This Upscale Restaurant In A Former Oregon Train Station Offers An Unforgettable Dining Experience
The Waterfront Depot Restaurant in Florence, Oregon, offers a unique fine dining experience in a historic train station with stunning views of the Siuslaw River.
Dining should be an experience, don't you think? Because you can make a meal at home or pick up a bite to eat pretty much anywhere, so why not make it special? Especially when it comes to fine dining. And guess what? There's an upscale, fine dining restaurant in Oregon that not only boasts a magnificent menu of fresh-caught seafood and locally sourced ingredients, but it offers one of the most unforgettable dining experiences, too. This is the magic of Oregon's Waterfront Depot Restaurant, a fine dining establishment housed in, if you can believe it, a converted train station harkening back to the late 1800s. Let's take a closer look at the Waterfront Depot in Florence, OR.
Located in a beautifully restored train station along the Siuslaw River in Florence, Oregon, The Waterfront Depot is a fine dining establishment that's truly one-of-a-kind.
One of Historic Old Town Florence’s most romantic, cozy, and charming destinations; inside, the restaurant retains much of the features from its former life as a train depot, with well-worn floors and wood-framed windows creating an unforgettable ambiance.
Don't forget to save room for dessert. The cakes here are legendary, with Tres Leches one of the restaurant's signatures! It's available by the slice, too, so you get a few for your table to share! Everything on the Waterfront Depot menu is mouthwatering.
In addition to its historic locale and stellar menu, what takes the dining experience at The Waterfront Depot over the top is, of course, the views. The restaurant is located right on the Florence waterfront, treating diners to jaw-dropping views of the Siuslaw River and its eponymous bridge.
Have you visited Oregon's Waterfront Depot in Florence, OR, before? What a treasure of a place! If you've eaten here, let us know all about your experience in the comments. While you're visiting Florence, make sure to explore the town and find out why so many people adore it:
If you're hungry and find yourself looking for a meal that tastes like something your grandma would make for you, then you should head out to the country to check out the Country Restaurant in Estacada, Oregon. This family restaurant in Estacada is located less than an hour from downtown Portland, but you'll really feel like you got away from it all when you pay it a visit. It's the perfect place for you and your family to have a relaxing, rib-sticking meal, and it's definitely one of the most popular restaurants in Estacada, Oregon!
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Fall colors surrounding the Clackamas River near Estacada, Oregon
Estacada's Country Restaurant and Lounge has been serving this area for more than 40 years. It's family-owned and operated by the Parsons family and everyone who visits loves it. Whether you're a local or an out-of-towner, you'll be welcomed at this small-town eatery with open arms. You'll love the homestyle meals served here.
The restaurant is popular at all times of the day, but the breakfasts here are especially good. Lunches and dinners are excellent, too. You can always expect large portions at fair prices.
The desserts are pretty great also! Be sure to save some room to try one or more of them. When you arrive, you'll hop into one of the Country Restaurant's comfortable booths. Order a coffee - they have the best in town - or a hot chocolate and plan to stay for a while.
Close-up of woman’s hands holding a coffee cup.
This is an excellent place to gather or catch up with friends and family. You might even want to spend some time playing cards. The Parsons Family doesn't mind - stay as long as you'd like. Estacada's Country Restaurant and Lounge is exactly what hospitality is all about. This is the perfect family restaurant to visit when you're in the mood for a homestyle meal that'll fill you up!
Have you ever been to the Country Restaurant and Lounge? If not, you're going to love this very special restaurant. Why don't you hop in the car right now and head out to Estacada? They can't wait to serve you!
While you're here, make sure to drink in the sights! Estacada is wonderfully surrounded by natural beauty. In fact, while you're here, check out some vacation rental options on VRBO - you're definitely going to want to stick around for a while.
Fall is an amazing time to visit Oregon as the landscape comes alive with vibrant foliage and the travel crowds thin out. Simultaneously, one of the PNW's greatest autumnal treats emerges this time of year: apple cider donuts. Locals know that many of the best apple cider donuts in Oregon are served up hot and fresh at generational orchards, so it was no surprise that we discovered one of the most delicious apple cider donut creations at a third-generation farm along Mount Hood’s beloved Fruit Loop. Trust us, they’re worth a detour!
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When you first arrive at Mt. View Orchards in Oregon's Hood River Valley, it’s hard to decide what hits you first: the picture-perfect rolling orchards or the sweet, rustic simplicity that's as familiar as visiting your grandma's old farmhouse. As soon as you step out of the car, you’re immediately greeted by the delicious scent of fresh apples and the unforgettable aroma of warm cinnamon wafting through the air.
If fall had a signature fragrance, this would be it!
As one of the most beautiful orchards in the state, there's a lot to love about Mt. View. Every single sense comes alive from the moment you step out of your car and you’re captivated by a view that’s perfectly Oregon: the towering, snow-capped peak of Mt. Hood stretching into the sky like a Bob Ross painting. Behind you? Mt. Adams, standing tall in the distance. It’s 360 degrees of stunning, and it's been aging like a fine wine (literally) for over half a century.
Mt. View Orchards is a true, family-run farm, where the art and beauty of apple growing and orchard tending has been passed down over the years. And perhaps just as special, it's also a third-generation woman-run farm.
