Pine trees. Fresh air. Hipsters and cannabis and granola and so many dogs. This is what I imagined the Pacific Northwest would be. And, while I wasn’t wrong, it was this AND so much more. I’d flown into Portland decades ago to visit a friend, but an ice storm (yes, I flew out during the one major ice storm Portland has ever had, like, ever) prevented me from seeing the PNW in its full glory. I’ve always wanted to try again and this was the summer for it. My husband and I packed up all three kids, rented a car, bought some granola (bars), and headed to the mountains for the Fourth of July so we could enjoy our “first time” visiting Oregon.
Our red eye flight into Portland required us to sleep at the Hyatt Place in the airport, but we quickly scarfed our free breakfast and hit the road for Hood River as fast as humanly possible. It was game on time and we were so ready for it!
If you’ve never been to Oregon, prepare to be taken aback by the peaceful chill of it all. Our goal this trip was to take on some new adventures while squeaking in a few challenging hikes, some pool time, and wrap it up with a chill couple days by the ocean. Could we do it all? We only had one week. Here’s how we made it happen – and plenty of details, ins, outs, must-dos, and just-don’ts of our seven day family vacation to Oregon.
DAY 1
Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Downtown Hood River, AniChe Cellars
The main focus of day one was to visit Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. To get a lay of the Oregonian land, we stopped at Vista Point first, a drivable get-out-and-take-pics-then-hop-back-in-your-car kind of stop. From the point, we saw water, mountains, sky, and sun – quintessential Oregon. The drive to Multnomah Falls was short, sweet, and worth it.
Important to know: To get to the waterfall, you’ll need to reserve a timed entry permit. You can do this on their website up to two weeks in advance or day of, but (depending on time of year and day of week) you’re risking it being sold out. I suggest purchasing two time slots online (that’s the max) for a whopping $2 each to allow yourself flexibility on your arrival. If you don’t get a permit, there are a few random parking spots right next to the falls, but they overcharge and it’s an expensive gamble. When driving to the recreation area, you’ll need to stay on Highway 84 and not the Historic Columbia River Highway. We made this mistake and it wound up being more confusing than I care to admit.
Multnomah Falls was gorgeous – the perfect way to start the trip. There’s a huge restaurant lodge, a coffee cart, snack bar (the teenager highly recommends the Oregon Berry Shake), and of course, the falls. You can take pics from the bottom of the falls, or choose to walk up to the bridge that sits .2 miles up a dirt trail. We did that, and then decided – as we stood there in our jeans and crocs – that we were going to continue on to the top of the falls – another mile. Sounds easy, right? Well, tallest falls in Oregon means tall hike. And tall it was! We made it in under an hour, but the elevation was no joke. We snacked on raspberries and blackberries from the bushes along the trail, which helped ease the whining.
The top was relatively underwhelming, but was fun to say we made the climb. The kids crawled around on rocks and looked over the railing to the bottom of the falls. Happy we did it, but ready to move on to the next adventure, so down we went (Down was much easier, in case you were wondering. This will be a common Oregon hiking theme).
Our family is always looking for ways to break up our drives from Adventure A to Adventure B, and this trip was no different. Enter: the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.
If you’ve never visited a fish hatchery, it’s basically a controlled breeding ground for fish. You might’ve already scrolled right past this part, but if you’re still with me, here’s why you should make the stop – 1) it’s free; 2) for a quarter, you can feed the fish; and 3) there’s an underwater viewing area where you can see seriously gigantic sturgeon. These 2-million year old monsters are as prehistoric-looking as they come and were pretty cool to see up close. You’ll also see salmon, rainbow trout, and all sorts of little jumpy guys (I am not a fish person). We spent under 30 minutes here, but it was a decent stop and cost us nothing.
We finished our drive into Hood River and needed lunch. Decided on Hood River Brewing because a super delicious focaccia sandwich shop called Piadina was inside. And, in that moment, nothing sounded better than a sandwich and a beer.
