Portland
While living in Portland, Oregon, this was a regular weekend getaway. Just a few hours drive outside the city, this journey is supremely relaxing and packed with jaw-dropping scenery. First of all, a large portion of the drive is right along the Columbia River, which is one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the area, rife with breathtaking views.
I'd suggest making a pit stop at the Cape Horn Overlook along the way. I got really lucky a few times and caught this part of my trip right around sunset/sunrise time. If you can time it accordingly, I'd highly recommend doing so.
After about 3 hours, you'll find yourself deep in the remote forests of Southern Washington, with hardly any cell reception, so remember the way you came in. Chances are you won't be able to load GPS directions for your route back to the city until a bit down the road.
The next stop is Panther Creek Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls I've seen to this day (and I've seen a lot lol). The waterfall has a small parking area and whenever I visited it was not very busy at all. The falls are a short hike (less than a mile) but it does have a moderate decline (meaning you climb back up to your car!) but as long as you're relatively physically fit you'll be fine.
The falls are breathtaking. There is a small wooden viewing area to enjoy them from. The falls are very mossy with the waterfall cascading over this bright green backdrop in a million miniscule streams, creating the incredibly striking visual appearance of these falls.
After enjoying my time there, I'd usually drive down the road from the falls and park to camp at any of the pull-offs along the river in the 10 minute drive leading up the falls. The campsites are free dispersed camping, and many of the spots are right along the river. I don't know about you, but there's something magical about sleeping under the stars with a canopy of trees sheltering me while I listed to the river lull me to sleep. I swear I dream better and wake up more rested.
However, if you're not a big camper, there is the option to drive to tomorrow's destination tonight and get a room there for both nights, but personally, I love having the best of both worlds: camping the first night and staying at the hot spring resort the second.
