You’re in luck — there are a lot of gorgeous flower farms in the Willamette Valley, and most are not more than 20 minutes east or west of Interstate 5, the main north-south route through Oregon. Depending on what time of spring or summer you’re driving through, there will be different flowers in season. Also,…
Glad to hear you have time to explore more of Oregon after visiting Crater Lake! If you like history and the great outdoors, then the nearest major city, Klamath Falls, is not to be missed. In this sunny town, you’ll find a treasure trove of Western history at the Favell Museum; more than 350 feathered…
There is a tramway at Wallowa Lake that goes up 3,700 feet to the summit of Mount Howard. The Wallowa Lake Tramway is the steepest tram in North America and ascends above the Wallowa Lake Village and Wallowa Lake. Taking the gondola gives you some of the most incredible views in Eastern Oregon. Back on…
On the North Oregon Coast, one of the best places to go crabbing is Nehalem Bay. There, you will find Kelly’s Marina and Jetty Fishery, both of which offer crabbing gear rentals, crabbing docks or boat rentals and you can have your crab cooked just steps from where you caught it and enjoy the freshest…
My very simple, condensed answer about foraging is: as long as you are picking small amounts of non-endangered species for personal use, it’s most likely going to be fine. (i.e. picking a few berries or mushrooms while you’re hiking) Regulations depend on what you want to pick, where you’re picking it and how much you…
Sturgeon are an excellent sport fish and relatively plentiful so you are sure to have action and catch some fish. It is catch and release. There are two areas I would suggest for sturgeon. At the Oregon Coast, head to Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River in June and July. There is a…
It is a little over a mile from Astoria’s cruise ship dock to the heart of downtown Astoria. It is about 1.3 miles to the beginning of Astoria’s main downtown commercial district and about two miles to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria’s largest attraction on the riverfront.This can be a pleasant walk along Astoria’s…
What a great question! Here are my ideas for good sunsets near Salem. Willamette Valley Vineyards is just south of Salem is on a hill facing west toward the Jory hills and the Coast range. The west facing views at Willamette Valley Vineyards are great any time of day, but when the sun is setting on a…
There are SO many places in Oregon to mountain bike, but I’ll try to narrow them down to the BEST. Are you ready? Top 5 recommendations: McKenzie River Trail Oakridge — Alpine Trail Sandy Ridge Trail Surveyors Ridge Tiddlywinks Honorable Mentions: Oakridge — Tire Mountain or Waldo Lake Tyler’s Traverse North Umpqua Trail Black Rock Post…
Good question! Short answer, yes, but there is actually only one place where it is safe and legal to get down to the lake shore and swim at Crater Lake National Park. It is the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which usually opens mid to late June. The Cleetwood trail is just over one mile long (each…
April is a great time for traveling the Oregon Coast. Spring in general is known for lush growth, blooming plants and shrubs, abundant wildlife and great bird watching. High temperatures in April average in the mid to high 50s and low temperatures average mostly in the low 40s. Our maritime climate is unpredictable, so you…
Glad to help you find a camping site in Southern Oregon! Currently, it’s pretty wet and chilly in the Medford/Ashland area, but fun camping spots do exist. Just expect full rivers and streams and some rain. For seclusion, I love camping at Acorn Woman Lakes, just above Applegate Lake outside Ruch, Oregon. It can be…
You may find some crabbing charters out of the port of Hammond south of Astoria. In addition, the 12th Street bridge in Seaside is a popular non-boat location with crab rings dropped directly off the bridge. One of the best crabbing experiences on the North Oregon Coast is further south on Nehalem Bay. Kelly’s Marina…
You can absolutely do it! My suggestion would be to drive from Portland to the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway. Take in the waterfalls, take in the misty air, take in the probable rain (bring a rain jacket) and then stop for ice cream at EastWind Drive Thru in Cascade Locks before making your way…
I can recommend many great restaurants. Don’t miss 5 Fusion — award-winning chef Joe Kim is amazing. Ariana and Zydeco are other excellent fine dining choices. For more casual food, try Jackson’s Corner and Nancy P’s Bakery. Also, Hola! has great Peruvian food. Definitely hit a few brew pubs — my favorites for both food and beer are Bend…
There are 363 miles of options for romantic escapes on the Oregon Coast, so your decision will depend on the kind of experience you are after. I would list Cannon Beach, Yachats and Bandon as great small towns that offer options in luxurious resorts with views, intimate dining and beautiful scenic areas nearby. Cannon Beach,…
Picking the best hotels, wineries and restaurants in the Willamette Valley is a little bit like picking a favorite child…they’re all so great it’s hard to pick just one. But I’ll do my best! Hotel: For the fanciest hotel near wineries, I’d have to say The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Oregon. It’s a…
April is a lovely time to visit Ashland! Right in town, I suggest spending some time in Lithia Park, which offers acres of cultivated gardens, duck ponds and wooded walking trails. For wildflowers, you’ll find them at higher elevations. The best place, in my opinion, to view alpine wild flower blooms is Mt. Ashland, in…
The nearest charter boat services to Cannon Beach would be in Garibaldi, south of Cannon Beach, or to the north, in Astoria or Ilwaco. Some charter services specifically offer burial at sea charters, including Garibaldi Charters and Pacific Salmon Charters. It should be noted that Haystack Rock is at the edge of the shoreline and,…
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regularly stocks reservoirs and lakes with trout. You can find the schedule of trout stocking for your area online. However, a good bet for catching catfish would be to head over to the Coast and fish in Siltcoos Lake.
