Oregon or what to do after Glacier

[chompchomp]

We're Floridians and try to head west every summer. We are teachers so we have the luxury of time. We've fallen in love with Colorado (RMNP, Ouray, Durango, Ridgway),Utah (Zion, Bryce, DHP and Moab) and we've played long and hard in Yellowstone and the Tetons. We always try to add something new and Glacier is our paradise. Question is, what can we do from there west? I think we've decided against our first impulse, which was to cross the border into Waterton just to avoid customs with our dog and all. We've never made it to the Pacific. Any input would be much appreciated. Oregon? Pacific Coast Highway? We're one year from retirement, so Alaska will have to wait for that.

[LindaAnn]

A few years ago we traveled to California (stayed at a KOA in Crescent City, CA), saw the Redwoods, drove Hwy 101 up to Cannon Beach where we stayed at Cannon Beach RV Resort. The view of the Pacific is beautiful, there is Haystack Rock, and the beach is pet-friendly should you have dogs. Our little one loved it! We had great clam chowder at Moe's which is right on the beachside.
Nearby is Tillamook (where you can find every kind of cheese and ice cream)...and Cape Meares Lighthouse on a cliff overlooking a spectacular view of the ocean.
When we left, we went through Portland to Cascade Locks (stayed at another KOA)...and while there, drove the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, with a number of waterfalls...and the most magnificent one...Multnomah Falls.
We were talking just the other day about making another trip to Cannon Beach.

[hornet28]

If you get to Oregon and are at all interested in aquariums you should see the Oregon Coast Aquarium in New Port, it's fantastic.; We stayed at Sea & Sand RV Park north of Depoe Bay while in that area. Bullards Beach State Park was another nice campground. If you do rustic The Dalles Campground just outside Mt Rainier National Park was decent but most sites are small such as for tenters and small trailers. We fit with our 27' but not a lot of sites that size. Regarding your dog, we had our 4 yr old 70# Golden Doodle with us on the 5 week trip and he was great but we also didn't go into Canada.

[CFerguson]

+another on taking the pup along and not missing some great scenery. Also watch out for what paperwork the US may require before they let your pup back into the country. I know, that doesn't make any sense, but in my many Canada excursions, I have found the US officials to often be much more an....'ahem' detail oriented than their Canadian counterparts.

[dedmiston]

We crossed over into Ontario with our dogs a few times this fall. No big deal. We had their vaccination records as required, but they never asked for the papers. They asked a LOT about guns, but didn't care about our pups.

If I were in Glacier and wanted to see more, I would absolutely head north into Canada and then loop around to the east to return home.

[profdant139]

The answer depends, in part, on what you like to do -- are you sightseer/museum people? Or are you hikers? (I'm guessing the latter, since you love Colorado.)

The mountains of Washington are very different from those in Colorado -- I'd strongly recommend Rainier and the North Cascades area, especially around Mt. Baker. Just to whet your appetite, here is a blog post that you may find useful:

One of our Rainier blog posts -- lots of pix

[TenOC]

The Canadian Rockies are much more spectacular than the US Rockies. I do not know how much trouble it is to cross the border with a dog since I do not have a dog. However, the view you will get at Lake Louise and surrounding area is well worth the hassle of crossing the border with a dog. It would be a shame to be within a few hundred miles of some of the most spectacular mountain views in North America and not see them because of the hassle of crossing the border with the dog.

[Dick_B]

Check the itinerary for Adventure Caravans who has tours all thru the West. That may give you some ideas. Or do a Google search for `_____ tourism' and put the State or City in the blank space and read what the specialists recommend for their area.

[ksg5000]

Never met anybody who didn't enjoy the Oregon Coast - downside is that it's popular and these days reservations are mandatory in the Summer months.

[Busskipper]

chompchomp wrote:

We're Floridians and try to head west every summer.

Long drive - so try to make it as good as the destination, even if it means seeing things for a second or third time - as it is just Amazing how things Change.

We are teachers so we have the luxury of time.

Right out of College I taught for three years (My Service Obligation as I was 4F) - Loved it - Had my Kids do reports on the National Parks then, Proceeded to try to see them all in Three Weeks (had a few 900+ mile days) - :S - Saw a lot but also Missed a lot, as there is NEVER ENOUGH TIME


We've fallen in love with Colorado (RMNP, Ouray, Durango, Ridgway),Utah (Zion, Bryce, DHP and Moab) and we've played long and hard in Yellowstone and the Tetons.

Colorado is our Second Home - with 4 Granddaughters there we visit often - But still never enough time.


We always try to add something new and Glacier is our paradise.

Just did New Years with the Kids and Nephews - talked alot about Glacier - decision was you needed minimum of 3 weeks just at the Park - so much to see and do - so for most it is a single destination.


Question is, what can we do from there west?

