U & L'ers: Portland Trip Advice

socal · Post by **socal** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:52 pm

Yet another Cali and his family are set to invade the principality of the U & L. I'll be in Portland for the last week of July and hope to find some decent places to eat, drink, kayak, hike, and run. Will probably venture as far south as Eugene, perhaps a coastal day trip, and a Mt. Hood or Mt. St. Helens run.

Questions, comments, and smart remarks most welcome.

Then we'll go back to Cali where we belong. Honest.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 12:38 am

We will be invading cali about the same time and may wander up to U&L land near the end of the trip if we have the time and inclination.

We are flying into san fran on the 23rd. Will spend a few days there then drive up to tahoe where we have a timeshare reserved for a week. Will most likely bag after about 3 days or so, head south to yosemite, then down to LA LA land for a day or so, then work our way up the coast. We have two weeks to do all this in.

What is the mammoth lakes area like? Found reasonable motel rates there and may use that as a home base to visit yosemite as we screwed up and didn't get campground reservations in quick enough for yosemite.

ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2 · Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:25 am

Did someone say Portland?

Imus · Post by **Imus** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 2:32 am

smackaholic wrote:. . . We are flying into san fran on the 23rd. Will spend a few days there then . . .

When you're in frisco, do the board a favor. Call out m2 once and for all. Drop off the family somewhere first then:

Takes your pants off and walk down Castro Street. If m2 is really there, he'll jump your ass and you can do a PET here on the wounds. Idea?

socal · Post by **socal** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:36 am

smackaholic wrote:What is the mammoth lakes area like? Found reasonable motel rates there and may use that as a home base to visit yosemite as we screwed up and didn't get campground reservations in quick enough for yosemite.

smaka, you're 100 miles from Yosemite Village when your base of operations is Mammoth Lakes. Granted Yosemite is a big place but you'll be spending the day traversing mountain roads just to take in a 2 mile hike. Just stay in Mammoth. Plenty of biking, fishing, and hiking opportunities there in summer.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:22 pm

As far as eating and drinking... depends what part of town you're in. Just like every other larger metro area, there's thousands to choose from.

For kayaking, the Clackamas is easy to do, being in the metro area. If you wanna get all hardcore, take the extra drive over Mt Hood and hit up the Deschutes in Maupin, which is a bigtime whitewater river.

As for hiking and running and whatnot, your options are limitless... this is what the transplants have dubbed The World's Capital Of Shit To Do In Summer, after all.

Either Hood or St Helens makes a good day trip. If you were really jonsing to go ski, that can actually be done at Timberline, albeit on a tilled up glacier. St Helens is impressive in regards to sightseeing and the awesome æffects of the eruption, Hood offers more in the way of touristy things to do. If you want to golf, The Resort (what a cocky name) is offering crazy deals since redoing their 27 hole course, which is at the base of Mt Hood.

Keep in touch, and I can make more specific recommendations as your trip approaches and your itinerary becomes more clear.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 10:03 pm

socal wrote:Yet another Cali and his family are set to invade the principality of the U & L. I'll be in Portland for the last week of July and hope to find some decent places to eat, drink, kayak, hike, and run. Will probably venture as far south as Eugene, perhaps a coastal day trip, and a Mt. Hood or Mt. St. Helens run.

Questions, comments, and smart remarks most welcome.

Then we'll go back to Cali where we belong. Honest.

Adults ?

Kid activities ?

Kayaking would be the Wind River in the Columbia Gorge. Fucking makes the Clack or Deschutes look tame.

Eat ? Helvtia Tavern west of Portland off Hwy 26...Tads in Troutdale...McMenimans for the brews..food is so-so
Fisherman's Corner in Tillamook - best halibut fish and chips around. Up and down the Coast..would be any of the MO's Chowder Places..

Gorge area has a ton of short hikes...you can do a hike from Timberland Lodge..climb Saddle Mountain in the Coast range in about 2.5 hours..fairly easy climb..good work out, but OK for kids

Single A ball in Eugene and Medford, Bend and Salem - Triple A in Portland

Astoria on the mouth of the Columbia 100 miles from Portland is a nice day or over nighter..nice beaches there..