Downtown Hood River was enjoyable. The river hosted tons of kite surfers (now my kids all want to kite surf – God help me). Street parking was affordable and plentiful. There was lots to do from boutiques to candy stores to breweries (also an Oregon theme). Grabbed some candy, bought a shirt, and checked into our hotel.
We unpacked at the Holiday Inn Express in Hood River and then hit the road again. Our kids have never been to Washington and, since we were one 20-minute bridge trek away, we decided to check another state off the list. Right across the Hood River Bridge were beautiful views of Mount Hood. Not much was open, so we found a winery. This wound up being one of my favorite hours of the trip.
AniChe Cellars was propped up on a hill overlooking the water. The inside was warm and inviting. The wines were deeeelicious. The staff was amazing! It was queer-friendly, kid-friendly, dog-friendly, overall-friendly – and there were a plethora of berry bushes to munch on. My husband and I grabbed a glass of vino and a blanket and soaked up some Adirondack chair glory while the kids hula hooped, ate raspberries, and explored the land. A calm way to end the day. Of course we had to do the hotel pool and order in Mexican food when we got back, but that’s just par for our travel course.
DAY 2
Mount Hood Rail Bike Tour, Fruit Loop, Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park, Bend
The only day we forced the kids to get up early was day two. We had a date with some Mount Hood Railroad Rail Bikes and we did not want to miss it, so we packed up our bags (we were headed to Bend that evening) and jumped in the car bright and early.
This is an adventure in which you’ll definitely want a guarantee, so be sure to make online reservations for your tour time of your choice (tip: the 8:15am slots are almost always the last to sell out). Each day offers 8:15am, 12pm, and 3pm tours and each bike holds two people. At $199 per bike it’s not the cheapest adventure, but it is one of the most unique outings we’ve ever taken and that’s worth a lot.
For our 8:15am tour, we got to the Mt Hood Railroad Station by 8am, learned how to use the bikes, partnered up, and headed out. There is nothing complicated about these bikes, I promise. Our guide, Krissy, was fantastic and excited to have everyone there. There were about 10 bikes total in the group, so manageable and quick to get going. There is a basket in each bike so feel free to bring sweatshirts (it can get super chilly in shaded areas) and backpacks. The ride lasts about 2.5 hours total but you’ll spend 30 minutes or so at The Fruit Company and Hood River Winery (if it’s open). Both of these stops are adorable and offer seating, shopping, drinking, relaxing, and simultaneous views of both Mount Hood and Mount Adams.
Don’t let the idea of “biking” turn you off. Their rail bikes run on battery. I’m tellin’ you guys, you don’t need to pedal at ALL if you choose not to. There’s a throttle button, a brake, and a gauge to tell you your speed. That’s it. You have to be 16 years old to ride alone, at least 13 to drive (“driving” means sitting in the seat that controls the brake), and the total bike weight limit cannot surpass 500 lbs. Wear close-toed shoes, buckle your seat belt, and sit back to enjoy the fairytale forests, waterfalls, fresh air in your face, bridges, mountain views, and the chocolate covered dried pears from The Fruit Company. Trust me on this one.
The rail bikes were the day’s main outing, but the highlight of MY day was discovering that Hood River has a “Fruit Loop.” The Fruit Loop is a literal roadside loop of fruit stands, wineries, bakeries, brews, berries, and beautiful landscapes that spans miles but still sits within the confines of Hood River. It was like a parade of Farmer’s Markets and I couldn’t be happier!
There are Fruit Loop maps everywhere (including their website) and each stand is numbered according to their place on the map (there are 32 stands in total). Do your research before selecting your stops to see what they offer and if they’re open. We selected Pearl’s Place and Packer Orchard & Bakery as our two must-dos.
We sampled jams and ice cream. We bought cinnamon rolls and salsas. We ate cider floats and pints of blackberries. It was earthy, scenic, and so nummy. I could’ve spent an entire day Fruit Loopin’, but my family was not on board. If anyone wants to take a girls trip strictly to check more stands off my Fruit Loop bucket list, I’d be on board.
To properly gear up for our big hike that day (and by “gear up” I mean “consume food”), we made a pitstop at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort’s restaurant, the Crooked Tree Tavern, and filled up on wraps and burgers. With full stomachs, we headed north of Bend to a magical little piece of earth called Smith Rock State Park.
