Favorite Place in Oregon (Portland, Eugene: how much, house, wedding)

[Marko3]

I'm just kind of curious about other people's experiences around the state. Where's your favorite place in Oregon to go? Where's your favorite restaurant? Favorite area or time of year? Tell me something about a great Oregon experience.

[Asinas]

I moved out of Oregon last year to meet the family of my husband-to-be, and I'm kinda getting very homesick. My favorite place in all of Oregon would have to be along the coast, or at Hebo Lake. (I loved catchign salamanders/newts at the lake as a kid.) My favorite beach would probably be at Lincoln City, neither it nor the lake was very far from my home. (Another good vacation spot was Ten Mile, specially North Lake. We went there for daddy's vacation when I was younger, I'm not sure how much it has changed now but it had a good variety of wild life.)

My favorite restaurant was not something fancy, but the food was just to die for. Its a nice little Restaurant/Bar combination in Sheridan called Benie Huei's, I would try to eat lunch there as often as I could, and would suggest General Tso Chicken, or if you don't like spicy food, Sweet and Sour Pork.

Favorite time of the year: Autumn. Spring was too wet in the valley, winter was far too cold and not enough snow, and summer...was too much of a shock after all the rain we would get. I used to live in Willamina, the people are friendly, its a small place with a lot of forest, and the animals/plants that come with that. (Hint for those of you who love fresh wild fruits.)

[tablemtn]

I like to go hiking in the Steens mountain range, and a lot of the views from certain peaks are just fantastic.

However, there are some great hilltop views available right near the I-5 corridor. One is from Spencer Butte, which is a hill located directly south of Eugene. It's a fairly short hike up to the summit, along a maintained trail (no gear required).

Another is Mary's Peak, southwest of Philomath (near Corvallis). Mary's Peak Road ends at a parking lot near the summit, with a short path going up the rest of the way. There are panoramic views of the entire region - Corvallis, Albany, Lebanon, and east toward the Cascades. It's also 10-20 degrees cooler in the summer than the valley floor, and often has a nice breeze which amplifies the cooling effect.

On the coast, the views from Cascade Head are very serene. It overlooks the ocean and northern Lincoln City.

Those are some fairly easy hikes that most people can do while on a daytrip to those areas.

[dachmom]

So far, I love every part of the state I have seen. I still have much more to explore though.

I love Wallowa Lake in Eastern Oregon. Take the tram to the top and the view is gorgeous! Well worth the cost of the tram ride in my opinion. The lake is beautiful too!

I am biased, I love the Columbia River Gorge (I grew up there)the drive from Hood River to Portland is beautiful, and of course there is Multnomah Falls. My favorite time in the gorge is in the spring when the fruit trees are in bloom.

I went to Sunriver one year for Christmas, the snow was so beautiful, it really made it feel like Christmas.

I still have to make it to Southern Oregon, it's on my 'to do' list.

[rural lady]

The scent of the sweet air, hiking up top a mountain, seeing a herd of elk while hiking, a mountain meadow for those who've hiked up that far..............., the smell of fresh hay being cut, the smell of mint, the coast, the high desert, Hood River in the fall, the Columbia, Smith Rock, the flea market in Sumpter, Joseph, OR is beautiful, the ride to Kahneeta, tho I didn't care for the Kahneeta resort. Benham Falls.

A few of my favorite things.

[karlsch]

If you like steam locomotives, try this:
Sumpter Valley Railway Sumpter Oregon Home Page

[WorkinStiff]

The Southern Oregon Coast,(less people, more spectacular scenery), Irish & Taylor Lakes, ( up a 4wd road in the Central Cascades),The Ochoco Mountains of Central Oregon and The Steens Mtns of SE Oregon...Zumwalt Prairie in NE Oregon...The John Day River & Fossil Beds of N Central Oregon..

[ReturningWest]

Fav place: the Wallowa Valley.... spectacular

Fav time of year: Fall... love the crispness of the air

Fav restaurant: The Original Pancake House in P-Town

[EnricoV]

Favorite places:

Ashland. Sitting in the outdoor theater of the Shakespearean Festival on a warm summer night, just as the herald raises the flag signalling the play's about to begin.

Warrenton. Fort Stevens State Park on Labor Day weekend, watching the Civil War battle re-enactors, with ships of all sizes heading into Astoria on Young's Bay as a backdrop to the battle.

Portland. A leisurely drive along the Columbia River (out Columbia Boulevard) on a sunny summer day in a convertible, watching the sailboats, picnicers, bicyclists, and joggers out enjoying the day.

Anywhere in Oregon, sitting next to a burbling creek in the woods.

Favorite time of year:

Fall. Oregon tends to have wonderful Indian summers that last well into fall.

Favorite restaurant:

Pho Dalat (in Portland) for a bowl of pho in the winter or bun in the summer. Saigon Kitchen (in Portland) for Massaman curry or pepper salted string beans. Burgerville (anywhere) for turkey burgers and milkshakes. Tebos (in Jennings Lodge) for strawberry shortcake. Stopping in Rice Hill for Umpqua ice cream at the drive-in.

[fjtee]

I have a fondness for Astoria and a lot of that is for sentimental reasons. My husband and I delayed our honeymoon a few weeks to go to a wedding of some close friends of ours. But, immediately after our wedding, we spent a 3-day weekend at a B&B there. We had a fantastic weekend and even though we loved our honeymoon to Peru, we still reminisce about Astoria.