15 Things to Love About Oregon for Travel Nurses
By E’Louise Ondash, RN, health & travel writer
So, you are considering travel nursing jobs in Oregon. Before you go, there are a couple of things you need to know—plus several things you’ll want to know.
First, the correct pronunciation of the river (Willamette) that runs through Portland, Salem and Eugene is Will-AM-it, not Will-a-MET. Say it incorrectly and be immediately pegged as an outsider. Also, the Independent Film Channel’s “Portlandia” is not that far off.
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Oregonians worship their outdoors, environmental causes, bicycles, local/organic produce, free-range meat, vegan food, home-grown music, and that fact that the price you see is the price you pay (no sales tax – woohoo!).
The state is not part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, but your travel nurse recruiter can help you navigate getting your nursing license in Oregon.
Want to experience the best of Oregon? Check out these not-to-be-missed places to see, eat and kick back during your travel nursing assignment in The Beaver State.
5 top places to see in Oregon
• Quirky Portland – Check out the Vacuum Cleaner Museum and the chocolate waterfall at The Candy Basket. Eat a scorpion at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and get your photo taken under the “Keep Portland Weird” sign (at SW 3rd Avenue between Burnside and Ankeny). To complete the day, slide into the Kennedy School Soaking Pool at the historic elementary-school-turned-hotel in northeast Portland. Many elements of the old school have been preserved, which allows you to feel naughty by having a beer at the bar in a former classroom.
• Multnomah Falls – This spectacular 611-foot-high waterfall is only a 40-minute drive east from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge. Remain on the Historic Columbia River Highway for gorgeous views and interesting stops like the Bonneville Dam and Horsetail Falls.
• Cannon Beach – This piece of iconic Oregon Coast is only 90 minutes from Portland and features the famous and photogenic Haystack Rock.
• Mount Hood – Just 50 miles southeast of Portland, this stunning mountain is considered the Oregon volcano most likely to erupt, so see this landmark before it does.
• Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm – Features 40 acres of brilliant colors between March 24 and April 30 in Woodburn (45 minutes from Portland; 30 minutes from Salem). Bonus: Nearby Wooden Shoe Winery.
5 top places to eat in Oregon
• Portland has been dubbed a “culinary mecca” and “the best damn food town in the country” because residents are generally willing to try anything and there is something for everyone. Confirm this by checking in on the weekend brunch at the Bad Habit Room where popular items include homemade pop tarts; Korean Breakfast (ginger-glazed pork, house kimchi and egg); the frittata (broccoli rabe, caramelized onion, quinoa and goat cheese); and several variations of eggs benedict that will have you checking your lipid levels.
• Throw caution to the wind (again) at Voodoo Donuts in Portland’s Old Town. Choose from confectionary creations such as Diablos Rex, Mango Tango, Voodoo Doll, Memphis Mafia and some donuts with names we can’t mention.
• Portland was also voted Best Vegan-Friendly City for 2016 by PETA because vegan restaurants abound. Three musts: The Sudra, Harvest at the Bindery, and Back to Eden Bakery. The latter specializes in gluten-free and allergy-free goodies.
• Mexico may be 1,100 miles south, but locals say La Fondita in Salem serves up south-of-the-border fare that couldn’t be more authentic. Best tacos ever, and for a real treat, the Mole Oaxaqueno, chicken smothered in spicy mole sauce.
• In Eugene, Sammitchfood trucks get the locals’ rave reviews. The trucks serve up meal-sized, piled-high sandwiches that will appeal to meat-eaters, vegans, vegetarians and the gluten-free crowd. The trucks are works of art, too. Check the locations and schedule.
5 top places to unwind in Oregon
• Perfect Portland pastimes – Start your day with a visit to the ginormous Powell’s City of Books (take the store map; you’ll need it). Move on to the (free) International Rose Test Garden (best April through October; June is peak) where you’ll see 7,000 rose bushes in bloom, some that haven’t appeared on the market yet. If you prefer, there is the much-acclaimed Japanese Garden with pagodas, bridges and a lovely tea house.
• In Salem, Minto-Brown Island Park offers 19 miles of trails for walkers and bicyclists along the Willamette River. Attention birders: Lots for you to see, too. The park also is good for fishing.
• Located in Eugene, Hayward Field is a stadium-mecca for track-and-field enthusiasts. It has played host to many Olympic Trials and the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Also in Eugene (April through November) is the Saturday Market, the granddaddy of weekly outdoor arts and crafts venues. Every item must be handmade and sold by the artist. Includes artisanal foods.
• The 400-mile Oregon coast and historic Highway 101 is but a 90-minute drive from Portland, Salem or Eugene and is as beautiful as the postcards. Visit picturesque small towns, eateries with personality and spectacularly rugged scenery. Go off-season to avoid summer crowds.
• Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in the country and perhaps the most pristine in the world. It also is take-your-breath-away beautiful. Weather can be iffy, though, so check the forecast and webcam on the park’s website.
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