My “these kids can do hard things”-minded husband chose a hike called Misery Ridge. Doesn’t that sound enticing? A day pass for Smith Rock was $12 for out of state guests so we bought that, sunscreened the crap out of ourselves, grabbed some snacks and waters at the local market, put on our hats, and headed out for the 3.6 mile loop.
From the parking lot, we recommend going counterclockwise on the hike to get the hard stuff over with in the beginning. Once you conquer the insane elevation, the stairs, and the switchbacks, you will get to enjoy some flat along the top. If you have small children, know that there are dropoffs and cliffs. Making sure little ones stay far back from anything that resembles a ledge is crucial here.
The way down was covered in loose gravel so took far longer than anticipated due to slipping and bad shoe choices. Definitely recommend hiking shoes for this hike. Plus water, lots of breaks, sunscreen, and optimism. There is shade if you go later in the afternoon (definitely recommend this – hikes are always harder in the heat) and reward yourself with rests and snacks when needed.
Halfway through the loop, you’ll see Monkey Rock, a tall rock you can’t miss that is shaped like the head of a gorilla. Legit, it’s spot on. And the end (if you go counterclockwise on the trail) will bless you with mountains reflecting in the waters and wild birds galore.
Misery Ridge took our family of five a little under three hours to complete. It was difficult and not for the faint of heart – certainly lived up to its name. I was, once again, the perpetual caboose. Oh well, someone always has to be last (and between you and me, I stopped to catch my breath more times than all my other family members combined).
Sweaty and tired, we went straight to our new sleep site – the Riverhouse Lodge in Bend – and checked out the bunk room we rented. Perfect for a family our size and I would 100% stay here again. We got a “buy two nights, get one free” deal and even with that, it still cost more than $900 to stay. However, the perks were awesome – a fitness room, sauna, indoor pool (heated), outdoor pool (also heated), yard games, fire pits with s’mores kits, snack and drink stands, a bridge over the river, bunk beds, an on-site restaurant and more. It felt woodsy and cute and we spent a lot of time here soaking in the amenities.
For dinner that night, we headed into downtown Bend and took the first table for five that was available (because, so tired). We wound up at Deschutes Brewing for a very tasty meal before crashing the hardest we’ve ever crashed, grateful that we could sleep in a bit the next morning.
DAY 3
Tumalo Creek River Float, Blockbuster, On Top Food Truck Park
Happy Fourth of July! The highly-anticipated tube ride down the Deschutes River was today. It was also the coldest day of the trip. Ha, oh well. YOLO?
As promised, we leisurely got ourselves ready that morning, grabbed a coffee at Dilly Dally Coffee, picked up snacks and drinks for the tube ride at the Safeway, and bagged up all the phones, snacks, and personal belongings into the waterproof bags we packed specifically for this reason. At 10:30 we got to Tumalo Creek Raft Rides along the Deschutes River and, after a super short safety talk, fitting our youngest into a life jacket, and quick little shuttle ride, we were standing next to the river – tubes in hand – layered up and cold with a teensy bit of nerves. And in we went. No turning back now!
Like most adventures, we suggest making your reservations for the tube ride online well before arrival. You’ll pick a reserved time slot, sign your waivers, and pay all right online. Our family of five cost $148 total and the float lasted almost two hours. Kids under 12 are required to wear a life jacket. You also need to wear water shoes (not flip flops).
You can bring food and drink (no alcohol) on the river but be warned – you will get wet. The tubes are great – huge with netting on the bottom of the (butt) holes. I felt safe in the tube but the river was much wider than I thought it would be and we immediately separated from one another. The big kids were ok with this, but my 9-year old was needing company/security. I wound up floating the river holding onto his tube handle and we rode the weeds aong the edge (unintentionally) for a large majority of our float. I was grateful for my water shoes because I bicycle peddled us out of a whole lot of obstacles and mud. My husband and the big kids, however, enjoyed a leisurely float and patiently waited for us before hitting the rapids.
