Domestic Travel 101: Oregon Road Trips
If due to travel restrictions, personal preferences or otherwise your 2021 travel plans are more road trip, and less jet-setting global travel than we’re here for YOU! Starting off our road trip blog series are 3 amazing destinations in OREGON (my home state) that are amazing single-stop destinations accessible for most of you by car or domestic flight, or part of a multi-stop road trip. Enjoy perusing, and if our team can help bring any of these trips to life with our Full-Service or Lightweight Travel Design services, please drop us a note!
OREGON COAST:
So dreamy, where do you even start? There are so many possibilities, but I’ll just mention a few of my favorite experiences up and down the coast.
Just outside Astoria you can find Fort Stevens (amazing WW2 history!) and not far is a great spot for crabbing.
I grew up going to the sleepy town of Gearhart, and love picking up fresh pastries from the local cafe, and then combing the beach for sand dollars.
Spend the day hiking, and relaxing at the beach, at Short Sands Beach and nearby Cape Falcon trailhead, which are just south of Cannon Beach.
You can’t pass up a visit to the amazing Tillamook Cheese Factory!
Yachats is just charming, and I love staying at the Overleaf Lodge & Spa and walking along the 804 Trail into town or along the beach.
Don’t miss an opportunity to explore the area, and views, around Heceta Head Lighthouse!
Golfing at Bandon Dunes, obvi. A must-stop for golf lovers.
Driving through (+ hiking, exploring) the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor on the far Southern end of the Oregon coast.
SOUTHERN OREGON
Anytime I can include a national park, wine, hiking and great art in a single trip - Count. Me. In. And that’s just what Southern Oregon delivers. Here are a few of my favorite experiences:
Crater Lake National Park: this just has to be at the top of your list. If you want to stay in the park, be sure to get your Lodge reservations EARLY. Or snag reservations at the nearby Mazama Campground. Plan on at least one full day to drive around the lake stopping at viewpoints and hikes along the way, and if COVID rules allow, reserve tickets on one of the official boat rides on the lake out to Wizard Island. No matter where you stay, plan to watch the sunrise one morning from the Lodge’s back deck.
Ashland is one of my favorite towns in Oregon. Here you can find great restaurants, charming shops, urban hikes (Lithia Park!) and my favorite: the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. This small town attracts HUGE talent, and the productions are always top-notch. With three different performance venues showcasing a range of Shakespeare plays, modern productions, as well as some of the classics, I especially enjoy performances held in the Elizabethan outdoor theatre. Something about watching a performance outside under the stars is just magical :)
Plays by night, and wine by day :) Spend the day in one of the many wine regions in Southern Oregon. One of my favorite areas for tasting is the Applegate Valley, and visits to Troon (especially when they have live music!) and sipping along the creek at Red Lilly. You can also ride bikes on a great bike path from Ashland to wineries near Phoenix.
Jacksonville is full of historic charm, great restaurants and beautiful shops. Grab an ice cream or coffee, and stroll the street. You’ll surely leave with a few treasures!
PORTLAND METRO AREA
If you’re not from Oregon, including time in Portland is a must-stop - and for good reason! Here are a few of my favorite things to see, do and EAT when you’re in the City of Roses!
Portland is a city of unique pocket neighborhoods, each with their own vibe and flair. So pick a few pockets to explore on foot, and plan to visit their shops, cafes, restaurants, food cart pods, parks and more. Some of my favorite pockets include: Division, Hawthorne, Alberta, St. John’s, Multnomah Village, the Pearl District and Upper NW.
While you’re in the city consider exploring: the Saturday Market, the Portland State University Farmer’s Market, OMSI, hiking in Forest Park, the Japanese Gardens, the International Rose Test Garden, walk or bike the ‘waterfront loop’ path, navigate the ‘4T,’ and explore Portland’s amazing coffee scene (Third Wave Coffee Tours will show you how!)
The famous Willamette Valley wine region is just outside the city and is an easy day-trip. Leave the driving to someone else, and plan to explore and taste your way through the area with the help from NW Wine Shuttle. Plan to ‘hop-off’ at wineries that check these boxes: one with amazing views, one with top-notch wines, and another that serves amazing snack boards for lunch.
I could go on, and on, and on about all my favorite things to see and do in Oregon! I haven’t even started with the beautiful Columbia Gorge and Hood River, Central Oregon, Mt. Hood, Eastern Oregon, etc. etc. etc. But hopefully this post gives you a taste of what there is to explore in my beautiful home state. And if you’re considering a trip to Oregon, please reach out if our team can help bring it to life!
Here’s to staying curious, and continuing to use travel as a vehicle to learn and expand our world view!
Mary + the Living Big Travel team