VERDICT: We gave 5 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
This guide forms part of our complete USA Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United States.
Day 1: Historic Bridges, Sea Lions & Astoria’s Waterfront ✅
Day 2: Haystack Rock, Puffins & Oregon’s Most Beautiful Beach ✅
Day 3: Shipwrecks, Cheese & Portland’s Weird Side ✅
Day 4: Volcanoes, Forests & The Mountain That Changed America
Day 5: Small-Town Charm, Ferries & The Journey Home
Stop Three — Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint
Leaving Tillamook, we turned west once again, following the Three Capes Scenic Route toward one of Oregon’s lesser-known coastal treasures—Cape Meares.
The winding drive climbed steadily through dense coastal forest before opening to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the roads are narrower and more twisting than Highway 101, the scenery alone makes the detour worthwhile.
Cape Meares has long been an important landmark for ships navigating the notoriously dangerous Oregon coastline. Rugged cliffs, hidden reefs and unpredictable weather have contributed to hundreds of shipwrecks over the past two centuries, earning this stretch of coastline part of its reputation as the “Graveyard of the Pacific.”
Before reaching the lighthouse, however, another attraction caught our attention.
Stop Four — The Famous Octopus Tree
A short walk from the parking area led us through a quiet forest trail to one of Oregon’s most unusual natural attractions.
The Octopus Tree.
At first glance, it almost looks unreal.
Instead of growing with a single central trunk like most Sitka spruce trees, this remarkable specimen divides into numerous massive limbs only a few metres above the ground. The huge branches spread outward in every direction, giving the appearance of an enormous octopus stretching its tentacles toward the sky.
Scientists still aren’t entirely certain why it grew this way.
Some believe powerful coastal winds during its early years altered its growth, while others suggest Indigenous communities may have intentionally shaped the tree centuries ago for ceremonial purposes. Whatever its origin, the Octopus Tree has become one of the most photographed natural landmarks on the Oregon Coast.
Standing beneath its sprawling canopy, it’s easy to understand why visitors are so fascinated by it.
No two angles look the same.
It was certainly unlike any tree we had ever seen.
Worth the Stop? Read the full story
Absolutely.
The walk takes only a few minutes, admission is free, and it’s one of those wonderfully quirky attractions that make road trips memorable.
Stop Five — Cape Meares Lighthouse
Only a short walk beyond the Octopus Tree lies another Oregon icon.
The Cape Meares Lighthouse.
Built in 1890, the lighthouse stands approximately 67 metres (217 feet) above sea level, although the tower itself is only 11 metres (38 feet) tall. Its position high on the cliffs meant it didn’t require a towering structure to project its light far out into the Pacific Ocean.
The original first-order Fresnel lens became famous for producing one of the most distinctive beams anywhere on the West Coast. Mariners relied on its flashing light to help navigate one of North America’s most dangerous stretches of coastline.
Today, visitors can walk down a fairly steep paved pathway to reach the lighthouse. Walking down was easy. Walking back up… Let’s just say it reminded us we probably should have skipped dessert at the Tillamook Creamery!
The effort was more than worthwhile. The panoramic views from the cliffs are simply breathtaking.
On a clear day, waves crash hundreds of feet below while seabirds glide effortlessly along the coastal winds. During migration season, lucky visitors may even spot grey whales travelling offshore.
This was one of those peaceful places where you naturally stop talking for a moment and simply take in the scenery.
The Drive to Portland
By mid-afternoon it was time to leave the coast behind.
We headed east on Oregon Highway 6, a scenic mountain highway that winds through the Tillamook State Forest before connecting with US-26 for the final drive into Portland.
The journey offered an entirely different landscape from the coast.
Towering Douglas fir forests replaced ocean views, rivers followed the highway and the road gradually widened as we approached Oregon’s largest city.
Roughly 90 minutes later, Portland’s skyline appeared on the horizon.
After spending the past several days surrounded by beaches, forests and small coastal towns, arriving in the city provided a welcome change of pace.
Welcome to Portland
Our home for the night was the elegant Hotel Deluxe, located just west of downtown.
After parking in a nearby lot and checking in, we wasted no time heading back outside to explore.
Portland has a reputation for being creative, quirky and proudly different.
Within the first hour, we completely understood why.
Mill Ends Park — The World’s Smallest Park
Our first mission was to find one of Portland’s most unusual attractions.
Mill Ends Park.
We weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Then we spotted it.
In the middle of a traffic island sat…a tiny tree.
That’s it.
This miniature park measures just 61 centimetres (24 inches) in diameter and proudly holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s smallest park.
Created in 1948 by journalist Dick Fagan, the tiny green space has become one of Portland’s most beloved landmarks.
