West Coast Road Trip (continued)
This one I had not planned. We finally arrived in Portland after over a week of road tripping from Los Angeles, and I hadn’t booked a hotel assuming there would be tons of options in downtown Portland. As it happens, weekends get booked up quick leaving you stuck with only high priced rooms. Searching for other options, I came across the Camas Hotel. The description said “Romantic European Boutique Hotel”. Over the phone they offered me a room with a great rate, and off we went to Camas. We loved it there. Check Groupon because sometimes they have a $50 per night discount rate.
Camas is actually in Washington state, just a 20 minute drive from downtown Portland. The town makes a great base for exploring the surrounding territory, just as Lewis & Clark did on their expedition west. It’s a small town with a population of 19,000. Camas has interesting shops, restaurants, spas and salons and is also home to Lacamas Lake. It is fantastically quaint but be warned, most everything closes by 6 or 7pm.
Where to Eat and Drink in Camas, Washington
Their liquor collection is top shelf and they make an effort to source the best locally-distilled small-batch spirits in support of the micro-distillery trend which is so popular in the Northwest right now. Their wide variety of wine and beers on tap, sourced from across Washington and Oregon states, also did not disappoint. What a hidden gem this place is!
What to Do in Camas, Washington
Right outside the Camas Hotel you’ll find three blocks of small galleries, antique shops (with good prices in most cases) and creative boutiques. Some of them really put a lot into their window displays, not to mention the in-store displays.
Helpful Links if You’re Visiting Camas
The Camas Hotel
Groupon Discount for the Camas Hotel
City of Camas website
History of the City of Camas
Birch Street Uptown Lounge
Harvest Restaurant
Natalia’s Cafe
Camas Antiques
Diamonds & Rust Antique Shop
This post was updated on 15 December 2014.