Portland/Seattle folks - trip in October

[Marc Langille]

Hi,

I am headed up to the area in early through mid October. I have several suggestions for photographing the area, and was wondering if anyone might recommend a must see place within 4-5 hours of either city? I'll just be bringing the landscape gear, since I don't think I could really get settled in quickly to photograph much else other than the surrounding coast, landscapes, city attractions, etc.

Regards,
Marc

[stevebrot]

Hi,
That is a tall order. By the time I finish my response, vagrant or some other Portlander will likely snipe me on the post! I was born in the Portland area, grew up in Seattle, and have lived the last 20 years in Vancouver (just north of Portland). Here is the "short" list of what immediately came to mind.

Portland:

Cannon Beach

Ecola State Park
Oswald West State Park/Short Sands Beach
Coast highway south to Manzanita

Columbia Gorge:

Historic Highway

Women's forum overlook
Vista House
Latourelle Falls
Wahkeena Falls
Multnomah Falls
Oneonta Gorge (shorts/sandals recommended for wading)
Horsetail Falls

Bonneville Dam (Oregon side)

Sturgeon pools

Washington Highway 14

Cape Horn
Beacon Rock State Park
Bonneville Dam (Washington side)

Powerhouse
Fish ladder viewing room

Hood River -- wind surfers
Mt Hood

Timberline Lodge
Cloudcap chalet (remote on NE side)

Smith Rocks -- Red rock formations, rock climbers up close!
Mt. St. Helens

Johnson Ridge Visitor Center
Windy Ridge overlook (remote NE side)

Seattle:

Seattle Center/Space Needle
Pike Street Public Market
Seattle Art Museum (downtown and Volunteer Park locations)
U.W. Arboreteum
Gas Works Park (Lake Union)
Seattle waterfront
Any Puget Sound Ferry
Mt. Rainier

Paradise (most visited/photographed)
Sunrise (very dramatic on East side)
Mowich Lake -- Day hikes to incredible scenery

Eunice Lake
Spray Park

Snoqualmie Pass east to Ellensburg

Various day hikes to wonderful places
Great view of the Mt. Stuart peaks on the east side

Stevens Pass east to Wenatchee

Various day hikes especially out of Leavenworth
Leavenworth (faux Bavarian village)

Olympic Peninsula (ferry ride)

Port Angeles
Hurricane Ridge
Lake Crescent
Dungeness Spit
Pt. Townsend

There is much, much more, particularly from a photographer's point of view. Enjoy!

Steve

[Marc Langille]

Thank you - obviously there's a lot to consider! I must pick and chose, since I'll have a max. of 4-5 days to myself.

Regards,
Marc

[kent vinyard]

Marc,
I have a son that lives in Seattle. I'ii get in touch with him and see what he suggests.

I've been up there before but didn't have time to go and Photograph the area.

[Mallee Boy]

Originally Posted by Marc Langille

Hi,

I am headed up to the area in early through mid October. I have several suggestions for photographing the area, and was wondering if anyone might recommend a must see place within 4-5 hours of either city? I'll just be bringing the landscape gear, since I don't think I could really get settled in quickly to photograph much else other than the surrounding coast, landscapes, city attractions, etc.

Regards,
Marc

Hi Marc,
stevebrot has sort of got this covered....well and truly.

My visit to the area is remembered by Mt St Helens (if the weather is kind to you); Mt Hood ? (Terry's mountain from the other forum); Portland Rose Gdn if its in season, great photog opportunities up there. Columbia Gorge drive on the old road Multnomah Falls etc, and the windsurfers on the river might attract you to.

If going out to Manzanita....breakfast or lunch at Camp 18 (that might be Camp 19....one or the other), a diner set in an old logging encampment....arrive hungry.

Tillamook might be stretching you time wise, but there is the air museum and further along that access road by the museum, a great waterfall and huge trees.

Beautiful area, look forward to seeing it through your eyes.
Cheers.

[Marc Langille]

Originally Posted by kent vinyard

Marc,
I have a son that lives in Seattle. I'ii get in touch with him and see what he suggests.

I've been up there before but didn't have time to go and Photograph the area.

