elodie fraser author at My Family Travels
Article
The Smallest Oregon Church Has Seats For 12 People And A View That Makes Cathedrals Jealous

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to step inside the smallest church in all of Oregon? Tucked within the sprawling grounds of the Ascension School Camp & Conference...

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Oregon’s Most Surprising Adventure Town Has New Trails National Cycling Events And A Food Scene Coming Out Of Nowhere

Who knew this sleepy Southern Oregon town was hiding so much adrenaline? Just off the interstate, a place once known only as a pit stop for rafters is now exploding with new trails,...

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9 Oregon Diners Where A Full Breakfast Still Costs Under $10 And The Coffee Never Stops Coming

You still have a few places left where a full breakfast does not require a small loan. Nine Oregon diners are keeping the dream alive: eggs, bacon, toast, and bottomless coffee...

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Oregon Has A 1.7-Mile Trail That Ends At A Shipwreck From 1913 Half Buried In The Sand And Still Leaking Rust

Salt spray hits your face. The roar of the Pacific fills your ears. You follow a 1.7-mile trail through coastal forest, the path soft with pine needles and sea air.

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This Oregon Natural Wonder Looks Like The Ocean Is Being Swallowed By A 20 Foot Hole And It’s Wheelchair Accessible

The ocean swells, crashes over a rocky ledge, and then disappears. A twenty foot basalt hole drinks the sea like a giant drain, swallowing wave after wave in a wild, relentless...

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The Only Place In Oregon Where Ocean, Desert, Mountains And Forest Collide In One Unreal View

A single spot where you can see the ocean, the desert, the mountains, and the forest all at once. I stood at the edge of a dry lake bed and turned in a slow circle as my brain...

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This Historic Oregon Inn Looks Like A German Village and Serves Massive Schnitzel

A little slice of Germany tucked into Oregon with half timbered walls and flower boxes blooming under every window. I walked through the door and the sound of accordion music and...

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This Oregon Garden Market Is So Magical You’ll Forget It’s Real Life

A pathway lined with flowering vines leads you past fountains and sculptures and rows of blooming color in every shade. I walked through the entrance and my worries seemed to stay...

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This Oregon Mountain Town is So Remote That Even Most Locals Haven’t Found It Yet

A town so deep in the mountains that you might wonder if the road will ever end. I drove through winding forests that seemed to swallow the pavement behind me like a gentle green...

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This Oregon Coastal Restaurant Has Live Music, Twinkling Lights, And A View Of The Waves

The fog rolls in off the Pacific, and the sound of crashing waves blends with a live guitarist playing somewhere inside a warm, wood-paneled room. Strings of twinkling lights frame...

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This 4.2 Mile Oregon Trail Follows An Abandoned Wagon Route From 1862

Your boots crunch on a path of volcanic ash and sage, the only sound the wind across a high desert plateau. You are walking in the literal footsteps of pioneers.

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10 Oregon Desert Landscapes That Look Like Mars But Are Actually A Short Drive Away

Red rocks and dusty plains stretch to the horizon with a silence that feels almost otherworldly. I parked the car and stepped out onto a landscape that looks more like Mars than...

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The $10 Oregon Breakfast That Comes With So Much Food You’ll Be Full Until Dinner

A ten dollar bill still buys a breakfast that can power you through an entire day of adventures. I sat down at a cozy booth and the waitress poured coffee before I even asked for...

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This Oregon Plant Shop Feels More Like An Award-Winning Art Studio Than A Quick Flower Run

A plant shop where the greenery spills out of vintage pots and ceramic creations that look like museum pieces. I walked through the door and immediately forgot I came here for...

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The Secret Arcade Hidden Under an Oregon Building That Looks Like a Spaceship From 1982

A building shaped like a futuristic dome sits quietly on a hillside with no hint of the treasure buried underneath. I walked down a staircase and suddenly the sounds of beeping...

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This Oregon Restaurant Puts a Griddle on Every Table and Lets You Become the Pancake Chef

A griddle right at your table sizzles and waits for you to pour the first circle of batter. I became the pancake chef for breakfast and the results were messy but completely delicious.

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This Pub Offers The Best Taste of Ireland on The Oregon Coast

A cozy Irish pub on the coast with dark wood and warm lights and the smell of shepherd's pie in the air. I pulled up a stool and the friendly chatter around me sounded like a happy...

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Oregon’s Castle Sits On 1.5 Acres With Only 10 Rooms And A Daily Gourmet Breakfast Included

A little castle tucked away on the coast with only ten rooms and a whole lot of charm. I walked through the front door and felt like I had stepped into a European fairy tale hidden...

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This Homey Oregon Seafood Joint Serves Local Fish, Juicy Burgers, And An Ample Tap List You’ll Love

The smell of the ocean follows you right through the door and into a warm wooden room. I grabbed a booth near the window and watched fishing boats bob in the harbor while deciding...

