Directions

A most obvious question would be, "How do we get to your little corner of heaven, Mike?". Well, its not all that tough. If you are coming from the south take Interstate 5 to the Oregon state route 22 west exit in Salem, Oregon. Stay on that road through Salem, look for the green "ocean beaches" signs and stay in the left lanes coming over the Marion street bridge. It's straight ahead from there. Highway 22 is a major road so drive carefully. Be sure to watch out for the locals, by and large they are good drivers, too fast mostly. The highway is two lane and can be a mess on weekends and holidays. Highway 22 is joined near Willamina by highway 18. The two run together for a few miles through the Yamhill valley past Fort Hill to Valley Junction. It is at Valley Junction that highways 22 and 18 separate. Highway 22 turns to the right. Also known as Three Rivers highway, it trends northwest to the coast and joins U.S. highway 101 at Hebo, Oregon south of Tillamook, Oregon. The world famous Tillamook Cheese Factory is located there in Tillamook.

When coming from the north through Portland, Oregon take the U.S.99W exit and follow it through Tigard, Oregon. The traffic lights and congestion will make for slow going. West of King City and Tualatin the traffic light and traffic thin out. Newberg, Oregon is the next town that will slow you down; stay to the right. When you near downtown the road goes through a one-way grid. West of Newberg highway 18 joins 99W and will be the highway you follow on your trip. Seven miles west of Newberg highway 18 becomes a by-pass that will take you around Lafayette and McMinnville on your way to the junction with highway 22 at Willamina. By staying on highway 18 at Valley Junction you will go through Grand Ronde and be on your way to the coast at Lincoln City.

"Well, that sounds pretty easy Mike", you say, "But what's to do?". Ah, another good question, and will depend on when you show up. For example, if you should come in early July. I would suggest taking the Dallas, Oregon cut-off from highway 22, just west of the 99W junction. Two miles in toward town on the left is The Blueberry Patch owned by Martha & Floyd Clark. They offer both picked and U-pick blueberries. I would suggest the U-pick option, this is a treat for kids of all ages. The crop depends upon the weather conditions and the season may vary from year to year. So you may want to call ahead to double check: 503-623-6598 is the number you need.

However, coming across highway 22 from November thru February, Basket Slough National Wildlife Refuge would be a place to stop and spend some time. During those months the slough fills with water and waterfowl. Canada geese, cranes and ducks can be seen from the roadside stop. That is the time of the year that trees and posts along the highway are dotted with red-tailed hawks. The month of October is the time to visit the state's fish hatchery near Otis, Oregon just off highway 18 near the coast. It is there you can watch salmon and steelhead swim home. The last week of December is one time to visit Lincoln City. That is when the whales pass by on their migration to Baja and can be seen from a number of different spots in and around the town.

If early summer vacations are your thing. The Grand Ronde tribe will be holding the Spirit Mountain Stampede June 14 & 15 at the Pow-wow grounds in Grand Ronde. The pow-wow grounds are located on grand ronde road. Just follow the signs. Then the event of the season is the tribal pow-wow in mid August. I could say a great deal about this gathering, it is one of great importance and pageantry. The color and sounds of an encampment are really quite something to be part of. Even if you've never danced to the drum before; you will be encouraged to join with us in friendship dances and there is always room in the arena for you during our open dancing. I have heard that this year we will have competitive dancing for the first time. These are always exciting and fast paced, with dancers from all over our country and Canada on hand for the competition You are more than welcome to show up on Friday. Set up your camp and spend the whole weekend with us. Breakfast and lunch are free, we do ask for donations and that you eat all that you take. If you can't spend the weekend, then spend Saturday or Sunday with us. Come early and browse through the many vendor booths. Grand entry is usually at mid-day. Be sure to wear light clothes and bring the sun screen, also a jacket for our cool evenings.

Any pleasant day would be a nice time to stop and picnic at one of the parks in our area. Mill Creek park is located two miles from highway 22 on, what else, Mill creek road. There are picnic tables and facilities. Lots of green grassy open space makes it a nice place to let the kids run off some of their extra energy. You should look for the Buell sign on highway 22. After crossing mill creek bridge take the first left. A mile past mill creek park is a smaller more secluded picnic area. This one is tucked under tall trees and is sheltered from the direct sun.

Deer Creek park is about seven miles from highway 18. This a favorite of mine, the park stretches out along the banks of deer creek. There are picnic tables and pit toilets with a couple of swing sets and fire pits. The creek is shallow and our eastern readers would think of it as more of a brook than a creek. The nice thing is that there are no steep banks to go down to reach it. The children can wade and play in it with less worry than the quick flowing mill creek. Turn onto Gopher valley road at the Dairy Queen east of the Sheridan, Oregon. The road is very good and winds back into the hills. There are signs, but watch your odometer because you'll come to the cut-off on a curve and could miss it. The park is two tenths of a mile to the left. It is secluded and away from the noises of traffic and the rush of the road. You will want to bring water and a blanket to lay back on.

Stuart Grenville county park is more accessible than either of the others. It is located on highway 18 west of Sheridan, also on mill creek, close to the highway. There are picnic tables and pit toilets, with some open space to toss a ball or a frisbee. The banks of mill creek are less steep here and the creek can be waded during the summer.

The last park on your way to the coast is the Van Duzen wayside rest area on highway 18. There are actually two. One for west bound traffic and one for east bound travelers. Both are small with picnic tables and facilities. They are screened from the highway. The west bound park is in the timber and one can see how a temperate rain forest looks, with brush and ferns and the ever present moss. The east bound twin is a little more open and sits along the Salmon River.

Those are a few of the spots you can pick to stop and relax, take a break from your driving and do what a vacation is actually meant to be. A time to rejuvenate and regain your sanity. So that you can reenter life with a clear head. Take this time to sit back, or lay back if you've remembered to bring your picnic blanket. And let nature seep back into your being. We do ask that you pick-up after yourselves. Parents keep an eye on your children, they are precious and do need looking after. We hope to see you soon.

"That sounds pretty good", you say, "but I like to spend my time relaxing by doing something besides sitting under a tree listening to the melodic tumble of a nearby stream". Yes I realize that not everyone has my simple easy going ways. So, there is a following list of things that may appeal to you. The list contains other things and places to stop. There is a great number of listings under each heading and not possible for me to outline each and everyone of them. The accompanying map will show where they are and the heading will provide the address and hours they are open.

ANTIQUES
MUSEUMS
GOLF COURSES
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
PLACES TO VISIT

Last Modified: Sunday, 29-Feb-2004 01:22:33 EST