The Perfect Oregon Road Trip
This past summer, we took a short trip to Oregon to get a glimpse of the PNW. We criss-crossed the state to see some of the most popular sites Oregon has to offer. From beautiful coastal views and epic mountain views to lavender fields and glamping in Coos Bay, Oregon, this is the perfect Oregon road trip.
Stop #1-Multnomah Falls
As soon as we landed at PDX, we picked up our rental car, and headed straight to Multnomah Falls. We had some time to kill before we could check into our AirBnb, so we decided to spend an hour or two at Oregon’s tallest waterfall. We would definitely recommend NOT going in the middle of the day, as it is extremely crowded. Parking is limited, and the trail to the top of the falls can be slow moving. We chose to stick to the viewing area at the base of the falls and the viewing area along Benson Bridge. After admiring the falls up close, we got some coffee from one of the kiosks on site and sat at a little bistro table enjoying the beautiful weather and the sound of the cascading falls in the background.
Read More: 24 Hours in Mt. Rainier National Park
Stop #2-Cannon Beach
We checked into our Airbnb which was the cutest little apartment in a nice quiet part of Portland, away from the downtown area. We unloaded all of our luggage, and set off to Cannon Beach. The drive is about an hour and half from Portland which is perfect for a day trip, or in our case, an evening trip. We arrived right at sunset, and it was freezing in July! Pictures do not do this place justice. We didn’t realize just how massive Haystack Rock was until we were looking up at it. We don’t have rocks like that in Florida. One of our favorite things to see while walking along the beach, were all the bunnies. As we drove around the area, it became like a game to spot a little group of them laying in the grass. At this point in the day, we had been up for almost 24 hours and were in desperate need of some kind of caffeine to get us through the drive back to where we were staying. Thankfully, there is a Fresh Foods supermarket near the beach, so we ran in 10 minutes before it closed to get cans of Starbucks espresso which have become a staple on our roadtrips. We left at 9pm and made it back at midnight…thanks to lots of construction.
Stop #3 Lavender Valley Farms
I would be lying if I said our entire trip wasn’t planned around visiting a lavender field…Lavender Valley Farms is the most picturesque lavender field in Oregon with rows and rows of lavender and the view of Mt. Hood in the background. We went in the morning and had the entire field to ourselves except for all the little bees. There is even a little stand at the entrance where you can buy all kinds of items made with lavender. The farm is only open on select dates throughout the summer usually beginning the month of May.
Stop #4 The Knoll/God’s Thumb
The hike we were not at all prepared for…This hike is in Lincoln City, Oregon, and the coastal views are worth the steep inclines towards the end of the hike. We highly recommend some type of hiking shoe, especially if it has rained recently. The trailhead is in the back of a neighborhood behind a gate. We had done extensive research on this hike beforehand, but we still wondered if we were in the right place at first. The trail is shaded but not really marked in any way which added to the duration of our hike. We were so excited to see “God’s Thumb” peeking through the trees and tried to get to the top as fast as possible which resulted in me falling multiple times and both of us almost being blown over by the wind. We were soon mesmerized by the beautiful Oregon Coast and stayed awhile watching the waves go in and out.
Stop #5 Bay Point Landing, Coos Bay
This might be our favorite stay of all of our 2021 travels. Bay Point Landing takes glamping to the next level. We enjoyed a truly elevated stay in their Kamp Haus cabin; you can’t help but slow down while you’re here. The on site amenities include an indoor pool, an activity center, outdoor games, a general store for anything you need, and easy access to the bay. Each cabin even includes firewood and fire starter for s’mores around the firepit, which we definitely took advantage of. Each cabin even includes Bay Point Landing’s own blend of coffee and it really doesn’t get better than that.
We chose to hang around the area to wind down before our travel day back home. We walked along the shore, ate the best clam chowder and fish tacos at Monkey Business, and enjoyed our evenings around the fire. Shore Acres State Park and Cape Arago State Park are super close by for more exploring along the coast. Beautiful Samuel H. Boardman State Park is less than 2 hours away as well and a spot we wished we would have visited.
We made some of the best memories on this trip. It was our first time on the West Coast, and we can’t wait to go back someday.