It may be small, but nearly everyone who visits Portland seems determined to photograph it—including us.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park
From Mill Ends Park we wandered toward the Willamette River.
The waterfront immediately felt alive.
Cyclists glided past, joggers enjoyed the sunshine, families relaxed on the grass and pleasure boats cruised up and down the river.
One unexpected highlight was hearing the sound of bagpipes.
A lone piper stood near the waterfront performing traditional Scottish tunes while visitors gathered to listen.
The music drifting across the river created one of those unexpected travel moments that can’t be planned.
Sometimes the smallest surprises become your favourite memories.
The riverside promenade is beautifully maintained and offers spectacular views of Portland’s skyline and many of the city’s famous bridges.
It’s the perfect place to slow down after a busy day of sightseeing.
Voodoo Doughnut
No visit to Portland would be complete without stopping at one of America’s most famous bakeries.
Voodoo Doughnut.
The line moved surprisingly quickly and before long we were inside choosing from dozens of colourful creations.
Andrew selected the Blueberry Cake Doughnut, while I couldn’t resist ordering the famous Voodoo Doll Doughnut complete with raspberry filling and its iconic pretzel stake.
They were every bit as delicious as we’d hoped.
Perhaps a little expensive…
…but definitely part of the Portland experience.
As we stepped outside, another famous landmark stood directly across the street.
The Keep Portland Weird sign.
Locals proudly embrace the city’s independent spirit, and nowhere captures that personality better than this colourful sign, which has become one of Portland’s most photographed locations.
Powell’s City of Books
Then came what would become my favourite stop of the entire day.
Powell’s City of Books.
Calling it a bookstore almost feels unfair.
Covering an entire city block with more than one million new and used books, Powell’s is recognized as the largest independent bookstore in the world.
Visitors receive colour-coded maps simply to help navigate the different rooms.
Every genre imaginable seems to be represented.
Our destination was the Rare Book Room.
Unfortunately, it happened to be closed during our visit.
Even so, wandering through the endless shelves was an experience in itself.
After far more browsing than we had originally planned, we eventually left carrying a couple of new additions to our own library—including Anthony Bourdain’s World Travel, which somehow felt like the perfect souvenir for two people spending their lives exploring new destinations.
If you love books, allow yourself plenty of time here.
An hour disappears remarkably quickly.
One Final Surprise
As we made the long walk back toward Hotel Deluxe, we passed yet another quirky Portland landmark.
Near Harvey Milk Street sits what many locals affectionately describe as one of the world’s smallest buildings.
Like so many places in Portland, it reminds you not to take life too seriously.
The city celebrates its oddities—and visitors love it for exactly that reason.
By the time we returned to our hotel, we had walked several kilometres, sampled world-famous doughnuts, explored one of the world’s greatest bookstores and discovered that Portland’s reputation for being wonderfully weird is entirely deserved.
And the best part?
Tomorrow promised something completely different.
Leaving the city behind, we’d be heading toward one of North America’s most powerful reminders of nature’s incredible force…
Mount St. Helens. Stay tuned for Day 4 of our Pacific Northwest Road Trip.
Top 10 Things to Do In & Around Portland
- Explore Powell’s City of Books – Browse over one million new and used books in the world’s largest independent bookstore.
- Visit Voodoo Doughnut – Try Portland’s famous doughnuts and photograph the iconic shop.
- Walk Tom McCall Waterfront Park – Beautiful river views, festivals, cyclists and excellent walking paths.
- Photograph Mill Ends Park – The Guinness World Record holder as the world’s smallest park.
- Washington Park – Home to the International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Garden and Hoyt Arboretum.
- Portland Saturday Market – One of America’s largest continuously operating arts and crafts markets.
- Lan Su Chinese Garden – A peaceful oasis in the heart of downtown.
- Pittock Mansion – Historic mansion with sweeping panoramic views over Portland and Mount Hood.
- Columbia River Gorge & Multnomah Falls (30–40 minutes away) – One of Oregon’s most spectacular natural attractions.
- Food Cart Pods – Portland’s internationally famous collection of food carts serving cuisine from around the world.
Continue Exploring Oregon
Nearby Attractions
- The Astoria Column
- Haystack Rock
- Cannon Beach
- Cape Meares Lighthouse
- Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Tillamook Creamery – Best Cheddar Cheese!
Planning Your Trip?
Before you go, don’t forget to book the essentials:
- 🏨 Hotels & unique stays
- 🚗 Rental cars
- 🎟️ Top-rated tours & attractions
- 📶 eSIMs for easy connectivity
- 🛡️ Travel insurance
- 🎒 Packing Lists
- 🎒 Travel gear from The Venturio
With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
