Oregon
Basic Info
The easiest airport to fly into is Portland. Good connectivity and plenty of transport outside to get into the city if needed. The weather during March/April is fairly chilly and rainy so come prepared! Oregon state sits in between Washington and California with its Northern border touching the Columbia river.
One Week Itinerary for Oregon
Day 1 and 2: Portland
Day 3: Latourel Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Multnomah Falls
Day 4: Trillium Lake and Painted Hills
Day 5: Crater Lake
Day 6: Tokatee Falls and Depoe Bay
Day 7: Astoria
Day 1: Portland
We arrived around noon in Portland. Baggage claim and car rental was a breeze, and we were able to get on the road to our hotel - which was located in downtown - in 20 mins. We checked into our hotel The Kimpton Vintage Portland. Honestly not too impressed with the hotel. The room was so tiny and there was a musty smell in the room and corridors. However the service was good, and they offered us a complimentary upgrade after voicing our concerns. After check-in we walked around downtown to find a lot of food cart pods and picked up some lunch at Abu Omar’s gyros & shawarma.
Then we walked over to the Chinese garden. Unfortunately we were too late to buy the last ticket which was given out at 3pm. I would recommend it – (got a sneak peek through many of the windows). Walked back to pick up some coffee & pastries from Café Saint Honoré which I highly recommend. After which we walked all over downtown to finally end up at the waterfront park trail. A friend highly recommended Farm house kitchen Thai cuisine for dinner. This was an interesting menu (quite different from the typical Thai food that we have eaten in the US). I would definitely recommend!
Day 2: Explore Portland
Day 2: Portland’s Japanese garden is well worth a visit. The minimalist design of the gardens with the koi pond truly makes you feel in a state of Zen. Quite close to the Japanese gardens is the Pittock mansion. If you want to take a sneak peek into the lives of a wealthy family of the early 1900s it is worth a visit in addition to spectacular views of Portland. On a clear day you can see Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and even Mount Rainer if you are really lucky.
Day 2 should also be made into a day to explore other food cart pods. One of our favorites was Cartopia – the vibe in this food cart pod was hip with plenty of seating space. A little out of the way but well worth it was Kim Jong Grillin – this food cart had some of the best Korean food that I have eaten in the US. The japchae (stir fried glass noodles), galbi (grilled ribs) and bibimbap (fried rice) was absolutely excellent. I would also recommend the Ishikaya grill for some authentic, tasty Japanese food.
I would be remiss to also not mention that Portland and Oregon in general is a coffee lovers paradise. We must have had tens of coffees (each) over the course of the trip and not one was a disappointment!
Day 3: Latourel Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Multnomah Falls
We picked up the morning bun from Ken’s artisan bakehouse before heading out to Hood river. This is a must try. However, take note that they run out of their delicious baked goods fairly quickly so try to beat the crowd and reach there early!
The drive to Hood river is very picturesque along the Columbia river. The place is full of waterfalls. Here are some of them: - Latourell falls: there is a short hike to reach the falls. - Hike to Bridal veil falls - Multnomah falls – the second tallest waterfalls in the US. A nice hike will get you to the top of the falls (not for the faint hearted)
If you do all the hikes to see the falls it will be around late afternoon before you get to hood river. You can cross over to the state of Washington using the Bridge of the Gods and just at Hood river you can cross back into Oregon.
Stay at Columbia River Gorge Hotel & Spa. This hotel is a historic site, being 100 years old (in fact they celebrated their centennial this year). There are some charming aspects to the hotel such as the elevator which is an old Otis make. The staff is also extremely friendly and lovely to talk to 😊
Day 4: Trillium Lake and Painted Hills
Start your day with breakfast from Broadery Ost. This is a MUST try; we had the potato crepes and Danish pancakes. Not being breakfast eaters, surprisingly we demolished all our food. It was just that good 😊. Another reminder to get coffee anywhere you go in Oregon!!!
We then proceeded to drive to Trillium Lake and tried to stop at Tamanawah Falls. IT is a hike to get to the falls. We started off on the trail but a couple of falls later gave up since the way was icy and didn’t seem safe. If we had chains on our footwear and some poles, we probably could have tried it so be warned if you are attempting this in March. We also didn’t have too much luck at Trillium Lake. The hike (2.5 miles one way) gave us a good workout in the snow. However, we got to the lake and it was frozen.
