Our Oregon: How We Experience Oregon for Travel

Our travel & camping experiences in Oregon, to help for others visiting or living in the state (particularly motorcyclists)

When we moved to Oregon, it wasn't for family (we don't have family here). It wasn't for a job (we didn't have jobs waiting for us here). It was because we thought the weather and landscape of Oregon were probably best suited for us, and unlike other places where the weather and landscape suited us, we were relatively certain we could get jobs here and not go broke just trying to pay for daily expenses and yearly vacation. We knew that Oregon had all the things we love to see and experience: historic towns, colorful landscapes, forests, mountains, ocean views, lakes, rivers, deserts, sage brush, and pastures. Plus, the states that surround Oregon, and the Canadian provinces up North, were all relatively easy to get to for a vacation.

We have treated living in Oregon as though we are on an extended vacation, instead of just people who live and work here: I keep a list of things to see and do in Oregon, and we use that to plan trips. If we're traveling and see some sign for something that sounds intriguing - a covered bridge, a historic whatever, a glacier rock, a gallery with works by Dali - we go have a look. I take photos even just around my neighborhood as though I'm a visitor, and it's amazing how often there are "wow, look at that!" moments that I wouldn't take a photo of otherwise, because it's something happening right in our own backyard. We've hiked every part of the small town we live in - there's no neighborhood we haven't walked through at least once. Our focus on traveling throughout Oregon has been road trips by motorcycle or car camping with beautiful but relatively easy hiking from our dog-friendly camp site.

Treating Oregon like a place we're visiting makes us like it here much more, especially since Oregonians make it clear to you, if you weren't born here, that you are NOT an Oregonian. Treating this time as an extended vacation in the Pacific Northwest makes us happy outsiders. Plus, since 2009, we have seen a lot of this state, more than most people who live here, and I think some of our recommendations for places to see are unique.

So I decided to put all of the Oregon travelogues and recommendations in one place.

My top Oregon experiences:

• Crater Lake. It's SO BEAUTIFUL. Take an entire day to leisurely, slowly drive around it and stop a LOT. If you can do a hike, all the better. There is easier-to-book camping just outside the park. If this place doesn't astound you, turn around and go home - you are dead inside. 
   
  
• Yaquina Head. A fantastic lighthouse with beautiful hiking all around and a nice visitor's center. Look online before your visit to see if there are any guided hikes, especially down at the beach, which teaming with life, from star fish to seals. If you visit ONE lighthouse, this is it. And I've never even been inside.
   
  
• Steens Mountain and Alford Desert, including the French Glen historic Hotel and Crane Hot Springs. This is easily a five full day trip. Camp a night in the Alford Desert, stay a night at French Glen and ride around Steens Mountain, spend a day and night at Crane Hot Springs. A very special place for us.
   
  
• Tillamook Forest Center. It's 30 miles outside of Portland. Easy hiking all round. Check the web site and Facebook in advance to see if there's an event, like a fish release. It gives you a great sense of how important trees are to Oregon both for its economy and its ecosystems.
   
  
• Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Big Obsidian Flow and Fort Rock. I think these areas, like Steens Mountain and the Alford Desert, give you a real sense of just how remote parts of Oregon can be. It really does have an outback. Read up on Fort Rock before you go - it's an amazing site just to see, but understanding its geology and history will make it all the more special. Take PLENTY of water - it gets SO hot out here.
   
  
• John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. I think it's extraordinary and hauntingly beautiful. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Oregon contains fossils spanning from about 44 million to 7 million years ago. These fossils represent the Cenozoic Era. No dinosaurs - but a huge variety of animals which don't exist anymore. The rocks and fossils of the John Day Basin are the only near continuous record of change in plant and animal life from the Pacific Northwest. They show how climates fluctuated and became cooler and drier through time and often have the oldest records of animals migrating across the Bering Straits into North America from Asia. These are also key faunas for continent-wide studies of how animals respond to climate change. Fossils are on display at the Thomas Condon Paleontology and Visitor Center and note that this is a working research center: the paleontologists are actively doing fossil science in the lab and you can watch them! They are usually either making replicas, "cleaning up" fossils, or working on display pieces.
   
  
• Rose City Rollers (Portland roller derby). It's so exciting and fun! Family friendly! Don't be surprised to find yourself standing and yelling for someone that's become your favorite player.
   
