Change in Plans Newport or Astoria for 2 nights???

Well, after going over our plans yesterday my wife suggested some changes. We are now looking at heading to the coast at Newport where we%26#39;ll stay overnight. This looks to be a long drive day to Newport after CLNP so this is a stop. Question is this: should we stay for a day in Newport (2 nights) before heading to Astoria for our next stop or stay 2 nights in Astoria before starting our trip home along the Columbia River to Pendleton for an overnight?

We cannot take long trails, love to see coastal sights (harbours, shorelines, etc.), possible short beach walks to find shells or stones, my wife likes to visit a few wineries but not a winery tour, and we like to browse small towns, shops %26amp; Oyster bars if available. Any suggestions would be appreciated and I%26#39;ll present possibilities to her tonight for refinement.

Thanks.

Change in Plans Newport or Astoria for 2 nights???

To answer your question, you%26#39;ll have many more options for the kinds of sights/activities you like using Newport as a base, as compared to Astoria. You might also consider Yachats, 25 miles south of Newport, as it%26#39;s at the north end of one of the most scenic sections of Oregon%26#39;s coastline.

As for the route from CLNP, suggesting exiting the park from the north, taking OR 138/38 to the coast at Reedsport, then north. Spectacular scenery all along that route. If you can fit it that day, there are a couple nice wineries around Roseburg; Abacela is one. Otherwise, there really aren%26#39;t any decent wineries along the coast. Some in the Columbia River gorge, though.

Change in Plans Newport or Astoria for 2 nights???

I would choose Newport as your base but Astoria is definitely worth a few hours.

In Newport, there is a great little hole in the wall called Southbeach Fish Market. They have amazing seafood but it isn%26#39;t fancy by any means. You order from the counter and you can eat inside or at the picnic tables outside. This place is just on the south side of the Newport Bridge on the right hand side. Very FRESH seafood!

http://www.southbeachfishmarket.com/

Once you eat, head a little further south and walk off your lunch on South Beach. Very few people on the beach and it is wide and great for walking.

Visit the Newport Aquarium. I love this place and go there often as it is always changing.

In Astoria, I recommend a ride on the trolley. You can hop on and off along the route to check out different things. The Maritime Museum is worth a stop.

You can also taste wine in Astoria at a couple of different places, one being The Cellar. I know there are one or two other places but I don%26#39;t know the names of them.

Enjoy your trip!

There is a little

Mistletoe %26amp; PDXWJ,

We%26#39;re departing from Trail and going through CNLP then West. On my post regarding the park, everyone said plan 1-2 hours to drive the park since, other than stopping at the lodge and to take photos, we would not be taking any trails. I did have 138W listed as the route to Roseburg before taking I-5 North. I thought to exit onto 34W to 20W to Newport. The estimated driving time (via I-5 from Roseburg) is about 7 hours not including the park. If Newport is about 25 miles South of Newport, would it be a nice half day trip if we stay 2 nights in Newport and still allow us some time in Newport proper? We both LOVE seafood and will check out the SBFMkt. Sounds good. Are the beaches in the area good for shells or rock hounding along the shore?

With such a short drive to Astoria, I figure we would be able to enjoy the scenery enroute plus check out the museum and maybe a winery or two. The Trolley sounds like a good way to see some of Astoria.

Does all this sound workable?

Thanks for the advice.

If you like nice hotels, I would stay in Astoria at the Cannery Pier Hotel, check out their website. If you don%26#39;t stay in Astoria and just visit, don%26#39;t miss a meal at the Bridgewater Bistro, right by the CPH. Astoria is full of history and charm, we have a home there and love to visit the area. There many great places for seafood in Astoria and nearby Seaside (about a 20 minute drive.) The Ship Inn, Cannery Cafe, Silver Salmon Grille are a few of our favorites. The Maritime Museum is definitely worth the time, we had an exhibit there for several months which was a great honor. The Cellar on 10th Street, Shallon Winery and the Silver Salmon Grille are all very nice places to wine taste. www.oldoregon.com is a nice website for the area. Have fun! :)

Thanks syrahgirl. I%26#39;ll put your info in my notes. I have not researched Astoria for a place to stay yet. Have to work on Newport first. We do plan on overnighting in Astoria and really want something with a nice view on the water, not sure if we want fresh or salt yet as I have no idea what vistas are available. Have to post in both those forums for more detailed information.

Yahoo Maps says 300 miles and 6.5 hours of driving from Trail through CLNP to Newport over the route I suggested. Lots of driving, yes, but on the plus side, you%26#39;ll have daylight until 9:00pm (you%26#39;re doing this in the summer, right?). So, that might afford time to stop at places like Haceta Head, or Cape Perpetua, south of Yachats. In any case, you%26#39;ll see enough to know if you want to return the next day.

To your question about beaches, yes, central coast beaches are better than north coast for beachcombing and rockhounding. Don%26#39;t expect to find many (if any) agates on Agate Beach, though.

