oregon
travel guide
OREGON
Journey from the misty coastal headlands where ancient forests meet crashing waves, through rolling wine country valleys, to vibrant urban neighborhoods brimming with artisanal craft and creative spirit. A harmonious blend of wild Pacific beauty.
oregon
Start your morning with exceptional coffee in Portland, spend your afternoon wine tasting in the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley, and end your day watching the sunset over dramatic coastal rock formations like Haystack Rock.
It's a state that seamlessly blends urban creativity with natural beauty, offering everything from world-renowned bookstores and craft breweries to misty forests, Japanese gardens, and charming small towns that make you want to slow down and savor every moment.
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The Allison — Sitting beautifully in Oregon's Willamette Valley, each room has a private terrace and cozy fireplace overlooking vineyards. Dine at the incredible JORY restaurant serving farm-to-table cuisine with an extensive wine list. There's nothing quite like sipping wine on the expansive lawn while watching the sunset paint the sky over wine country — pure magic.
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Japanese Gardens — Officially proclaimed "the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan". Born in 1963 as a post-WWII peace offering that faced actual hate groups protesting its construction, this 12-acre sanctuary in Washington Park now welcomes 400,000+ visitors annually who come to find zen among eight different garden styles and maybe catch a glimpse of Mount Hood if the Portland clouds cooperate.
Cannon Beach — Crowned by the iconic 235-foot Haystack Rock that juts dramatically from the sand like nature's own exclamation point—National Geographic even declared it one of the world's 100 most beautiful places. Named after a naval cannon that washed ashore from a shipwreck in the 1840s, this charming seaside village has successfully kept chain stores at bay to preserve its artsy, small-town vibe.
Haystack Rock — A 235-foot-tall volcanic sea stack that towers over Cannon Beach is genuinely spectacular. At low tide, you can walk right up to this ancient beast and explore the tide pools teeming with starfish and anemones at its base, though climbing it is off-limits since it's a protected wildlife refuge.
Crescent Beach — A best-kept secret hiding in plain sight—accessible only by a muddy 2.4-mile hike that scares away most visitors away. Once you've navigated the root-riddled trail through lush Sitka spruce forest, you'll be rewarded with a secluded half-mile stretch of pristine sand, hidden sea caves, and tide pools that you'll likely have almost entirely to yourself.
Wind Mountain Ranch — A stunning venue nestled at the base of Wind Mountain in the Columbia River Gorge, complete with a romantic lily pond with a wooden dock. This beautifully restored property features seven cozy log cabins scattered across the grounds where you can stay, surrounded by sweeping mountain views and sprawling pastures.
Maak Lab — A conceptual fragrance studio where you turn memories into fragrances and then bottling that feeling into candles and perfumes. This minimalist laboratory creates wildly imaginative scents like "Labside" (combining white cedar, Wi-Fi and magazines) and has built a reputation crafting signature "olfactive identities" for Portland's top restaurants and hotels.
ECOVIBE — "So much more than a plant store"—it's an "intentionally curated experience" mixing urban decor, houseplants, and gifts with serious good-vibes energy. Score everything from locally-made Portland candles to the perfect fiddle leaf fig, all while supporting environmental causes and local Oregon makers.
Powells Books — A full-city-block behemoth, housing over a million new and used books across nine color-coded rooms that basically require a map to navigate without getting lost for hours. Since 1971, this literary landmark has become such an institution that people actually hold weddings, funerals, and first dates among the stacks. Bond over rare books in the Pearl Room while surrounded by a bibliophile paradise.
Fumerie Parfumerie — A niche fragrance boutique that literally translates to "opium den perfume shop". Run by industry veteran Tracy Tsefalas (who has a tattoo of her favorite perfume notes on her forearm), this intimate spot specializes in hard-to-find independent fragrances and hosts everything from perfumer visits to fragrance swaps for Portland's surprisingly robust community of scent obsessives.
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Penner-Ash — A pioneering winery founded in 1998 where Lynn Penner became one of the first female winemakers hired in Oregon and built a reputation for crafting exceptional Pinot Noir. Set on a beautiful 15-acre estate with stunning vineyard views, this LIVE-certified sustainable winery showcases the diversity of the Valley through vineyard-designate wines.
Stoller — Spanning 400 acres, the Stoller family transformed it into a sustainable, award-winning winery that was the first in the world to receive LEED Gold certification. It has been consistently recognized for excellence, and produces estate-grown wines that are balanced, complex, and consistently exceptional.
Résonance — A project of the famous Burgundy house Maison Louis Jadot, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using traditional French winemaking techniques. Founded in 2013, the winery operates in the Yamhill-Carlton area and represents the marriage of Burgundian expertise with Oregon terroir.
Lenne — Perched on a "ferociously rocky hillside" where the challenging terrain somehow coaxes exceptional Pinot Noir from just 15.5 acres of vineyard. Founded by Steve and Karen Lutz (named after Karen's late father Lenny), this family operation proves that sometimes the most difficult soils make the most rewarding wines—plus you get killer hilltop views while you taste.