We did the short blip of rapids together and they were definitely bigger than I pictured in my head. We couldn’t go down them together so I just held my breath and hoped everyone would come out facing up (which they all did). It wound up being everyone’s favorite part. I worry just to worry sometimes. This is motherhood.
Navigating the tubes was work so I would honestly say that our 9-year old might be the youngest I’d recommend to take this float. We packed towels in a Target bag inside a backpack and they stayed pretty dry. We were very happy to have them at the end, even though it had crept up to a whopping 63 degrees. That was sarcasm. It was cold.
The afternoon of our Fourth of July was spent hanging at the lodge. We warmed up in the sauna, swam in the pools, and had hot dogs and brews. Once everyone was rested and warm, we got back into the car to find the last Blockbuster store in existence.
Right here in Bend, in a strip mall like they always were, the last Blockbuster is now a tourist spot (but also actually still rents movies, funnily enough). We bought an ornament and talked to the kids about the the process of renting movies. Their minds were blown by the fact that you’d have to leave your house, use a membership card, and pay to watch something as basic as a movie. We were warriors, Gen-Xers! WARRIORS!
Our shuttle driver told us about a cute food truck park called On Tap and now, I am telling you. Because it was a blast! Live music, a dozen food trucks to pick from, a full line of tap brews, and seating galore! Everyone got something different (which I loved) and we even still had room to grab some fro yo from Cuppa Yo.
After our stomachs were full, we attempted to cruise downtown Bend, but being the Fourth, most shops were closed and it was a party-heavy vibe so we played the parent card and went back to swim more at the lodge. I mean, helloooo, they were playing The Sandlot in the pool area. I’d rather that than beer tenting any day anyways.
We ended the night watching fireworks above Pilot Butte. A great, short show followed almost immediately by a great, long night of sleep.
DAY 4
Tumalo Mountain Trail, Lava Lands Visitor Center, 4th of July Fireworks
With good intentions of getting to this day’s hike early, we were mostly unsuccessful in our puncuality. Sometimes you just gotta sleep a little bit more. Instead of arriving to the trailhead at 8am, we got donuts from The Dough Nut and smoothies from Coffee Republic in Bend. They share a parking lot and both were delicious and affordable. I’d go back again and again if I lived there (yes, this could be a problem). THEN we made the drive to the hike.
Today’s choice was the Tumalo Mountain Trail, which is a quick 30 minute drive from Bend to the trailhead. It was unclear whether we needed a permit for this hike or not. Some sites said no permit necessary during the summer, so that’s what we went with.
Because of our donut delay, the small parking lot was very busy by the time we arrived. We waited patiently for a spot and then layered up. Many hikes in Oregon we were finding to be very chilly at the bottom, then cold at the top – but the middle is a sweaty mess. I definitely recommend bringing water and wearing layers you can strip off on this one. Four out of five of us voted this to be an easier hike than Misery Ridge (from day two) but was still very vertical and steep. If you have very young kids, definitely consider a hiking backpack to crank through Tumalo Mountain with your sanity.
Tumalo Mountain Trail is two miles to the top and two miles back down. The overlook is gorgeous and summiting it as it opened up into wide open air and a ledge of unpredictable snow was one for the memory books. You’ll get a grand view of the Sister Mountains and Mount Bachelor. Trust me – the photos are worth every kneecap-pain-filled step.
Trekking back down was quick, yet steep. Now complaining of starvation, we drove the kids 25 minutes east to Big Belly Burgers & Brew, a local little burger bar in the mountains that served up nummy frickles (if you’ve never had fried pickles, you’re not a real Minnesotan) and burgers. The food was OK – a little pricier than expected but they had free fooseball and we were supporting local – always a win!
We drove 10 more minutes to Lava Lands Visitor Center in the Deschutes National Forest where we hoped to see some lava rocks and volcanic scenery. We got there, bought the $5 day pass, and zipped through the visitor center. Everyone was running out of steam so instead of paying the $5/person shuttle fee to view the top of Lava Butte, we chose to do the free small trails in the backyard of the visitor center instead. The Trail of Molten Land takes you through lava rocks with signs explaining the history of the area. Not being a huge “volcano” family, we didn’t last long here, but it was cool to see.
