If we’re being honest with ourselves, the worst part of traveling…is the actual traveling part. Ensuring your suitcase is under the correct weight, arriving two hours early to get a pat-down from understaffed TSA agents, battling over the middle arm rest with a toddler who is leaking from every hole on their face, your meticulously planned suitcase getting lost, all for you to arrive to your destination and…your e-sim doesn’t work.
The fun part of traveling though? Having a beautiful hotel room, eating at delicious new restaurants, mingling with strangers-turned-friends, strolling through beautiful gardens and engaging museums…yeah, all that good stuff? You can do that at home.
That’s where staycations come in! If you haven’t heard of the term before, a staycation is a vacation, but in your own backyard. For those of you residing in and around Portland, Oregon, I’ve got good news. There’s a lot of options for ya!
But don’t worry, I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite fall staycations in Portland depending on what kind of vibe you’re going for!
For a Relaxing Spa Haven
First and foremost, what the HECK happened in the first 2/3s of this year? 2025 has been an absolute meteorite, and we’re still unsure if it’s going to crash and burn during the last few months of the year. But you know what we can do?
Breathe.
To relax to the max, book a stay at CASCADA, a wellness hotel that is also home to an incredible thermal spa. With their balcony access, natural mattresses, and kitchenette spaces, the rooms give a relaxing home-y vibe that lets you melt into your relaxation without the nagging of your actual home responsibilities. PLUS, there’s a washer and dryer, so feel free to get comfortable.
The other showstopper of CASCADA is their thermal springs. Underground, they have a full circuit of saunas, pools, steam rooms, and cold plunges all in a tranquil environment. Upstairs is their stunning conservatory ample for socializing and even hosts numerous events. They’ve also opened an outdoor spa area to give guests numerous options. Between the fun range of exercise classes and award-winning Terra Mae restaurant, you really don’t even have to leave the building. BUT if you do, Alberta St has some great shopping options like Mister OK’s Essentials, Tumbleweed Boutique, and Make & Mary.
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hotel booking: CASCADA
restaurant reservations: Terra Mae
For a Cozy Art Retreat
Portland is a city for the arts. You simply must indulge. From large concert halls to art museums to more theaters than you can count on your hands, the arts district of downtown Portland can refill your creative cup and then some. Sure, you can pop in for a symphony and then go home on any given night, but why not elevate the experience by turning it into a staycation and soak in artistic electricity the whole weekend?
Book a stay at the historic Heathman Hotel to get your cozy retreat underway. With one of the most unique libraries hosted right in their downstairs space, you can indulge yourself with some of the greatest literary works in modern (and not so modern!) history. The Pacific Northwest is a cauldron for both authors and readers, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself joining an impromptu book club in the lobby. While books are evergreen, the Heathman is especially great in the fall as it is a featured sponsor of the annual Portland Book Fest, so you can be centered in the action come festival time – you might even bump elbows in the elevator with your favorite writers!
If you find yourself too entranced in a book, you don’t have to put it down for dinner. The onsite restaurant, The Tavern, is the perfect blend of New American cuisine with the excellence of Peruvian culinary techniques to be both deliciously memorable and an enticingly exciting preamble to your night’s theater performance.
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hotel booking: Heathman Hotel
restaurant reservations: The Tavern
For a Luxurious Treat
Now if you REALLY want to treat yourself to the upmost luxury, then one of Portland’s newest hotel additions is just the spot for you. The Ritz brand is known globally for its elegance, but The Ritz-Carlton, Portland specifically molds into the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest to marry its luxury to the city’s charm.
The 35 story building hails as Portland’s fifth tallest structure, offering unparalleled and unobstructed views of the magnificent Cascade Range backdropping the city skyline. From the time you drop your car with the friendly valet to the time your head hits the fluffed pillow at night, you know you’re in good hands. The amenities at the Ritz-Carlton Portland are next level with a full service spa, a high-rise infinity pool, and a spacious fitness center. They even have fun packages for children that includes in-room sleeping tents and treats.
The Ritz-Carlton Portland has multiple dining options, one of the most notable being their award-winning fine dining restaurant Bellpine. Bellpine hands down has one of the best tasting menus in the city, but if you don’t want the full monty, they also offer a la carte excellence. You can also snag a table at Meadowrue in the lobby, their Japanese-inspired bar and lounge. Or keep it casual by heading to the Flock food hall to check out great local businesses like Queen Mama’s Kitchen, Prime Tap House, and Birrieria La Plaza.
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hotel booking: The Ritz-Carlton, Portland
restaurant reservations: Bellpine, Meadowrue
For a Budget Adventure
But staycations don’t have to break the bank. A budget-friendly getaway is just as valid, and thankfully Portland also has something to offer in that regard!
Park Lane Suites and Inn is one of the only downtown hotels that also offer free parking with your stay, a MUST for those who want to bring their car for easy convenience or even for the ability to branch out and travel to one of the many accessible hikes in the area. Park Lane covers all the necessities leaving you refreshed and unincumbered to explore Portland like a doe-eyed tourist.
While you’re in the area, you have to check out the world-renowned Portland Japanese Garden, which is especially beautiful in the fall as the Japanese maples color the park with shades of red, orange, and yellow. Try to plan your staycation around the garden’s annual Moonviewing Festival, or O-Tsukimi in Japanese. Since 1990, Portland Japanese Garden has scheduled this beloved annual event to coincide with the harvest moon, which occurs anytime from September to early October.
For hiking enthusiasts, you can also hike through Hoyt Arboretum, learn the local lore at the Witch’s Castle trail, or stroll through animal enclosures at the Oregon Zoo. You’ll definitely work up an appetite, so snag a reservation at one of the nearby restaurants before you head in for the night.
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hotel booking: Park Lane Suites and Inn
restaurant reservations: Dolly Olive, El Gaucho Portland, Colibri, Top Burmese