Washington is Beautiful - while still somewhat crowded in the Summer it is so much less than just driving through Cali and seeing the PCH - problem is Cali requires - IMHO - a much longer time line - as there is a lifetime of Adventures and way too many People most of the Summer. You have the Coast - the Northwest Mountains - Tahoe - Yosemite - Redwoods .........on and on...a lifetime. (Was a youngster growing up in Cali and on of my son's went to Whittier, so I have a lot of time there, but the crowds have chased me out.


I think we've decided against our first impulse, which was to cross the border into Waterton just to avoid customs with our dog and all.

Think I'd research this a little more to see if you could make it happen - it's a whole new world up there.


We've never made it to the Pacific.

It is amazing to watch the Sun set there!


Any input would be much appreciated.

Oregon?

Pacific Coast Highway?

We're one year from retirement, so Alaska will have to wait for that.

Might look at this Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uIbSbBSzp8

Or - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bB6sbPQQuw

Tried to address your questions - Issue is there is never enough TIME - IMHO.

Idaho - Flathead Lake - driving up from Colorado through Wyoming to Montana will take some time if you were to bounce through many of the spots you have missed. IMHO, Glacier should be THE Focus of this Trip make the Pacific the Focus of a Couple other Summers or Years after you retire - Trust me Cali, Oregun and Washington will not be done in a Summer!

Do more research on the Glacier trip, as Often going to the Sun Road does not open till the 4th of July, leaving you precious little time to do other things before or after - with the long drive from Florida.

Hope this is of some help,

[RickLight]

All good suggestions above.
I'll add San Juan Islands, Whidbey Island, Port Angeles and the Dungeness Spit. Whale watching, sea and mountains together quaint history, native culture.

Something for everyone!

[agesilaus]

We did the coast from Crescent City, actually a bit south of there up to the end of 101 looping all the way around Olympic NP. A very good trip, rain is to be expected. We daytriped to Crater Lake and we started this by visiting Lassen Volcanic NP which is definately worth a 3 or 4 day visit.

We made zero reservations but we stayed at commercial cg all the way up. We'd just call ahead in early afternoon get a spot where we wanted to stop. Only had to call a second park once. But we missed out on what I understand are the excellent state parks along 101. For those, especially on weekends, you want a reservation probably.

Olympic is one of those parks with no thru roads, only roads which poke into the park from the outside. And it really rains around that park. We never got to Hurricane Ridge because of the continuous downpour. Anyway we stayed at two cg, one in Forks on the west side one one on the Hood Canal on the east side.

This summer we plan to do the east side of Washington and Oregon with a quick dip down into the Evil Empire to revisit Lassen. We'll be doing the North cascades and lots of state parks along with the Columbia.

We spent a good chunk of last summer in Idaho, went all the way up the west side of the state to Bonner's Ferry, almost in Canada, on US 95. Wanted to spend more time in the Sawtooths but again were defeated by the weather. We'll try again this summer when we will have more time.

[MarkTwain]

bikendan wrote:

chompchomp wrote:
We're Floridians and try to head west every summer. We are teachers so we have the luxury of time. We've fallen in love with Colorado (RMNP, Ouray, Durango, Ridgway),Utah (Zion, Bryce, DHP and Moab) and we've played long and hard in Yellowstone and the Tetons. We always try to add something new and Glacier is our paradise. Question is, what can we do from there west? I think we've decided against our first impulse, which was to cross the border into Waterton just to avoid customs with our dog and all. We've never made it to the Pacific. Any input would be much appreciated. Oregon? Pacific Coast Highway? We're one year from retirement, so Alaska will have to wait for that.

llI'm guessing that any Southern California State Beach campgrounds are already booked up.

Plan the Oregon coast. Start around Astoria and go south down to Brookings. The south trip will put you on the ocean side of the road. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!!!!!! IMHO, I would continue the Calif. coast as far as Santa Barbara. SKIP all of southern Calif. coast! It is a cluster %$#@* of terrible traffic 24 hrs. a day and a sardine can full of people who are rude and obnixious!!!! Yes, I lived there for 12 yrs. and went to college there:(

[romore]

I love Idaho, Washington and Oregon, there is so much to see. U.S. 2 is a spectacular drive or take I-90. At Wenatchee go south on 97 then west on 12 to avoid the madness known as Seattle. I-5 is somewhat monotonous so at Portland take 18 to the coast and enjoy the Pacific Coast Highway, the scenery is breathtaking.

[enblethen]

Come straight west on US 2. Make a visit to Grand Coulee Dam. Laser show on face of dam during summer months. Take WA 20 across North Cascade or US 2 through town of Leavenworth (Bavarian motif). Travel down whidbey Island to Coupeville, take WA State ferry across to Olympic Pennisula.
If you have passport, you could day trip to Victoria, on Vancouver Island. No vehicle, walk on ferry is the easy day trip way.
Continue around Olympic Pennisula on US 101.
Many things to do in northwest.
Don't forget Mt St. Helens!