2016 on Pacific Coast

[ammobob]

OK. I have seen so may post from folks on the Pacific coast so, what should we plan for 2016?. The wife and I have been talking about hitting Oregon and Washington State for a few years now but keep going East and South to San Diego. Time to go Northwest so, I welcome any ideas and the possibility of a Western LL meet-up if anyone's up to it.

[leslie]

Ammobob, you have a good idea. Hubby and I will be in Pacific NW, probably in July 2016, visiting our son, daughter-in-law and grand granddaughter. Maybe we can meetup.

[ammobob]

Let's see if any of the others jump on board and we can plan something from there.

[pinstriper]

July ? You'll want something on the coast. Inland can be awful hot and subject to wildfire dangers.

I would suggest something on the central coast. The farther from Portland the more availability you will find.

So, think South Beach, Beverly Beach, Beachside, Washburn state parks. There are numerous forest service campgrounds but that is dry camping only. Stay away from Honeyman as it will be packed full with folks at the dunes with their sand rails. I don't have a problem with it, just that it will always be busy.

[leslie]

So if we decide on July, for example, when would we need to make teservations? How much lead time is needed?

[pinstriper]

To be safe, and sure you can get X number of sites together ? March.

[leslie]

So, about 4 months ahead is when we need to make reservations. This is plenty of time to make plans.

[pinstriper]

[quote timestamp="1435716740" source="/post/12861/thread" author="@leslie"]So, about 4 months ahead is when we need to make reservations. This is plenty of time to make plans.[/quote][p]No. You can book in March for the next weekend. It isn't a steady 4-month push.[/p][p]
[/p][p]For summer months, get in by the end of March if you want your pick. Making reservations gets dicey in April, and it's all gone by the end of the month. If you wait longer, you lose the whole summer, regardless whether it's early or late summer. [/p][p]
[/p]

[leslie]

Here's an idea, if enough of us like to drink beer: Oregon Brewers Festival looks to be held the 3rd weekend in July. Craft beers to be sampled.

My husband says I never met a beer I didn't like. But he's wrong. Budweiser. I cannot drink Budweiser.

[ammobob]

I have never found a beer that does not like me either but agree Bud is last on my list! Leslie we are in for next July. Oregon was always on our bucket list for camping as is Washington State. I would hate to miss a Brewers festival so let's figure out how to get it together.

[pinstriper]

The only problem with the brew festival is it will be downtown Portland. Make sure you are up on your shots. (Seriously, get your Hep A and B. My doc told me years ago that Oregon was a hotspot)

Two excellent state park campgrounds within 45 minutes of downtown would be Stubb Stewart and Champoeg. Those would work for a get together, but of course they are inland, so you'll feel the heat of whatever is happening and July is when we traditionally get into the 90's for a week or two.

[jeeps]

[font size="3"]
You just never know with our weather.  In July, typically it's in the 80s, but can vary all around that.  Temps on the coast are less reliable though.  That said, July is a great month to visit our state... as is May, June, August, September and October.   

Champoeg Park (suggested by Pinstriper) is practically in my backyard. Great place. Beautiful and historic, and right on the Willamette River.  It has a museum, frisbee golf, and paved hiking path through the trees.
 
Another suggestion is Silver Falls Park, about 1.5 hours SW of Portland.  Stunning beauty with killer-gorgeous waterfalls and great hiking trails, plus a beach and play area on a small river for playing in the water with the kids.  Quite a bit to do there.  And the nearby towns of Silverton and Mt. Angel are charming.

Then there's the Mt. Hood area, just east of Portland.  Stunning!  Visit the historic Timberline lodge, snow ski year-round on a glacier, or do the rides at the nearby Skibowl.  (I recommend the alpine slide.)  Plus lots of great hikes.  And who doesn't want to camp in the shadow of an actual volcano?  [/font]

[leslie]

Lots to consider here. We are on our 3rd RV trip right now, and finding a spot where I can access the Internet is a problem. I won't get back to civilization till next week. Hubby retired in April. We are giving our Camplite a workout!