Thanks Kent - much appreciated! I am still trying to figure out the exact timeframe, since I know late September is a little better in terms of going mountain biking and then having time to photograph the sunsets...

Cheers,
Marc

[Marc Langille]

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

Hi Marc,
stevebrot has sort of got this covered....well and truly.

My visit to the area is remembered by Mt St Helens (if the weather is kind to you); Mt Hood ? (Terry's mountain from the other forum); Portland Rose Gdn if its in season, great photog opportunities up there. Columbia Gorge drive on the old road Multnomah Falls etc, and the windsurfers on the river might attract you to.

If going out to Manzanita....breakfast or lunch at Camp 18 (that might be Camp 19....one or the other), a diner set in an old logging encampment....arrive hungry.

Tillamook might be stretching you time wise, but there is the air museum and further along that access road by the museum, a great waterfall and huge trees.

Beautiful area, look forward to seeing it through your eyes.
Cheers.

Thank you for the suggestions and kind words! I've been corresponding with Terry already, as well as touching base with Jay Taylor (near Seattle), but it's always good to get several perspectives. I suspect I have some research and decision making to do!

Regards,
Marc

[NewportPreacher]

Also, on the edge of the Portland Metro area is the Evergreen Aviation Museum, home of the famed Spruce Goose -- if that's your kind of thing.

Here's a pic of an SR-71 there that I took some years ago:



And here you get a little idea of how stinkin' big the Spruce Goose really is:



Definitely recommended, if you have the time and inclination for such things.

[stevebrot]

Originally Posted by Marc Langille

Thanks Kent - much appreciated! I am still trying to figure out the exact timeframe, since I know late September is a little better in terms of going mountain biking and then having time to photograph the sunsets...

Cheers,
Marc

You had to mention mountain biking...

Epic trails near Portland

Siouxon Creek -- Gifford Pinchot NF
Lewis River Trail -- Gifford Pinchot NF
Surveyors Ridge -- Mt. Hood NF
Boundary Trail -- Gifford Pinchot NF
Windy Ridge/Plains of Abraham/Ape Canyon -- Mt. St. Helens NVM
McKenzie River Trail -- Willamette NF

Great riding in/close-in to Portland

Drop me a PM...don't want to give give away the good places...

Steve

[betsypdx]

You could stay in Portland too and see some of my favorites - the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade along the Willamette, the aerial tram, the St. Johns Bridge.

[stevebrot]

Forgot to mention Silver Falls State Park south of Portland (East of Salem). Many water falls in a forest setting.

Steve

P.S.
Wow! I had forgotten what a great place we have here...

[stevebrot]

Originally Posted by betsypdx

You could stay in Portland too and see some of my favorites - the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Waterfront Park and Eastbank Esplanade along the Willamette, the aerial tram, the St. Johns Bridge.

Thanks for remembering these attractions. They should have been on my "short" list!

Might we also mention Blue Moon Camera and Machine near the St. John's Bridge? Great place for used gear.

[stevebrot]

Originally Posted by Mallee Boy

If going out to Manzanita....breakfast or lunch at Camp 18 (that might be Camp 19....one or the other), a diner set in an old logging encampment....arrive hungry.

Camp 18 (on the way to Seaside/Cannon Beach)

Steve

[christinelandon]

Steve, you've nicely picked out many of the highlights of our region. I'll toss in recommendations for the San Juan Islands via state ferry (if they haven't broken down, it's a great trip!) and the North Cascades Highway (U.S. 20) eastbound into Washington's third National Park, the North Cascades NP. Often called the "Alps of America."

Just a word of advice to Marc on trip planning, though...we've had a couple of rough winters in the Cascades high country, and quite a few roads and trails have been closed due to weather/flood/rockfall damage. It pays to hit the National Forest and U.S. Park Service websites for the areas you're considering to see if there are any access problems that might complicate getting to your destinations.

[Mallee Boy]

Originally Posted by stevebrot

Camp 18 (on the way to Seaside/Cannon Beach)

Steve

Thats it!! Great place....but as I said, arrive hungry.
Thanks for the link Steve.