July and Aug trip to northwest

[csp]

We are leaving Indiana and heading northwest in early July. We are going to he gone for one month. We are going all the way to the west coast of washington and oregon. We have two kids 4 and 6. Any recomendations on things to see or places to go would be helpful. We also have a jeep we tow and play with. Any places we can take the jeep on trails would also be helpful also.
Thank you Chris

[awarnes]

If you are planning to hit the coast at that time of year you need to go to both states webs sites for camping and reserve sites now. All the weekends usually book now and holiday weekends are impossible. In Washington - Long Beach is a place you can drive on the beach. Don't know of any 4 wheeling along the beach, but in Oregon around Brandon Dunes is a possibility. If you can get by without hookups your opportunities for sites increases.

Good Luck
Arnold

[RedGrizz]

csp
Did you get the info you needed?
I see only one post. If you are still looking for ideas I am in Oregon.
RG

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by awarnes If you are planning to hit the coast at that time of year you need to go to both states webs sites for camping and reserve sites now. All the weekends usually book now and holiday weekends are impossible. In Washington - Long Beach is a place you can drive on the beach. Don't know of any 4 wheeling along the beach, but in Oregon around Brandon Dunes is a possibility. If you can get by without hookups your opportunities for sites increases. Good Luck Arnold

It's Bandon Dunes.
Jessie M. Honeyman State Park is nice and right beside the dunes.

If you're going to Mt St. Helens then SilverCove RV Resort is nice also, but no off road areas. Seaquest is a WA state campground also on the way to Mt St. Helens.

[wanderso]

Washington, Oregon and Idaho have a wide diversity of culture, activities and geology. This ranges from desert to rainforest, from alpine volcanoes to flat basins. The following isnshared with a kid's eye in mind, but great for adults as well. The kids and you will like the Oregon coast. Haystack rock at canon beach is nice, seaside has a small "coastal old-school tourist town feel. Our personal favorite on the coast is the central Oregon coast. (Newport, Lincoln city, etc.) a good aquarium, good state parks, great beaches, ocean tours, sea lion caves, lighthouses and such are nearby. The kids will enjoy the tilamook cheese factory to the north if you are traveling along the coast. Certain seasons have good whale watching. Go a bit inland and see the evergreen wings and waves waterpark in Oregon's wine country (kids slide from a 747, also spruce goose, SR-71 etc on the property). If near Portland, visit: Columbia Gorge, multnomah falls, Oregon zoo, Mount Hood (summer skiing, alpine slide and mountain bikes / downhill for rent), Larch mountain for a short hike with an incredible view, OMSI, jet boat tours on the river, voodoo doughnuts, Portland Saturday market, etc. For downtown, the Max light rail and streetcar are great ways to get around. Tidbit- Portland has more microbreweries than any city in the world (including Germany) and some incredible places to eat. Pheasant ridge is a nice urban RV park in Wilsonville. If heading east, the Bend Oregon area has lots to see, and do as well as has a diverse high-desert, volcanic geology. Nearby Sisters, Oregon is a treat. Joseph, Oregon has great camping, a tram ride at Wallowa lake and other attractions. If to the south, consider going to a Shakespeare play in Ashland and the animal park in Winston.

Washington has some incredible areas as well. The coast is less open than Oregon because full public access to beaches is an Oregon state law (no private beaches). We like Long Beach for less crowds and a great beach. The Washington peninsula is (Olympics) is great, with the only rainforest not in the tropics. You can ride a ferry with your RV to/from Seattle. Port Townsend also has one to Canada. PT is a neat town. For urban, there of course are the options of Seattle. (pacific science center, space needle, harbor tours, Boeing Museum of Flight, pikes place market (watch for flying fish), Woodland park, the wharf/pier, etc. Many of the cascade peaks are a treat - Mt Rainier, St Helens among the most interesting, as is a drive along the North Cascades highway if you get the chance. (diablo lake, great hiking, etc. and dumps out in central Washington in the old west towns of twisp/Winthrop. If in central Washington, pristine Lake Chelan is an incredible area, with both resorts on the south end and boat/seaplane access only once you go 25 miles of the 50+ mile length. The boat or sea plane ride is worth the trip to the alpine northern end. Ride the faster boat if you can afford it. Plenty of campgrounds available, including those by the PUD on the columbia river. Grand Coulee Dam isn't too far away if you want to tour it and the evening light show. If looping back to the Puget sound area, be sure to visit Leavenworth on highway 2. Depending on your trip timing, there are great outdoor concerts near George, Wash. Look on the web for items near Spokane.

Northern Idaho is a treat if you like lakes and pine trees. Priest Lake and Coeur d Alene are some great favorites and you may consider renting a boat. Silverwood will be fun for the kids and there is an RV park adjacent. Wallace Idaho and the silver mines nearby are also places of interest. Spokane to Glacier National Park is an incredible drive with many places to see. Note - the going-to-the-sun highway is best to ride a shuttle (narrow).

Well, enough rambling. Each of the places listed have nearby RV options. The state parks are good here, although most you will need to empty your holding tanks upon exit. We also enjoy several of the county parks that are nice and are a few $$ less. I've lived in the PNW all my years and have only scratched the surface in this thread of what is available, check out the Native American culture as well. Send a note if you wish. Enjoy!

[ka7suz]

In Eastern Washington, you might route yourself through Whitman County. A drive to the top of Steptoe Butte is usually of interest to people from the midwest. Amazing views in all directions. Also, in the area is the Palouse River dryfalls. The falls are 200 ft in height. Stay off of the interstate as much as is possible if you like to see things. Or....
If you head to Oregon from there, go south on SR 195 to Lewiston ID, then to Clarkston WA (just across the Snake river), south through Anatone and down the Rattlesnake Grade to the Grand Ronde river. Up the other side to the Elgin OR are. West to Pendelton to do the Underground Town tour.

Just some ideas off the top of my head. Further suggestions always available. Just ask - LOL

JoAnn
Spokane Valley, WA

[wanderso]

Great additions to the nice places in eastern wash. Thanks for adding them. I've enjoyed each of those too - used to live 30 minutes from Steptoe Butte - great to view @ sunset.

[ka7suz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wanderso Great additions to the nice places in eastern wash. Thanks for adding them. I've enjoyed each of those too - used to live 30 minutes from Steptoe Butte - great to view @ sunset.

So did we. Colfax

[chasmatt]

Don't miss the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville OR. This is one of the best air museums in the country. It also has a 3D IMAX theater. Old Stone Village RV Park is right next to the museum - easy walking distance - It is a nice clean, well kept park.

[csp]

Thank you to everyone.
We have moved our 6 week trip to leave in mid june and return the end of july. Looks like we will not have enough time but are going to see and do what we can.
Anymore suggestions you can think of I would like to hear.

Thank You again
Chris

[ka7suz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by csp Thank you to everyone. We have moved our 6 week trip to leave in mid june and return the end of july. Looks like we will not have enough time but are going to see and do what we can. Anymore suggestions you can think of I would like to hear. Thank You again Chris

As you move along, check in here. Someone in the area where you are may be able to add places to see, things to do, too.

We have found if we quit early in the day (2-3 pm) it is not impossible to get a nice place for the night without a reservation. I like the Trailer Life software for planning ahead. You could call ahead, or wing. If you get a site early in the day, you can still explore the nearby area.

Sounds like a fun trip.

Enjoy and keep in touch!

JoAnn
1999 Tradewinds 7371
Spokane Valley, WA