Three of the best self-drive food trails in Oregon USA

Finding your happy place may be as easy as a short flight from LA, taking you deep into the heartland of American foodie culture and stunning natural wonder: Oregon, USA.

Why visit Oregon?

Think skiing, fishing, rafting, hiking amongst stunning snow-capped mountains, deep scenic gorges, sweeping high deserts and majestic Pacific coastline. And that’s not even counting Oregon’s popular hub, Portland – one of the hippest places to base yourself if you love great local brews and food.

Beyond the city, three brand new self-drive Food Trails will take you deep into produce country – this just may be the most delicious way to travel.

Oregon USA Cuisine — The region has a growing reputation as an excellent American culinary hotspot.

Wild Rivers

Enjoy bellyfuls of berries, forage for mussels or feast on fresh-as-anything Pacific rockfish, rab and clams. Sample made-from-scratch bagels and sourdoughs, then take a hayride by a blooming pumpkin patch.

Getting there: the Wild Rivers Coast Food Trail covers 134 miles of pristine coastline on Highway 101, starting in Reedsport and finishing in Brookings.

What’s on the trail: stop at over 18 specialty farms and markets, 14 restaurants and seafood markets and a range of local breweries and distilleries.

Don’t miss: the cranberry rum at Stillwagon Distillery.

East Gorge

Historic orchards, wineries and restaurants take you from geological marvels, antique-filled farms and historic towns to small-batch ciders and beers, pick-your-own stonefruits and The Dalles Farmers’ Market (June to Oct).

Getting there: start the East Gorge Food Trail in the picturesque village of Mosier, tucked into the cliff line of the Columbia River Gorge, before taking the Historic Columbia River Highway to The Dalles and moseying your way south to Dufur.

What’s on the trail: charming communities and unique experiences at working fruit farms, orchards, wineries and cideries.

Don’t miss: the cherry ice-cream at Baldwin Saloon.

Oregon USA Beer — Enjoy a top drop at one of numerous local craft breweries.

Great Umpqua

Hike and drive amongst the curve and rush of two mighty rivers, then refresh yourself with the distinctive wines of this mountainous coastal area. Dine farm-to-table, view herds of elk, breathe the ocean air and fall in love.

Getting there: anchored in Roseburg, Southern Oregon’s Great Umpqua Food Trail has three sections to explore: Reedsport along Highway 138, around Roseburg and Winston and along the North Umpqua River to Idleyld Park.

What’s on the trail: incredible farm-to-table food experiences celebrating the very best of the region’s bounty.

Don’t miss: the jerky from North Buffalo Ranch.

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Fly the American Way

You can start your Oregon-style foodie adventure as soon as you leave Sydney on American Airlines; the menu in American Flagship Business class is designed by celebrity chef Sean Connolly, using grassroots ingredients and an award-winning wine list curated by sommelier Bobby Stuckey.

The super comfy 787-9 Dreamliner travels from Sydney to Los Angeles every day with connecting flights to Oregon 11 times daily, so you can immerse yourself in this naturally blessed, outdoors-loving state in a mere 2.5 hours more.

American Airlines Flights — Make your journey the most comfortable one possible with a flight on AA.

Flagship Business on American Airlines features all-aisle, lie-flat seats, a Bose noise-reducing headset, a set of Casper premium sleep-technology bedding, plus amenity kits designed by the famed leather accessory company This is Ground with skincare products from Allies of Skin. In every class on board, you’ve got a carefully curated entertainment library, international and domestic wi-fi and power outlets and USB ports at every seat.

For more information and to book, visit aa.com and traveloregon.com

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

Oregon’s three best food trails