It’s the weekend! You could spend your days on the couch, or you could take an adventure to a hidden gem located in Oregon. Luckily, we happen to know three of best spots to add to your weekend road trip list.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Grab your dune buggy or ATV and enjoy 40 miles of coastal dunes just waiting to be explored at the Oregon Dune National Recreation Area. If water sports are more your thing, the northern area of the dunes offers fishing, kayaking and soft sand for building sandcastles or picnicking.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
You don’t have to be a geologist to enjoy the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Located roughly 200 miles southeast of Portland, you’ll find some of the world’s most amazing natural rock formations like the striped Painted Hills and the blue-green Sheep Rock Unit. The onsite resource center will offer a peek into life on Earth millions of years ago.

Short Beach
Looking for a beach day without the crowd? Take a trip to Short Beach, a secret spot near Oceanside. Be sure to wear proper shoes as you’ll need them on the way down. Locals created a “stairway of 1,000 steps” to make the trek down less slippery. We also suggest staying for low tide as you’ll find some of the best muscles in town to bring home for dinner.

Share your favorite “secret” spots in the state with us below.