What's New

The world of travel is always changing. Oregon is no exception, so in this guide I've tried to keep tabs on what's new and noteworthy throughout the state. The following are some of the highlights:

Portland

Where to Stay -- Hipsters and other creative types on a tight budget will want to make the Ace Hotel, 1022 SW Stark St. (tel. 503/228-2277; www.acehotel.com), their first choice of accommodations in Portland. The funky retro-dive decor is unique, and you just can't beat the location.

Fans of film noir and Hollywood musicals of yesteryear should opt for downtown's Hotel Deluxe, 729 SW 15th Ave. (tel. 866/895-2094 or 503/219-2094; www.hoteldeluxeportland.com), which is filled with old black-and-white photos of Hollywood stars.

Where to Dine -- There has been an explosion of great neighborhood restaurants all over Portland in the past few years, so you should be sure to head out from downtown while you're in town. Among my favorites are Pok Pok, 3226 SE Division St. (tel. 503/232-1387; www.pokpokpdx.com), a very authentic Thai restaurant; Ken's Artisan Pizza, 304 SE 28th Ave. (tel. 503/517-9951; www.kensartisan.com), which pulls wonderfully creative pizzas from its wood-fired oven; Lauro Mediterranean Kitchen, 3377 SE Division St. (tel. 503/239-7000; www.laurokitchen.com), where prices are considerably lower than they would be for a comparable meal in the Pearl District; and Screen Door, 2337 E. Burnside St. (tel. 503/542-0880), which serves Southern cooking in huge portions.

However, the Pearl District continues to have the greatest concentration of good restaurants in the city. Two that I have added to this edition are Andina, 1314 NW Glisan St. (tel. 503/228-9535; www.andinarestaurant.com), a Peruvian restaurant serving dishes filled with exotic flavors; and fenouil, 900 NW 11th Ave. (tel. 503/525-2225; www.fenouilinthepearl.com), the city's most sophisticated French restaurant.

Seeing the Sights -- Portland has long been a center for fine crafts, and in 2007, the 70-year-old Contemporary Craft Gallery moved from its location south of town and reopened on the edge of the Pearl District as the Museum of Contemporary Craft, 724 NW Davis St. (tel. 503/223-2654; www.museumofcontemporarycraft.org). This little museum is well worth a visit.

Portland After Dark -- Fans of jazz should not miss an opportunity to spend an evening at the new Jimmy Mak's, 221 NW Tenth Ave. (tel. 503/295-6542; www.jimmymaks.com), Portland's favorite jazz club. If you'd like to sit and sip wine with a view of the Willamette River, head to Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro, 0315 SW Montgomery St., Suite 340 (tel. 503/295-2747; www.thirstwinebar.com). The Pearl District's Bridgeport Brewpub & Bakery, 1313 NW Marshall St. (tel. 503/241-3612; www.bridgeportbrew.com), one of Portland's oldest brewpubs, is now an industrial-chic, bi-level dining and drinking establishment that fits in perfectly with the neighborhood's new upscale aesthetic.

The Willamette Valley

The North Willamette Valley Wine Country -- With both the popularity and price of Oregon pinot noir continuing to rise, it is no surprise that new inns have been opening up in wine country. My favorites include Abbey Road Farm, 10501 NE Abbey Rd., Carlton (tel. 503/852-6278; www.abbeyroadfarm.com), created from three converted farm silos; and Brookside Inn on Abbey Road, 8243 NE Abbey Rd., Carlton (tel. 503/852-4433; www.brooksideinn-oregon.com), a former religious retreat center.

There are also now several good new places to get lunch while you're out wine touring. My favorite is the South Store Café, 24485 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. (tel. 503/628-1920), between Hillsboro and Newberg. In the little town of Carlton, you can get good quick lunches at The Filling Station Deli, 305 W. Main St. (tel. 503/852-6687; www.fillingstationdeli.com). At The Horse Radish, 211 W. Main St. (tel. 503/852-6616; www.thehorseradish.com), you can get local wines as well as gourmet meats, cheeses, and artisan breads.

Wineries that have opened new tasting rooms include Dobbes Family Estate, 240 SE Fifth St., Dundee (tel. 800/566-8143 or 503/538-1141; www.dobbesfamilyestate.com); A to Z, 990 N. Ore. 99W, Dundee (tel. 503/538-4881; www.atozwineworks.com); The Four Graces, 9605 NE Fox Farm Rd., Dundee (tel. 800/245-2950; www.thefourgraces.com); and Wine Works Oregon, 475 NE 17th St., McMinnville (tel. 503/472-3215; www.walnutcitywineworks.com).

Salem -- If you're in downtown Salem, be sure to check out the colorful little Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, 335 State St. (tel. 503/581-3229; www.zeekgallery.com).

Eugene -- The best new restaurant to open in the Willamette Valley is the King Estate Restaurant, 80854 Territorial Rd., Eugene (tel. 541/685-5189; www.kingestate.com), which is set on the biggest and prettiest wine estate in the region.

