City Guide: Portland, OR

Traveling by car up the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway? Save this list of stunning pit-stops, natural sights, tasty bites, and home base locales.

Downtown Astoria is a cute quintenseetial beach town just below the Oregon / Washinton border. It's known for The Goonies house and has some great places to eat, drink, and shop.

Highway 138 through South / Central Oregon is one of the best routes in the country for chasing waterfalls. It weaves along the North Umpqua River and takes you past over 15 waterfalls. If you're visiting Crater Lake National Park this is a great throughfare to explore. In this guide you'll find a map featuring the waterfalls that appear along this scenic drive.

Central Oregon is a stunning place to visit. It's off the beaten path from the bustling urban atmosphere of Portland (~3.5 hours away) and it's the perfect destination if you're into brews and views. Oregon's landscape is truly unmatched and it holds a special place in my heart after living in the state for 5 years. Unlike the moderate climate of the west coast, central Oregon is well known for its winter and spectacular skiing. But, I recommend visiting Bend in the warmer months from May - September to experience the sunny mountain town vibes, enjoying the endless patio dining options, hitting the trail, floating the river, or biking through the high desert scenery. In this guide I've outlined some fun activities, recommendations for lodging, as well as the top spots for breakfast, great bites, and top notch breweries.