Going to Portland, Oregon Soon - Need Advice

[Guest db99wj]

Ok, going to Portland Oregon soon and the day I leave, I basically have until 12:00 to 12:30 to do something before I have to get to the airport. My first option was to find the apartment in that news story about banning flags, buy paint, and get to painting..but that seems to have been fixed. So I only have 3 options. Need help figuring it out. All of these have me getting up real early and driving.

1. Drive up to Mt. St. Helens, about 2 hours away.

2. Drive to the Pacific Ocean, never seen the Pacific. Looks like cliffs and ocean. About an hour and a half drive.

3. Drive over to Mt. Hood..it's a big ass mountain 11,200 feet. About Hour and ten minutes.

I would have to leave early, around 5am, and then head toward the airport so I could get back by noon to turn in car and catch my flight.

Any ideas, suggestions?

[LagerHead]

I'd do Mt. St. Helens. I've flown over it in an MH-60 (160th SOAR) and it is a site. All the trees fallen pointing the same direction is a very surreal site.

[Guest clsutton21]

I've done all three just this summer. Mt Hood is cool, but you see enough of it from the interstate on the way there. The Pacific is amazing, I absolutely loved it...even if I did get slammed into a rock and broke a rib. Mt. St. Helens just wasn't my thing. If you want to see the Pacific, go to a town like Cannon Beach(get an elephant ear if you go...delicious) or a town like Tillamook. Go to Cannon Beach if you want the beach, or Tillamook if you want to see a lighthouse and scenery.

One thing you need to do is watch the weather, I believe the high last week was 34F. A lot of the roads close down when it's wintry...plus, I went in early August and it was snowing on Mt Hood....so you may not be able to see much when you go (mountain-wise).

Something to do in downtown Portland is go to the main Powell's Books if you enjoy books of any kind. The store covers an entire city block and is 6 stories. There is also a section of rare books and some were up to $75k in there. Pretty neat stuff.

And I'm not sure if you've ever been, but the TN HCP is not honored in Oregon, and Portland doesn't allow firearms(loaded or not).

Hope this helps.

[nolo]

If you haven't seen the Pacific, you should do that. How often do you get that close to the west coast?

[Guest db99wj]

If you haven't seen the Pacific, you should do that. How often do you get that close to the west coast?

Rarely. Also rare that I get to see mountains, real mountains.

That's why I am so torn on what to do.

I might have time Friday afternoon to maybe run to the ocean and see that before dark, then Saturday run over to Mt. St. Helens....

I must finish my test as quick as possible....

Thanks Clsutton for your insight on the coast and the Elephant Ear...not sure what that is but I will try it if I can!

[Farman]

If you're into aircraft... an hour SW you can see the Spruce Goose.

Visit - Plan Your Visit

[Guest PapaB]

db99wj said:

I might have time Friday afternoon to maybe run to the ocean and see that before dark, then Saturday run over to Mt. St. Helens....

If you do get there in time for a Friday evening visit bring your camera. The sun sets in the west, beautiful sight.

[Guest db99wj]

db99wj said:

If you do get there in time for a Friday evening visit bring your camera. The sun sets in the west, beautiful sight.

Oh, good point. Have an Elephant ear and a beer at sunset...

got to find out what an elephant ear is...

[Guest clsutton21]

Oh, good point. Have an Elephant ear and a beer at sunset...

got to find out what an elephant ear is...

Cannon Beach is the only place that has them. Also if you visit this beach, walk to the right(facing the ocean) past the biggest of the rocks as pictured below. About a mile or so on, you get to a tunnel dug through the cliff side, it leads to a more secluded and rock beach. Just make sure you're on the side you want to be on by the time high tide comes in or you have to swim around. Not a good idea this time of year.

Two pictures on Cannon beach:

[Guest Swamprunner]

I was stationed in Seattle when St. Helens blew her top. It's a must see.

Also, Astoria is very nice. Go and git 'cha a nice big fried Halibut sammich.

The beaches are cool, too. Taught my kids how to drive on them.

[Raoul]

Nice town. Take a raincoat.

[Westwindmike]

Go to the mountains. If you've seen one ocean, you've seen them all.

[Guest SUNTZU]

Hookers and blow. Or go watch the ocean. I don't know, I've never been to the ocean.

[Guest db99wj]

Cannon Beach is the only place that has them. Also if you visit this beach, walk to the right(facing the ocean) past the biggest of the rocks as pictured below. About a mile or so on, you get to a tunnel dug through the cliff side, it leads to a more secluded and rock beach. Just make sure you're on the side you want to be on by the time high tide comes in or you have to swim around. Not a good idea this time of year.

Two pictures on Cannon beach:

Cannon Beach was one of the places along the beach I was looking at...hmmm.