Marisa and Eric’s honeymoon road trip led them out of Portland and into Wilamette Valley for some wine tastings. With over 50 wineries in a spectacular setting with views of Mt. Hood, this wine region has gotten tons of recognition for its Pinot Noirs and Pinot Gris. The newlyweds liked Domaine Drouhin in Dayton.

After the imbibing, Eric took a much-needed, post-wedding-stress rest. Or maybe it was just a little too much wine. Either way, it’s well deserved.

Less than an hour east of Portland is Bonneville Dam, which spans the Columbia River. This massive, impressive man-made structure generates power for the area. Visitors can see fish and sometimes even sea lions stopping by for a meal.

Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge is breathtakingly spectacular. It’s just a short drive from downtown Portland.

Great views of the river and amazing hikes are what draws visitors. It’s also know for some pretty incredible waterfalls. Above, Marisa check out the aptly named Bridal Veil Falls.

And of course they had to hit up McMenamins Kennedy School, a Portland fixture. It’s got 35 guestrooms, a movie theater, a brewery and a bar. Sure, it can be a little surreal to sip whiskey is a spot that still looks exactly like an old elementary school, but you simply cannot go to Portland without visiting. Eric found himself at home in detention.

Teacher Marisa felt right at home with the chalkboard and took a minute to practice her new name. Too sweet!

While on their Pacific Northwest road trip, Marisa and Eric wanted something different when it came to honeymoon accommodations. He says that choosing Bed and Breakfasts was reasonably cost-effective and definitely made their stays special. By combining a unique setting with all of the innkeepers’ welcoming personalities it “ensured our honeymoon lodgings were far more memorable than even the most upscale hotel chain,” Eric says.

Here are a few of the places they loved:

Portland’s White House is a historic mansion, owned and run by “the elegant and personable Lanning Blanks,” as Eric puts it. They were honored to share a glass of champagne with Mr. Blanks – and his cute little white Scotty dog, Prescott – to celebrate their honeymoon.

Eric cuts to the chase on what they really loved, “The highlight is undoubtedly the breakfasts: We’re talking gourmet meals here, complete with a full staff, amazingly fresh fruit, hot coffee and fresh juice. From berry pancakes that went so far beyond the norm to the tofu in miso gravy made especially to suit Marisa’s vegan needs, every morning serving was more than a meal – it was an experience!”

Alma Beach Manor, located in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neigborhood, calls itself the city’s “best self-catered accommodation suites.” These two liked the change of pace and having an actual living room and kitchen to themselves. Eric says, “The location was the best asset. We spent not one, but two nights walking the neighborhood full of shops, beaches and restaurants.

Birds of a Feather outside Victoria, BC was their final stay and definitely romantic. Owners Dieter Gerhard and Annette Moen emphasize the natural setting of their inn, located on a lagoon (above) by offering boat rides to guests as well as canoes and kayaks to use.

Maris and Eric’s room was huge and every had access to an outdoor patio. They loved the respect for their privacy the owners had. Eric says, “there is something marvelously quiet and serene about the place.” These two animal lovers also fell for the resident basset hounds, Emily and Montgomery.

I love when I ask couples to list the highlights of their honeymoons, and they rattle off every single thing they did on their trip. THAT is the sign of a successful honeymoon! Eric and Marisa fit into that category. From the way they tell it, there wasn’t one bad moment of their trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Eric is the Director of Advancement Communications at Centenary College and Marisa works as a Resource Center teacher at a school in Maywood, NJ. He says, “We had never really been to that part of the country before, and it was something different from what everyone else does.” Portland, pictured above, was their first stop on the trip. Renting a car let them travel along at their own pace.

Their honeymoon was a road trip through the Pacific Northwest, with stops in Portland, Seattle and Cascades National Park (above). They also hopped across the Canadian border to check out Vancouver and Victoria, BC.

Eric says the whole trip was a bit of a “whirlwind” – but in a good way. They spent time hunting out vegetarian cuisine and staying in some very cute B&B’s. Just one of the many great moments was their visit to the top of Seattle’s Space Needle. Marisa thought was very cool, and Eric overcame his fear of heights for his new bride. These incredible views were the obvious payoff.

Check back all week while we travel along with these two for a whole lot of fun times.