We drove into the gorge on Historic Hwy 30 (Google maps wanted us to take the freeway but we were told Historic 30 was the more scenic route). The river is intense from the moment you drop in and leaves you perfectly satisfiedenough thrill to keep your blood pumping, but a dab of leisure and a little sightseeing and history (corny jokes) from your guide. Gorgeous time to spend near Mount Hood. The Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site is a small state park site that was once the grocery store, medical office, and home of two Chinese immigrants, Ing "Doc" Hay and Lung On, who came to Oregon in 1888. It was so nice to have all of our meals prepared for us -- fajitas, pasta, pancakes, deli sandwiches -- everything was delicious! The Service was Great Tamara our server kept checking in on us. See time and distance between places, and optimize your route to get the most of your day. I can see how this place would be very busy on the weekends when more events take place on the grounds. We continue to enjoy going to 14 Hands each time we visit our family in the Tri-Cities so that we may select a few more bottles to bring back home to Napa where we live we especially love their Cabernet Sauvignon! What a treat! The Lewis and Clark wing has an exhibit on animals the corps had to kill (including 190 dogs and a ferret); there's also a bird of prey educational program every day at 11am and 2pm, featuring live raptors. In the small town of John Day on Highway 26 is one of the most unexpected and interesting things to do between Boise and Portland. I've been to a few museums over the course of my life, but this is definitely one of my favorites. The Pacific Crest Trail also goes through the area, so if youve always wanted to hike part of it, this is your chance. What really made this trip incredible was our amazing guide, Amparo "AJ". No one in there for the 2 hours I was downstairs. The amazing woman in the gift center worked with us when we realized it was much bigger. Our group was so impressed by our River Drifters rafting trip on the Rogue River. The Romania folks costumes are impressive. Wheelchair handicap accessible. Hills friend Loe Fuller purchased many pieces from France, including over 80 works by August Rodin and an art nouveau glass collection. Thank you Casey for being a fantastic guide. The old fighter planes, the folks in period dress and the knowledgeable announcers made the day complete. I will drive to Oregon for a while (overnight). Stops and things to do on Portland to Boise drive or road trip - Wanderlog We had a great time on the zip line course. I expected it to be a small area we could easily get through. Click here to browse more Pendleton hotels! The photos they took of the group turned out great too. The room was very clean and cozy, the bed was comfortable, and the staff were all so very kind, warm, and welcoming. Below you'll find links to all the road trips we've assembled for Boise. There are plenty! 11:00 am start in Boise. Crazy beautiful snowy hike to a frozen lake dream land! If you're driving through during the dinner hour, Brian's Poorhouse and Celilo are sit down options with good wine lists. Many items in the gift shop. For more experienced rafters, the nearby north fork is apparently a nonstop class V rodeo ride from start to finish. Came two months ago at the coldest time of the month! The event first started over a hundred years ago, and since the beginning, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have participated. There is a parking lot at the entrance and there is so much to see in the area. Upon arrival, the guides help us select the gear that we wanted to wear (wet suits, dry wear, etc.). Great selection of sculptures, paintings, other visual art, and even interactive exhibits such as a wall where you can draw your own painting and place it with those of other patrons'. day 1 driving 6 hours. If you stay in Hood River on Day 4, you can take OR-35 south towards Mount Hood and perhaps detour to see Oregon's most famous volcano this morning. The Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site is a small state park site that was once the grocery store, medical office, and home of two Chinese immigrants, Ing Doc Hay and Lung On, who came to Oregon in 1888. The old fighter planes, the folks in period dress and the knowledgeable announcers made the day complete. It depends on when you visit! Soaking pools were amazing! There is also an interpretive center down the street where tours meet with more exhibits. Midday, all the guides stopped at a central location and made everyone lunch. Total drive time: 2-ish hours, plus lots of stops. They did such an amazing job covering the history of the area. Friendly staff. My family and I absolutely loved this place! The tour includes a drive along the oldest scenic highway in the country, complete with stops at various panoramic viewpoints, including the famous Bonneville Dam Sturgeon viewing center. Our guide MEGAN was amazing and I recommend that you ask for her!!! Parks. Highly recommended! Wow, an incredible museum in Baker City Oregon. I could not recommend this business more! Where to stay in the Columbia River Gorge: I recommend staying in either Hood River or The Dalles, both located towards the far end of the Columbia River Gorge from Portland. Traffic getting out of Portland to the Columbia Gorge can be very crowded, especially at rush hour and on weekends and when city dwellers head out for adventures. There's even hiking. Worth it! $7.00 Get inspired for your trip to Boise with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Just to be treated like a winner. I found a lot of lovely pictures to admire and had an excellent time walking around and trying to soak everything in. We had a great lunch, complete with appetizers (prepared by our guides), stops for photos and river jumping, and another entertaining bus ride (with drink service) back to the Cascade office. Every single employee I came across here was friendly and helpful. 