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Originally Posted by sleepyjeff
The Wreck of the Peter Iredale(which my family likes to sing to the tune of Edmund Fitzgerald) at Fort Stevens State Park is an annual destination for my family every Labor Day weekend.
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Can you see the New Carissa stern still in Coos Bay? It ran aground, they tried to burn the fuel off, it broke in half - they pulled the bow off the beach, it broke free, went further up the coast. They finally succeeded in scuttling the bow with a torpedo from a Navy Submarine (after the Navy surface ship failed to sink it).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepyjeff
Sky Tram....going from the riverfront up into the west hills overlooking Portland is our newest boondoggle. If you miss Disneylands skyway consider a ride---this one goes from one Hospital campus to another but is still worth a look. Other options include a free street car in the downtown area that changes colors, an extensive Light Rail system including a spectacular stop at the Oregon Zoo; hundreds of feet below the surface..an elevator will take you from the Rail station to the Zoo itself, and bike trails that crisscross the entire city.
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I saw that for the first time this past Christmas (from I-5 - note no 'the' before that!) Very interesting design on the pod (or whatever they call it)
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepyjeff
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry..or OMSI. Basically your typical large city Science Museum with a planitarium, IMAX screen, and two or three traveling exhibits.....plus the USS Blueback nuclear submarine....the same one used in the movie The Hunt for Red October...it's open for tours daily. OMSI is also the launch point for Willamette River jet boats. If the weather is nice this is a truly unique and fun way to see Portland((side note. There may be an Oregon City launch too...I am not sure))
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Slight technical correction here, the Blue Back is a diesel (last diesel built, I believe).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepyjeff
Multnomah Falls Second highest waterfall in North America and only 40 minutes East of the City on I-84 in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. April is also the best month to see the falls! At Cascade Locks, just a few more miles from the falls you can catch the Comumbia River Sternwheeler...as seen in the Jodi Foster movie Maverick. You can even hum the Oregon State Song which the music from Maverick is derived...it goes Wild as the wind in Oregon, blowing up the Canyon...something, something
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Sorry, that's not the
Oregon State Song (don't the oddest things stick in your brain from grade school education?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepyjeff
Mt St. Helens Drive north on I-5 to Woodland then follow the St. Helens National Monument signs. If you have a full day try to go up to the North side of the volcano to the Windy Ridge Lookout---it is quite eerie.
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I FINALLY did that a couple of 4th of Julys ago - Totally cool - though I liked the Johnston Ridge visitor center best of the places we stopped - WATCH THE MOVIE, especially if it's a clear day! However, I'm not sure how soon Johnston Ridge in particular opens, that might be a problem with an April visit.
I agree with everything else sleepyjeff mentioned (though I haven't been to Enchanted Forest since I was in grade school) - but had to add
Winery touring.
I would NOT stay in Corvallis to do the Portland stuff. You'd be spending too much time on the boring Interstate. Besides, if you're flying in, you'll probably fly into/out of Portland, anyway.