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This Oregon Lazy River Offers The Ultimate Slow-Motion Adventure Through Lush Tropical Foliage

A lazy river winding through lush greenery where the only thing you need to do is float and breathe. I grabbed a tube and let the warm current carry me slowly while palm fronds...

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The Oregon Berry Farm Where You Pick Your Own Fruit for $5 And Eat as Much as You Want While Picking

A bucket in one hand and a berry in my mouth before the first five minutes had even passed. I wandered through rows of ripe fruit while the sun warmed my shoulders and the sweet...

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The Oregon Boardwalk Trail That Takes You Through a Forest Most People Think is Private Property

A wooden boardwalk leads into a forest that looks like someone's private backyard but is actually meant for everyone. I hesitated at the entrance because the trail disappears into...

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This 5.2 Mile Oregon Hike Takes You Through Old Growth Forest To A Cliff With Views Of Three Headlands

The trail winds through ancient trees whose branches create a canopy that filters sunlight into golden patches. I stepped over roots and mossy rocks while the sound of the ocean...

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10 Oregon Waterfall Hikes Under Two Miles That Pack More Drama Than Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls gets all the attention but sometimes the quieter trails offer even bigger surprises. I have stood at the bottom of famous waterfalls and found myself looking around...

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This Oregon Off-Road Trail Leads To A 1920s Gold Mine Hidden In The Mountains

The trail rattles the car so hard that loose teeth feel even looser afterwards. After a bumpy ride, an old gold mine from the 1920s appears out of nowhere.

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This 5.4-Mile Oregon Trail Crosses A Natural Bridge Of Solid Rock

The river disappears underground and then pops back out like a magic trick. I stood on solid rock while water rushed somewhere beneath my boots completely hidden.

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This Old School Italian Restaurant In Oregon Serves Spaghetti That Locals Call The Best In The State

The door creaked open and I smelled garlic from three blocks away actually. Red checkered tablecloths and old photos cover every single wall in here.

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You Can Watch 200 Gray Whales Feed 20 Feet From Shore At This Oregon Town That Most People Drive Right Past

Two hundred gray whales feeding just twenty feet from the shore sounds like a nature documentary lie. But this little Oregon town delivers that magic on a regular basis without...

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Oregon’s Adults-Only Soaking Pool With A Swim-Up Bar And Endless Relaxation

No kids splashing or screaming cannonballs anywhere near my peaceful soak today. The warm water wrapped around me as I floated toward the little swim up bar.

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This Old School Oregon Fair Is Everything You Love About Classic American Summers

The smell of elephant ears hit me before I even paid for parking today. A teenager screamed on a rickety ride that looked older than my dad honestly.

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This Oregon State Park Will Make You Feel Like You Have Entered A Fantasy Realm

The moment I stepped onto that dusty trail my jaw completely dropped open. Giant rock spires jut out of the ground like some dragon's teeth honestly.

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9 Picturesque Oregon State Parks That Feel Like National Parks Without The Crowds

National parks are wonderful, but the crowds are exhausting. You wait forever just to take one photo. Someone's Bluetooth speaker...

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Slow Down And Wander Through Vibrant Flowers At This Hidden Oregon Coast Garden

The Oregon Coast is known for storms and crashing waves. Not gardens. That is what makes this place such a delightful trick....

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This Minnesota Spot Has Everything You Need for the Perfect Road Trip

A Minnesota stop like this doesn’t just fill your gas tank - it quietly sets you up for the entire road trip ahead. It feels less like a single destination and more like a perfectly...

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This Non-Profit Oregon Craft Thrift Store Is A Must-Visit Treasure Trove For Local Artists

This Oregon thrift shop isn’t just a place to browse - it feels like a rotating gallery of creativity. I walk in and immediately notice it’s less “store” and more “artist...

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These 10 Oregon Day Trips Are Big On Beauty And Easy On The Budget

You do not need a fat wallet to have a big adventure. That is a lie the travel industry sells you. The truth is much better....

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The Oregon Coast Stop Where Albacore Tuna Gets Lightly Coated And Fried Into The Best Fish And Chips

A fish and chips stand inside a converted fishing boat. Already weird. Then they tell you they only use albacore tuna, not...

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A Haunted 1902 Victorian House In Oregon Serves Dessert And Coffee After Dark

Dessert after dark sounds romantic until the floor creaks behind you. There is a Victorian house that figured out the perfect business model.

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We Drove 3 Hours From Portland For This Buffet And We Would Do It Again Tomorrow

Three hours in the car for a buffet. That sounds crazy until you have tasted the food. Oregon has a spot in Medford that turns...

