Grants Pass Itinerary: The Best 2-Day BFF Getaway Guide

By June Russell-Chamberlin She Buys Travel

Updated July 7, 2026 1:16 PM

For a small town, Grants Pass offers big culinary and outdoor adventures, which makes a great Southern Oregon escape for you and your BFF.

From the excitement of jetboating on the Rogue River to a leisurely wine tasting or farm-to-table meal, Grants Pass is an easy place to balance action with relaxation. In this two-day itinerary, I'll share how I spent a weekend with friends exploring Grants Pass.

Trip Highlights

Rogue River and mountain adventures: We kicked off our weekend with a splashy Hellgate Jetboat Excursion, then cooled off exploring the Oregon Caves National Monument.
Boutique shopping and DIY glass blowing: Downtown Grants Pass is easy to explore on foot, from local shops to bakeries. We created our own hand-blown glass souvenir at a local studio.
Applegate Valley Wine Trail and seasonal dining: We discovered three gorgeous wineries on the Applegate Valley Wine Trail, then savored farm-to-table dinners featuring locally sourced ingredients.

Editor's Note: The writer was hosted.

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Afternoon Arrival, Jetboat Tour and Dinner

A clean and cozy home base makes all the difference during a quick travel weekend. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Check In: Cedar Mountain Suites

I loved this cluster of apartments, available to rent on VRBO and Airbnb. Five suites of varying sizes are arranged around a central courtyard, creating a serene, safe atmosphere.

I stayed in Suite C, which features:

One queen bed
A futon sofa that converts into a bed
A full kitchen and full-size refrigerator (ideal for restaurant leftovers!)
A washer and dryer
A small, private patio

The contactless entry via keypad worked easily. It's located just a few blocks off the main streets, making it exceptionally quiet. I especially liked the full kitchen and work-friendly table placed right in front of the window.

SheBuysTravel Tip:If you are traveling with a larger group of friends, look into booking multiple units at Cedar Mountain Suites early. Because the five apartments share a secured central courtyard, it allows everyone to have their own private living space while still being close enough to share a bottle of local wine at the end of the day.

Hellgate Jetboat Excursions and Dinner

Prepare to get a little wet during this high speed river tour down the scenic Rogue River canyon. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Hold onto your sunglasses! The captains at Hellgate Jetboat Excursions love doing 360-degree spins that will leave you and your BFF laughing and completely soaked. Between the splashes, our guide pointed out bald eagle nests and shared stories about growing up on the Rogue River.

After a wild ride, the jetboat stopped for dinner at the Hellgate River Lodge Restaurant, where we dined family-style on oven-roasted barbecue chicken, smoked, bone-in barbecue baby back ribs, corn, potatoes and fresh salad. Beer and wine were included, but not cocktails from the bar.

SheBuysTravel Tip:When checking in for the Hellgate Jetboat Excursion, try to line up about 30 minutes before departure. Boat loading takes time because multiple vessels depart at once, but getting to the loading dock early gives you and your bestie a better shot at securing your preferred seats together.

Day 1: Shopping, Glass Blowing and Wineries

Fueling up with a hearty breakfast before a busy day of exploring local boutiques. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Breakfast: Lulu's for the Love of Food

This casual breakfast spot dishes up exceptionally hearty morning fare. If you love savory, they serve up classics like eggs Benedict, breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy and steak and eggs.

On the sweeter side, Lulu's also features crepes and waffles. The crepes tempted me, but I ultimately settled on a savory breakfast sandwich topped with a perfectly poached egg and rich hollandaise sauce.

Morning: Explore Downtown Grants Pass

Free parking makes it easy to leave the car behind and explore the downtown boutiques on foot. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Park the car (parking is free!) and explore downtown Grants Pass on foot. Dozens of boutiques, antique shops and galleries make for a lively shopping expedition.

Top Spots to Browse:

Grants Pass Pharmacy: Part pharmacy, part gift shop. They still operate an old-fashioned soda fountain serving classic phosphate drinks. I tried the Toxic Waste flavor, which tastes surprisingly like bananas!
Bella Luna: A clever mix of a bookstore and a clothing boutique with plenty of fun items to browse.
Gallop 'n Glitz: Not your typical Western apparel shop. Expect lots of glitter, including on the cowboy boots.
Gallery One: This local artists' cooperative showcases beautiful handcrafted pottery, jewelry, paintings and more.
Grants Pass Museum of Art: A small, intimate museum featuring local talents. Admission is free.

Glass Forge Gallery & Studio

Crafting a custom souvenir with your favorite colors provides a completely unique keepsake from your trip. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

The rich colors and graceful shapes of drool-worthy, Venetian-style art glass vases, bowls and sculptures fill the gift shop at the Glass Forge Gallery & Studio. It's the perfect place to choose a custom color scheme for your own hand-blown ornament, tumbler, bowl, paperweight or pumpkin.

The process is quick, easy and fun. Your creation makes for a genuinely one-of-a-kind souvenir. Mine turned out as a beautiful swirl of pastel pink and cream.

SheBuysTravel Tip:If you fall in love with a custom glass design at Glass Forge Gallery & Studio, keep in mind that your hand-blown creation needs time to slowly cool down (anneal) overnight. Plan your workshop for the first half of your trip so you can pick up your finished piece before heading home, or be prepared to pay a small shipping fee to have it mailed to your house.

Lunch: Dassh Bakery

For lunch, stop by local favorite Dassh Bakery in downtown Grants Pass. This is the spot to munch on thick bagel sandwiches stuffed with ham, turkey and fresh ingredients.

The bakery features hearty lunch sandwiches, freshly baked quiche and an array of sweet pastries from scones to flaky croissants. My pick: A fresh-baked cinnamon roll to take home for a late-night treat.

