How to Travel to Oregon in Style
Oregon and California may share a border, but that’s where the similarity ends. Where California is a hustling and bustling with star-studded events all day and night, Oregon is mostly a serene getaway for people who visit. With nearly 363 miles of stunning Pacific Scenery, it is a state that has a certain charm about it, a particular pull that takes a strong hold of any visitors that doesn’t loosen even after many years go by.
Oregon boasts famous cities such as Portland and Eugene and the more subtle coastal towns such as Pacific City. Just the general aura of calmness and serenity that Oregon gives off is enough to attract many visitors from around the world that desperately need to relax and recuperate to be able to face the world again. Many find that once they go to Oregon, they can never go back. Experience the immense charm for yourself by following this simple itinerary to travel to Oregon in style:
PLACES TO GO
Day trip to the Oregon Coast
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and have a relaxing day along the stunning coastline of Oregon. There are a lot of coast towns to choose from and all of them are beautiful and unique in their own little ways. But the one thing they have in common is the coast which is a must-see whenever you find yourself in Oregon. One place that is highly recommended is Pacific City which happens to be chock filled with fun things to do. You can start your day with a leisure walk on the beach.
There are three accesses, the most famous one being the Cape Kiwanda Parking lot at the most northern end of Pacific City Beach. Enjoy a bike ride through the town or along the beach or if bike riding isn’t your thing, enjoy a horse ride instead. You can also go bird watching to see the thousands of species that pass through Pacific City each year and the local species such as the Bald Eagle, Pelicans, Puffins, Sea Gulls and Herons. Remember to take a shovel and a big bucket to collect some of the thousands of clams that are sprinkled along the shore in low tide for your dinner. You can never go wrong with a day on the beach in Pacific City.
Pacific City is only about an hour’s drive from main cities sin Oregon such as Portland, Salem, Eugene, and Corvallis.
International Rose Test Garden
Located in Portland, the International Rose Test Garden is one of the places that you must see when you visit Oregon. It is basically the grounds upon which new varieties of roses are planted and tested. This is the oldest testing program in the United States (it started in 1919). About 200 rose varieties are tested each year. The garden is open every day of the week and admission is free. , Portland Parks offers free garden tours led by trained volunteers at 13:00 daily from Memorial Day through to Labor Day. Guided tours for groups of 10 or more are available during the year for a fee of $5/person and it must be scheduled two weeks in advance.
Oregon Historical Society Museum
This is an amazing spot located in the very heart of Portland’s Cultural District on the South Park Blocks. It is home to many permanent and traveling art pieces and from them, you can relive the whole history of Portland and Oregon as a whole and actually have tangible evidence of its rich culture in the form of art.The museum is open seven days a week so you can visit at any time. General admission is $11 per adult and $5 per youth. It is free for children under 5 years old. Also, college students have a discount and pay $9 to have access to the museum. It is a great way to experience Portland so you definitely have to do this when you visit Oregon to enrich and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Oregon.
PLACES TO STAY
The Allison Inn & Spa
This hotel is constantly rated the number one place to live in Oregon by very prestigious boards and this is for good reason. At the heart of the wine county of Oregon, The Allison Inn & Spa is surrounded by stunning mountains and rolling hills, a perfect place to relax and rewind alone or with a loved one. Rooms range from the Grand Deluxe King Room equipped with a foyer, a balcony, a fireplace, a spa-inspired bathroom, a bay window seat and a dining area ($650/night) to the One Bedroom Suites with similar amenities($405/night). It is a perfect getaway with world-class excellent service that you need to stay at for the ultimate luxury trip to Oregon.
Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge
Surrounded by nature and the beautiful River Rogue, this hotel is the place for when you need peace and quiet after busy days spent wandering. It is a place with history, filled with the ‘hospitable people of the place by the river’. Their rooms are named after places of interest by the river and they also offer suites and houses for people so inclined. The Deluxe room starts at $385 a night, suites range from $280 to $505 a night and houses go between $325 to $995 a night, providing various options for everyone. With the many activities and the wonderful river as a backdrop, this lodge is really a beautiful way to indulge in richness.
The Nines: A Luxury Collection Hotel
Escaping into a hotel with all the wonders modernity offers has never been easier. With enriching amenities that we cannot do without, as well as exotic facilities like a rainforest shower, this hotel is the essence of luxury. Book yourself an affordable well-deserved getaway with rooms starting from as low as $263 a night and suites $364 a night as well as various packages that accommodate everyone. In such a place, life can only be enjoyed.
PLACES TO EAT
Restaurant Beck
If you’re ever in Oregon at 5:00 p.m. you want to check out this gorgeous restaurant tucked away in a quiet part of Portland, Oregon. Join Chef Justin and his wife Stormee who own and operate Restaurant Beck at Whale Cove Inn. They use the finest foraged and local farm ingredients to make delectable meals that you will enjoy. Remember to call in to make a reservation at a rate of $90 per person.
Storrs Smokehouse
If you feel like eating perfectly smoked meat in a friendly, family style diner, head to Storrs Smokehouse for the time of your life. With delicious homemade sauces such as their select sauce the OregonPinot Noir BBQ Sauce and delicious homemade ice cream, you cannot go wrong when you are in search of a delicious, homecooked meal to kill your nostalgia. Their prices are very affordable from a dozen chicken wings at $12 to a full rack of pork ribs at $25.
Slugs’n Stones’n Ice Cream Cones
As you can tell from the name, this is a very unique shop that is an absolute must-see in Oregon. It is home to the largest ice cream cone on the entire coast of Oregon and it is a favorite for a lot of kids and adults alike. It is themed after slugs so it offers tons of did-you-knows about the wonderous creatures for part-time entertainment while you look forward to getting your delicious ice cream, frozen yogurt or sundaes. And now, they introduced an Oregon historical favorite, the sea salt taffy, onto their menu which makes it an even better place to visit. You cannot claim you’ve gone to Oregon without seeing this amazing shop right o Brookings Harbor.
Links:
http://pacificcity.org/things-to-do/main.html
http://www.rosegardenstore.org/international-rose-test-garden.cfm
http://www.oregon.gov/pages/index.aspx
http://www.thenines.com/superior-room
http://www.funbeachfun.com/brookings-harbor/coupon/565/
