Anyone from Portland/Vancouver?

[eth3rton]

I'm planning a trip out that way in the next few months (end of July/ beginning of August) and would like some recommendations on places to see. Will be out there for 7 days or so. I'd like to see the following places:
Columbia River Gorge
Mount Hood
Mount St Helens
Crater Lake
Mount Rainier
Cannon BeachAny other places (or restaurants) that I should visit? Thanks for any advice!

[juise]

Are you flying in or driving to Portland? Are you coming with anyone (a significant other)? I can give you a lot of food suggestions (especially economically-friendly ones) in town. What find of food do you like?

In terms of destinations:
*Unique Portland Neighborhoods (http://www.portlandbridges.com/portland-neighborhoods/): Hawthorne/Belmont, Northwest (NW 23rd and 21st), Mississippi Avenue, maybe Sellwood
*Mount Tabor Park (Portland's volcano... has a nice view)
*Powell's Books (http://www.powells.com/) - If you could possibly be excited by going to a book store, this would be the one.
*The Tillamook Cheese Factory (http://www.tillamookcheese.com/VisitorsCenter/) - about 30-40 south of Canon... cheese and ice cream... heaven. :)
*Catch a cheap movie at the Academy Theater (http://www.academytheaterpdx.com/).
*There are gorgeous spots all along Highway 101 on the coast.
*If you're as far south as Crater Lake, you might cross the border and see the redwood forest in Northern California.
*You might visit Hood River (http://www.hoodriver.org/) while you're in the gorge. It's not far from the popular spots (Multnomah Falls to Crown Point on the historic highway).

I'll add more if I think of any. Let me know what kind of food you like... there are just so many. :)

[eth3rton]

Wow thanks! Not picky with food. Something out of the ordinary? We are flying out from St Louis. My brother, his wife and my mom are going. We lived out there when I was like 1-2, to young to remember anything. How far of a drive is it to Crater Lake or the Redwoods? Ever been up to Mt Rainier & was it worth it? How long of a drive is that?

[Sunset-pics]

If you want to head up north then you could go to Mt St Helens.

[Mark_Cohran]

Crater Lake is quite a drive south (about 3 -4 hours or so). Mount St. Helens is about the same distance (maybe less) to the north. I haven't been to Ranier specifically, but I've shot it from Gig Harbor - about 3 hours north of Portland.

370804

[eth3rton]

Mt St Helens is 2-3 hours from Portland? Looks alot closer on the map? What kind of weather would I be expecting in late July or early August?

[Mark_Cohran]

Hot, dry, - perfect weather for shooting.

[jedi1354]

for unique portland food i reccomend pok pok. http://www.pokpokpdx.com/ it is like no thai food available in the states. it is fairly in expensive and has won many awards. the food is pretty spicy. over on chowhound that is one of the main recommendations for people coming from out of town. i also reccomend
http://www.apizzascholls.com/
http://www.kennyandzukes.com/
http://www.clydecommon.com/
i dont know where you plan on staying or what time your plan on being out. but portland has a huge amount of off beat food carts that are open late and attract a wide verity of people my favorite http://www.potatochampion.com/
open odd hours though
enjoy your stay in oregon.