Running? Don;t know a fucking thing about that stupid pastime..

If you are going to golf, there is a ton of nice courses...more info needed

If Oregon was smart and we had a sales tax we could get some of your money, but I had to leave some in Crescent City last weekend..and gave the Indians some as well.

socal · Post by **socal** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:22 pm

Derron,

Adults ? Two adults plus son 17, daughter 13.

Kid activities ? They'll be able to hang with us. Shit, my son will drag our asses up the mountain.

Kayaking would be the Wind River in the Columbia Gorge. Fucking makes the Clack or Deschutes look tame.

Eat ? Helvtia Tavern west of Portland off Hwy 26...Tads in Troutdale...McMenimans for the brews..food is so-so
Fisherman's Corner in Tillamook - best halibut fish and chips around. Up and down the Coast..would be any of the MO's Chowder Places..

Gorge Where's that?

Eugene Might visit an uncle there.

Astoria Will probably make a roadie there.

If you are going to golf Not planning on it but if my niece's physician husband wants to I guess I'll have to go.

If Oregon was smart and we had a sales tax we could get some of your money, but I had to leave some in Crescent City last weekend..and gave the Indians some as well.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:41 pm

[quote="socal"]

Adults ? Two adults plus son 17, daughter 13.

Kid activities ? They'll be able to hang with us. Shit, my son will drag our asses up the mountain.

Gorge Where's that?

The Columbia River Gorge - runs from just east of Portland to The Dalles...multiple water falls and hikes- Multhnomah Falls pretty impressive..good short hike to the top..couple of other falls as well..pretty impressive geological aspect...

Eugene Might visit an uncle there.

I am sorry to hear that. Few nice golf courses - good fishing on the McKenzie River, I drift it several times in the early fall.....fucking hippies everywhere...some water skiing...probably some hiking somewhere.. I just go there for work..I am have better places to recreate. You can go west to the coast and up the coast north from Florence..some pretty impressive views, light houses, and the usual coastal shit.

Astoria Will probably make a roadie there.

Good maritime Musuem...ship wreck accessible at Fort Stevens State Park...might have a yurt open..KOA campground is good..great kite flying..charter fishing..Could do an early morning climb of Saddle Mountain, great views and then hit Astoria in the afternoon...its about 30 miles or so to Astoria.. have to go through Seaside..nice place for the kids..lots of teen shit there..if you plan on staying the night there..book rooms NOW

If you are going to golf Not planning on it but if my niece's physician husband wants to I guess I'll have to go.

Well ...tell the fucking quack to pony up....get a Skywest 40 minute commuter flight to North Bend-- Bandon Dunes will come pick you up..you can get 18 in and be back in Portland for cocktails..awesome course....best possible time of the year to play it..BUT take foul weather gear in case...if your golfing in the PDX area..then none of this muni course shit..Pumpkin Ridge public course...Witch Hollow or Ghost Creek..I forget which is the public tract...Wildwood north of Portland, Langdon Farms, Stone Creek, The Reserve are all pretty nice close in courses.

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:02 am

If you're headed to the coast, I'd check out Tillamook Cheese Factory. They have some pretty cool stuff to sample & buy.

If you're going to Tad's you might want to plan a day where you go up Hwy 84 to Bonneville Dam. The dam is damn interesting, including a buffet for sea lions (errrr fish ladder for salmon). The drive out there is very scenic, with several waterfalls to stop at along the way.

Dins....wasn't McMenimans where we had that mini-trollstop? If it is, I'd say that's a good place to go. If it's the one I'm thinking of it's just a short distance to the SW of Portland in what is considered wine country in OR (McMinnville). Great suds & good food.

For a quick breakfast you might try Voodoo Donuts. Never been there, but it's a pretty wild place from what I've heard & read.

And I'll also echo that Mt. St. Helens is a pretty awesome display of nature's power.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 12:57 am

Diego in Seattle wrote:Dins....wasn't McMenimans where we had that mini-trollstop?

I think that was the last stop... props for remembering in your... condition. But they have a bunch of them, the crown jewel being Edgefield, which is right at the last exit before the Gorge on I-84 east of town. I highly recommend the Edgefield, it's quite a place... they have chip-and-putt golf, as well.