But the real beauty lies a little closer to the ground — rows and rows of apple trees, pears, pumpkins, and flower gardens that seem to stretch on forever. This time of year, the orchards are alive with fall colors, from the golden hues of the leaves to the bright, cheerful sunflowers that pepper the landscape. You’re not just in an orchard — you’re in a full-blown autumn wonderland. And while that view might stop you in your tracks, it’s the smell that keeps luring you in.
Pumpkin spice and apple cinnamon have been going head-to-head for ages, each vying for a spot in the season's best fall food creations, but there's just something about the humble cider donut (or doughnut, if you prefer) that brings this harvest-season staple to life in the sweetest way.
When it comes to the classic apple cider donut, you'll find them most often fried and rolled in a delicious blend of cinnamon and sugar. We can't get enough of them! But Mt. View Orchards puts a unique twist on this fall staple that we can't help but seriously swoon over: rather than a pillowy donut with a crunchy cinnamon sugar coating, the donuts here are a sweet, modern take on the traditional old-fashioned donut. And all that apple-cinnamon goodness is baked right in, then beautifully drizzled with a glaze.
With their weighty yet luxurious texture, these apple-infused donuts don't just smush down at first bite like their fried counterparts. They're packed to the brim with sugar, spice, and everything nice. They're also moist, rich, and oh-so ... autumn.
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Plus, every batch of donuts is made with Mt. View's very own pressed apple cider (which is available as well). So don't mourn the loss of those childhood fried donuts for one moment — these donuts will make you forget all the others! However, Mt. View Orchards' distinctly delicious donut comes with one caveat: they're only served up on weekends — that's how special and fresh-made they are!
In truth, you’ll probably smell them before you see them — the warm cinnamon aroma calls out from the farm stand. One bite in and you'll get it. The outside has this perfect golden crisp, just enough to make you question all those store-bought donuts you’ve ever had. The inside is soft, pillowy, and slightly dense, with the subtle tang of apple cider cutting through the sweetness. Notes of cinnamon cling to every bite, leaving your fingers gloriously sticky and begging for another round. Don’t bother ordering just one — you’ll be back in line faster than you can say "pumpkin spice."
Pair that donut with a cup of cider (also on-site), and suddenly, fall feels a lot more like a party than just a season. Just keep in mind that these tasty treats are only available from September through October. So don't wait too long!
After you’ve indulged in the donuts (and let’s be honest, you probably had more than one, if you're anything like us!), it’s time to get your hands dirty and head into the orchard for some good ol’ fashioned apple-picking. You have 125 options to choose from at Mt. View! Traditional varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, and Gala are intermingled with new finds: Pippen, Mutsu, Winesips, and more. The best part? You can wander the rows of trees at your own pace, searching for that perfect apple that’s still cool from the fall air and feels like it was waiting just for you. Although, if you're short on time, there are pre-picked options available at the farm stand.
Either way, when you bite into one straight off the branch, there’s an undeniable freshness. The snap of the skin, the burst of juice — it’s like tasting fall in its purest form. We love that they're able to pack all that magical fruit goodness into a donut, but we'll take them fresh off the tree too! Whether you prefer the tart punch of a Granny Smith or the sweet, balanced flavor of a Fuji, there’s something about picking your own fruit that makes it taste better. Plus, it’s a solid excuse to load up a basket or two for future baking endeavors.
If apples aren’t your thing (though, really, how could they not be?), Mt. View Orchards still has plenty to offer. Dahlias and sunflowers, just to start. Fields of them, colorful and photogenic, bobbing in the breeze like they’re in on some happy little secret. They bloom in late summer and stick around through the early fall, turning the landscape into a sea of yellow that’s almost too perfect not to Instagram. The bees love them, too — so expect a little background buzz as you wander through the blooms.
And if the fall flowers don’t grab your attention, the panoramic view of Mount Hood just might. We can't highlight this fantastic backdrop enough. It’s almost absurd how perfect the setting is, with the mountain’s snowy peak contrasting with the orchard’s vibrant greenery. Whether you’re taking in the view from the orchard’s hilltop picnic area or just soaking it in while you snack on your donut (yes, back to the donuts), there’s a peacefulness here that’s hard to beat.
And yet, there's somehow still more! Pop by the on-site Grateful Vineyard for a wine tasting or sidle up to the Golden Row tasting room for an adults-only hard apple cider crafted from the very apples grown just a few steps away. There’s something satisfying about drinking a chilled beverage in the very place it was made — especially when you can sit outside, glass in hand, watching the sun dip behind the horizon.
But be sure to come back often throughout the season for fall family festivities as well.
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Whether you’re there for the fruit, the views, or just an excuse to wander around with an apple cider donut in hand, Mt. View Orchards delivers the goods. It’s the kind of place where you can lose yourself for a few hours, wandering through the rows of apple trees or soaking up the mountain views, feeling like you’ve stumbled into a scene straight out of a storybook. Come for the apples, stay for the epic donuts, and leave with a smile (and probably a sticky cinnamon-sugar-coated hand). It’s a sweet little slice of Oregon life you won’t want to miss this fall!
