The Fairy Tale Road Trip That'll Lead You To Some Of Oregon's Most Magical Places
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Sarah McCosham
Author
Oregon is a magical place to live. From our picture-perfect waterfalls and lush, old-growth forests, to whimsical gardens and castles, there are so many places in The Beaver State that appear to have been plucked straight from the pages of a fairy tale. We’ve put together an Oregon Fairy Tale Road Trip that visits some of the state’s most magical places, for an enchanting experience you won’t soon forget!
Our Oregon Fairy Tale Road Trip clocks in at just 3.5 hours, and covers 158 miles. It can easily be done in a day, and we recommending ending with a late lunch/early dinner at the magical Multnomah Falls Lodge!
It's not everyday you get to hike to a witch's castle! But that's exactly what you'll find in Forest Park, a Portland park that encompasses 5,100 acres and includes old-growth forest, clear creeks, lush greenery, and more than 70 miles of trails. One of those trails leads to the stone ruins of a little house. These ruins are commonly known as the Witch's Castle, and it really feels like something out of a Grimm Brothers fairy tale!
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Portland Japanese Garden really is one of the most beautiful places in Oregon. As a Japanese garden, this space is supposed to evoke a sense of peace, harmony, and tranquility, where visitors can be in absolute awe of nature. That's exactly what you'll do as you traverse the garden's 12 magical acres.
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The next stop on our Oregon Fairytale Road Trip is the Enchanted Forest. Yes -- Oregon has an actual enchanted forest! This Salem gem opened in 1971, and is a whimsical family attraction that's beloved by generations of Oregonians. The Enchanted Forest's attractions are inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Mother Goose, and Grimm Brothers tales, and the park really does have a charmed, fairy tale quality.
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Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is 100 acres of peak Oregon beauty. The farm is best-known for its annual tulip festival, which draws folks from all across the PNW who come to revel in the ROYGBIV resplendence of the flower fields. Wooden Shoe is open year-round, however, and has a wine room and gift shop where visitors can go to bring a piece of the magic home.
There’s just something magical about trees. Being surrounded by a lush forest canopy, the tall, towering giants simultaneously grounding and aspirational. Forests are a place for healing and reflection, and Leach Botanical Garden has long been an urban escape for Portlanders. The park's grounds are the former estate of John and Lilla Leach, devoted botanists who, in the 1930s, built the magical Manor House (pictured) and tended to the eponymous gardens. Most recently, the garden added an aerial tree walk that takes this magical place to a whole new level -- literally!
Oregon is home to some of the most breathtaking, otherworldly wonders, with Columbia River Gorge topping the list. Located off a popular Oregon byway, the Crown Point State Scenic Corridor and Vista House offer the most incredible panoramas of the Columbia River Gorge. The Vista House opened in 1918 as a rest stop for those traveling the scenic highway, and its castle-like architecture and majestic, mountaintop perch are positively magical.
The crown jewel of Oregon, Multnomah Falls is about as magical as it gets. This 620-foot fall will absolutely take your breath away, and at Multnomah Falls Lodge, diners get to sit back and soak up unparalleled views of this natural beauty. You should definitely set up a reservation that corresponds with this final stop on the road trip!
The Beaver State is nothing short of magical, and we hope our Oregon Fairy Tale Road Trip helps you enjoy the enchanting beauty of our state!
As you embark on this magical road trip adventure, we recommend swinging by Voodoo Doughnut for some Bacon Maple Bars and Strawberry Go-Tarts! Because donuts really are the most magical of all breakfast foods.
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Featured Addresses
Witch's Castle, Lower Macleay Trail, Portland, OR 97210, USA
Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205, USA
Enchanted Forest, 8462 Enchanted Way SE, Turner, OR 97392, USA
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm & Vineyard, 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071, USA
Vista House, 40700 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Corbett, OR 97019, USA
Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236, USA
Multnomah Falls Lodge, 53000 Historic Columbia River Hwy, Bridal Veil, OR 97010, USA