A stop at Voodoo Doughnuts is always a crowd-pleaser. You can get married there, take Swahili lessons, or grab a Cock And Balls Doughnut, all in about a 6X12 shop.

If you would have been here at 1:00AM this morning, you could have caught Dave Chapelle's unannounced impromptu show in Pioneer Square... that was odd.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:50 pm

Derron wrote:Single A ball in Eugene and Medford, Bend and Salem

Everybody should watch at least one single A game in their lives. It's a slice of old time Americana in the 21st century.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:53 pm

Dinsdale wrote:
Diego in Seattle wrote:Dins....wasn't McMenimans where we had that mini-trollstop?
I think that was the last stop... props for remembering in your... condition. But they have a bunch of them, the crown jewel being Edgefield, which is right at the last exit before the Gorge on I-84 east of town. I highly recommend the Edgefield, it's quite a place... they have chip-and-putt golf, as well.

Second that recommendation. Did the Lynyrd Skynrd concert there last summer and it was like going back to the 70's. Real party atmosphere...70 year old's smoking weed with teens...drunks hollering out the upstairs hotel windows (sup Dins?)..loud rock and roll...reasonable drinks...and NO real controls on consumption of alcohol or dope.

During the week its a great place for families..it is the old county poor house / farm.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:57 pm

BSmack wrote:
Derron wrote:Single A ball in Eugene and Medford, Bend and Salem
Everybody should watch at least one single A game in their lives. It's a slice of old time Americana in the 21st century.

Back in the late 90's when I worked for a turf equipment manufacturer..I was on the road in Medford and always hit the Southern Oregon Lumberjacks.

Call goes against the Yakima Kings and the manager comes out to argue. He and the ump go at it, the managers gets tossed, walks about 30 feet from the umpire and yells..."look at this mother fucker " and drops trou and shows the umpire his ass.

Place goes nuts, manager gets tossed AND escorted to the bus. First time single A ball made any newscast in about 3 states the next morning.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 10:30 pm

I guess I'd recommend doing the "Tourist Loop" -- head east on I-84 from Portland, head out through the west end of the Gorge, hitting Multnomah Falls and whatnot (lots of sightseeing shit in the Gorge), up to Hood River (Windsurfing Capital of the World... since it's always fucking windy -- hit the beach to "watch the surfers," which is code for checking out the hardbodies). In Hood River, grab a beer/bite at Full Sail Brewing. From Hood River, head south on Hwy 35, which takes you up through the Hood River Valley -- lots of fresh produce to be had there, along with... well, nothing else but scenery. 35 takes you to US26 on the southeast side of Mt Hood. Take a left (west), and the turnoff to Timberline Lodge is just down the road... go there. You can hike around (Darwin isn't nearly so cruel this time of year, and makes it tough to die). It might be crazy hot in Hood River, and about 30 degrees cooler at Timberline -- elevation will do that. From Timberline, go back down to US26, and keep heading west. Just down the road is Government Camp, aka Guvvy. Stop there and check it out. Mt Hood Brewing for a beer, and the dive bar up the street ain't bad. From Guvvy, you can check out the tourist traps on the way back to town. I highly recommend stopping at... whatever the fuck they call Wildwood these days. Wildwood Recreation Area/Cascade Streamwatch, or some shit like that. What they've done is build a buncha hiking trails for greenhorns, with educational shit. Sounds lame, but what it's got is this cool dealio where they replaced part of the stream bank with a big glass window, so you can see the salmon smolts doing their thing... pretty cool. Good steelhead fishing in the river there, btw -- open for the first time in 15 years or so (we used to slaughter hatchery fish there in the Good Old Days). Down the hiway from Rhododenderon/Brightwood/Wildwood/Zigzag and all the little towns at the base of the hill, is Sandissippi, good for cheap gas and little else. Few miles after that, you're in Gresham, which is where Portlanders go to get shot at. But you're back in town, after a great day's drive.

That's the standard tourist deal, and it's probably for a good reason. Lots to see and do for a few hour drive.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:33 am

I'd recommend at least heading out to the coast for a day. Lincoln City, Neskowin, whatever... Just go. Beautiful.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:23 pm

I'd recommend that as well... although he's from california, and probably won't be quite as blown away as the Flyovers by the coastal scenery.

