Traveling through Oregon..Need ideas..

I will be driving through Oregon in late July or early Aug..I was thinking of taking I-5 but then was wondering if I should take the Hwy near the ocean?/
I would like to see as much as I can..Making one stop in Corvallis to see my uncle..
I would like to do some birdwatching and stop at some wineries..

But if you folks have any tips on places to see and places to eat I'd like to hear about them..
Thanks.

Hi there!
Do you mean taking I-5 south to Corvallis from I-84? Where are you heading afterwards? I-5 is a pretty typical boring interstate but it is by far the more direct route to Corvallis. The coast is absolutely worth a drive, however. You could make a loop, take the direct route to Corvallis and then out to the coast and up to Astoria and back into Portland and I-5 again and onwards if that fits your route. Or if you're heading south you could do it the other way, but it will take lots longer to get there. Oregon is sometimes bigger than it looks...

It's an easy drive to numerous wineries from Corvallis, so that should take care of that (except maybe driving home afterwards....) Here's a link to the Willamette Vallery Winery Association. You can order a guidebook which will include a map to lots and lots and lots of wineries. There are special events all this season because of Oregon's 150th anniversary of statehood.

http://www.willamettewines.com/

I'll leave any more specific suggestions to our group of Oregonians who can give you more ideas of what to do down Corvallis-way. I head down that way for wine and plants, and that's about it.

Enjoy your trip!

I'll be coming from Missouls,MT..

I'll be heading south into California

Ah. Are you going all the way to Seattle on I-90? (beautiful city, if you've never been there, it's worth seeing-and I'd say that even if it wasn't my hometown, lol)

How much time do you have to make the trip? Were you considering the Washington coast as well, or just Oregon? There's a lot bigger time commitment to see both. It's been years since I did the whole thing, but I've driven essentially the whole coast down into CA, most of the way to LA-it's beautiful pretty much the whole way, but it's definitely slower.

btw, Oregon's interstate speed limit is 65, even out in the middle of nowhere, and lots of state and smaller roads are still 55.

Yeah! I love a slower speed limit, as high speeds terrify me. I liked "55 Alive" back in the seventies. Anybody else remember that with fondness? Maybe I am just weird

I remember it, but not with fondness. :) Personally, I prefer a 75mph limit, because then you can usually get away with 80...

Holly, you would NOT like driving in California, particularly S. CA....

I'm with Holly. I just got back from a trip to Corvallis, and the people driving bumper-to-bumper at 80 mph terrify me. It's as though they think they're playing video games, rather than catapulting 2-ton machines through the air.

Chinook -

I don't think it's a question of which route (I-5 or I-99) is better. There is so much to see both ways. I-99 forces you to stop to see the scenery, but it makes for a very long trip. I-5 allows you to go faster, but you have to plan to get off to see the sites.

There are tons of wineries - some very good ones in and around Philomath. Ask your uncle if he knows Dave Grube (my brother lives in Philomath and is well-known there).

There are great plant places and nurseries, on I-5, as well. Oregon Gardens is near Salem and is close to I-5. Beahive (on DG) lives near there and often posts pictures after her visits. Schreiners iris gardens is visible from I-5 and in that same area.

Kathy

The oregon garden should be very nice around late July -thru Aug. If you decide to see it send me a d-mail and maybe we can meet there. It will be a busy time of the year as I am getting my youngest off to college in PA and the older one is off to GA for her culinary internship. Schreiners Iris is lovely right now but will be past its prime that time of the year. Close to here is Silver Falls state park which is very nice also. Hiking trails and 15 waterfalls to see along the way.

I personally have driven the coast highway from as far North to as South as you drive it. I LOVE IT! Oregon coast (no one yell heheh) is truly one of the most beautiful in all that I have seen. Birds, trees, the ocean, walking trials, small towns, large towns with small town atmosphere, cranberry bogs, you name it you got it. The like Susybell there are several wineries out of Corvallis and Philiomath to visit and tons of nurseries.

Imagine that Schreiners will be no bloom by then as with this heat we are having now the iris are all fading quickly

The Oregon Garden in Silverton is a spectucalor site almost any time.

Silver Falls is just one to die for because you can walk under a fall and look out.

I think we have just about everything here except smog and too many people.

This is from an So Calif gal that moved from there to here and never regretted a day except in spring when we can and often do get our fair share of rain and then some.

Enjoy our wonderful state.

D

I was actually rethinking whether I needed to relocate to Corvallis when I was down there this weekend. It was beautiful.

It is beautiful. Green most of the time. Not as crowded as many places, no smog, not much humidity.

Heaven on earth! and if you like or love iris Oregon is known as the Iris Mecca of the USA

We have Schreiners, Cooleys, Mid America, Keith Kepple, Snowpeak and others just here.

D

I lived there from 1981 - 1985 and graduated from OSU. My parents and brother and some friends still live there. Wish the trip between here and there was easier.

And the small town really, really appeals to me. Even out in Woodinville it's starting to feel more and more like the city.

I knew that Schreiners was there, but not about the others. It truly is an Iris mecca!