The Oregon Coast

Astoria -- There are a couple of good new restaurants in Astoria including Clemente's, 1335 Marine Dr. (tel. 503/325-1067), which serves fresh seafood and great fish and chips; and BRIDGEwater, 20 Basin St. (tel. 503/325-6777; www.bridgewaterbistro.com), with great food and a fabulous view. Also don't miss the historic cannery displays and brewpub at Pier 39, 100 39th St. (tel. 503/325-2502; www.pier39-astoria.com).

Seaside -- In this family-oriented beach town, Yummy Wine Bar & Bistro, 831 Broadway (tel. 503/738-3100; www.yummywinebarbistro.com), now provides adults with a sophisticated place to hang out and sip wine.

Cannon Beach -- The Surfsand Resort, 148 W. Gower St. (tel. 800/547-6100 or 503/436-2274; www.surfsand.com), is a stylish renovation of what was once an unremarkable family hotel. Newman's at 988, 988 S. Hemlock St. (tel. 503/436-1151; www.newmansat988.com), owned by the former chef at the luxurious Stephanie Inn, is now the best restaurant in town. For good baked goods, there's Waves of Grain, 3116 S. Hemlock St. (tel. 503/436-9600; www.wavesofgrainbakery.com).

Tillamook County -- In the little fishing-port town of Garibaldi, don't miss the interesting little Garibaldi Museum, 112 Garibaldi Ave. (tel. 503/322-8411; www.garibaldimuseum.com), which chronicles Captain Robert Gray's discovery of the Columbia River.

Lincoln City -- The Starfish Manor Hotel, 2735 NW Inlet Ave. (tel. 800/972-6155 or 541/996-9300; www.onthebeachfront.com), and its affiliated inns are good new options for large, comfortable accommodations in a town known mostly for its cheap motels.

Yachats -- If you spend any time anywhere near the town of Yachats, do not miss an opportunity to dine at the Yachats River House, 131 U.S. 101 N. (tel. 541/547-4100; www.yachatsriverhouse.com), my favorite new Oregon-coast restaurant.

Florence -- Crave's Wine & Tapas Bar, 294 Laurel St. (tel. 541/997-3154), is a casual wine bar that's a few blocks removed from most of the Florence tourist restaurants and worth searching out.

Bandon -- Bandon Inn, 355 U.S. 101 (P.O. Box 1409; tel. 800/526-0209 or 541/347-4417; www.bandoninn.com), is a recently renovated little hotel high on a hill overlooking old town Bandon. For some of the best food in town or just for a glass of wine, try Alloro Wine Bar, 375 Second St. SE (tel. 541/347-1850; www.allorowinebar.com).

The Southern Oregon Coast -- For great fish and chips, don't miss Port Orford's Crazy Norwegian's Fish and Chips, 259 Sixth St. (tel. 541/332-8601). In Brookings, you can get good southern Italian fare in an upscale setting at Bella Italia Ristorante, 1025 Chetco Ave. (tel. 866/40-BELLA or 541/469-6647).

The Columbia Gorge

The Hood River area is rapidly becoming another of Oregon's top wine-touring destinations. New wineries to check out include Phelps Creek Vineyards, 1850 Country Club Rd. (tel. 541/386-2607; www.phelpscreekvineyards.com); The Pines 1852, 202 State St. (tel. 541/993-8301; www.thepinesvineyard.com); and Quenett Winery, 111 Oak St. (tel. 541/386-2229; www.quenett.com). In and near The Dalles, new wineries include Erin Glenn Wines at The Mint, 710 E. Second St. (tel. 877/299-ERIN or 541/296-4707; www.eringlenn.com), which is in downtown The Dalles; and Syncline, 111 Balch Rd. (tel. 509/365-4361; www.synclinewine.com), which is across the river in Washington.

Southern Oregon

Ashland -- The best new B&B in Oregon is the Ashland Mountain House, 1148 Old Highway 99 South (tel. 866/899-2744 or 541/482-2744; www.ashlandmountainhouse.com), a short drive into the hills south of Ashland. New restaurants worth checking out include Kobe, 96 N. Main St. (tel. 541/488-8058), a modern Japanese restaurant; and Dragonfly Café and Gardens, 241 Hargadine St. (tel. 541/488-4855; www.dragonflyashland.com), an unusual Latino-Asian fusion restaurant.

Central Oregon

Sisters -- FivePine Lodge & Conference Center, 1021 Desperado Trail (tel. 866/974-5900 or 541/549-5900; www.fivepinelodge.com), a beautiful collection of Craftsman-style cottages set beneath ponderosa pines, is the best new lodge in central Oregon. Also here in Sisters, you'll find one of my favorite restaurants in the state -- Jen's Garden, 403 E. Hood Ave. (tel. 541/549-2699; www.intimatecottagecuisine.com).

Bend -- Check out deep, 821 NW Wall St. (tel. 541/323-9841; www.deepbend.com), downtown Bend's hippest sushi bar.