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Old Sep 23, 2010 | 8:21 am
  #13  
PIONEER
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Oregon (DL and Marr Lifetime plat. etc.)
Posts: 1,273
Originally Posted by Gardyloo
Let me (strongly) suggest that you ditch the BW at Troutdale and stay at McMenamin's Edgefield instead. It's away from the freeway (unlike the BW) and is a superb place to relax and overcome jetlag, as well as being very well located for visiting the Gorge and for an ultimate getaway to Seattle. Brewery, distillery, winery, golf, cinema all on site, beautiful gardens (which ought to be grand in May) and funky, wonderful art. Decent food, too.

Let me also suggest a wrinkle to your itinerary, one that might reduce your time in the Gorge by a day, but add a lot - that's a lot - of interest to the trip.

From Troutdale, head east through the Gorge to Cascade Locks, then cross over the river and continue east on the Washington side of the Columbia as far as Maryhill. Visit the Maryhill Museum and nearby Stonehenge, then drive north on US 97 through Goldendale and over Satus Pass and through the Yakama Indian reservation to Yakima. Turn west on US 12 at Yakima and cross over White Pass (detour to Mt. Rainier if you're interested) and continue on US 12 out to the coast for a clockwise loop around the Olympic Peninsula.

The scenery on the Gorge past Hood River, and especially along US 97 is fabulous "old west" stuff - buttes, sagebrush, etc. - and in May the views of Mt. Adams from US 97 are amazing. From Troutdale to Seattle via US 97 adds only around 3 or 4 hours to the straight (and boooor-ing) drive up I-5, but really delivers the goods in terms of interest and diversity. Highly, highly recommended.

Oh, it was a UA DC-8 that landed in Troutdale in 1962. IIRC they had to take off the wings and truck it out.

Edited to add: I see you list BW on your profile, so might I assume you're using points for some/part of the stay? If so, I'd still recommend spending at least one night at the Edgefield (you say you're in the area for several nights) just to get a feel for this great (and unusual) chain of lodgings, pubs and event venues.
I agree about Edgefield, but probably not as cheap as BW. I also agree about going through Goldendale if you have the time. That way you could also avoid the potential for some pretty ugly traffic in the Portland area.

As for the United flight, was it really that long ago? I'm sure you're right, though. My recollection is that they stripped out the seats and everything else they could, and then brought in a special team of pilots, and were able to take off from Troutdale.
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