Taste of Oregon!

Day 1

Arrive in Portland by 3pm and meet in the airport hotel lobby by 4pm to get checked in to our rooms. We’ll board the van and visit well known places like Powell Books and Pioneer Square on a walking tour of downtown Portland. We will see early and modern Portland showing us an enlightened city rich with artwork, parks, bridges, downtown trains & streetcars, and lovely fountains. Time permitting, we’ll also visit one of the rose gardens – after all Portland is known as the City of Roses! We’ll enjoy a delicious dinner, and of course we can’t miss a visit to Voodoo Donuts! Overnight Portland.

Day 2

After breakfast, we’re heading out on a hike excursion. We’ll pack a picnic lunch and jump into the van to drive 45 minutes to the Historic Columbia River Highway, completed in 1915. We’ll enjoy some of the most photographed scenic vistas in the Gorge such as Vista House and Multnomah Falls before heading to Latourell Falls for a 2 mile loop hike. Gorgeous ferns, tall pines, mossy trees, and of course the beautiful falls will delight us. We may even glimpse some of the native birds of prey such as osprey and bald eagles.  We’ll have a picnic lunch at Latourell Falls. After this, we’re off to the coast! A relaxing drive brings us to Depoe Bay for our two-night stay. The hotel is right on the water to enjoy the wild Oregon coast and restful sunsets. Dinner tonight is at a kitschy new restaurant on main street that offers delightful seafood and vegetarian options. Overnight Depoe Bay.

Day 3

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel restaurant overlooking the ocean, we’ll enjoy a leisurely stroll along the beach right from our hotel. It’s the perfect way to take in the fresh ocean air, stretch our legs, and soak in the rugged beauty of the Oregon coast. We’ll then spend some free time exploring charming Depoe Bay, browsing the local shops, watching the waves crash against the rocky shoreline, or simply relaxing. After lunch, we’ll head out on our whale watching excursion. Known as the “Whale Watching Capital of the Oregon Coast,” Depoe Bay offers incredible opportunities to see resident gray whales as well as migrating whales throughout much of the year. During our one-hour cruise, keep your camera ready for whales, sea birds, and other marine life. Afterward, we’ll return to town before enjoying dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants featuring fresh Oregon seafood and other delicious regional specialties.

Day 4

After breakfast, we’ll head north for one of the highlights of the trip, a Fat Tire Bike Ride on the beach! With wide tires specially designed for sand, these unique bicycles make it easy to cruise along miles of beautiful Oregon coastline. We’ll stop often to photograph the dramatic scenery, tide pools, and sea life while enjoying this unforgettable coastal adventure. Following our ride, we’ll continue to Devil’s Punchbowl and Beverly Beach for a short nature walk and time to explore the shoreline before heading to historic Newport. This working fishing port is filled with unique shops, galleries, and waterfront restaurants where we’ll enjoy lunch. Newport is famous as the Dungeness Crab Capital, and there are plenty of opportunities to sample the region’s fresh seafood. This afternoon, we’ll make our way inland with a stop in Corvallis to stretch our legs along the scenic River Walk before continuing to historic McMinnville, located in the heart of Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley wine country. After checking into our comfortable accommodations for the next two nights, we’ll explore the charming downtown filled with boutique shops, tasting rooms, and an acclaimed foodie scene before enjoying dinner together at one of our favorite local restaurants. Overnight McMinnville.

Day 5

It’s a leisurely rise today with a late breakfast and the morning free to enjoy this charming community of McMinnville. There is a lovely park located right in the small city and anyone interested can stretch their legs with us in the morning. For our shoppers, sprinkled throughout downtown McMinnville are restored, turn-of-the-century buildings reinvented as unique shops, among other things. We’ll leave for a wine tasting and lunch at one of our favorite wineries. Known for their Pinot Noirs, we’ll enjoy a flight and a nosh amongst their beautiful grounds. There are also hiking trails to enjoy in this area and we’ll partake if we’re so inclined. We’ll head back to town for last minute shopping or more wine tastings, then back to our hotel to freshen up. We’ll enjoy our farewell dinner at another one of our favorite restaurants! Overnight McMinnville.

Day 6

After breakfast, we’ll transfer back to the Portland airport for flights home. This is about a 1.5 hour drive time to return you to the airport. Please book your flight departure time of 12noon or later.

• 5 days/ 5 nights fully guided tour by a Canyon Calling Trip Leader
• All land transportation as outlined in this itinerary
• Hotel accommodations, double occupancy
• All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 6
• All activities and excursions, entrance fees and permits
• All activity guide gratuities

• Round-trip transportation to/from Portland, Oregon
• Alcoholic beverages (with the exception of included wine tasting) and other items of a personal nature
• Gratuity to your Trip Leader at the end of the tour