Oregon Reviews
Restaurants, lodging, outdoor experiences, and memorable stops from our May–June 2025 Oregon road trip. Every review reflects our own firsthand experience.
A note about these reviews: We visited Oregon in May–June 2025. Businesses, ownership, menus, prices, operating hours, and visitor access may have changed since our trip. These reviews reflect what we personally experienced at the time, so we recommend checking current information before visiting.
Looking for the bigger picture? Visit our Oregon destination page for stories about our home base near Powell Butte, exploring Central Oregon, Crater Lake, volcanic landscapes, and the discoveries we made along the way.
🏡 Lodging
🟢 Our Powell Butte Rental
Our home base for the week, with Cascade Mountain views and a quieter setting away from Bend. We'll build this review around the actual property, amenities, value, and what it was like staying there.
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🍽️ Dining
🟢 High Camp Taphouse
Our standout meal of the trip. Exceptional dumplings, samosas, bao, and drunken noodles, plus a memorable conversation with the owner.
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🟢 The Original Pancake House, Redmond
An excellent breakfast with plenty of pancake choices and a military discount during our visit.
🟢 La Frontera Bakery
Three delicious pastries for just $6. Friendly service and exceptional value.
🟢 Top Burmese Burma Joy
A satisfying final lunch with spring rolls, samosas, and roasted garlic chicken noodles before heading to the airport.
🟡 Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats
Good food overall, but a couple of dishes didn't quite meet expectations. A popular restaurant where reservations were worthwhile.
🟢 Christie's Kitchen (Closed)
A memorable breakfast and excellent pie. Included as part of our trip memories, but clearly marked as no longer operating.
🥾 Experiences
🟢 Lava River Cave
A mile underground in approximately 45-degree temperatures. Our $9 visit, including the flashlight rental, was one of the week's best values.
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🟢 Crater Lake National Park
Brilliant blue water, snow-covered crater walls, and spectacular late-spring scenery. An unforgettable visit, with seasonal access considerations.
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⭐ Also Worth a Stop
🟢 Smith Rock State Park
Dramatic rock formations and memorable scenery. We'll add your firsthand impressions before deciding whether this deserves its own full review.
🟢 Benham Falls & Deschutes River
A beautiful waterfall and an enjoyable stop along the river.
🟢 Lava Lands Visitor Center & Lava Butte
Ancient lava flows, sparse vegetation, sweeping Cascade views, and an easy quarter-mile walk around the rim.
🟢 Multnomah Falls
An impressive Columbia River Gorge waterfall, with a useful parking lesson from our visit.
🟢 Horsetail Falls
A quick roadside stop to admire the waterfall and stretch our legs on the way to Portland.
🟢 International Rose Test Garden
A free and unexpectedly rewarding stop, with roses in bloom and much more to explore than our available hour allowed.