Afternoon: Applegate Valley Wine Trail

Lush scenery and tasting local wines await just a short drive south of the city center. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Just 20 minutes south of town, the valley opens up into stunning, sun-drenched wine country tucked into the hills. It's incredibly laid-back compared to Napa, and close to the source. At several tasting rooms, you're literally sipping wines right next to the vineyards where they grew the grapes.

Tastings are wild, with wines made from little-known varietals. More than 20 kinds of wine grapes thrive in the 275,000-acre vineyards of the Applegate Valley AVA.

Three Wineries Worth a Stop:

Troon Vineyard & Farm: Produces award-winning wines from its biodynamic and regenerative vineyard. We thoroughly enjoyed hanging out by the patio, bocce ball courts and manicured gardens.
Schmidt Family Vineyards: Cultivates wine from 20 different varietals. Tasting selections vary each week, and you cannot miss their wood-fired pizza.
Wooldridge Creek Winery: An estate winery producing wine from 12 varietals. It's also home to the organic cheeses made by Crushpad Creamery.

SheBuysTravel Tip:Check winery open times and days before you head out, so you can plan your day efficiently.

Dinner: Partake Shop and Lounge

Partake's dinner menu highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients crafted into gourmet meals. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Discover wines from around the world in Partake's Shop, then head to the Lounge for a dinner that honestly blew us away. The menu changes with the seasons to feature local ingredients.

During our visit, we had perfectly seared scallops served over a rich, velvety sauce with crisp zucchini ribbons. It looked like a work of art and tasted even better.

Day 2: Day Trip to the Oregon Caves

Start the morning with a fresh twist on traditional breakfast classics at Fridas Brunch and Cantina restaurant. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Breakfast: Frida's Brunch and Cantina

Bright, colorful and casual, Frida's Brunch and Cantina dishes up breakfast with a distinct flair for sweet and savory.

Sweet options include decadent pancakes with fresh berries and Nutella, or French toast made with a rich Kahlua egg batter.

Savory options include omelets and egg plates with rice, beans or chorizo. My personal choice was a hearty plate of fresh eggs, beans and their house-made, not-too-spicy chorizo.

Morning and Afternoon: Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve

Exploring deep inside the Marble Halls of Oregon requires warm layers and a ranger guide. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

Deep within the Siskiyou Mountains lie the wondrous "Marble Halls of Oregon," carved over millennia by acidic water. The Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve offers a fun, slightly chilly adventure for a girl's getaway.

The 1.5-hour tour explores the mountain from the inside out. We walked, ducked and climbed up and down stairs as we discovered the dark depths of the Oregon Caves with a ranger guide.

The highlights? Spotting tiny, fuzzy sleeping bats clinging to the walls, marveling at the massive underground rooms and seeing the massive ‘flowstones’ that look like frozen waterfalls made of rock.

Buy tour tickets online at Recreation.gov. Allow at least 2 hours to drive from Grants Pass to the national monument, so you can arrive and check in at the visitor center at least 30 minutes before your tour.

SheBuysTravel Tip:The National Park Service enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding white-nose syndrome at the Oregon Caves. To pass the bio-security screening, avoid wearing any shoes or clothing that have ever crossed the threshold of any other cave, mine or underground cavern, even if you think they've been thoroughly washed.

Dinner: Weekend Beer Company

Finish your amazing weekend with locally crafted beers at Weekend Beer Company. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

For your final dinner in Grants Pass, head for the taproom and yard at Weekend Beer Company. The spacious indoor and outdoor seating provides plenty of room to stretch out with your besties and enjoy a locally brewed pint, glass of wine or cider.

The brewery features an extensive tap list ranging from crisp blonde ales to heavy porters and Irish stouts.

Grab dinner from resident food trucks parked in the yard, such as The Kraken, which serves up fantastic fish tacos, fish and chips, and fresh seafood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Old Town Antique Mall in downtown Grants Pass features a wide variety of antiques and collectibles. Photo credit: June Russell-Chamberlin

What are the top attractions or activities to do in Grants Pass for a weekend getaway?

It depends on what you're interested in doing. We enjoyed browsing the local boutiques in historic downtown Grants Pass. Tasting an old-fashioned phosphate drink at the Grants Pass Pharmacy soda fountain is a unique experience. We really enjoyed blowing our own glass ornaments at the Glass Forge Gallery & Studio.

Are there any recommended hotels or unique places to stay in Grants Pass for a girls' trip?

For a fantastic girlfriends’ trip, check into The Lodge at Riverside for a stay right on the water, a pool and nightly wine receptions. For a cozy alternative, book a cabin at the Weasku Inn on the banks of the scenic Rogue River.

What local restaurants or wineries should we try during our weekend in Grants Pass?

My picks for breakfast: Lulu's for the Love of Food and fresh pastries at Dassh Bakery. For dinner, experience carefully crafted entrees at Partake.

If you only have time for one winery, make it Troon Vineyard & Farm for the award-winning wine, or Schmidt Family Vineyards if you want a wood-fired pizza to go with your flight.

Are there any spa or wellness experiences available in Grants Pass for a relaxing getaway?

For massages, I'd head to River Stone Massage & Wellness . If you want facials and manicures, gather at The Spa at Club Northwest for head-to-toe treatments that pamper you and your bestie.

What outdoor adventures (like rafting, hiking, or ziplining) are available in Grants Pass for a girlfriends' weekend?

Nothing beats a high-speed ride down the Rogue River on a Hellgate Jetboat Excursions on a hot afternoon. If you prefer land adventures, take a fascinating day trip underground to explore the caverns of the Oregon Caves National Monument .

The post Grants Pass Itinerary: The Best 2-Day BFF Getaway Guide appeared first on She Buys Travel.

This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 12:55 PM.