  
• Timbers or Thorns (soccer) games in Portland. SO EXCITING. Get as close to the field as possible, but no matter where you are, you will have a fantastic time. Full disclosure: I've only been to two Timbers games, but I hear the Thorns games are absolutely just as fun.
   
  
• A live performance at the Aladdin Theater. This is a historic theater in a not-at-all scenic neighborhood of Portland (the reality is that Portland just really isn't that scenic). But this theater is a fantastic place to hear a band or see a comedian or whatever. Take a huge sarong and get there early, just as the doors open, and rush in and drape the sarong on your seat. You can then go grab a snack and a drink, and your seat will be waiting for you when you get back.
   
  
• Astoria. This coastal town is worth a day trip. Good food and nice views along the water.
   
  
• Carlton. This small town outside of Portland is so cute! Great wood fired pizza (and LOTS more food options), terrific ice cream, whisky and wine tasting - even a public pool! If you have the big bucks, stay overnight at an Air B & B rental (such a shame there's no camp site) so you can drink (and NOT drive).
   
  
• Silver Falls State Park. The crown jewel of state parks in Oregon. So incredibly beautiful. Campsites are booked WAY in advance. If you take your dog, most trails with waterfalls are closed to you, but check out the hikes to the group camping areas (if they are booked, please respect their space) and the old YMCA camp. Great place to spend New Year's Eve. Many of the buildings here were built by the CCC.
   
  
• Historic military site at Fort Stevens State Park. Visit the only Civil War era earthen fort on the west coast (yes, really, Civil War) and explore the many turn-of-the-century, concrete artillery gun batteries. Underground tours are available during the summer of a gun battery that served as a World War II command center. We spent hours here doing self-guided tour - read ALL the info boards!
   
  
• G J's restaurant in Eugene. I know. It's just a diner. Here's the thing: it's a REAL diner, with really good diner food and a great atmosphere, and that is SO rare anymore. It feels like home to me. If we can swing a visit on our last day on a trip, I am so, so happy. Definitely swing by if you are in the area.
   
  
• Octoberfest in Mount Angel. My German husband was stunned at how huge this is. Neither of us are fond of the music, but you just kinda throw yourself into the moment when you are at this. GREAT food. You park a ways away and jump in a trailer pulled by a tractor to get taken to downtown. Please don't drink and drive.
   
  
• Vista House and Historic Oregon Highway 30. But only during the week, never on a weekend, and never when it's really, REALLY windy.
   
  
• White water rafting. There's a LOT of it all around. Best time is in the Spring (more water).
   
  
• Pendleton. It feels more like Wyoming than Oregon. This is real cowboy town. Don't miss the Rainbow Cafe (great beer and food) and the Hamley & Co. Western Store. Make sure you don't go during the Pendleton Roundup unless you are really into rodeos and make your hotel reservations WAY in advance.
   
  
• Joseph and the surrounding area. The Northwestern part of Oregon is filled with mountains, forests and canyons. Joseph is a small city with some little art galleries and some restaurants. There is excellent National Forest camping all around, and the other towns around are worth visiting.
  

There's lots, lots more great things to see in Oregon - the Sake Factory in Forest Grove, McMenamins in Forest Grove, Edgefield, or the Kennedy School in Portland (but note the food can be hit or miss in all those places) - but the aforementioned list of things are, to me, far and above the very best experiences of this state, the ones worth visiting Oregon for.

I haven't been to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland yet. My husband doesn't want to go. I really don't want to go alone... also, we're a one car family, and you can't get there, and around, without a car.

I maintain a list of area day hikes and I'm working on a list of trips we've taken in Oregon, by region, if you are looking for more recommendations.

I don't have a list of all the wineries - I think the wineries are really nice here, including all around Forest Grove, Oregon, and if you are visiting me, I'm going to take you to them. But I don't think they are worth coming to Oregon for, alone.

Things I want to check out and haven't yet, that will probably make the list once I do:

• a Portland Thorns game (women's soccer)
• a Hillsboro Hops game (minor league baseball)
• a Portland Winterhawks game
• train
• backpacking. I have not backpacked in Oregon. I'm not sure I can, with my knees. But I would love to, just once. I put together this list for a friend that was thinking of coming here. Still working on this.
  

What do I think is over-rated for visitors to Oregon?

