Portland, Hillsboro, and Cannon Beach Getaway

Arrival and a breather

• 12:00–1:15 p.m. — Portland International Airport to Hampton Inn & Suites Portland/Hillsboro-Evergreen Park: After landing, collect your bags and rental car, then drive west to the hotel. Allow about 45–75 minutes for the pickup, traffic and drive; check-in timing may depend on room availability, so leave bags and take a breather if the room isn’t ready.
• 2:15–3:15 p.m. — Orenco Woods Nature Park: Head to this quiet Hillsboro park for an easy loop along its trails and boardwalks. It’s free and a nice low-effort way to stretch after traveling; go while there’s plenty of daylight, as trails are less pleasant after dusk.

Easy neighborhood evening

• 3:30–4:15 p.m. — Orenco Station: Drive a few minutes to this compact, walkable neighborhood. Browse around Orenco Station and grab a coffee or snack if you like; shops and cafés vary in hours, so treat this as a relaxed wander rather than a planned shopping stop.
• 4:45–6:30 p.m. — McMenamins Cornelius Pass Roadhouse: Drive roughly 15–25 minutes north for dinner in a historic farmhouse setting. Budget about $20–35 per person before drinks and tip; check current restaurant hours and consider booking ahead, especially if you’d like a particular seating time. Head back to the hotel afterward and call it an early night before tomorrow’s coast drive.

Morning

• 7:30–9:30 a.m. — Drive from Hillsboro to Cannon Beach: Take US-26 W and allow extra time for traffic and parking. Bring a warm, waterproof layer; the coast can be breezy and wet even when it’s mild inland.
• 9:30–11:00 a.m. — Ecola State Park: Enjoy the forested viewpoints and coastal scenery. Check current road access and any day-use fee before leaving; fog or rain can limit views, and park roads may be affected by conditions.

Midday and afternoon

• 11:15 a.m.–12:30 p.m. — Haystack Rock: Walk the beach and look for tide pools if the tide is suitable. Check tide times beforehand, watch for sneaker waves, and keep your distance from wildlife.
• 12:40–1:20 p.m. — Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters: Take a coffee and light bite downtown; budget about $5–15 per person. Check the day’s hours before heading over.
• 1:20–2:30 p.m. — Cannon Beach downtown and galleries: Browse the shops and galleries around Hemlock Street, then leave some unstructured time to wander or warm up between stops.

Evening

• 4:30–6:00 p.m. — Wayfarer Restaurant & Lounge: Settle in for seafood near the beach and ocean views; expect roughly $25–45 per person, before drinks and tip. This is the day’s biggest meal expense, so a lighter order can help keep the overall trip budget in check.
• 6:00–8:00 p.m. — Drive back to Hillsboro: Allow about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours via US-26, plus a little extra for traffic. If you’d rather avoid driving the coastal highway after dark, leave Cannon Beach earlier and have dinner closer to Hillsboro instead.

Morning

• 7:30–8:30 a.m. — Breakfast at Carver Cafe: Drive about 45–60 minutes from Hillsboro to Carver Cafe in Carver; allow a little extra for the winding final stretch. It’s a casual, Twilight-famous stop, with breakfast typically around $15–25 per person. Check the day’s hours before setting out.
• 9:30–11:00 a.m. — Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals: Drive back to Hillsboro for the museum’s impressive mineral, fossil, and meteorite collections. Plan on 1–1½ hours; confirm Friday hours and admission before you go, since opening days can vary.

Afternoon

• 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Drive to Washington Park; 12:00–1:00 p.m. — International Rose Test Garden: Head into Portland and stroll the International Rose Test Garden. October is well past the main bloom, but the paths and city views are still lovely; the garden is generally open during daylight, and entry is free. Parking in Washington Park can be busy, so leave time to find a space.
• 1:00–1:20 p.m. — Drive to Pittock Mansion; 1:20–3:00 p.m. — Pittock Mansion: Visit the historic house and take in the sweeping view over Portland. Check the mansion’s Friday hours and ticket availability in advance; admission is paid, and the house typically closes earlier than the grounds.

Evening

• 3:00–3:45 p.m. — Drive back to Hillsboro; 5:00–6:30 p.m. — Dinner in downtown Hillsboro: Keep dinner casual around Main Street, where you’ll find local restaurants and an easy post-meal wander. Budget roughly $15–30 per person. This is a full day with considerable driving—if you don’t want to return to Carver after the coast the previous day, consider moving that breakfast to another morning rather than rushing the Portland stops.

Morning

• 8:30–9:15 a.m. — Coffee and a light breakfast at Insomnia Coffee Co. Keep it easy before the wedding day gets busy; budget about $8–15 per person. Check the nearest Hillsboro location’s hours before heading out.
• 9:30–11:00 a.m. — Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. Take a quiet loop on the trails and look for herons and other wildlife; trail conditions can be muddy, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. It’s a short drive from central Hillsboro, and the trails are generally a better bet than relying on visitor-center hours.

Lunch and wedding

• 11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Early lunch in Downtown Hillsboro. Stick near Main Street for a casual meal before the wedding; plan on about $12–20 per person. Then leave time to return to the hotel, change, and drive to the venue.
• 12:30–1:00 p.m. — Drive to Hidden Creek Community Center and park. Leave a buffer for getting ready and finding your way in; confirm the ceremony arrival instructions with the couple.
• 1:00–9:00 p.m. — Wedding at Hidden Creek Community Center. Check whether food and drinks are provided so you can plan around the day’s meal costs.

Morning

• 8:30–10:00 a.m. — Drive from Hillsboro to downtown Portland: Take US-26 E; allow 30–45 minutes of driving, plus time for traffic and parking. A downtown garage is easiest for the first two stops—check its daily rate before leaving the car.
• 10:00–11:45 a.m. — Powell’s City of Books: Browse the flagship bookstore in the Pearl District; Sunday hours are typically 10 a.m.–6 p.m., but confirm before you go. It’s easy to lose track of time among the color-coded rooms, so pick a meeting point if you’re browsing separately.

Midday and afternoon

• 12:00–1:00 p.m. — Lan Su Chinese Garden: Walk or take a short drive to Old Town Chinatown for a peaceful change of pace. Check Sunday hours and admission in advance; allow extra time if you need to buy tickets on arrival.
• 1:15–2:45 p.m. — Screen Door: Head to the Eastside location for Southern-style brunch or an early meal; budget roughly $20–35 per person, before drinks and tip. Sunday waits can be substantial, so check current wait times and keep the schedule flexible.

Evening and departure

• 2:45–7:00 p.m. — Easy buffer before your flight: Leave time for a relaxed wander or coffee nearby, then retrieve the car and refuel. Drive to Portland International Airport and aim to arrive around 7 p.m. for your 10 p.m. flight; allow 30–45 minutes from central Portland, plus time for the rental-car return and airport check-in. The day’s planned stops should be fairly manageable on a low-to-medium budget, though parking, bookstore purchases, and the meal can add up.