day. I want to find a really nice spot that has lots of touristy places to go to nearby and lots of fun things to do that isn't expensive.

Any suggestions or help? I've never been to Oregon before and have been wanting to for years. I want it to be worth it, kwim??

[Julie Billingsley]

here ya go... Devil's Lake (http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_216.php)
My husband says it's a great camp site.

A nice coastal tourist spot that I like is the Newport Aquarium... which is far away from Lincoln City (where Devil's Lake is). If you are driving through the Oregon Coast area, plan on stopping at the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook (it's not on the coast, but is close). Stop there at snack time so you can get some YUMMY ice cream :) Besides those 2 spots and the general walking the beach stuff, I don't know of touristy stuff to do on the coast unless you do whale watching (during that season).

Check that site for other camping ideas on the Oregon coast :)

[scrapperjade]

My sister told me about the Cheese Factory, I'm going to mark it on my "must see list"!

[sprauncey1]

I second someplace near Lincoln City. Lots of touristy stuff to do but also just nice to see the beauty of the Oregon coast. We are headed there this summer ourselves to spend 5 days renting a house with my parents and my sister's family. You will love it! So green! And yep def do the Tillamook factory and get to try the cheese curds (they squeak when you eat them!) Rent or buy a kite and just have fun flying it, rent bikes or whatever. Newport is cool too, but much more built up and less "vacation" IMHO.

[WalkersMommy]

My family goes to Seaside, OR every year and we love it! It is very touristy :) They have a main street with lots of shops and places to eat, an arcade, a place to rent those pedal car things, and a few minutes away there is a community center with a pool, an outlet mall, helicopter rides, lots of fun stuff! :D
Here is the website if you want to check it out. http://www.seasideor.com/

[Julie Billingsley]

Also wanted to add that the Newport Aquarium (http://www.aquarium.org/) isn't cheap :( It's pretty cool, but you can get through it in just a few hours and it costs like $50 for a family of 4. But when we go we sit in the passages of the deep (http://www.aquarium.org/exhibitsPassages.asp?sid=2) for about an hour and just soak it up.

I personally would not say that it is a 'must see'.

[nun69]

we are going to Seaside Orgeon for vacation this year {Aug}..and it sounds like everything is fairly close to there...not sure if they have any campsites anywhere near, but there is alot of stuff to do in Seaside...and I also recommend the Aquarium...I have been there before and DD really enjoyed it....DH is from Portland OR, so I went on his recommendation...and Seaside is pretty kid friendly from what I can gather :)

[WalkersMommy]

we are going to Seaside Orgeon for vacation this year {Aug}..and it sounds like everything is fairly close to there...not sure if they have any campsites anywhere near, but there is alot of stuff to do in Seaside...and I also recommend the Aquarium...I have been there before and DD really enjoyed it....DH is from Portland OR, so I went on his recommendation...and Seaside is pretty kid friendly from what I can gather :)


We are going in August this year too! Woooot! :D lol

[scrapperjade]

We're going in August too!! From about the 12-19th or so.

I looked up the Aquarium (thanks for the link Julie - I knew there was one but couldn't find it last night), and DH says it is a must see for him, lol. Thankfully we only have the 2 of us to pay for, and Avalynne will be free because she's under 2. So only $30 for the both of us.

[nun69]

how kewl..we have a beach rental from the 16-20th! Maybe we will run into each other..would be totally kewl to meet you IRL!!! and I would love to see little Avalynne!

[scrapperjade]

What part will you be in Ang? I can't promise anything, but if we are in the area around the same time, I think it would be neat to meet you! I doubt my in-laws would approve, so maybe it could just be a "oh HEY, imagine seeing you in the ice-cream shop!!" kinda meet-up. ;)

[Julie Billingsley]

We're going in August too!! From about the 12-19th or so.

I looked up the Aquarium (thanks for the link Julie - I knew there was one but couldn't find it last night), and DH says it is a must see for him, lol. Thankfully we only have the 2 of us to pay for, and Avalynne will be free because she's under 2. So only $30 for the both of us.

It's totally worth the $30 then! :) Your daughter will love the 'touch pool' where they have starfish that you can touch. I have to drag my son from that area!
Newport Aquarium is just like 40 minutes from Lincoln City (Devil's Lake campground area) and is definitely more mid-Oregon coast. Lincoln City has a beautiful beach area that is sandy. Seaside is great and has a fun 'boardwalk' but is more northern coast.... about 2 hours north of Lincoln City. Be sure to check out the Oregon Coast events calendar (http://www.beachconnection.net/cal.htm) to see if something interesting is happening that you want to check out. I've been to the coast for the kite flying contest a couple of times and loved it. :) I'd love to check out the sandcastle contest this summer but didn't see it on the calendar yet. There could be other calendars too, so check around!

[Ladye]

I was there last June and what I found is when the Sea Fog comes itn it gets COLD. We had been to Portland and drove over for the day, was dressed for Portland weather, high 90's and almost froze on the Ocean side but it was well worth the trip, didn't have time to do much except drive and look at the scenery but it was beautiful and so different from the Upper Texas Gulf Coast for sure...LOL

Loved the fact one minute you were looking at the Ocean and the next you were back in the forests, then into a valley with all the farms. Well worth the trip for sure and oh my gosh, every spot I saw was a photo waiting to be taken. The Mountails were fantastic as were the villages on the Ocean, so much to see and so little time to see it. That is what we get for making it a daytrip.

Lois AKA Ladye

[Julie Billingsley]

yes, it is definately windy and cold on the coast most of the year... about 360 days LOL. I think the coast averages about 15 degrees colder than Portland PLUS the windchill factor. Bring some coats and hoodies!

[ScrappieJackie]

Bandon...Stephanie Inn....beautiful~!:thumbup: