Hidden Gems on a Road Trip From Idaho to Oregon

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Remember to take the scenic route along Eastern Oregon’s I-84.
Taking the scenic route along Eastern Oregon’s I-84. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

The expansive vistas and non-stop views of Eastern Oregon and West Idaho were an unexpected surprise during a recent solo road trip to the Pacific Northwest United States. When I arrived in Boise with plans to do an outdoor adventure trip in the wilderness of Eastern Oregon, I wasn’t prepared for the beauty of the region.

The direct drive from Boise to Pendelton, Oregon is 222 miles or approximately four hours with no stops. But you will want to make multiple stops. Numerous scenic overlooks dot the I-84 freeway and the charming towns provide unique accommodations, dining and activities. This trip is best experienced as an extended weekend getaway.

Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!

The top stops along the way from Boise to Pendleton (with short detours) are Baker City, National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, La Grande and Pendleton.

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On your way to Boise, check out the historic murals adorn old brick buildings in Baker City.
Historic murals adorn the old brick buildings in Baker City. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Top Stop: Baker City

Two hours northwest of Boise off I-84 is the first suggested stop. Get a taste of history in Baker City which boasts a remarkably preserved and authentic Victorian business district, one of the largest and most intact from the early 1900s on the west coast. The local Main Street program has devotedly revitalized the area, transforming it into a lively downtown district brimming with locally-owned shops, eateries, galleries and artists.

GoWild! Adventures offers a self-guided Baker City Walking & Tasting Tour that you do through your mobile device. It includes food and beverage discounts and tidbits of history. Rather than dry facts and forgettable dates, hear short anecdotes and stories from the past that paint a picture of Baker City during its boom town days of the early 1900’s. Learn about the problematic points and racial tensions that defined Baker’s early history and the immigrants that made the town what it is today. Main street brings back memories of the gold rush and bygone gunfights.

The beautiful Baker City is a stop two hours northwest of Boise.
Baker City, Oregon. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Baker City Highlights

  • A great choice for the foodie traveler looking to broaden their understanding of Eastern Oregon
  • Enjoy exclusive deals at Baker City’s best modern eateries
  • Explore Baker City’s hidden history like a local
  • Learn where myth and history collide

What’s Included in the Walking & Tasting Tour

  • Guided audio, visual, & written historic narration through downtown Baker City integrated GPS map
  • Exclusive deals at at local artisanal food and beverage venues
  • Historic photos and sliding “Present & Past” comparisons
  • Delivered to your mobile device, tablet, or computer

The Baker City Deals

Redeem sweet exclusive deals (per ticket purchased) at these awesome places in downtown Baker City:

  • Copperbelt Wines
  • The Cheese Fairy
  • North 7 Brewing
  • Glacier 45 Distillery
  • Peterson’s Chocolates
  • The Trailhead Bike Shop

Baker City Walking & Tasting Tour Details

Duration: This tour generally takes from 1-2 hours to finish if walking, but you can stop and come back to it anytime. You can also complete the tour from afar or from your hotel room!

Local Discounts: Show each local vendor your tour receipt to receive your discount.

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The Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City at sunset. Photo credit: Dan Sizer

Where to stay: Geiser Grand Hotel. This charming historic landmark stands proudly on Main Street in Historic Baker City with luxurious guest suites and incredible food. Crystal chandeliers, a majestic stained glass ceiling and mahogany columns inspire wonder and romance. While the setting is historic, services are unquestionably state-of-the-art.

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Where to eat: In addition to the stops on the Baker City walking tour above, don’t miss Sweet Wife Baking on Main Street. This fancy bake shop cooks up scratch-made baked goods. Order a specialty cake or stop by for a breakfast bite such as a savory bacon jam empanada. Sweet Wife Baking is open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all week long. Tip: this is a local favorite and a line forms before they open in the morning. Get there early.

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outdoor exhibits along the route to Boise.
Oregon Trail Interpretive Center outdoor exhibits. Photo credit: Baker County Tourism

National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center

The next exit north of Baker City takes you on a scenic and winding drive at the base of Hell’s Canyon Scenic Byway. You can still visibly see the wagon wheel ruts in the hillsides that are marked with the remnants of the early settlers who embarked on the dangerous Oregon Trail to make their way to the Oregon coast. Along this drive is the museum with dioramas, live presentations & interactive exhibits dedicated to the frontier west.

La Grande and the Grande Ronde Farm Loop

La Grande is a charming town with rural roots that run strong but contemporary touches that come with a college town. It lies 44 miles north of Baker City.

Top lodging choices include The Landing bed and breakfast in town and The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs on the outskirts of town. The lodge is a restored 1864 hotel adjacent to a steaming hot lake with soaking tubs. The hot tubs are cooled as the natural hot springs are typically 200 degrees! Day passes to soak are also available.

For dining, breakfast, or lunch recommendation is The Liberty Cafe, which includes fresh breads and produce from local purveyors like Nellie Mae. (Her farmstand is in nearby Cove, Oregon, and is a good back way to get to Baker City when heading south on your return trip to Boise. It’s part of the Grande Ronde Farm Loop which is dotted with local farmstands). Liberty Theatre Cafe serves delicious pastries, breads and desserts made from scratch, with natural local ingredients. To-go lunch options are available. Tip: Pick up a picnic lunch to enjoy on the road.

