Originally Posted by
sophiegirl
I have a business appointment in Portland, and another in Seattle. I live in NC, have tons of vacation I have not taken - so am thinking along the lines of a combo trip.
My thoughts are:
fly to Portland on a Saturday, drive to Crater Lake, spend remainder of day, all day Sunday, and most of Monday....then return to Portland.
On Tuesday, I would have my Portland biz call in the AM - then drive to Seattle. Wednesday I would have my Seattle biz call, finishing by 2PM or so. That would leave remainder of Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun for activities in Seattle, Olympic Peninsula, etc. I have seen all of these things - my sister lives there - so have to factor in visit time with her.
But that doesn't give me much time in Portland proper - which I have never visited. Also really does not allow for a leisurely drive Portland to Seattle - should I allow time for sightseeing on the drive?
I can add a day or so on either end if need to do so - but need to hold the trip to about 10 days due to other appointments which bookend the trip....
TIA for your assistance....
The drive to crater lake from Portland is about 5 hrs. If you are traveling in early October at higher elevations you will have fall color changes.
In October the weather can be great or the mountian passes could be snow covered.
Are you flying round trip into Portland or round trip into Seattle?
Your Portland meeting is on Tuesday and Wednesday is in Seattle
You havent been to Portland before....
Friday fly into Portland in the evening.
Saturday drive down to crater lake through Bend, OR
Sunday spend all day at crater lake---you honestly only need a day there. You could spend Sunday night at the lodge in the Park (not sure of your travel time or if it will still be open then)
Monday AM crater lake then drive out to Eugene and up to Portland. If you are into wines you have willamette valley between Eugene and Portland so you could drive on a parallel road called Hwy 99 through theis area
Tues/Wed meetings
Wed/Thurs spend time with sister
Friday--drive back down to Portland and then the weekend explore the city of Portland. They have a weekend Saturday market which is sort of like Pike PlaceMArket in Seattle where local vendors sell their stuff.
What I would add onto this if I were you and you never went there before...but you have done all the stuff near Seattle
S day 0 fly into Portland
S day 1 Portland
M day 2 Columbia Gorge to Mt Hood, OR then South to Bend
T Drive to crater lake spend night at crater lake
W day 3 crater lake...drive and stay in grants pass
R day 4 AM drive to Crescent City/ PM Redwoods National Park
F day 5 AM Redwoods National Park...early evening start your drive up the S coast maybe stay in brookings/Gold Beach/Coos Bay
S day 6 drive the oregon coast then up to Portland or stay at Cannon Beach
M day 7 drive to Portland in the AM Portland in the PM
T day 9 meeting Portland
W day 10 meeting Seattle
R day 11 sister day
F day 12 sister day
S day 13 siter day--fly home
What you could plan on doing--is you can fly into Portland and out from Seattle...you can get to seattle using AMTRAK or fly on Alaska or United between PFX and SEA. If you dont need your car in seattle with your sister. If you do then you could just drive back down to Portland for your flight.