6:14 pm Boise. You of course can spend the night here if youre planning on actually using the mountain for skiing or snowboarding (be sure to make reservations in advance), but we were just observers for the day. This is a company that has been in the business a long time and definitely knows what they are doing. In the end, I'm posting this here by saying that every photo with a combination of mountain, stone, water, family is worth sharing The cost for a room is nothing if your having a good time and you have accommodation. We made plenty of stops to explore and enjoy what the Deschutes has to offer. I had an amazing time white water rafting with my family. I visited for the Kilroy Coffee event and had the wonderful and fleeting opportunity to meet and listen to several WWII veterans share their stories. Very beautiful park!! If youve ever played the old video game Oregon Trail, nows your chance to experience the last part of that route in real life. Resteraunt has a nice menu. Basic gaming floor with slots, poker & table games, also offering a buffet, deli & espresso bar. A wide gambit of art pieces & history. Thank you Paris for being such an AMAZING guide! So peaceful . In the end, I'm posting this here by saying that every photo with a combination of mountain, stone, water, family is worth sharing Most importantly our guides Lori and Kelly were simply outstanding. Prior to the excursion, Cascade kept in touch through frequent emails letting us know what to expect and how to prepare. Local history. But the experience was money well spent. Ben was an amazing guide and glad we got him and his 25yrs of running the river experience and history of the area. Unfortunately you can no longer get off the train to shop. If youre going on a road trip from Boise to Portland, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way with Hood River and $Walla Walla and top places to visit like Warhawk Air Museum and National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, or the ever-popular Cascade Raft & Kayak. Willing to talk, or leave you alone, depending on which you want. Click here to see their availability, Oxford Suites Boise If youre looking for a solid, mid-range hotel, this is a great option. We've decided to make it an annual tradition! The food was excellent and cooked properly. There's a small parking lot near the gorge but the entrance and gorge itself is fenced off. You may want to plan to stop at some of the more off-the-beaten path areas of the gorge. Hood for our anniversary. For more information, see our privacy policy. Took my wife to Mt. 197-ft. tall dam opened in 1937, offering a pedestrian park area with views of the gushing spillway. Volunteer Chuck was very informative and kept the students very in gaged during his presentations at all the exhibits! stay overnight and leave the next day around 9:00 am. General attitude of employees working here seem very moody and rude. Picked up an affordable blanket for our bed from the back bargain room. Kate Stewart is a writer for The World Was Here First. Such an awesome place! We saw a safe that had thousands of discs, each representing a veteran. Gorgeous trees and views. We spent about 1.5 hours but could have spent more. What really made this trip incredible was our amazing guide, Amparo "AJ". The Portland to Boise drive time on this route will be six and half hours without stopping, but you should probably plan to stop overnight somewhere halfway if you plan to make several stops and explore. Historic charm mixed with modern furniture. Then we saw such neat places and had such different experiences that when we look back, my wife said that it was like a municipal cultural park here, next to the others. The bed was way stiff for our liking and there was a wedding that had music shaking the building until 10. Our guide MEGAN was amazing and I recommend that you ask for her!!! Still recommend seeing it to take in the damage that was done and the time it takes for nature to recover. Thank you for restoring our confidence in this store with your professional and personable approach after the two-year fiasco. Located in central Boise, they have a number of clean and comfortable rooms available, free parking and a swimming pool and fitness centre on site. drive for about 1.5 hours. Some highlights you wont want to miss are Multnomah Falls and Vista House, and for some short hikes, try Bridal Falls or Loutrell Falls. Wow, an incredible museum in Baker City Oregon. It was a hot Pandemic July and we wanted to get away. Best Things To See Between Twin Falls & Boise: Best - ROAD TRIP USA Click here to browse more hotels in Portland! Another great way to stretch your legs is to look out for kite . Definitely one of the best parks in Tri-Cities! People love visiting Hood River and Walla Walla, among others. Then we saw such neat places and had such different experiences that when we look back, my wife said that it was like a municipal cultural park here, next to the others. It showed plates of cookies, everyone holding endless mugs of coco, robust and luxurious decor, a beautiful, sparkling bust Christmas town, and this sense of magic. What a great collection of WWII memorabilia and aircraft! So peaceful . Lots of family entertainmentswimming, bowling, movies. Basic gaming floor with slots, poker & table games, also offering a buffet, deli & espresso bar. Many hands and plays observed over the weekend raised RED FLAGS. vacation. I also met with many other veterans that served our great nation. The Sam Hill video is a must at the very start so you will understand the whole vibe around this place. Highly recommend for family, church, or corporate retreat. Restrooms in site. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. From the first time I traveled to Portland Oregon, to visit my Grandmother. Driving from Boise to Portland should take you 7 hrs 6 mins in normal traffic. Driving north out of Boise almost immediately is Lucky Peak State Park and Arrow Rock Reservoir with plenty of water sports and relaxing beaches. 10 Best Stops on a Portland to Boise Drive - The World Was Here First I would suggest planning on 2 hours and it's worth the time. Fun gaming (love that it is still a non-smoking facility). The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. Once the gorge opens back up I will be taking full advantage, but for now just go up to the road to Oneonta trailhead. We visited all the historical stuff in the building, hiked around the remaining snow (in July), and got rained on. If you are traveling by air you will need to fly into Boise, rent a car from there, and then drive down the I-84 to Twin Falls. Still, its a fine museum and I highly recommend it. Bathrooms on site, but bring your own tp! at Pendelton is a fun little city Baker city like mentioned and a side trip to. Many hands and plays observed over the weekend raised RED FLAGS. The tour includes a drive along the oldest scenic highway in the country, complete with stops at various panoramic viewpoints, including the famous Bonneville Dam Sturgeon viewing center. If you have never been you really need to experience it up close and personal. The beauty of the river canyon was breathtaking. I think fall is the best time to be up in the mountains. The tunnel next to the trailhead got re-boarded with new wood. I'd highly recommend checking this place out went with my mom and grandma. Still, its a fine museum and I highly recommend it. The gorge trail itself is closed due to fire damage. I'd love to come back here and try axe-throwing, zip-lining, and whatever else we may have missed. Overall, worth every second! Parents can enjoy a coffee and free wifi while kiddos in the 6-and-under set roam the shoeless play area. The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. Very impressive Native American craft collection and well arranged.