If you are a volcano family, consider making an online timed reservation to tour the Lava River Cave, a mile-long lava tube a short distance from the visitor center. Reservations cost $2/vehicle and are available May through September, taking about 90 minutes to do the whole tour. You can book online the day before as tour times might sell out.
Now that it wasn’t July 4th anymore, we drove into downtown Bend to actually check out some of the shops (they were open – yay!). This town is so cute with boutiques, toy and candy shops, even a small vintage video arcade that charges $8/hour for unlimited play. The whole town felt a little on the pricier side – I couldn’t justify a lot of purchases I wanted, but am always wanting to support a nice locally-run shop. Unfortunately, vacations give me finance anxiety – anyone else?
Our crew was really dragging their feet after that hike, so we grabbed gelato at Bonta (try the orange poppyseed) and called it done. Back at Riverhouse Lodge, we swam, showered, and had our kids choose dinner. We wound up back downtown at a corner bar called Wonderland Chicken where we ate fried chicken sandwiches and salads. The DJ was loud and the music was far from kid-friendly, but the alley seating was convenient and the chicken really was spicy and delicious.
As fast as the day started, it ended. Sleep was once again calling. So we listened.
DAY 5
Sisters, Pacific City, Cape Kiwanda Sand Dunes and Tide Pools, Oceanside and Tunnel Beaches
Waking up and saying goodbye to our bunk room was bittersweet. We loved it so much but were excited to head to the ocean. Next stop – the Pacific Coast!
The drive from Bend to Oceanside (the town we were staying in) was slightly longer than 4 hours, so we made stops in the town of Sisters and Pacific City.
Sisters was on my list of “want to see but don’t need to see” places and I’m really glad we stopped to just check it out. We stopped to get breakfast and coffee at Sisters Coffee Company, a large wooden cabin with outdoor and upstairs seating. The Old West theme of Sisters drew me to peruse the streets while my kids waited for their food. I was SO hoping the Beacham’s Clock Company would’ve been open but they’re close Sundays so I spent entirely way too long in the cutest bookshop I’ve ever stepped foot in – Paulina Springs Books. This was a sweet stop for both kids and adults.
Pacific City was right along the coast, but 35 minutes south of Oceanside so we pulled in because I had read about the sand dunes there. Cape Kiwanda and some adorable tide pools were the only sells I needed to say yes to this stop. I love me some tide pools!
Pacific City is a quiet ocean town with a couple dining options (we grabbed Mexican food from Los Caporales). If you just want to do the beach/sand, park in the Pelican Brewing parking lot for $10 and stay until your heart’s content.
We laid down a blanket near the tide pool and decided we had to stay until low tide (3:59pm). *Note: It’s important to check tide times when along the ocean, especially if you’re wanting to wade safely through tide pools. You can check high and low tide times online at tide-forecast.com.
To kill time, we ran up the sand dune. And when I say “ran”, I mean crawled, er, inched, er, nearly died. The 9-year old booked it and sprinted down like a barefooted bat outta hell – TWICE – but the rest of us peacefully settled in at the halfway point and caught our breath then jogged down at a leisurely pace as to not face plant in front of all the beachgoers. Sand dunes. Not as easy as they once were for this old lady.
At the lowest tide, we wasted no time observing marine life in the tide pools. Wear water shoes since you’ll be walking around sharp clams and rock. The tide pools sit near the base of the sand dune under the sandstone cliffs (lots of warnings about these cliffs – climb with caution if you do).
The tide pools did not disappoint. We saw sea urchins, a starfish, and itty bitty fish. Remember to be respectful in their habitats, but also be careful because tides can change on a dime. There’s a saying I read multiple places around the coastal towns: “Never turn your back to the ocean.” I would take it seriously.
It doesn’t take long for the tide to rise and when it did, we washed our feet and drove the last 30 minutes to our next, and final, lodging spot. The town of Oceanside was even quieter than Pacific City, but our inn was what dreams are made of!