• Downtown Portland. It's not scenic, I've yet to go to a restaurant that makes me go WOW!!!, there's not much to just walk around and see, from the sidewalk. And the number of homeless people who are experiencing mental health issues, are under the influence of alcohol or another drug or are openly in-taking/administering has been something that has bothered me since we moved here in 2009.
   
  
• Oregon food. I read so much about how Portland is a "foodie" city, and all of Oregon is a "foodie" state. Meh. It's not bad, but I haven't had my socks blown off the way I have in restaurants in Austin, Texas or Atalanta, Georgia or Washington, DC or NYC or Chicago or San Francisco.
   
  
• The waterfalls just outside of Portland on Interstate 84. The crowds. The jostling for parking. The jostling for the perfect selfie. The unprepared hikers. The rudeness. Save yourself the headache - go to Silver Falls State Park instead (during the week is best).
   
  
• Mt. Hood. The dormant volcano is so beautiful to see from a distance. But Mt. Hood National Forest is PACKED with people and cars  most of the time. It's nice only if you can go NOT on a weekend. The weekend before the campsites close is usually very cold, but it's a good time to visit if you want to feel like you are in wilderness.

Oregon trips by region

Note: our Oregon tours are often in association with a trip to another state, to Canada or to Mexico. That means some of these travelogues linked below start in another state - Nevada, California, Idaho, Washington. Just keep scrolling on these pages linked below to get to the info about Oregon. The names of the roads we took (back roads) are noted, with descriptions as to whether or not they are scenic and/or fun. 

My favorite local scenic motorcycle routes for day trips near the greater PDX metro, around Portland, Oregon, up into Northwestern Oregon, mostly Washington County, Yamhill County, Tillamook County and Clackamas County. Includes areas around Forest Grove, Vernonia, Birkenfeld, Jewell, Mount Hebo, Hamlet, Canby, Mount Angel and Astoria.

Cottonwood Canyon State Park in Oregon, September 2018. Near Wasco and Moro, Oregon. Not far from the Columbia River Gorge. A long weekend car camping trip with our dog that started in Washington State.

Review of Camp Wilkerson, Columbia County, Oregon, from June 2018. Great place to camp and hike over a couple of days. West of Portland, not far from PDX, yet you will feel like you are a million miles away from the city. This was a weekend car camping and hiking trip with our dog.

North Eastern Oregon. May 2012. Sweet Home, Sisters, Antelope, Shaniko, Fossil, Condon, Heppner, Ukiah, Umatilla National Forest. Motorcycle and camping trip.

Southeastern Oregon: Alford Desert, Fields Oregon, Diamond Craters, McKenzie Pass, September 2012. Part of a motorcycle journey in Northern California & Nevada. Motorcycle and camping trip.

Oregon Outback Scenic Highway in South Central Oregon, including Highway 140 from Denio Junction (amazing), Adel, Paisley, grasshopper swarm, and Willamette National Forest. June 2014. Part of a motorcycle journey that focused primarily on Utah. Motorcycle and camping trip.

Northeastern corner of Oregon. Hells Canyon drive from Oxbow Bridge along the Snake River to the Hell's Canyon dam and then back over Oxbow dam to Cambridge, Idaho. Also Joseph, Oregon, Painted Hills, Oregon, and Little Crater Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. A two-week motorcycle and camping trip mostly in Idaho. 2016.

South Central Oregon: Lakeview, Klamath Falls, Oakridge, Willamette National Forest. On our way back from a motorcycle camping trip throughout Nevada. 2018.

Oregon Lava Tour. Central Oregon. Deschutes National Forest, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Big Obsidian Flow, Paulina Lake and Fort Rock. Long weekend motorcycle and camping trip. 2019.

Central Oregon Coast. 223 through Kings Valley, Siuslaw National Forest. Alsea, Yachats River Road, Highway 101 from Strawberry Hill Wayside to Beaver, Oregon. Long weekend motorcycle and camping trip. 2021.

Southwestern Oregon, Oregon State Road 140, Hellgate Canyon, Indian Mary Campground & Park, Josephine County, Galice, Bear Camp Coastal Route, Agness, Highway 101 Gold Beach to Reedsport, Oregon State Road 38 / Umqua Highway through Elkton. Part of a motorcycle and camping trip that included Northern California. 2019.

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