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This Tiny Minnesota Dairy Farm Sells Cheese So Fresh, It’s Still Warm When You Buy It

Warm cheese. Not melted cheese, but cheese that is literally still warm because it was made a few hours ago. Minnesota has a...

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The Stunning 2.8-Mile Minnesota Hike That Takes You to Two Jaw-Dropping Waterfalls

A short hike that delivers not one but two waterfalls. That is efficiency and beauty all in one package. Minnesota's north shore...

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This Oregon Burger Spot Is Famous For Cheeseburgers That Keep Hungry People Coming Back

The name says five stars, and the locals say that is about right. Oregon has a burger spot where the cheeseburger is simple, honest, and completely addictive.

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The Best Homemade Breakfast in Oregon Is Hiding in This Humble Small-Town Diner

The sign is faded and the parking lot is gravel, but the line stretches out the door every single morning. That is how you know something good is happening inside.

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This 1800s Chinese Apothecary in Oregon Is a Perfectly Preserved Time Capsule

Stepping through the door feels like traveling back more than a century. The air smells old in the best possible way. Oregon...

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This Oregon Roadside Art Stop Turns Tree Burls Into Whimsical Fairytale-Like Creations

Oregon has a strange and wonderful habit of hiding art in the most unexpected places. This roadside stop is proof of that. Tree...

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This Tiny Oregon Island Is Only Accessible By A Pedestrian Footbridge And Feels Worlds Away

You cross a small footbridge and suddenly everything changes. The noise from the road just disappears. It is that fast. This...

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This Oregon Flea Market Is the Oldest and Largest in the State With Hundreds of Unique Finds

An Oregon flea market like this doesn’t just open - it unfolds. The oldest and largest in the state stretches across rows and rows of booths.

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The Remote High Desert Outpost Where Spanish Sheep Herders Left Their Mark

Out in Oregon’s high desert, the landscape stretches wide and quiet. This remote outpost holds marks that most people would walk right past.

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This Enchanting Oregon Tea Room Is Actually A Real-Life Fairy Tale For Pastry Lovers

You half expect a woodland creature to pull out your chair. The moment you step inside, everything feels smaller, sweeter, and more deliberate.

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This Wild Oregon Attraction Is Full of Weird, Wacky, and Totally Unbelievable Finds

A wild Oregon attraction like this doesn’t really ease you in - it just drops you straight into weird, wacky, and completely unexpected territory. Every corner feels like a different...

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10 Cheap Must-Try Spots During Oregon’s Portland Pizza Week

Portland Pizza Week turns the whole city into a low-key treasure hunt for slices that hit way above their price tag. For a limited time, spots across Oregon’s pizza scene drop...

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Experience Oregon’s Richest Native American Heritage Site as a Journey Into the High Desert

Wide-open desert, big sky energy, and stories etched into the land - this Oregon heritage site hits different the moment you arrive. It’s not just a visit, it’s a full-on journey...

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Discover The Best Hand-Pressed Tortillas Hiding Inside This Oregon Gas Station

A gas station in Oregon doesn’t look like the kind of place you’d plan a food stop around, but this one flips that expectation instantly. Tucked inside is a small counter quietly...

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This Massive Oregon Thrift Store Is So Big You Could Easily Spend All Day Exploring It

Aisles stretch like they were designed to test your stamina, and somehow every turn hides another “wait… what is that?” moment. This massive Oregon thrift store isn’t just...

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This Massive Minnesota Bookstore Has Thousands of Titles at Surprisingly Low Prices

A massive Minnesota bookstore opens up like a paper labyrinth, packed wall to wall with stories waiting to be picked up and taken home. Thousands of titles stretch across shelves...

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This Iconic Oregon Coast Spot Has Been Serving Classic Seafood Since 1963

A salty breeze rolls in from the Pacific, and it hits you before you even spot the building. This iconic Oregon Coast spot has been quietly doing one thing right since 1963 - serving...

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This Oregon Food Cart Pod Channels Yacht Club Vibes With Rotating Taps and a Laid-Back Atmosphere

A cluster of food carts in Oregon somehow pulls off yacht club energy without a single yacht in sight. The moment you arrive,...

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This Picturesque Little Café in Minnesota Is Famous for Its Homemade Pies Known Around the World

A tiny Minnesota café sits quietly on the corner, but don’t let the size fool you - this place has a global reputation baked right into its pie crust.

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This Oregon Home Was a Key Filming Location in a Famous Vampire Film

At first glance, it looks like just another quiet Oregon home tucked away from everything. But then you find out it once played a key role in a pretty famous vampire film, and...

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Historic Ruin in Oregon That Belong on Your Bucket List

This Oregon ruin doesn’t need a full building to leave an impression. I arrive and what’s left standing feels like a quiet outline of something that used to matter a lot more...

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