Then we went to Painted hills. I would definitely make it part of my Oregon itinerary. The colors that you see in the pictures are real and this is no edited photograph. Short hikes will get you to the hills and it is totally worth it. From here it is a 1.5-hour drive to Bend. I recommend Bend since it has better food and lodging options. I recommend The Oxford at Bend although it does have other good dining options as well.
Day 5: Crater Lake
Start with breakfast at Lemon Tree – their home-made salsa is to die for. The Shakshuka and Avo Hash Mash are a must. Drive to crater lake national park stopping at Lava national monument to admire the volcanic activity this area has had.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the US and the most pristine. It is absolutely worth driving for and we were extremely lucky to see it. They say in winter almost 50% of the time it is not possible to see the lake. It was a crystal-clear day with outstanding views of the lake. Remember to download your maps since there is no cell phone coverage in this area.
We halted at Union Creek resort for the night. This place has spotty internet and make sure you book the cabins if you do not like sharing bathrooms. The lodge itself requires that you share the bathroom with others on the floor. Dining options are extremely limited. The only restaurant opposite the resort closes at 5pm in winter. The resort has some nice trails but the most impressive is the Rogue river trail. It is so impressive to watch the river go through the gorge.
Day 6: Tokatee Falls
Start the day off early to avoid any rush at the trails. There are not a lot of breakfast options but if you’re looking for a quick breakfast sandwich, eggs and coffee there is a nearby resort that has an open café. Hike the Tokatee water falls trail which is a bit of a walk if the road is closed (almost 4 miles back and forth). However, the hot springs at the end of the trail makes it all worth it. Plenty of people grab an extra pair of clothes so they can lounge in the hot springs, which are perfect during the cold and chilly weather.
After this, make your way to Depoe bay to get to the Salishan coastal lodge (more specifically located in Gleneden beach). Along the way there are a couple beaches you can visit and also companies that offer sand dune buggy rides for those interested in recreational activities. Have dinner at the Salishan lodge, itself, as they have a variety of options restaurant-wise. The hotel is located on a beautiful property and has a huge golf course for those interested
Day 6: Stay at Salishan Coastal Lodge
For those who are unaware, Depoe bay is considered the whale watching capital of the West coast (or otherwise the world to some proud Oregonians). Make sure to book ahead of time as the whale watching boat companies often get sold out however, also be prepared for cancelations with pre-bookings as unexpected weather is always an obstacle. For those who do not want to go out on the water, there are viewpoints for whale watching and if you’re lucky/skilled enough, you might just see a whale!
Make sure to catch breakfast/brunch at the French Café c’est la vie; their coffee and crepes are to die for. Not to mention, the staff is extremely amiable and make the experience even better.
From here, drive down to Astoria and stay at the Cannary pier resort and spa which is located right on the water. The rooms are extremely spacious and it is definitely a beautiful property. The city of Astoria is a fairly small space but has some very interesting options for food. If in the mood for Italian, try Fulio’s which is located close to the Cannary hotel. They have a good variety on their menu with a good majority of the dishes featuring the fresh and local seafood, them being close to the ocean. The Cannary hotel also offers a wine hour with snacks and freshly baked cookies in the evening for those interested
Day 7: Astoria
If you’re an early bird, you can catch the sunrise (with good weather). Otherwise, the Cannary hotel does offer a continental breakfast in the morning which includes pastries, waffles, cereals, etc. After Astoria, start the drive back to Portland which is only about two hours. If you’re able to make it out of Astoria early enough, you can catch lunch in Portland at a food truck. Try to hit the Jojo food truck but be warned, this is a hot spot that can have a wait time of over an hour for your lunch so make sure to place an order online well ahead of time prior to your arrival. The area that Jojo is located in also has a few other food trucks in case you are feeling a food truck potluck! 😊
After lunch, explore the parts of the city that you weren’t able to hit earlier. If weather permits, visit the Rose garden that is located right next to the Japanese garden and is a wonderful walk in a scenic landscape. After this, make sure to visit the Tiki Tea café that specializes in boba and a few desserts. The entire menu looks amazing but a must try is the masala chai boba (an Indian pleaser 😊) and the jasmine sea salt cream tea. They also have these wonderful pineapple cakes that are extremely light and flavorful!
Located next to this boba place is a wonderful shop that sells authentic Japanese knives for those serious chefs. The store is located on a shopping strip filled with other shops and food trucks. For dinner, head on over to Mediterranean spot: Shalom Y’all. Known for their bread, try their sweet potato hummus and merguez pita. Although one wouldn’t typically order chocolate chip cookies at a Mediterranean spot, I must say we were able to try them and they were amazing.