Oceanside Inn was the Airbnb of choice and I would come back here again and again and again. If you can, snag Unit #1. It has a huge window that overlooks the ocean and sits directly alongside the large patio. It is the only lodging with stairs directly down to the beach that I could see along the beach and the inside had three bathrooms, a king size bed, a queen, and a pull-out sofa bed. Our favorite part was the natural light that came in through the ginormous windows that overlook Oceanside Beach.
We dumped our suitcases and sprinted down the long staircase to the beach. If you go left towards the cliff, you’ll see a tunnel entering a cave. We knew Tunnel Beach was nearby, but could this tunnel be the entryway to it? No way? So cool! Sure enough, a short tunnel with unstable footing led us directly onto the neighboring beach. We decided Oceanside Beach was slightly better than Tunnel, but the concept of walking through the base of a giant cliff to get from one side to the other was pretty mind-blowing.
The wind was wicked, so beach time was short, plus kids were hungry. Food options were very minimal on a Sunday night in a tiny coastal town so we took advantage of the Airbnb and hit up the little market down the road. We bought noodles, sauce, garlic toast, fun drinks, and some snacky items and went back to the inn to enjoy a not-so-fancy spaghetti dinner. But dining looked over the ocean and involved wearing pajamas, so I’m not complaining.
Cranked out a couple loads of laundry, watched Happy Gilmore (because it’s all our youngest had quoted the entire trip), and called it a day.
DAY 6
Whales, Short Beach, Cape Meares, Tillamook Factory and Creamery, Rockaway Beach
What we hoped to accomplish by ending the vacation on the coast was the mythical feeling of utter relaxation before heading back home. That was the goal of day six – to drive where the wind took us, stop at whatever beaches called our names, and to find ice cream. Nothing relaxes our crew quite like ice cream.
With all the local cafes closed, I was happy we still had cinnamon rolls left from the Fruit Loop day (I also pocketed a few bagels and PB from the Holiday Inn continental breakfast). But no one even cared about breakfast because we woke up to WHALES!
As I sipped my coffee from the kitchen table, I heard my husband yell, “Whales! I swear that’s a whale!” And sure enough, we saw repeated blows from the horizon line. We ran out to the patio to get a better look and they gave us quite a show. The neighbor ladies let us use their binoculars and I even captured a blow on my old iPhone camera. It was a thrill we will all remember.
Eventually, we made our way to Short Beach – just 3 minutes north of our place. This is also known as “100-Stair Beach” and is considered a “hidden” beach. Once you walk the 132 stairs down (or 119, or 106, depending on whose counting you trust), you’ll see a tall waterfall and a beach that is made up of smooth large rocks. It reminded me of Minnesota’s North Shore beaches (with water just as cold).
We climbed some rocks, played in the sand, and built a raft with wood (my 9-year old really wanted me to mention the raft in my blog post). Was a nice chill spot to throw rocks and breathe in the ocean.
Our next stop was Cape Meares Lighthouse and the Octopus Tree. The fog was heavy and seeing the ocean was impossible (unfortunate, because I’d bet money we could’ve seen seals or puffins and the view is supposed to be incredible) but we made the short trek from the parking lot to the lighthouse in creepy mist and took a few pictures at the shortest lighthouse I’ve ever seen. We popped into the gift shop and declined a free tour, but could’ve done the 12-minute historic lighthouse “tour” if we chose to.
A super short walk up the path was something called the Octopus Tree. This funny-shaped tree is fenced off for protection and has been around for more than 250 years. Snapped a couple photos but the consensus from the kids was, “What the heck?” Maybe we could’ve skipped Cape Meares, but oh well. I bet it’s a lot more worth it when you can see more than ten feet ahead of you.
We packed back into the car and headed in the direction of a sure thing – ice cream! The town of Tillamook is a 25-minute shot from Cape Meares and was one of the bigger towns in the area. You’ll be welcomed with the smell of cow manure, but then you’ll see a little downtown area, some cute cafes, coffee shops, and – if you want a cheesy (in a good way) experience – don’t miss the Tillamook Factory. Tillamook is the cheese brand we all know and love from the grocery stores, and it was actually super rad to see where it’s being made and packaged. The sheer size of the factory blew our minds.
