Portland/Seattle/Oregon coast travel ideas

[lewber]

With a teenage boy who wants to see/do interesting things. Yes, I know that's a lot to go on:) none of us have been in the area before. Will be traveling first week of August. Any suggestions?

[Outdoorsy Type]

Fort Stevens near Astoria, Oregon or Fort Worden in Port Orchard, Washington are fun. They are old military bunkers on the coast, that you can explore. Lots of military history.

 

Fort Worden has officers quarters that you can rent for the night. I believe you can take the ferry to/from Seattle which is fun on it's own.

 

Astoria is not too far from Cannon Beach and is an iconic/scenic beach. Astoria is the filming location for The Goonies which might be a draw if he/you like that movie.

Edited June 21, 2016 by Outdoorsy Type

[Ali in OR]

Also nearby Fort Stevens is Fort Clatsop where Lewis and Clark spent the winter of 1805. In summer there should be some re-enactors there. If you camp, Fort Stevens has a great state park campground. There's also an old shipwreck on the beach.

 

We spent a few days at Cannon Beach over spring break--charming little beach town.

 

Seattle has a rock and roll museum (haven't been). We enjoyed the Chihuly glass museum that was nearby. These are both by the space needle. Lots of other stuff to see/do in Seattle.

[naturegirl]

Portland has Powell's bookstore, the largest independent used book store in the world. Room after room after room of books, if he likes to read. I love driving east up the Columbia River gorge from Portland. Many beautiful views and lots of waterfalls if you like hiking/exploring nature.

 

My favorite beach town in Oregon was always Florence because we loved a little campground nearby called Honeyman State Park. So much of the Oregon coast is great. I second Cannon Beach mentioned earlier as a nice beach town. 

 

In Seattle, the Fremont Troll is a quirky thing to visit. Pike Street Market is great and there is always the Space Needle if you want to hit the tourist spots.

 

One of my favorite National Parks is Mount Rainier in Washington. If you live exploring caves, Ape Caves near Mount St. Helens are cool.

 

What type of stuff does your family like? Indoor or outdoor? Food, cultural experiences? Beaches, forests, mountains?

[Guest]

It's kind of fun to collect lighthouses on your way up the coast. They have a little passport-like book you can get stamped.

 

Just being at the beach is wonderful. Cannon Beach has been our second home for 15 years--and we are at out beach house now, last time, as we have sold it. But we were never bored with the beach!!

 

Tillamook Cheese factory is an interesting tour.

 

Ruby Beach on the Washington peninsula will take your breath away. The Quinalt Rain Forest is the only one in the continental US. ANd there's a crab house in Sequim that people love. The Seattle Center is a good destination for a lot of things.

[DawnM]

Seattle Underground Tour

 

Fort Casey (you need to take a ferry)

[DawnM]

It's kind of fun to collect lighthouses on your way up the coast. They have a little passport-like book you can get stamped.

 

Just being at the beach is wonderful. Cannon Beach has been our second home for 15 years--and we are at out beach house now, last time, as we have sold it. But we were never bored with the beach!!

 

Tillamook Cheese factory is an interesting tour.

 

Ruby Beach on the Washington peninsula will take your breath away. The Quinalt Rain Forest is the only one in the continental US. ANd there's a crab house in Sequim that people love. The Seattle Center is a good destination for a lot of things.

 

Oh, my aunt has a place in Cannon Beach!  It is so lovely.  My cousin lives on a beach in Pacific City.  We have seen whales from her living room.  

[FaithManor]

Tillamook OR for the dirigble (blimp) hangar, Astoria because it is beautiful, Pike's Place Market in Seattle is a favorite for us.

[bodiesmom]

Just wanted to pop in and say thank you for starting this thread- we just moved to the area last year and I have a week of just my teen son and I coming up...looking for bonding time! These are great suggestions!

[Evergreen State Sue]

Seattle has Seafair August 5-7.  Go to www.seafair.com to check out the calendar.  There is hydroplane racing on Lake Washington and the Blue Angels do performances that weekend. 

[Guest]

You can see The Spruce Goose in McMinnville Oregon.

[Outdoorsy Type]

And the Spruce Goose is in an aerospace museum that is also a water park.

[raptor_dad]

Cape Kiwanda is a quick jag off 101 and is a beautiful place to scramble around and then you can get the kids a burger and yourself a beer at Pelican.

[lewber]

Thank you all so much for the great ideas! I really need to get planning :laugh:

[NorthwestMom]

Portland has Powell's bookstore, the largest independent used book store in the world. Room after room after room of books, if he likes to read. I love driving east up the Columbia River gorge from Portland. Many beautiful views and lots of waterfalls if you like hiking/exploring nature.

 

My favorite beach town in Oregon was always Florence because we loved a little campground nearby called Honeyman State Park. So much of the Oregon coast is great. I second Cannon Beach mentioned earlier as a nice beach town. 

 

In Seattle, the Fremont Troll is a quirky thing to visit. Pike Street Market is great and there is always the Space Needle if you want to hit the tourist spots.

 

One of my favorite National Parks is Mount Rainier in Washington. If you live exploring caves, Ape Caves near Mount St. Helens are cool.

 

What type of stuff does your family like? Indoor or outdoor? Food, cultural experiences? Beaches, forests, mountains?

 

We stayed at Honeyman, and you can rent boards and "surf" down enormous sand dunes. It was AWESOME.

 

[happi duck]

Portland has a gorgeous Japanese garden.