Sport Today

I'll be taking 10 days off to drive up from SF to Vancouver Island
during the week of 4th of July. I'm looking for advice on where to go
and sail and what to see. We'll be stopping by The Gorge to windsurf
and watch the Freestyle Frenzy contest. The wives are coming with us
so it would be nice to read your experiences about windsurf spots (the
coast of Oregon, Floras lake?, Washington coast, Vancouver) and places
and cities/towns to visit (National and State Parks, Portland,
Seattle). I've heard about beautiful places along the coast of Oregon.
What's in the "must see" list?

Thanks

well, while you're in the Gorge you should take the wives to breakfast
at the Columbia Gorge Hotel.  It's pretty pricey at about $30/per, but
it's one hell of an experience, and I always love it.  BTW, that hotel
is rated as one of the most romantic... w/ beautiful gardens, perched
atop a cliff overlooking the river w/ a stream and waterfall.  Also,
there are some hot springs along the Wind River in WA that is about a
half hour hike.  Kind of hit or miss, but a nice thing to do w/ the
ladies.  You can also drive into Portland and visit the fruit orchards
in Hillsboro and pick peaches and cherries off the tree.

You may also want to stop by Crater Lake in southern OR on the way up
or down... it's absolutely stunning, but it's a long way from the
coast, so you'd have to do one or the other.

Finally, the San Juan Islands in WA are really nice.  You can take a
ferry from Anecortes stopping at any of the islands and even continue
onto Vancouver Island.  You can stay at the Rosario Resort on Orcas
Island (one of the San Juans)... I'm not sure what spot is the best
for whale watching, but it's called Orcas Island for a reason!

kev

Try to make the drive between Crescent City, Ca, and Gold Beach during
mid-day or later once the clouds clear. That stretch has to be one of the
most beautiful I've seen. Especially as you round the last hill coming into
Pistol River, Or.

Visit Cape Sebastian, about 6 miles south of Gold Beach. Walk the trail down
the hill to the falls. You'll have to look for the falls, and if they've
dried up, you'll still get a rush when the water comes shooting up between
the rocks. It 's a good hike to send non sailors on. You can drop them off
at the top and drive around to the water and windsurf while they work their
way down the hill.

The stretch between Gold Beach and Port Orford is just as scenic. I'm not so
crazy about the Coos Bay area. Pretty industrial and touristy.

Alan

Per kike:

One scene that stuck with me after my wife and I made that drive
was the arctic-type beach.   Can't cite an exact location, but we
walked through a forest that was so dark/thick that you really
could have used a flashlight... and came out on this beach that
looked like something straight out of National Geographic.   Huge
driftwood tree trunks - some 3 or 4 feet in diameter scattered
around like pick-up sticks.... kelp, boulders.... I can't really
describe it except to say that no photograph I've ever seen does
it justice.     Well worth checking out.
--
PeteCresswell