Touring Washingtion and Oregon

[CalTex]

We will be touring the states of Washington and Oregon this August, coming from Texas. Our idea is to select a central point in several areas and take day trips to see the sights. We will have two motorhomes, a 5th wheel and a trailer in the group and would rather drive the cars on day trips than set up in a different place each night.

The major areas we have initially selected for checking out are, starting from the south, Crater Lake, a selected area of the Oregon coast, Portland, Astoria, Seattle, Anacortes, and Victoria. That's not a final list but we needed someplace to start planning. We have between three and four weeks allocated to this area, and are all adults.

Would some of you who live in or know those areas have suggestions on attractions that we should see, or central campgrounds to stay for a few days as we do our touring in the car?

Thanks for the help, looking at maps and brochures is a lot different from being there.

[CalTex]

We will be touring the states of Washington and Oregon this August, coming from Texas. Our idea is to select a central point in several areas and take day trips to see the sights. We will have two motorhomes, a 5th wheel and a trailer in the group and would rather drive the cars on day trips than set up in a different place each night.

The major areas we have initially selected for checking out are, starting from the south, Crater Lake, a selected area of the Oregon coast, Portland, Astoria, Seattle, Anacortes, and Victoria. That's not a final list but we needed someplace to start planning. We have between three and four weeks allocated to this area, and are all adults.

Would some of you who live in or know those areas have suggestions on attractions that we should see, or central campgrounds to stay for a few days as we do our touring in the car?

Thanks for the help, looking at maps and brochures is a lot different from being there.

[Colesmeister]

There is a state park at Wenatchee that we stayed at over this past weekend for the first time. It's called "Wenatchee Confluence State Park." It's where the Wenatchee River flows into the Columbia River and is very nice, though not all sites have full hookups. One downside is, I've heard that during the summer season you MUST have reservations. Don't know if that is true. There is a nice paved walking/bicycling path that loops through the park, and continues along and across the Columbia River. From the park, you could drive to Lake Chelan for the day and take the boat ride up to the other end of the lake or you could visit Leavenworth, a Bavarian style town.

You can reserve spots in Washington state parks by going to this site: http://www.camis.com/wa/

At Toppenish in the Yakima Valley is a nice RV park that is run by the Yakama Indian Nation. Toppenish is an interesting little town where they are in the process of painting murals on the sides of all their buildings. They have quite a few and have vowed not to stop until they have every wall painted with a mural. http://www.toppenish.net/index.html

http://www.aviewofamerica.com/Washin...nishmurals.htm

From Toppenish you can visit several wineries that are in the area, or you could take a trip to Paradise Lodge in Mt. Rainier National Park. If you go to Paradise Lodge, take the Chinook Pass route.

Another nice place to stay, would be Forks, on the Olympic Peninsula. There you could see the Hoh Rain Forest, one of the wettest places around anywhere. (Don't worry, in late summer and fall, it's pretty nice.) Very interesting area. While on the Peninsula, you could drive north and take a ride on a ferry to Victoria, BC, or to one of the San Juan Islands.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/


Greg

[KathiE-H]

Hi. We go to San Saba TX once a year to see family. You might want to get over to the Oregon coast as far south as you can and take 101 up thru Astoria into Washington. Our valley and high desert are great but our beaches from southern oregon up are the apple of our collective eyes. Brookings on up cannot be beat for sandy beaches, plants, flowers, trees, and breathtaking waves.

Have fun in our great state and know that visitors are always welcome in our state.

[CalTex]

Carl, thanks for the suggestions, it really helps to get some local knowledge when going to a new area.

Kathi, thanks to you also. I had to get the map to figure out the location of San Saba, having never heard of it. Not too far from Brownwood were my brother in law lives.

[Nedra]

We moved back to the northwest from Texas a little over a year ago. Some of our favorite places to visit are: Oregon Coast - Cannon Beach, Fort Stevens in Warrenton; Mt. Hood in Oregon; Columbia River Gorge; Portland the japanese and rose gardens; seattle pike place market...just to name a few places!

[jefff929]

We use http://www.oregonstateparks.org/searchpark.php a lot. It is best to reserve early if you know the place you want to stay. I like sunset bay, Devils lake, and Cape lookout.

[450Donn]

Southern Oregon coast, try Brookings. There is a really great place right on the beach. Going North you should stay at Arizona beach. Another place that has sites right on the beach. Next is Fort Stevens State Park. Great old fort that once guarded the entrance to the Columbia river.
That is just the coast. Central/Eastern Oregon is a completely different state. Warm and dry are the buzz words for that part Hwy 97 is a great drive if you have the time.

[vicsryd]

Go to here for Washington State Parks resrervations. About half can handle motorhome up to 40 feet. However, everything is long since booked up for the summer weekends. Might be able to get in somewhere for weekends.

If you are going to Astoria you could tryin reserving Ft. Stevens state park. Alternately on the Washington side of the Columbia is our favorite, Cape Disapppoinment state park. This area is rich with Lewis and Clark history.