Klamath Falls has two breweries, the venerable Mia and Pia’s and Klamath Basin Brewing. Both are worth a stop. This is a pretty remote part of Oregon, and I wish I could direct you to some places close by with more options, but there’s nothing for miles. You might also stop into the Portland Street Market, which has a great selection of bottled beers.
What is there to do and see in Cannon Beach during winter?
Pretty much anything you would do any other time of year, you can do in the winter in Cannon Beach. You do need to be prepared for rain, but that doesn’t stop many people from enjoying the beaches, hiking trails, viewpoints or exploring the town. In fact, winter is a great time for all those activities with uncrowded beaches and trails. Wildlife sightings are much more common in the winter including herds of Roosevelt Elk, Bald Eagles, wintering birds in the Ecola Creek estuary and whale watching. The ocean’s winter personality is awesome with big waves crashing and roaring, nothing like the calm rolling waves of summer. The town is much easier to explore without large crowds, parking challenges and jam-packed restaurants. In general, winter in Cannon Beach is the town at its most authentic and relaxed.
There’s a year-round schedule of live theater performances, a working glassblowing studio where you can observe the artists at work, wine tasting and frequent events ranging from live music to festivals. Many people come hoping to experience the Oregon Coast’s famous winter storms. Frost, ice or snow is rare, so it’s easy to explore the entire North Oregon Coast region.
Where should we eat in Hermiston?
There are a good number of classic and new fine eating establishments to choose from in the Hermiston area. Here are a few, of many, local favorites:
- Hermiston Brewing Company has some great beers on tap and classic pub fair like burgers and wings, to brick-oven fired pizzas and halibut fish and chips
- Delish Bistro has a more worldly menu from Korean tacos to a falafel burger — make sure to save room for homemade gelato
- Walker’s Farm Kitchen has a classic American menu from fried chicken to a tasty strip steak
- Nelly’s Super Tacos used to be a local food truck and is now a brick and mortar with classic burritos and tacos as well as other speciality items
- Lawan’s Thai Garden has really expansive menu from papaya salad to bowls of steaming hot curries and noodles
What should we not miss in the Eugene area?
Do you like hiking? If so, Spencer Butte is a short (1.7 mile loop) hike that is right on the edge of the city. It is short but it is steep — however if you don’t mind the walk you’ll find absolutely stunning panoramic views at the top. Hendricks Park is another gorgeous forested park in Eugene that also has a famous rhododendron garden, with gorgeous flowers reaching higher than your head on some of the bushes. It’s a little early for peak bloom time, but I know some of the early blooming varieties are already out. Worth a stop to see something pretty and stretch your legs.
If you’re interested in craft beer, then Eugene is the place to be. It’s home to more than a dozen craft breweries where you can taste local beers and possibly even visit with the brewers who make them. See here for some listings of local breweries. The Whitaker neighborhood is a fun, funky neighborhood where you can walk from brewery to brewery. (Tacovore is a tasty taco place if you head to that neighborhood!)
If you are fans of the TV show “The Simpsons,” you can take the Unofficial Simpsons Tour. The creator of The Simpsons, Matt Groening, used to live in Springfield (the city next to Eugene) and locals believe that this city was the true inspiration for the Springfield in the Simpsons TV show.
My favorite bakery, hands-down is Sweet Life Patisserie. If you’re in Eugene in the morning, Off the Waffle is also amazing for breakfast. Great dinner places: Marche (French-inspired but with locally sourced ingredients); Party Downtown (quirky atmosphere, unique and delicious food); the Oregon Electric Station (good food in a beautiful historic building). Rye on Third offers an amazing dessert option that’s a series of house-made chocolates, each paired with a tasting of whiskey that’s specifically matched to the chocolate. It’s a lot of fun, even if you’re not a big whiskey drinker. You can always just order the house-made chocolates, too!
The Oregon Coast is an easy 1.5-hour drive from Eugene. Along the way, check out Sweet Creek falls. It’s a short diversion off your route (10 miles) and is a beautiful and relatively easy hike. The forests and mountains or Oregon, and particularly those surrounding Eugene, are known for their waterfalls, and it would be a shame to come home from a trip to Oregon without doing any waterfall hikes!
The Oregon Dunes recreation area is also very fun. You can rent a dune buggy and cruise around, or try sandboarding — it’s like snowboarding but you’re on dune, with soft sand to fall onto if/when you fall down! (Check with local rental companies on their hours and availability.)
What route should we take to tour the Oregon Coast by RV?
For pure scenic traveling, it’s hard to beat the Oregon Coast where you will find one of the world’s greatest stretches of scenic byway (363 miles of Coast Highway/US 101) that leads to many great destinations. Although Highway 101 is primarily two lanes and winding in portions, it is probably the most popular byway for RVers in Oregon. With numerous Oregon State Parks campgrounds, private RV parks and RV parking at many of the coast’s top attractions and natural areas.