If you go to the coast, bring lots of clothes... it ain't like here in the interior. There can be a 30-40 temp drop when you hit the coastal plain.

And as Ken said, the southern part of the North Coast is sweet... Neskowin (little town I've spent a shitload of time in) down to Newport or Waldport and points south offers a lot of scenery per mile. Nothing wrong with the northern portions, either, but I prefer the lower North-toCentral coast for taking people sightseeing.

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:46 pm

There's some falls just past Multnomah Falls on the Old Columbia Highway called Horsetail Falls. Aside from the immediate steep climb - along swithbacks - it's a pretty easy trail that takes you past three nice waterfalls, not to mention the obvious views of the gorge itself. I get a lot of currency from taking visitors past the Multnomah Falls parking lot and to these little out-of-the-way hikes "only a local would know about" or some other shit they get to tell their friends back in the Midwest.

A run through Forest Park is easy on the knees. Plus, someone might ask you whether or not you went there since it's the largest urban park in the states, or something like that.

Voodoo Donuts sucks.

I've heard good things about Broder for breakfast. Also, everyone seems to swear by Pok Pok. I live in Southeast, so it appears I only go for cuisine in my own neighborhood.

If you're going to commit suicide then I'd suggest the Hawthorne Bridge.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:58 pm

M Club wrote:
If you're going to commit suicide then I'd suggest the Hawthorne Bridge.

By riding a bicycle across it.

Although... all the time growing up, the Vista Bridge was commonly referred to as the Suicide Bridge.... better odds jumping on to pavement than water.

If you're showing up over this weekend/early next week... at least it's a dry heat. A little reprieve the last couple of days, but the furnace is supposedly getting cranked up -- the Coast and Timberline might be $$$.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:10 am

Got into SF about 1AM (4 AM) smackaholic time.

That flight sukked balls.

Got up this morning and headed into downtown. Ended up parking in chinktown for $10 all day. We walked around quite a bit, bought some very good and very cheap fresh produce. Walking down the middle of chinatown is a goof. One market after another with some very interesting shit for sale. Various types of flora that you sure as hell don't see at home in the Big Y. Stumbled upon the cable car museum. In addition to being free, it is one really cool place if you're into big ass 19th century gearhead stuff.

Rode the cable cars around, walked a lot and rode a trolley to fisherman's warf. That place is too fukkin' touristy for me. Had a much better time hanging with the zipperheads in C-town.

Once we got back to the car, we drove through the presidio. I gotta get back here with my bike to race some of those fukkers. What an awesome place for a bike ride.

Tomorrow we'll prolly head over the golden gate to find out exactly where 101 lies in reference to Mt Tam. Prolly swing around over to napa valley and then head back to our motel in so. SF near the airport. Nothing fancy, but $58 a day with decent cont. breakfast is hard to beat. ANd they got a kickass do it yourself waffle iron which I used to put aout 6 pounds of lard this morning. Atleast I walked most of it off.

Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:42 am

China towns are usually the best towns. No visit to major city isn't complete without a visit to one. London's china town is the best I've found to date... Octopus, shark fin soup and all.

smackaholic · Post by **smackaholic** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:27 pm

We ended up eating in some place near the corner of washington and grant. the free spring rolls were very good. the chicken brocorri was OK, but, nothing to write home about. my son's orange chicken was not as good as my home made version. but, it was cheap anyway.

looks like we might be checking out and heading south today towards LA. this is kind of a make it up as we go vacation.

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:07 pm

smackaholic wrote:
looks like we might be checking out and heading south today towards LA.

Don't do it.

If you do, at least take Highway 1 or 101. 1 should be your choice if you want to get a better idea of Northern California and the central coast.

If you're still in the City.. I see these things cruising by my place on Arguello at pretty good clip and look kinda fun. Just depends on your cash flow.

http://www.charterandshuttle.com/tours/ ... ntals.html

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 3:17 pm

Oh yeah, if you do go to Muir Woods and the summit of Mt. Tam (recommended)... the exit is at the bottom of the hill you'll be going down and it's just before the little bridge that takes you to Mill Valley and Tiburon. (Sup Vannie).

socal · Post by **socal** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:12 am

Smacka,

Just stay at my place. I'm on a plane tomorrow for the U & L.

