I happen to have accrued a lot of vacation days from work. I haven’t taken full vacations for the last 4 years and since we have a cumulative vacation day policy, I’ve got about a month left that I can still take this year. I get a little crazy about it actually. As I was writing that I was thinking, wow, if I don’t take them this year, then next year I’ll have SIX weeks. But I’ve got to break that habit, otherwise I will NEVER GO ANYWHERE, and I’m done living like that!
So I think starting on the Thursday before Memorial Day I’m going to drive up to Oregon for a 2-3 week roadtrip. Why Oregon, you ask? Well, why not? I’ve been reading up on things to do/see in Oregon, so I’m starting to get some ideas for us there and there are also a few places along the way that I’ll check out (like Red Rock Canyon in Nevada). Most of all, I’m going to bring my journal (which is really my laptop) and I’m going to get some writing done. I have drafts of poems and short stories that I’ve written in the past (some as far back as 20 or 30 years ago!) and I’d like to devote some serious time to getting them in better shape to share with the world, in one way or another.
I guess I just want to throw out some of my ideas and see if anyone has suggestions. I’ve heard amazing things about Mt. Hood National Forest and Golden-Silver Falls State Park (is it wrong to choose a place based on it’s name?), so I’d like to make sure that I at least get to these. Other than that, I’m open to suggestions. Maybe also Crater Lake National Park.
Browsing through other people’s trip itineraries online, I’ve come across this trip which looks like a good few days trip around Portland, which is something I’d also like to do. Any other “must do’s” in the area?
I figure that if I do stop at Red Rock Canyon, I’ll go in Vegas while I’m in the area, even though it doesn’t quite fit into the theme of my outdoors traveling itinerary…Though I just checked mapquest and it’s a 20 hour drive from Phoenix to Portland, but that’s going up the California Coast, not going through Nevada as I had wanted and I don’t want to go TOO far out of my way. Has anyone done this trip before?
Filed under: Outdoors Travel | Tagged: A Bit Crazy, A Little Crazy, Actually, Amazing Facts, Artists Family, California Coast, Epf Activities, Forest Service, Go Transit, mims, Mount Hood, Mt Hood National Forest, On My Own, Red Rock Canyon, Travel Guides For Women, Travel Sites, West Coast Region, West Coast Swing, Women Travel |
Going On The Road 
Ok, so it’s my job to say this, but it’s true – you absolutely have to go to Crater Lake National Park. Our site has more info and a webcam at http://www.craterlaketrust.org.
The historic lodge at Crater Lake will have just opened (May 22) so you may be able to get in there. If not, don’t plan to camp – we’ll still have 10+ feet of snow up there!
Wow–what gorgeous pictures up on that site! I will definitely try and work this into my schedule, though i think i’ll already have left the area by the 22nd. Any other recommended places to stay in the area?
Please check out Depoe Bay, Oregon if you are near the coast. It is a beautiful town that whales just literally sit in front of starting in June and July (you can see them from land). I had my honeymoon there last June and we spent days just watching the whales breach the water. Great hiking in a national or state park about 15 miles south of Depoe Bay too.