Visiting Vancouver/Portland end of August (Seattle, Salmon Creek: rental car, rentals, house)

[Hiker-biker]

We decided to visit the PNW in this area to try and avoid the smoke from the forest fires.


Can you suggest some outdoor activities in the area? My wife would like to visit the ocean so I'm thinking about driving out to Canon Beach.


We will be staying on the Vancouver side.

- Any suggestions for a good bike rental shop?
- How safe is it to ride on the city streets?


-What hikes would you suggest? I would prefer that the trails aren't too crowded; however, I'm willing to take my wife to see Multnomah Falls. I've hiked the Mt. St. Helens area in a previous visit.


- Any nice gardens/parks to visit in Portland?


- Asian food recommendations? I saw the Mexican food thread and the Asian restaurants are good in Vancover


- Is it safe to kayak on the Columbia River? Where should one go to rent kayaks at?


Thanks in advance!

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Hiker-biker

We decided to visit the PNW in this area to try and avoid the smoke from the forest fires. Check the national smoke map... sometimes Portland gets smoke too (red sunsets are great, especially at the beach in Sept - Oct)


Can you suggest some outdoor activities in the area? My wife would like to visit the ocean so I'm thinking about driving out to Canon Beach. Ecola Park - Hug Point (on each end of Cannon Beach) Walk North @ Hug Point on low tide (Waterfalls, caves, stagecoach road, tide pools) There are forest trails at Ecola Park (North to Seaside) Oswald West State Park, Nice cove (south of Hug Point)


We will be staying on the Vancouver side.

- Any suggestions for a good bike rental shop?https://www.visitvancouverusa.com/li...k-county/2990/ ? (not sure on rentals, but one of my adult kids does a 40 mi biking loop in Vancouver 3x / week)
- How safe is it to ride on the city streets? (there are some great bike trails, streets are OK in town, but country roads can be narrow,)
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/ced/page/bicycle-maps
https://www.alltrails.com/us/washing...er/road-biking

What is your terrain / speed / length - preferred bike route?


-What hikes would you suggest? (Cape Horn loop, Beacon Rock (be sure to buy a parking pass) I would prefer that the trails aren't too crowded; however, I'm willing to take my wife to see Multnomah Falls. I've hiked the Mt. St. Helens area in a previous visit. Some nice easy trails in a great setting at Skamania Lodge (Stevenson, home of Walking Man Brewery, Near Mult Falls)
https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/cape-horn
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_g...Horn_Loop_Hike

- Any nice gardens/parks to visit in Portland? International Rose Garden and nearby Japanese Garden. Peninsula Park (Rose Garden #2), Crystal Springs park (Best in spring, but a nice area, free on Mondays), Near Bob's Red Mill for buying factory products to take home, nice cafe too_


- Asian food recommendations? I saw the Mexican food thread and the Asian restaurants are good in Vancover SE Portland Food trucks (Asian area of town)


- Is it safe to kayak on the Columbia River? Where should one go to rent kayaks at? (Hood River? Mosier? White Salmon?, lots more scenic there... probably closer places (Beacon rock / Cape Horn area would be nice, but need to be very careful of wind and currents (and barges)) https://www.gorgekayaker.com/


Thanks in advance!

Consider some of the high elevation parks in Porland for sunset, Mt Tabor, Mt Scott, Rocky Butte (or Columbia Gorge Vista House / Portland's Womens overlook) Swing by Mcmenamins (Edgefield's Pub) nice historic restoration of previous Oregon Poor Farm, really interesting murals and gardens! https://www.mcmenamins.com/edgefield
Often free events (history pub, talks, small movie theater,

I like the Halibut Fish & Chips and also chowder at Sea Breeze (Between Cannon beach and Seaside)
Fish & Chips in Astoria is popular https://bowpicker.com/ (Next to https://www.crmm.org/)
Horse Brass pub in NE Portland is good for Fish and Chips too. But Portland has a lot of food variety you don't want to miss. I do a few happy hours each trip to town so I get additional variety.

[JackieLovesSun]

a lovely post, StealthRabbit, you really put a lot of work into it.

[StealthRabbit]

we have hosted international travelers to our home for over 30 yrs, so I keep a variety of itineraries of western USA all written up for our guests.

The PNW / West gorge is a popular destination and lots to experience.

for 30 yrs, I also wrote a weekly "Fun & Free for Families" for WA / OR / CA day trips.

There is a lot to explore, and most of it is free.