Monday - White Salmon River and maybe Mt. Hood/Timberlne
Tuesday - Portland
Wednesday - Gorge/Coast
Thursday - Mt. St. Helens unless it's so fuckin' hot we bail for the coast.
Friday - Coast/Gorge

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 4:50 am

socal wrote:Smacka,

Just stay at my place. I'm on a plane tomorrow for the U & L.

I'm hoping he wasn't stupid enough to go to L.A.

Someone should have told him "The Fog" in the morning only lasts til about 10 am to noon.... then it's about 60 to 70 degrees til about 9 pm.

Oh well, he is from the "wrong coast".

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:06 pm

.m2 wrote:
socal wrote:Smacka,

Just stay at my place. I'm on a plane tomorrow for the U & L.

I'm hoping he wasn't stupid enough to go to L.A.

Someone should have told him "The Fog" in the morning only lasts til about 10 am to noon....

...in the winter time, you dolt.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:47 pm

socal wrote:Thursday - Mt. St. Helens unless it's so fuckin' hot we bail for the coast.

Supposed to be back into the double-digits by thursday.

The Gorge (the White Salmon comes out of the Gorge as well) is usually quite a bit hotter than the Valley-btw.

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:19 am

Rode down to Vancouver & back today.....fookin hot (especially when we were in stop/go traffic.

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:37 am

Diego in Seattle wrote:
.m2 wrote:
socal wrote:Smacka,

Just stay at my place. I'm on a plane tomorrow for the U & L.

I'm hoping he wasn't stupid enough to go to L.A.

Someone should have told him "The Fog" in the morning only lasts til about 10 am to noon....
...in the winter time, you dolt.

You truly are an idiot as well as a pedophile.

Look you migrant farm worker turned DMV government sponge. The fog on the coast isn't "Tule" fog like you and your immigrant field picking family are used to.

You see, on the coast where the real Californians live.... the fog is an "Advection" fog and is commonly known as a Marine layer and is most common in the summer due to upwelling, you twit.

Stick to "pillow talk" with your little friends where you may come across as somewhat intelligent in the eyes of the little rugrats.

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 5:06 am

Diego in Seattle wrote:Rode down to Vancouver & back today.....fookin hot (especially when we were in stop/go traffic.

I think we just found the U & L's version of The noJ.

the truth

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:01 am

Dinsdale wrote: Supposed to be back into the double-digits by thursday.

i'm introducing myself to the clackamas river this week.

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:03 pm

M Club wrote:
Dinsdale wrote: Supposed to be back into the double-digits by thursday.
i'm introducing myself to the clackamas river this week.

I'd like to take a page from Stephen Colbert's book and refer to Oregon as "California's Canada" .

M Club · Post by **M Club** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:40 pm

are you asking for a loan or something?

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:46 pm

M Club wrote:
Dinsdale wrote: Supposed to be back into the double-digits by thursday.
i'm introducing myself to the clackamas river this week.

We will be waiting for you..please jump in ....errrrr stop by. Our count is down a bit this summer.

Sincerely,

Death and the Grim Reaper.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:08 pm

M Club wrote:

i'm introducing myself to the clackamas river this week.[/quote]

Enjoy the scenery.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:12 am

socal wrote:unless it's so fuckin' hot we bail for the coast.

Derron · Post by **Derron** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:47 pm

Lets hope socal was not too curious about the falls

http://www.katu.com/outdoors/news/51931467.html

Picked a hell of a week to come to the U & L....first stretch like this since 1981...

http://www.katu.com/weather/trend

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:19 pm

Derron wrote:Picked a hell of a week to come to the U & L....first stretch like this since 1981...

Bonus for socal... he gets a little slice of Africa on his U&L visit.

Diego in Seattle · Post by **Diego in Seattle** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:40 pm

Dinsdale wrote:
Derron wrote:Picked a hell of a week to come to the U & L....first stretch like this since 1981...

Bonus for socal... he gets a little slice of Africa on his U&L visit.

Got that fookin right....103 here.