';With such a short drive to Astoria..'; True, it%26#39;s not many miles, but things like Three Capes Scenic Loop get in the way of it being ';short';. If you%26#39;re wife has her heart set on visiting a winery, I suggest that be during the day between Astoria and Pendleton. There are some wine shops along the coast that offer tasting, but the couple wineries relly don%26#39;t reflect the good things going on in Oregon%26#39;s wine industry.

mistletoe,

I figured 7 hours even though Rand said 6 1/2 too. Got to figure campers %26amp; RV%26#39;s, not to mention I WILL stop with my camera equipment more than my passenger really wants me to; )

I did forget about the daylight as it%26#39;s been many years since I%26#39;ve been this far North. That will work in our favor.

Why do they call it Agate Beach if there are none? Any idea where I might go to find some?

I did see a post about a winery somewhere close to, if not in, Astoria. I%26#39;ll have to search around again. The mention of tasting wine enroute East might work to my advantage. I could stop more for pics along the way as a trade-off since I don%26#39;t drink wine (bourbon man here). I%26#39;ll have to consider that. By the coast, I guess you mean the ocean coastline and not from Astoria eastward, right? She doesn%26#39;t need to ';tour'; a winery as we have plenty within 20 minutes of our home we take friends to visit when they come by. She just wants to try different brands/types and fill the cellar some.

As to the CPH, I%26#39;m going to see if they have any specials that might cut the cost slightly but it does look like a nice place before we have what now will be 4 hard days of driving interstate after the gorge.

If you think of any places for some good rocks along the shore, please let me know.

Thanks

Hi ltret (retired lieutenent?), I%26#39;m a bit confused?

%26gt;%26gt;I did have 138W listed as the route to Roseburg before taking I-5 North. I thought to exit onto 34W to 20W to Newport. The estimated driving time (via I-5 from Roseburg) is about 7 hours not including the park. If Newport is about 25 miles South of Newport,...%26lt;%26lt;

Oh, wait I see. Hmmm, let me figure out the times here as I suspect taking 138/38 from Sutherlin north of Roseburg, then north on 101 will be just about as fast and prettier to boot!

Okay, mileage seems about the same. Roseburg to Newport via Hwy 138/38 and Hwy 101 will take you about 3.75-4 hours. Going north on I-5 to 34/20 will take you about 3.75-4 hours.

Not sure where you got the 7 hours figure? From Crater Lake itself? That%26#39;s probably about right, but not 7 hours from Roseburg. We live near Newport, and it only takes us about 5 hours all the way to Medford -- and as mistletoe knows we don%26#39;t drive very fast, LOL!

Hwy 38 winds along the river and is very scenic. There are three wineries in Elkton, a pretty little town. They each have tasting rooms. As you get near to Reedsport, you%26#39;ll see the Dean Creek elk viewing area, where you can stop and see the elk. You%26#39;ll also see Heceta lighthouse north of Florence ';the most photographed in America';, or so the literature says ;-)

Newport - there is quite a bit to do here. You both might like to take a bay tour on the Discovery and browse the bayfront shops. The bayfront is a unique blend of ';shoppes'; and galleries (do go into Made in Oregon), *and* working bayfront. Go onto the short pier at Port Dock 1 and see the sea lions from about 15%26#39; away!

There are two lighthouses both with tours. Local Ocean Seafoods is another good seafood spot, it%26#39;s on the east end of the bayfront. Here%26#39;s a good website:

http://discovernewport.com

%26gt;%26gt;Why do they call it Agate Beach if there are none? Any idea where I might go to find some?%26lt;%26lt;

For many years, people have found agates at Agate Beach. Thousands and thousands of them. However, over time, they have diminished. If we have a winter with lots of storms and high tides, it washes the sand out and there are still lots of agates to be found there. But by summer, it is sanded up again and pickins%26#39; can be slim. This past winter was quite mild overall, not much in the way of storms, thank goodness.

You can try south of Newport about 5-6 miles at a day use SP called Lost Creek. People have been succesful the last two years finding agates there, but you do need low tide. There are rocks here too. It is an easier access than South Beach, where you have to clamber over sand %26amp; low dunes to get to the beach.

Another good place to look for rocks/shells with very easy access is at Waldport. Turn west at the traffic light, then bear right to the parking area.

Yes, there is a winery in Astoria, but it%26#39;s known mostly for fruit and berry wines (chocolate orange, anyone?), which I doubt is what you%26#39;re looking for. There is also Nehalem Bay winery, and Flying Dutchman, at Otter Rock. I%26#39;ve been to both, and their wines just don%26#39;t compare to those produce in Oregon%26#39;s wine country.

If there%26#39;s room for a splurge hotel in the budget, rather than CPH, I%26#39;d suggest Overleaf Lodge in Yachats: http://www.overleaflodge.com/ . Might have the best setting of any lodging on the coast. The Holiday Inn Express in Astoria has almost the same view as CPH, at probably half the rate.

I don%26#39;t know.... maybe the forum%26#39;s central coast experts know of some good rockhounding beaches. Agate Beach used to be aptly named, but that was 50 years ago.