Antica-Terra — Winemaker Maggie Harrison (formerly of Sine Qua Non) makes mystical Pinot Noir on a 40-acre hillside riddled with fossilized oyster shells—because apparently ancient sea creatures make for excellent terroir. The story goes that Harrison took one look at this rocky, oak-studded site and called her husband within 26 seconds to say they were moving to Oregon, a love-at-first-sight wine romance.
Domaine Serene — Known as "America's Most Awarded Winery", after 30+ years of cranking out world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they might just have the hardware to back it up. When Ken & Grace Evenstad bought it sight unseen through impenetrable fog (because apparently that's how wine legends are born), this place now spans multiple vineyard estates and even has its own Burgundy château.
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Crema Coffee + Bakery — A beloved institution that combines expertly crafted specialty coffee featuring local roasters like Stumptown and Coava with an incredible array of house-made pastries, breads, and baked goods. Crema is essentially a bakery that happens to serve exceptional coffee, creating the perfect combination of quality caffeine and delectable treats.
Puff Coffee — An "itsy bitsy" artisanal roaster created by coffee legend + founder of Stumptown Coffee. This low-key neighborhood spot specializes in experimental blends and single-origin gems, allowing them to keep things interesting while maintaining their commitment to exceptional quality coffee.
Proud Mary Café — An Australian-founded cafe bringing innovative coffee culture with a refined yet experimental approach to both specialty coffee and all-day brunch. Known for serving "stellar" coffee and "Insta-worthy" brunch options, this vibrant cafe focuses on creating heartfelt experiences while connecting the community through quality products.
Fried Egg I’m in Love — A beloved breakfast sandwich institution specializing in hot, breakfast sandwiches with punny music-themed names like their signature "Yolko Ono." Known for crafting what The Oregonian called "Portland's signature breakfast sandwich," this quirky spot combines perfectly cooked fried eggs with creative ingredients and is a must-visit destination.
Pine Street Biscuits — A local favorite that brings Southern comfort food to the Pacific Northwest, serving up huge, fluffy biscuits with freshness and a signature funky style. Famous for their "Biscuits Elevated" philosophy, they gained national recognition for standout dishes like "The Reggie" (fried chicken, bacon, cheddar and gravy on a biscuit) and their classic biscuits and gravy.
Euphoria — A vegan food truck that specializes in sustainable dining with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, offering kava drinks, herbal beverages, and plant-based meals. This eco-friendly spot focuses on delicious vegan options including hot and iced drinks, ginger shots, soups, curry meal sets, vegan desserts, creating a mindful dining experience.
Red Hills Market — A beloved gathering place for local farmers, chefs, and winemakers offering seasonal food and dishes made from local Willamette Valley ingredients. This vibrant market and café features thoughtfully curated local goods, artisanal pizzas from their wood-fired oven, and an extensive selection of local wines and craft beers, making it a perfect place to grab a picnic.
Bamboo Sushi — The world's first certified sustainable sushi restaurant dedicated to sourcing the highest quality seafood while reducing their environmental footprint. This "restaurant of purpose" goes beyond traditional sushi to offer shareable plates, rolls, nigiri, and even wagyu burgers, all crafted with the highest regard for marine stewardship and sustainability.
Ken’s Artisan Pizza — A celebrated pizzeria by James Beard Award-winning author Ken Forkish, serving Italian-inspired Neapolitan pizzas with wood-fired ovens using slow-fermented dough, hand-stretched mozzarella. Known for creative seasonal combos like their signature Peach pie featuring charred peaches, corn crema, and fresh basil. Recently named the 8th best pizzeria in the US in 2025 by the Naples-based 50 Top Pizza organization.
Pine Street Market — A fantastic food hall, housed in a beautifully renovated 1886 historic building curated by Feast Portland co-founder Mike Thelin, featuring a diverse collection of the city's most beloved restaurant concepts with unique twists. This culinary destination brings together everything from ramen and dumplings to innovative concepts like Salt & Straw's Wiz Bang Bar soft serve, all under one roof.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop — A quirky, institution that started as a food cart before evolving into a beloved "dairy palace", specializing in "grown-up snack time" with artisanal cheese boards, creative sundaes, and soft serve ice cream topped with unique "dusts" like espresso and matcha. Famous for their signature "Cheese & Crack" sundae featuring layers of chocolate and vanilla soft serve with cinnamon cracker crumble and toasted marshmallow.
Salt&Straw — Beloved farm-to-cone ice cream, starting as a food cart and becoming famous for their small-batch, chef-driven ice cream made with local, sustainable ingredients. Known for their "daringly delicious" and adventurous flavor combinations with rotating monthly menus, this cult-favorite shop creates unique tastes like Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper and Lucky Charms Cereal.
