Romantic Oregon

Many of us only take one truly "romantic" vacation in our lives and that is to celebrate our marriage by going on a honeymoon. Over the years, however, my husband and I have found ways of injecting romantic moments into otherwise boisterous holidays and trips. What are the elements of a vacation that make it romantic? Somehow beaches, Italian or French cooking, chocolate, solitary picnics, wine for two, sunset views, and beautiful music all add to the equation. "The Best Places to Kiss in the Northwest" is billed as a Romantic Travel Guide. And indeed, my husband and I have enjoyed some of them ourselves. In consideration of the upcoming Valentine's Day, here are some of our favorite Oregon elements that made for particularly romantic moments in the last twenty-five years:

Place

Oregon Coast

There's something about the vast expanse of sandy coastline that lends itself to the romantic. We spent half of our honeymoon in Newport. It's a small town that has gotten a lot of press in the last ten years or so because of its Oregon Coast Museum. We enjoyed our ability to walk on the beach and be in our own world. Even when the beach is busy, you can find a spot for yourself.

Astoria is on the Northwest tip of Oregon. The bridge from Astoria to Washington is one of the longest suspension bridges in America. This last summer we drove to Astoria on our way to the International Kite Festival in Long Beach, Washington. We knew it would be easier to find something to eat away from the crowds, so decided to stop in Astoria before going on. We drove through a couple of times, getting the lay of the land, and on our last pass, saw the perfect spot. An old boat was "parked" in empty lot. It had been turned into a fish and chips restaurant. The man with the boat, made the fish and chips one order at a time, and the line was always about a dozen people long. He only made fish and chips. No oysters, no chowder, but he hand cut the fish, dipped it in a batter and fried it. It was fresher than any fish I've eaten and I eat a lot of fish. It was a classic romantic moment - we sat in the car eating fish wrapped in paper.

Portland International Rose Test Garden

No smell is more romantic than roses and the heady perfume

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