[ammobob]

[font size="3"]
You just never know with our weather.  In July, typically it's in the 80s, but can vary all around that.  Temps on the coast are less reliable though.  That said, July is a great month to visit our state... as is May, June, August, September and October.   

Champoeg Park (suggested by Pinstriper) is practically in my backyard. Great place. Beautiful and historic, and right on the Willamette River.  It has a museum, frisbee golf, and paved hiking path through the trees.
 
Another suggestion is Silver Falls Park, about 1.5 hours SW of Portland.  Stunning beauty with killer-gorgeous waterfalls and great hiking trails, plus a beach and play area on a small river for playing in the water with the kids.  Quite a bit to do there.  And the nearby towns of Silverton and Mt. Angel are charming.

Then there's the Mt. Hood area, just east of Portland.  Stunning!  Visit the historic Timberline lodge, snow ski year-round on a glacier, or do the rides at the nearby Skibowl.  (I recommend the alpine slide.)  Plus lots of great hikes.  And who doesn't want to camp in the shadow of an actual volcano?  [/font]

Silver State Falls sounds nice. We'll have our 10 year old granddaughter with us and she love beaches and swimming. Always wanted to see Mt. Hood too. Wife loves history and photograph and would be happy in either place. I just want to camp (as in wanna be retired but have 2-3 years left) so we are open to what the group (if we can get one together) wants to do.

[pinstriper]

[quote source="/post/13037/thread" timestamp="1436468647" author="@ammobob"]

[font size="3"]
You just never know with our weather.  In July, typically it's in the 80s, but can vary all around that.  Temps on the coast are less reliable though.  That said, July is a great month to visit our state... as is May, June, August, September and October.   

Champoeg Park (suggested by Pinstriper) is practically in my backyard. Great place. Beautiful and historic, and right on the Willamette River.  It has a museum, frisbee golf, and paved hiking path through the trees.
 
Another suggestion is Silver Falls Park, about 1.5 hours SW of Portland.  Stunning beauty with killer-gorgeous waterfalls and great hiking trails, plus a beach and play area on a small river for playing in the water with the kids.  Quite a bit to do there.  And the nearby towns of Silverton and Mt. Angel are charming.

Then there's the Mt. Hood area, just east of Portland.  Stunning!  Visit the historic Timberline lodge, snow ski year-round on a glacier, or do the rides at the nearby Skibowl.  (I recommend the alpine slide.)  Plus lots of great hikes.  And who doesn't want to camp in the shadow of an actual volcano?  [/font]

Silver State Falls sounds nice. We'll have our 10 year old granddaughter with us and she love beaches and swimming. Always wanted to see Mt. Hood too. Wife loves history and photograph and would be happy in either place. I just want to camp (as in wanna be retired but have 2-3 years left) so we are open to what the group (if we can get one together) wants to do.[/quote][p]The ocean temps in OR never rise above around 60. Don't think this is a place to swim without a wetsuit. [/p][p]
[/p][p]For that matter, there be sharks. Whitey. The Landlord. Just sayin'.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Or, is this a granddaughter that you like ? Swimming in lakes like Timothy Lake (National Forest, dry camping, 12 month in advance if you want to book it) might be the ticket.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Mt. Hood is awesome, but all you really need is an hour to stroll the lodge, take brunch/lunch in the buffet, and you've done it all.[/p][p]
[/p][p]I've hiked in Silver Falls. Very nice. I've not camped there. A friend described it as the only campsite she seriously wondered if someone was going to need shooting. ymmv. It is actually southEAST of Portland. Somewhat northeast of Salem. Nestled in the foothills of the Cascades. Silverton is one of the earliest settlements in the state, and dates from before the Oregon Trail, when all the settlers came up through California (the more things change...)[/p][p]
[/p][p]There is (or was) a Frank Lloyd Wright built house over thataways, somewhere. I think it's still there. It was relocated here from wherever it was when it was built. [/p][p]
[/p][p]Don't forget that us locals don't have to travel the state with you on your way in/out. Checking out Pendleton or Bend or parts east is worth the effort. If you golf, this is your chance to play the courses in Bandon. The closest you can get to Scotland without a passport.[/p][p]
[/p][p]
[/p]