Trip up coast--NorCal, Oregon, Washington

fairfaxjim wrote:
Reservations are a must. For other side trips, Gold Beach has the Columbia River and the Jet Boat trips (I like Jerry's, but the Mail Boats are good too) First run in the mornings is best in my opinion.

Just a slight correction here...Gold Beach has the Rogue River you are referring to with the Jet Boat trips. The Columbia River is the boarder of OR/WA.

If you are in Astoria, consider the Columbia River Maritime Museum as Astoria has a very active Coast Guard presence since the Columbia River Bar is considered the graveyard of the Pacific.

Also to visit in Warrenton near Fort Clatsop is the Peter Iredale shipwreck. It is just a skeleton now but you can walk up to it and put your hands on it, tide dependent. You can also drive a vehicle on the beach there.

In Seaside, there is the infamous The Point surf spot. South end of Seaside all the way out on "the point" of Tillamook Head where you can see from the parking lot. There is also a nice hiking trail up Tillamook Head that goes over to Cannon Beach.

A couple of nice beaches to hang out on (as long as the wind is not strong), Indian Beach/Ecola State Park north end of Cannon Beach and also, Short Sands (Oswald West State Park, Smugglers Cove) south of Cannon Beach.

World class salmon, halibut and sturgeon fishing from Astoria or Ilwaco, WA.