Right now!
Consider hopping over to Stevenson for the Skamania County Fair and Timber Fest (Starts today, Ends Saturday!) (I hope I can get a flight to PNW to be there in time for Friday night.
Tonight is community talent show FREE (7:PM IIRC)
Free fair and very fun / interesting.
Stop by the livestock barns and chat with the 4H kids and get a very good education (and encourage them).
The photo and art exhibits are really great.
Parking is a small fee to earn money to support fair, but walking from a local street is only 2-3 minutes.
https://www.skamaniacounty.org/depar...imber-carnival

Some cold winter Friday, see if you can get to Big River Grill for Smoked Salmon Chowder (Call first, as they often run out).

[Hiker-biker]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Consider some of the high elevation parks in Porland for sunset, Mt Tabor, Mt Scott, Rocky Butte (or Columbia Gorge Vista House / Portland's Womens overlook) Swing by Mcmenamins (Edgefield's Pub) nice historic restoration of previous Oregon Poor Farm, really interesting murals and gardens! https://www.mcmenamins.com/edgefield
Often free events (history pub, talks, small movie theater,

I like the Halibut Fish & Chips and also chowder at Sea Breeze (Between Cannon beach and Seaside)
Fish & Chips in Astoria is popular https://bowpicker.com/ (Next to https://www.crmm.org/)
Horse Brass pub in NE Portland is good for Fish and Chips too. But Portland has a lot of food variety you don't want to miss. I do a few happy hours each trip to town so I get additional variety.

- Any suggestions for a good bike rental shop?https://www.visitvancouverusa.com/li...k-county/2990/ ? (not sure on rentals, but one of my adult kids does a 40 mi biking loop in Vancouver 3x / week)
- How safe is it to ride on the city streets? (there are some great bike trails, streets are OK in town, but country roads can be narrow,)
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/ced/page/bicycle-maps
https://www.alltrails.com/us/washing...er/road-biking

What is your terrain / speed / length - preferred bike route?


We would be road biking about 20-25 miles or so averaging about 10-12 mph.


Thanks for all the good suggestions! The County Fair sounds like fun! Unfortunately, we're on the late flight into Portland so the fair will be over on Saturday when we land. Hopefully, it will not be an issue getting a rental car at 10 pm. We do have a reservation though.

[DevanXL]

StealthRabbit definitely gave you a nice comprehensive rundown of the area!

My additions would be:

-What hikes would you suggest? I would prefer that the trails aren't too crowded; however, I'm willing to take my wife to see Multnomah Falls. I've hiked the Mt. St. Helens area in a previous visit.

If you haven't down the Ape Caves at Mt. St. Helen's they are definitely worth checking out! Grab some headlights and a jacket though.

Alittle bit east on the Gorge Coyote Wall Loop is a great trail. Plus, you can head alittle bit east to MaryHill Winery after the hike

- Any nice gardens/parks to visit in Portland?

Salmon Creek is a great trail in North Vancouver! One of my favorite parks. Lacamas lake is also beautiful but might be a bit more crowed. If you are headed into Portland cathedral park is great, Mt. Tabor is the best if you want a great sunset in the city.

- Asian food recommendations? I saw the Mexican food thread and the Asian restaurants are good in Vancover

I personally am alittle critical of the Asian food in the area but I was spoiled growing up in Seattle. In Vancouver, SushiMo is quality sushi at a reasonable price. Thai Wok Kitchen has the best Thai in the city IMO. Taste of Asia & Tea in Vancouver has Fantastic dumplings!

In Portland, Eem is fusion but definitely worth the visit for "Thai BBQ". Bamboo Sushi is a Portland staple. Bollywood theater is also good for Indian food.

[texasdiver]

Portland has bike share rentals all over the city. Those may be slower and clunkier than you are thinking. But they are certainly adequate for tooling around town on the local bike trails. I think they are putting in some e-bikes as well for longer range.

https://www.biketownpdx.com/homepage

I don't think they have gotten across the river to Vancouver yet. But they should.

The city of Portland has made a lot of very detailed and good biking maps with recommended routes around the city. Instead of trying to do road touring on outlying you might easier just get bike share bikes and do some urban riding

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/39402

A good first ride to see Portland would be the waterfront loop: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/trans...36638?a=348454 which is pretty much all off-street paths except for some small sections just south of downtown.

[Hiker-biker]

Thanks for the suggestion, Texasdiver! We used the bike share in Chattanooga last year and over two days rode about 40 miles.

H-B

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by DevanXL

Thai Wok Kitchen has the best Thai in the city IMO. Taste of Asia & Tea in Vancouver has Fantastic dumplings!

Cool, two new places to try. I'm always on the lookout for new places.

[Jane917]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Cool, two new places to try. I'm always on the lookout for new places.

We aren't eating out much lately, but I second the recommendation for Thai Wok Kitchen. It is one of our favorites!