If you go north from Crater Lake toward Bend on 97, you can then head east on Highway 26. You will pass through wonderful small towns between Prineville and Mitchell as well as plenty of campgrounds and hiking options in the Ochoco National Forest. From Mitchell, you can follow the John Day River on Oregon 19, a beautiful route that will lead you directly to Ione.

As you may know, the trip from Boise to Portland is roughly a 7-hour car ride, direct. But I have a different idea for you that will take you a bit longer, but what sights and scenery you will see!

First, you may want to plan a few hours in downtown Boise. It has come a long way. Then, I recommend you proceed on I-84 into Oregon (you’ll change your watch back 1 hour) until you reach Payette and Highway 26 heading West. From here, you will be traveling on one of the most scenic highways in the state along the John Day River. It will be flooding in June (no worries, but sign up for a rafting trip, if you like). There are charming towns along the way, an old Chinese apothecary museum in the town of John Day and bed & breakfasts and small lodgings to choose from as you head toward Fossil.

Also you will be passing through  one of the most geologically significant regions in the state complete with fossils (into dinosaurs) and the pastel-colored hills of The Painted Hills, so you’ll want to take your time. There are innumerable places to stop for sightseeing and rock hounding and visiting the amazing Paleolands Institute along with other side trips to fossil beds if you’re interested.  From the tiny town of Fossil you will wind out of the desert and join I-84 where you will meet the mighty Columbia River. Travel all along its borders and stop for lunch or dinner in Hood River, the windsurfing capitol where you’ll find lots of eateries, good coffee and sporty, adventuresome types. Spend a second night in this charming town, if you like. From here, it’s just 1 hour through The Gorge, another scenic highway, to downtown Portland.

I think your girls would really enjoy spending some time hiking a few of the waterfalls along the Historic Highway in the Columbia River Gorge. I spend a lot of time there with my girls (5 and 11). We also enjoy visiting Bonneville Dam and feeding the trout at the fish hatchery there.

Further out of the way, but really an adventure my family enjoys, is visiting the Painted Hills and John Day Fossil Beds in Eastern Oregon. It might be worth going out of your way on your return trip to visit. The kids can even dig for their own fossils behind the high school in the town of Fossil, then head over to the ghost town of Shaniko.

There’s a coveted motorcycle route through the Wallowas on the 39 road (Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway) from Joseph to Halfway—if you have the time. To get to the Wallowas from North Idaho, you’d come through Moscow and Lewiston over highway 82—another epic two-lane roadway—to Enterprise. That’s where you’ll find Terminal Gravity brewpub, one of the first small crafters in the state and home of a great IPA. (I am a huge fan of  their single hop variety double IPAs only available at the brewpub.) If you take the 39 road, you’ll end up on Highway 84 in Baker City, where you’ll find Barley Browns Brewpub. I also recommend a stop in Pendleton at Prodigal Son Brewery. From there you can continue on I-84 and swing through Hood River and the Double Mountain Brewery before high tailing it to the coast.

If you’re looking to visit ghost towns like Whitney, Eastern Oregon’s the place.