Outdoor patio at Side A Brewing, La Grande, Oregon for your road trip dinner to Boise.
Outdoor patio at Side A Brewing, La Grande, Oregon. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

For dinner, Side A Brewing is located in the heart of downtown La Grande, Oregon. Side A provides an atmosphere of industrial space within a piece of La Grande history. Set inside the iconic Historic La Grande Firehouse featuring the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum, you can enjoy your dinner and beer and brush up on the history of the building. The menu uses locally sourced foods and features an upscale, creative pub fare. There’s a fine selection of craft brews and all the scrumptious burgers and dirty fries you could ever imagine. Enjoy your beverage inside or out in the quaint back-alley beer garden.

Enjoy salads from local produce on the Grande Ronde Farm when you make a stop from your road trip to Boise
Salads from local produce on the Grande Ronde Farm trail are served at Side A Brewery in La Grande. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Grande Ronde Farm Trail

Meet some farmer at La Grande, while making your way down to Boise.
Local farmer Nella Mae at her stand outside La Grande, Oregon. Photo credit: Lisa Chism


A perfect way to enjoy the scenery and explore some of the abundant farms and ranches that are the heart and soul of the Grande Ronde Valley. This self-guided tour of farms, dairies, ranches, orchards, gardens and self-serve farm stands highlights traditional and modern farming methods. Located between the towns of La Grande, Cove and Union, most farms are available by appointment only.

Linking all of these destinations is the scenic drive on Eastern Oregon’s I-84, which is not your typical interstate numbing experience. Rolling hills with sagebrush and tracks from the Oregon trail are visible.

The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute

Further up I-84 slightly south of Pendelton is The Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, a museum and research institute located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. It is the only Native American museum along the Oregon Trail.  The exhibits here tell the story of the history of the native indigenous people before the Westward expansion of early explorers like Lewis and Clark. Also documented through a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits are clothing and photos showing the effect of the missionaries on the Native American culture and traditional way of life.

Pendleton is well known for its annual rodeo.
Pendleton exudes cowboy charm and is a fun place to walk around. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

Pendleton

Pendleton is most well-known for its annual rodeo. The city is also known for its woolen goods, which the Pendleton Woolen Mills produces.

The Pendleton Underground Tours’ properties are in what was once the red light district of Pendleton during the Prohibition era. The buildings on the tour have been maintained, true to the original state, allowing the visitor to see the sidewalks and basalt-rock tunnels the way they were constructed pre-1890s. This special authenticity adds to their uniqueness, making the tours what they are today. Tip: This is a walking tour that does require stairs. Wear comfortable shoes.

For breakfast and coffee, try the Buckin’ Bean. Great quiche and everything huckleberry here.

For dinner, legendary Hamley’s Steakhouse is the gem in the heart of downtown Pendleton, home to the historic Pendleton Round-Up Rodeo. This is an authentic, memorable western dining experience.

Lodging is somewhat limited in Pendleton, but the retro MotoLodge has a fun vibe reminiscent of childhood trips. It’s been newly renovated and offers a complimentary adult beverage upon check-in.

The Deadman’s Pass Viewpoint which is right outside Pendleton and offers an overlook where you can see for miles.
Deadman’s Pass Viewpoint is right outside Pendleton and offers an overlook where you can see for miles. Photo credit: Lisa Chism

The best time to visit Pendleton, depends on your preferences. If you’re a rodeo fan, the best time to visit is during the Pendleton Round-Up, which takes place in September. The weather is also pleasant during this time, with temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to the mid-60s.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you want an Oregon souvenir, there is a large shop across from the Pendleton Round-Up rodeo yard.

Rest stops on Highway I-84, from Pendleton back to Boise (because everyone needs bathroom breaks on road trips!). Plus, it gives you a chance to look around even more. I-84 is flanked by impressive high ridges that go from forest to dry desert to rock throughout the drive. Make sure you check road conditions to double check the weather, as winters can be especially harsh in this area.

  • Exit 228 – Pendleton
  • Exit 252 – La Grande
  • Mile Marker 269 – La Grande
  • Mile Marker 295 – Baker City
  • Exit 335 – Huntington
  • Exit 374 – Ontario
  • Mile Marker 377 – Ontario

Oregon’s Northeast corner has many faces. Most think of the extreme landscape—tall mountains, deep canyons, fast rivers and broad, flat valleys. In between, visit mixed forests, lush farmlands and rocky hills covered with sage and bunchgrass. Lively, art-centric towns such as La Grande, Pendleton and Baker City draw culture-seeking tourists as well as those looking for fun at a slower pace, with a view. Native American heritage is an important part of this landscape. Winter, summer and months in between, outdoor recreation is everywhere you turn. Farm trails and plenty of homegrown foods and flavors abound.

Lisa Chism is a culinary and travel journalist with experience covering hotels, restaurants and destinations worldwide. She has previously served as head of PR for companies in health care, fitness, telecom and government. Her experience as a travel writer encompasses everything from solo outdoor adventure travel to family-friendly trips.
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