If you have the time, you could travel all the way to Brookings, then begin your return by following (US 199/Redwood Highway) back to I-5. This would enable you to choose from many other options as you travel north including the great town of Ashland, famous for live theater and Shakespearean Festival; several portions of Oregon wine country, perhaps make a side trip east to Crater Lake, see historic covered bridges in the Cottage Grove area and visit beautiful waterfalls at Silver Falls State Park. This route would just leave you with a few great areas in Central Oregon (Bend) and Eastern Oregon to check off your list of great scenic destinations in the state.
My specific recommendations would certainly vary depending on the time of year you are traveling, your own interests and how much time you have, but I hope this gives you some ideas.
Which mountain pass should we take from Crater Lake to Eugene in December?
Thanks for your question. Both 230 (leading to 62) and 138 can be equally snowy in December, but also equally easy to traverse, given conditions. For that reason, I would go with 138, which is your more direct route, knowing that the first 25 miles or so from Crater Lake will be at the highest elevation, and most likely to be snowy, should there be snow. That said, weather casters are currently predicting a pretty dry December, so you’re likely to be in for smooth sailing. You can also check ODOT.com before your trip; I find their live cameras to be helpful! Best of luck!
Do you have any tips for visiting the Painted Hills during the holidays?
Sounds like you have some fun plans for the holidays! The Painted Hills can be really quite spectacular in the winter with the colorful landscape often dusted in snow. Depending on weather conditions, your ability to access the heart of the area might change, but the area is open all year, although some building and event spaces will be closued during major holidays.
Keep an eye out on weather as your travel plans near, and plan to bring plenty of warm clothing, boots and something hot to drink. The open spaces you find at the Painted Hills can result in quite chilly winds and conditions. Historically the daytime temperatures in late December are in the low forties dipping into the low twenties at night. The drive time, again depending on conditions, between Bend and the National Monument is just under two hours, so you could plan for a full-day trip out and back. Otherwise there are a couple of places for lodging in Mitchell, just outside the area, but you would want to call ahead and check to see if they have rooms or are operating in the winter as these are really the only nearby options unless you plan to head further east toward John Day. Check out some sightseeing and planning tips at Travel Oregon and the National Park Service websites for further details and have a fun visit!
Can you name a rustic, upscale and secluded getaway for our honeymoon?
You’re throwing me a little with the combination of rustic, upscale and secluded; and the range of within 10 or 20 miles of the coast that is 363 miles long, but I do have a suggestion. Consider WildSpring Guest Habitat in Port Orford. I think it definitely qualifies as rustic and upscale cabins. I’m assuming in November, it will be quiet and it is on a wooded property of only five cabins and just a short drive from the small town of Port Orford, so that might qualify as secluded. One of the cabins has a classic wood burning stove. I definitely think it is honeymoon worthy. The property itself is peaceful and inspiring with an oceanfront spa and guest hall.
That said, given the extensive range you are considering, there may be dozens of other options that are vacation rentals that I am not aware of. There are many vacation rental companies you could research for their properties that may fit your desire. Personally, WildSpring would be my choice.
Happy exploring and celebrating!
What should be our first stops in Southern Oregon?
! If you’re coming up I-5 from California, you’re first Oregon stop should be Ashland, our favorite little theater town. Ashland has a full summer season of Shakespearean plays, but at any time of year, this town is hopping with dining options, cocktail bars, and wineries.
If you like wine, I suggest hitting the Applegate Wine Trail, located outside of historic Jacksonville (about 30 minutes from Ashland and a fun destination to walk and shop in), or if you like brew pubs, check out Caldera Brewing in Ashland. I recommend staying at Ashland Hills Hotel, which is an upscale take on a roadside lodge in Ashland. There’s also a lot of hiking in the area, as well as lakes: Applegate Lake and the PCT trail at Mt. Ashland are two of our favorite outdoor spaces in the area.
Continuing north, you can either head further into Oregon via Crater Lake National Park, a must-see if you haven’t glimpsed this stunning lake, or via the Redwood Highway (199) to the coast. You can also connect back to I-5 from Crater Lake via the ‘Waterfall Highway’ that winds back to Roseburg. 7
If you head to the coast, stop at Oregon Caves National Monument and then end up in Brookings, Oregon. From there, Highway 101 will take you further north, should you desire.
Where should we eat around Hermiston?
There are a good number of classic and new fine eating establishments to choose from in the Hermiston area. Here are a few, of many, local favorites:
- Hermiston Brewing Company has some great beers on tap and classic pub fair like burgers and wings, to brick-oven fired pizzas and halibut fish and chips
- Delish Bistro has a more worldly menu from Korean tacos to a falafel burger – make sure to save room for homemade gelato
- Walker’s Farm Kitchen has a classic American menu from fried chicken to a tasty strip steak
- Nelly’s Super Tacos used to be a local food truck and is not a brick and mortar with classic burritos and tacos as well as other speciality items
- Lawan’s Thai Garden has really expansive menu from papaya salad to bowls of steaming hot curries and noodles
Hope you have a good trip out to Eastern Oregon and enjoy your stay!