First Trip Through US in Washington and OREGON

[Robertsdevans]

Hi I will be taking an RV trip with a family that is from China .
They want to see the USA and we are taking a 14 day trip in an RV.
I have travelled often through the western states but spent most of my time sight seeing in California not Washington and Oregon.
They have children and I would like them to see the beaches on the ocean and the Redwoods. Also the children would like waterslides.
I know there is a lot more to see. What do the people on this site think are do not miss places? also an campgrounds that would be nice to stay at. We will be travelling first two weeks in august are we too late to book sites? Thanks for taking the time to help me out ...

[Lauren]

The OR Coast is spectacular - we will be back there again later this summer / fall. Also Columbia Gorge and Crater Lake. Coast in WA is a waste of time.

Amusement Parks? You can do them all kinds of places in the world! Drive hours away to go to an amusement park and spend hours there - waste a day. If they like waterslides they must like water - what better / different than the beaches of OR.

So much beauty to see of all kinds. And, of course, ice cream at Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Places to stay will be tough to get without reservations. I make mine a year in advance for OR Coast so I can stay where I want and not get leftovers. Will you find places in August. You might but do not count on it.

Enjoy!

[Robertsdevans]

Thanks for the waterslide tip the kids will be excited if we make it to the one with a 747

[Robertsdevans]

Thanks everyone for the info appreciate you taking the time some great ideas and the ice cream tip also hits the mark. As we book sites I will let you know. Again thanks

[Murphsmom]

Oops! Didn't see that someone else had already recommended the Evergreen.

[Murphsmom]

If you have the time to do some of the area off I-5 south of Portland, the Evergreen Aviation Museum at McMinnville has a water park that is very unique...the slides come out of a 747 that is perched on top of the building. The entire museum is a great way to spend a day, depending on how old the children are.

You didn't say whether you would be returning north n the Coast Highway, but this detour off the main highway is well worth your time if you are in the area. There are a couple of nice RV parks in the area, too.

[rbtglove]

If you have 14 days I would certainly include Crater Lake, the Columbia River Gorge and Dams, and MT Ranier/Mt St Helens. After the Coast and Astoria could cut over through Portland to I 84. Wind surfers at Hood Riover are worth the detour and could do MT Hood. Most OR St parks have some sites for drive up and some like our favorite Ainsworth in the Gorge are no resevations.

[Dick_B]

What you DON'T want to do is take them on a two-day drive just to see some trees. Try to find stuff for kids that is an hour or two away. Amusement parks would be wonderful.

[D_E_Bishop]

In Washington and Oregon you will find the public campgrounds pretty full but not impossible, private campgrounds should yield sites but still pretty full. Starting in the North, Deception Pass is great, lots of beachy things to do. Hurricane Ridge and all of the Olympic Peninsula, Ho Rainforest and Kala Loch(Clay lock), once again lots of beachy stuff and steep mountains (not drivable ones) and the town where the vampire movies were filmed(forgot the name). In Oregon don't miss are Ft Stevens Campground and Ft Clapsop from the Corps of Discovery(Lewis and Clark trip to the Pacific) Tillamook for that great ice cream, Newport for the Marine Science Center, Aquarium where Willie was before he was shipped home, the Rogue Brewery for a hamburger, Lincoln City for glass blowing shops and Outlet Shops. Sealion Caves north of Florence, dunes south of Florence, Camping at Winchester Bay. Everything down to the boarder.

E/O Lincoln City about five miles is OTIS, very small, gas station, drive thru coffee stand, gift shop and the crowning jewel, The Otis Café. Breakfast is fantastic, don't order a full order of the German Fried Potatoes. Half order will feed two small folks.

If you want I'll go on for another thirty days worth of activities in those two states. Just send a pre addressed stamped envelop for a half ream of paper and I'll send more.

[bikendan]

expecting to get campsites in August, with no reservations, will be nearly impossible for California and the Oregon coast state parks.
sites for the first of August have been gone for a long time.

your only hope is to find some private campgrounds/RV parks.

[profdant139]

Where are you starting and ending? How old are the kids? Does the family like to hike? Make sure that you do not plan such an ambitious agenda that you spend all the time on the road.

First two weeks of August is blackberry season in the Northwest -- save time for fresh picked berries on rich vanilla ice cream -- the kids will never forget it. Grab some cheap gloves at Harbor Freight for the thorns.

If Sequoia is not too far out of the way, there is very cool camping at Azalea campground (6500 feet) -- no hookups, though. How big is the RV? Can you boondock?

[Mtrain]

Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks are excellent. Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley will be full, but you can keep checking recreation.gov for cancellations. For waterslides, there are some good water parks near Los Angeles, and a nice one in Paso Robles called the Ravine waterpark. We just got back from a two week trip through Washington and Oregon, and went to the Wings and Waves waterpark in McMinnville OR. Very cool waterpark with slides coming out of a 747 on the roof. Fun!!

[Golden_HVAC]

The redwoods are wonderful, and huge trees. The only place like it would be Sequoia NP and nearby Yosemite has a 30' diameter tree.

To reach the Grizzly Giant, you take highway 41 from Fresno to the south entrance, then to the right as you enter Yosemite, go 2 miles to the parking lot. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grizzly_Giant

I would also recommend the Avenue of the Giants, along highway 101 in northern California, along the coast. Many large trees.

I grew up in Grants Pass, and loved to take the jet boat ride down the river. It goes through Hellgate Canyon. Hellgate.com They also have a dinner ride and dine cruise. Nearby is Schroder Park, where you can find 30 amp hookups in a small county run RV park along the Rouge River.

Crater Lake?

There are many great places to camp in Washington too. Millerslyvania is not to far off highway 5, but seems worlds away. Huge trees and a good sized grass field.

Good luck!

Fred.

[downtheroad]

Welcome to the Forum...
If you want beaches then the Washington-Oregon Coast is unsurpassed. Take Hwy 101 all the way. Can't advise on water slides.

But, August is a REALLY tough ticket without reservations. We really like any and all of the first rate State Parks....but, again, August-good luck.

[donn0128]

101 north to south from Astoria to Eureka.
US97 thru Oregon. Willowa mountains of eastern Oregon. That should eat up several weeks