Ever wanted to spend the night in a treehouse, lighthouse, or on a farm? Have you ever dreamed of horseback riding, whale watching, or relaxing in a historic lodge near the summit of a mountain?
With so much to do and see in Oregon, choosing how to spend your weekends can be difficult; how to choose where to go, and what to do?! If you’re looking for a unique, unforgettable weekend trip, but aren’t sure quite where to start, these 8 amazing vacation ideas are sure to get you inspired.
- Stay in a treehouse.
Flickr/Nicolás Boullosa Spend the weekend living in a tree! Out’n’about Treesort is a B&B made up of awesome treehouses in the woods near Cave Junction. They offer great daytime activities like ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, river rafting, and more. To top it off, the treesort is only only 27 miles from the Oregon Caves, where you can tour amazing, ancient marble caves in the Siskiyou Mountains.
- Spend the weekend in a gorgeous lighthouse.
Flickr/ John Fowler Relax for the weekend at Heceta Head Lighthouse, a beautiful working lighthouse that is also a B&B. Enjoy astounding views of the ocean, wander along the cliffs, and savor a delicious 7-course breakfast in the morning.
- Enjoy some time away at Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.
Flickr/ Ben Terrett Take a weekend off to enjoy the beauty of Mt. Hood while staying at the Timberline Lodge. With amazing views of the summit, Timberline Lodge offers lovely, rustic rooms and delicious food, and you’ll have tons of amazing hiking and skiing opportunities right at your doorstep.
- Go whale watching at Depoe Bay.
Flickr/ Pat Kight Whales are seen at Depoe Bay year round, making it a great place to take a whale watching cruise. Or, if you’d rather look for whales from land, the Whale Watching Center is a great resource for finding out about the best lookout spots. Spend the night at one of the great B&Bs or hotels in the area for a well-rounded, relaxing trip.
- Stay on a farm in Cottage Grove.
Flickr/ Sandy Horvath-Dori Spend the weekend in Cottage grove, and try out living on a farm! There are three wonderful farms in the area that host visitors and give you the opportunity to learn new skills while helping out with gardening, wine tasting, learning about organic farming, or riding horses. Top off your weekend by touring the 6 beautiful covered bridges that make Cottage Grove the “Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon”.
- Experience the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.
Flickr/ OCVA The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is well known as one of the homes of Keiko, the orca whale from Free Willy. It’s also an incredible, magical place with a vast array of underwater species to be marveled at. It was also named as one of the “top ten aquariums in North America” by Coastal Living magazine. Take a weekend trip down to Newport to see it for yourself, along with Newport’s other wonderful attractions like Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, amazing state parks, and stay at a beachside hotel or B&B.
- Take a jet boat trip on the Rogue River.
Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington Taking a ride on a jet boat is a perfect way to experience the beautiful, thrilling Rogue River, and makes for a great trip at any age. Jerry’s Rogue Jets offers boat trips that are either 64, 80, or 104 miles long with breaks for meals, or you can opt for an overnight trip and stay at the remote Paradise Lodge, which is only accessible by jet boats, hiking, and rafting. And there’s no need to be nervous: all jet boat operators are Coast Guard certified.
- Experience Crater Lake.
Flickr/ Art Bromage Crater Lake is a must-see for all Oregonians, and everyone who enjoys nature. Crater lake is the 8th deepest lake in the world, sits atop a dead volcano, and makes for a perfect weekend trip. In the Summer you can stay at Crater Lake Lodge, a beautiful 71-room lodge with gorgeous views of the lake. If you don’t want to wait that long, there are many options for camping or renting a hotel or cabin nearby.
So, what do you say? Which of these trips looks best to you? Do you know of any other great Oregon weekend trips you’d like to share? Let us know your stories, ideas, and advice in the comments!
Flickr/Nicolás Boullosa
Spend the weekend living in a tree! Out’n’about Treesort is a B&B made up of awesome treehouses in the woods near Cave Junction. They offer great daytime activities like ziplining, horseback riding, hiking, river rafting, and more. To top it off, the treesort is only only 27 miles from the Oregon Caves, where you can tour amazing, ancient marble caves in the Siskiyou Mountains.
Flickr/ John Fowler
Relax for the weekend at Heceta Head Lighthouse, a beautiful working lighthouse that is also a B&B. Enjoy astounding views of the ocean, wander along the cliffs, and savor a delicious 7-course breakfast in the morning.
Flickr/ Ben Terrett
Take a weekend off to enjoy the beauty of Mt. Hood while staying at the Timberline Lodge. With amazing views of the summit, Timberline Lodge offers lovely, rustic rooms and delicious food, and you’ll have tons of amazing hiking and skiing opportunities right at your doorstep.
Flickr/ Pat Kight
Whales are seen at Depoe Bay year round, making it a great place to take a whale watching cruise. Or, if you’d rather look for whales from land, the Whale Watching Center is a great resource for finding out about the best lookout spots. Spend the night at one of the great B&Bs or hotels in the area for a well-rounded, relaxing trip.
Flickr/ Sandy Horvath-Dori
Spend the weekend in Cottage grove, and try out living on a farm! There are three wonderful farms in the area that host visitors and give you the opportunity to learn new skills while helping out with gardening, wine tasting, learning about organic farming, or riding horses. Top off your weekend by touring the 6 beautiful covered bridges that make Cottage Grove the “Covered Bridge Capital of Oregon”.
Flickr/ OCVA
The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport is well known as one of the homes of Keiko, the orca whale from Free Willy. It’s also an incredible, magical place with a vast array of underwater species to be marveled at. It was also named as one of the “top ten aquariums in North America” by Coastal Living magazine. Take a weekend trip down to Newport to see it for yourself, along with Newport’s other wonderful attractions like Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, amazing state parks, and stay at a beachside hotel or B&B.
Flickr/ Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington
Taking a ride on a jet boat is a perfect way to experience the beautiful, thrilling Rogue River, and makes for a great trip at any age. Jerry’s Rogue Jets offers boat trips that are either 64, 80, or 104 miles long with breaks for meals, or you can opt for an overnight trip and stay at the remote Paradise Lodge, which is only accessible by jet boats, hiking, and rafting. And there’s no need to be nervous: all jet boat operators are Coast Guard certified.
Flickr/ Art Bromage
Crater Lake is a must-see for all Oregonians, and everyone who enjoys nature. Crater lake is the 8th deepest lake in the world, sits atop a dead volcano, and makes for a perfect weekend trip. In the Summer you can stay at Crater Lake Lodge, a beautiful 71-room lodge with gorgeous views of the lake. If you don’t want to wait that long, there are many options for camping or renting a hotel or cabin nearby.
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