Parking took awhile due to the hefty crowds (even on a Monday), but once we were in, it was decently spaced out. Directly inside, you’ll see a massive gift shop, a dining area, and be sure to head upstairs for the self-guided “tour.” We shopped and bought unnecessary snacks, stood in line for their famous grilled cheese and tomato soup, picked up some deep dish pizza, and then headed upstairs to peek in the factory windows. The kids thought this part would be boring, but it wound up being their favorite part (besides the ice cream, of course). Through giant glass windows, huge blocks of cheese are being cut into the rectangles we buy at the store. You also see how it’s packaged, sealed, inspected, and sent off to wherever cheese goes before it hits our shopping carts. I explained that poorly, but it was interesting and educational.
The icing on the TIllamook cake was the creamery. The line inside the building was pretty long, but if you order from the outside yard you’ll cut your time in half and get the same delicious result. Our family ordered kid size scoops for $4 and they were definitely big enough to satisfy. We couldn’t imagine who could handle the triple scoop but, personally, I would welcome the challenge.
Back up north is a beach called Rockaway Beach which was on our “maybe” list. We figured we had time to kill so headed that direction. We parked for free, but very quickly realized it was too windy to last long (again). The second you leave the beach, the wind subsides so we spent a short time walking the little shopping area. A few Wisconsin-Dells-like stores and an incredibly unkempt Wizard of Oz-themed mini golf course kept us busy for long enough to say the trip to Rockaway was worth it. Sort of.
The journey back to Oceanside took about 40 minutes and, thinking ahead to dinner and knowing none of our cafes would be open again, we swung into Safeway and let the kids choose items from their deli counter. Cheaper than going out and everyone is happy!
Back at the inn, we saw more whales, played some board games, walked Oceanside Beach, and worked on polishing off the groceries that remained in the refrigerator. Another chill night on the coast – which was exactly the goal. Mission. Accomplished.
DAY 7
Washington Park Rose Garden, Cartopia Food Truck Park, Hawthorne District Shopping
The final day has arrived. I got up early to walk the foggy beach alone, collecting sand dollars and my thoughts, surrounded by nothing by beauty and silence. I returned to the inn to three smiling faces, all starting to pack and asking what we are doing on our last day.
Since we were flying out of Portland, it was a clear choice to check out the city before heading home. It’s about a two hour drive from Oceanside but we made a stop at Washington Park just outside of Portland to see the country’s biggest rose garden. This was mom’s choice, can you tell? Parking at the rose garden was only $2, seeing the roses was free, and there was a gift shop, nice restrooms, a snack cart, zoo and a playground. The Japanese Garden was $20 so we passed on that, although I do appreciate a good Japanese Garden.
In Portland, we grabbed a variety of nourishment at a food truck park called Cartopia (PB&J french fries from Potato Champion – trust!) then headed towards Hawthorne Street for some last-minute shopping. Vintage shops, thrift stores, record shops, video game stores, bakeries, and an impromptu purchase of new Nikes was how we ended our vacation. Pretty perfect if you ask me.
20 minutes later we were at the airport checking bags and getting excited to sleep in our own beds again.
“What’s the first thing you’re going to do when you get home, you guys?”
Oldest: “Play tennis. And shave!”
Middle: “Call my friends. And try on my new clothes.”
Baby: “Write down everything we did on this trip so I never forget.”
That last one spoke volumes.
Traveling with kids is getting easier as they get older, but every age presents its own set of challenges. Some of the joy and innocence has dissipated. I have a harder time keeping up with their abilities and interests. But the connection it brings them (or forces upon them) is magical to witness.
Seeing them chase seagulls, drop jaws while whale watching, find vintage gems off clearance racks, conquer a summit, crush rapids, appreciate waterfalls, and be goofy together is more than we could ever hope for. It’s why we do what we do.
And this family trip to Oregon checked all the boxes.
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