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🌲 Oregon – Things to Do
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items A curated list of Oregon places I’ve explored through living here for two years and frequent visits to family. From coastal drives and forests to towns, food spots, and must-see landmarks — this list reflects real experience, not just quick stops.
Sections
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🌊 Oregon Coast & Scenic Drives
🌲 Nature, Forests & Waterfalls
🏙️ Cities, Towns & Walkable Areas
🏛️ History, Landmarks & Museums
🍴 Food, Coffee & Local Favorites
⭐ Worth a Stop (If You’re Nearby)
🌊 Oregon Coast & Scenic Drives
Short walk down to a quieter beach with dramatic coastal views. Not a long stop, but a great place to stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery.
Explore the Unique Tunnel Beach on the Oregon Coast
A Twilight filming location tucked inside Ecola State Park. Gorgeous beach framed by cliffs and forest — even better if you like movie locations.
Quick Guide to Indian Beach, OR
🌲 Nature, Forests & Waterfalls
This spot involves a lot of climbing over slick rocks and uneven terrain. You definitely need to be physically fit and comfortable scrambling. Water shoes are a must.
⚠️ Not recommended for small children due to slippery surfaces, strong current in p...
Lake Creek Rock Slides, Triangle Lake, Oregon
Note:
This park is famous for the Trail of Ten Falls, which is almost a 9-mile hike if you choose to see all the waterfalls. It’s absolutely beautiful but definitely a workout, especially if you do the full loop.
Twilight Note:
Part of Twilight was f...
Silver Falls State Park
Beautiful forested park with coastal hiking and overlooks. Great place for short hikes, views, and geocaching if you’re into that.
Ecola State Park
A short hike leads to the mossy ruins of the historic Stone House tucked into Forest Park. It’s a popular spooky stop with local legend vibes, shaded forest scenery, and a creek crossing nearby. Expect graffiti and uneven ground, but it’s still a fun...
Witch's Castle
🏙️ Cities, Towns & Walkable Areas
Charming, walkable coastal town with shops and galleries. Even in summer it can be cold — layers recommended.
Cannon Beach | Hotels, Restaurants & Things to Do
🏛️ History, Landmarks & Museums
North American Bigfoot Center – Fun, quirky stop with exhibits all about Bigfoot and Pacific Northwest folklore. Small but interesting, with lots of info, displays, and a gift shop. Easy stop if you’re already in the area and especially fun for Bigfo...
North American Bigfoot Center
A weird, fun, and totally quirky stop packed with odd exhibits, optical illusions, and photo ops. Great for quick laughs and unique pictures, especially if you like strange roadside attractions and offbeat museums. Doesn’t take long to visit, but it’...
The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum
A small but fascinating museum that preserves the maritime, river, and community history of Bandon, Oregon. Exhibits include historic photographs, tugboat and ferry artifacts, early signage, and everyday items that tell the story of life along the Co...
Bandon Historical Society Museum
🍴 Food, Coffee & Local Favorites
This is more than just ice cream — it’s a factory tour experience. You can walk through and see how the cheese and dairy products are made, watch the production floor, and learn the history of Tillamook. Easy stop, very well done, and the ice cream a...
Tillamook Creamery
Fun, rustic restaurant stop on the drive back from the coast. Great atmosphere and a solid place to eat after a long day of exploring.
Camp 18
Known for the Twilight table. Fun stop for fans and a nostalgic diner vibe.
Tip: Go early if you want that table.
Carver Cafe
A classic Portland diner tucked up in the West Hills serving hearty comfort food in an old-school, no-frills setting. It’s a great stop after exploring Forest Park or hiking to Witch’s Castle. Don’t skip the milkshakes—they’re thick, creamy, and abso...
Skyline Restaurant
Expect a long line and a very quirky experience. It’s worth doing at least once for the novelty, fun flavors, and iconic Portland vibe, especially if it’s your first visit. That said, the doughnuts themselves are decent but not mind-blowing—more abou...
Voodoo Doughnut
A must-stop seafood spot in Bandon where you can hold a live Dungeness crab before ordering — a fun, memorable experience that kids and adults love. It’s casual, welcoming, and right in the heart of the harbor area, making it a classic Oregon Coast s...
Tony's Crab Shack
⭐ Worth a Stop (If You’re Nearby)
One of Oregon’s oldest fairs, held in McMinnville. A classic small-town fair with rides, food, exhibits, and live music — especially fun if you’re already in the area.
yamhill county fairgrounds
Quick, quirky roadside stop and a fun photo op. Easy to pull off the road, snap a pic, and go. There’s a virtual geocache here too, which makes it a bonus stop for geocachers. Not a long visit, but worth it if you love oddball attractions.
World’s Largest Freestanding Fork
A beautiful and iconic Portland spot with thousands of rose varieties, winding paths, and incredible city views. Peak bloom is late spring through summer, but it’s worth a visit year-round. Easy to wander, very peaceful, and perfect for photos.
International Rose Test Garden
⭐ Must-See Oregon
Iconic Oregon coast landmark and a filming location from The Goonies. Easy photo stop and worth seeing in person at least once.
Haystack Rock
🎢 Attractions & Unique Stops
A whimsical, nostalgic theme park that’s fun for all ages. Great for wandering, photos, and letting your inner kid out for a few hours. Best enjoyed in the morning or on a cooler day.
Enchanted Forest|Oregon|Official Site-https://www.enchantedforest.com
A quirky Portland stop where visitors leave small trolls and toys on a quiet forest bridge. Always changing and fun to look through.
Bonus: Virtual geocache location.
Quick stop, easy walk, great for photos.
Portland Troll Bridge
Iconic Twilight filming location and popular photo op.
Exterior only — quick stop for fans and movie lovers.
Twilight Swan House: Home
A massive wooden troll sculpture tucked into the trees and perfect for photos. Fun, whimsical, and a great stop if you love quirky art and hidden gems. Bonus: there’s a Virtual Geocache (VGC) here, which makes it extra fun for geocachers and scavenge...
Ole Bolle Troll
Explore Portland’s underground tunnels on a guided tour filled with eerie history, legends, and hidden passageways. A unique experience for anyone interested in dark tourism, local lore, and the city’s mysterious past. Not for the faint of heart, but...
Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour
Drive-through wildlife park where you stay in your car while animals roam in large open habitats. It also includes a free walk-through zoo area, making it a great stop for stretching your legs after the drive. Very family-friendly and an easy Souther...
Wildlife Safari
🛍️ Shopping & Local Finds
Hidden inside Powell’s Books, Carpe Librum is a quiet, magical space dedicated to rare, vintage, and collectible books. If you love first editions, antique bindings, or the feeling of stepping into a literary time capsule, this section is a must. I l...
Carpe Librum at Powell's Bookstore, Portland OR