Oregon

Timeless Beauty

A lot has been written about Oregon's natural beauty; it is certainly one of the country's most scenic and interesting places. The diversity, the history, the ocean, the mountains, the wine; the Pacific Northwest is an amazing place. Probably my favorite is its rugged North Coast, it is a must see if you're visiting this marvelous state. Simply breathtaking. Being from the Southern US, we just have nothing to prepare us for such landscapes. Where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, the North Coast is the convergence of the past and present. Distinctive coastlines, historic towns, old folk tales (bigfoot) and thriving eclectic communities. 

One of my favorites is Manzanita. It is an Oceanside village tucked in between three distinctive landmarks: the Ocean, the large coastal headland at Neahkahnie Mountain and the sheltered Nehalem Bay. One of three communities ringing the Bay, it is close in driving distance to Nehalem and Wheeler. The Bay boasts excellent fishing, crabbing and clam-digging. Manzanita is quaint and originally drew interest from Portland tourists for its turquoise surf, striking exposed cliffs and dreamlike hazy horizons. It is sprinkled with charming little cafes and local shops. 

   

Retreat homes line the beach and nautically named streets end in paths to the ocean. Another must is Tillamook. 

Located in a tangle of rivers and farm fields, it is renowned for its agriculture. A highly successful dairy industry has led the name Tillamook to be frequently associated with dairy products, and tours of the sophisticated Tillamook Creamery are one of the most popular in town. Restaurants think local, putting farm and ocean-to-table ingredients to good use in their dishes. So many charming towns on the coast, make some time. 

Willamette Valley is home to Oregon's wine country. In the heart of the Valley is Abbey Road Farm and the Silo Suites Bed and Breakfast. My wife and I had the great pleasure to stay at this 82-acre working farm, winery & tasting room, bed & breakfast and event venue. It was developed as a destination point, and it certainly is. With out a doubt the two best breakfasts we have ever had (to include Europe) were prepared by Eric and Sara, known as the wilderness hunters. They foraged the nearby woods for our Shantrelle mushroom omelet one morning. Truley, 

unbelievable. It was a very unique experience staying in one of the six luxurious rooms in the Silos. Actually, the entire farm is a unique experience, so relaxing, so much to see and so much to do. Abbey Road was established in 2017 with a vision to showcase a commitment to hospitality and dedication to organic practices. They have cultivated more than 45 acres of vineyards, featuring over 16 different grape varieties. They also transformed a horse-riding arena into a top-tier event space and inviting tasting experience. 

There are over 900 wineries in Willamette Valley, and we only visited a few. Abbey Road recommended Gran Moraine Winery in nearby Yamhill.  Like much of the Valley they specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. For the most part the wines are fairly high-end ranging from $50-$100 and are worth every penny. I'm not really a Pinot kind of guy but I love theirs. The open-air winery is not pretentious at all, and the tasting room affords a great view of the rolling hills and vineyards. Near Abbey Road is Dundee, which for its small size has several great restaurants. For lunch I suggest Red Hills Market for great sandwiches on French Baguettes and for dinner the Dundee Bistro. The Ponzi family has been producing world class wines for 70 years and the Bistro has been creating wine friendly dishes for 20 years. We were so fortunate to have friends from the area to host us for dinner! Try the Pork Cutlet. 

 

Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge are an hour north of the Abbey Road and just outside of Portland. 
Multnomah Falls is one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the United States and is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest. More than two million visitors stop by each year to view the unique 620-foot falls. Fed by underground springs from nearby Larch Mountain, the flow over the falls varies and is usually highest during the winter and spring seasons. Multnomah Falls is one of the top places in the Columbia River Gorge Area to study the geology exposed by floods. Six volcanic flows of Grande Ronde Basalt are visible in the fall’s cliff face, representing more than 400,000 years of geological history. Larch Mountain Trail at the Falls is one of the most popular hikes in the Columbia River Gorge. From the Multnomah Falls visitor center, a steep trail climbs to cross the historic Benson Bridge. Beyond the bridge those seeking a more rigorous experience can continue to the top of the cliff and take a short spur trail to a small viewing area at the very top of the falls. The total distance to the top of the falls and back is 2.4 miles and around 600’ of elevation or the equivalent of 60 flights of stairs on uneven, steep terrain.  

The Columbia River gorge is a spectacular river canyon, 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep, that meanders past cliffs, spires, and ridges set against nearby peaks of the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Mountain Range. The historic Visitor's Center is a throw-back in time. Although small, it was constructed in 1918, and it has sweeping vistas of the gorge. Built in the art deco style, complete with the stained-glass windows, its architecture is just superb. On the lower level of the Visitor Center is a snack bar, gift shop and adjacent accessible restrooms. The fully accessible restaurant is located on the upper level and can be accessed by stairs or elevator.

Portland is an extraordinarily beautiful river town and something you have to do in Oregon. That said, it is overrun by the homeless and it is really disturbing. Hopefully it will get better. Portland is pretty unique. It has world-renowned chefs and hundreds of food carts; art in theaters and outside on the street; the world’s largest independent bookstore and highest concentration of craft breweries; a huge urban forest; and a bridge reserved for bicyclists. This isn’t your typical city. If Portland wasn’t so different, it wouldn’t be Portland. We stayed at the historic Benson Hotel. Built by legendary innovator and philanthropist Simon Benson in 1912, the hotel features original Italian marble floors, Austrian crystal chandeliers, and the largest collection of Circassian walnut within one building. The Benson is truly the last of its kind, with a multi-million-dollar renovation completed in 2023. We even had drinks ate the Palm Court Restaurant and Bar. If you don't eat at Higgins for lunch or dinner, you've missed out on a Portland original (even Eric from Abby Road worked there and got us a great corner table). Oregon’s original farm-to-table restaurant, opened in 1994 with chef and co-owner Greg Higgins using his close ties to Pacific Northwest farmers to spearhead his pioneering menus, which eventually landed him a 2002 James Beard award as Best Chef Northwest.

If you love nature, wonderful scenery and great food and people, go to Oregon.