Around Portland, you’ll find the best bites for winter steelhead in February and March; spring chinook in May and June; summer steelhead in Spetmber; coho salmon in late September and October; fall chinook in October and November.
Sounds like a fun trip you have planned. My top recommendation for a trip that has all of the above (out of the way pretty wineries, good food, interesting accommodations and a close flight) would be for you to focus your trip on the southern portion of the Willamette Valley. The entire Willamette Valley is…
How wonderful that you’ll be honeymooning in Bend! There is so much to see and do here. Where should I begin… take a walk on the Deschutes River Trail, which stretches 19 miles on trails both paved and dirt. Wander downtown and in Drake Park with views of the mountains and river. Dine at Jackson’s…
I suggest you focus on the town of Ashland, right off I-5, which has a fun energy and is accessibility-forward. I apologize I can’t give you specifics on what exact places will have wheelchair accessibility, but I do know that the city in general makes effort to be so. Take a stroll through Lithia Park, which…
Your camping trip sounds like a great tradition. Here are a few ideas to consider: 1) Oregon Coast – Cape Lookout State Park: The Oregon Coast is an amazing place to visit any time of the year, and I think that Cape Lookout is extra special because you can hike out to the end of…
There is an escape room in Cannon Beach if you’re interested in a day trip. Other options that may interest you are ATV rentals for sand dune riding at nearby Sand Lake and Kayak Tillamook offers kayak tours at several locations in that area. Horse back riding tours are offered by Green Acres Beach &…
You’re in luck — the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife maintains a great map where you can view the best wildlife viewing areas all over the state. Here’s the link: https://myodfw.com/wildlife-viewing. Click “view map” to get to an interactive version where you can get more information. The closest wildlife viewing locations to Carlton are the…
Oregon is not known for sea glass and I don’t know of any beaches that have a reputation as being better locations than others. Since most beach glass comes from bottles that have been floating in the ocean and come to rest on beaches pushed ashore by winds and tidal conditions, glass can be distributed…
Baker City is a great place to start any number of road trips that take you off of the interstate. If you are wanting to head toward the southwest (or southeast or further south) the easiest way is to head out toward Sumpter to Prairie City to John Day using Highway 7 to Highway 26….
Newberry National Volcanic Monument will not be accessible by car. The road isn’t usually plowed and open until May. As for Lava River Cave, it isn’t open at all. Not until May 3.
What a fun travel adventure! Salem has a lot of historic sites to explore. First I recommend ordering a free Travel Salem guide, which will have loads of helpful information. In the meantime, here are some web links you can use to start your planning. The Salem state capitol building: This is a must-visit, and…
In addition to Portland and Eugene, Medford (MFR) is also an option as an airport. The drive from Portland to Coos Bay is about 4.25 hours and if you have the time, it could offer the opportunity for more sightseeing. Your options would include traveling down the Oregon Coast, a stop at Silver Falls State…
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…
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…
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…
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…
At the end of January, you should absolutely be prepared for winter driving. At that time of year, the roads require chains or traction tires. If you are comfortable driving in the snow, you could get by with chains, but if you’ll find yourself white-knuckled on the wheel, I’d recommend 4-wheel drive and chains/traction tires…
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…
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…
You’re correct that most of the trails in the Columbia River Gorge are closed as a result of the Eagle Creek Fire and the potential of landslides. However, some of the sights have recently opened back up, and we have several alternative options! The Old Columbia Highway is open from Troutdale to Bridal Veil Falls,…
