Boutique, Brownstone-Style Hotel in Historical Orenco Station

Near the turn of the 20th century, the economy and lifestyle of the town of Orenco literally and figuratively depended on the Oregon Nursery Company—a major exporter of trees and shrubs, and the inspiration for the village’s acronymic namesake. The company built up Orenco as a planned community to house its workers, but it declined during the Great Depression. Then, in the early ‘90s, the once-bustling area got a successful makeover: urban planners mapped out wide, pedestrian-friendly streets and accessible mass transit, helping to revitalize and update the charming small-town feel. Trees and shrubs are still a focal point, but this time in the town center, which features 3 acres of ornate greenery. Today the Orenco Hotel—a brownstone-style boutique building—resides in the trendy neighborhood of Orenco Station, just steps from a light-rail stop, shopping, restaurants, and a centralized park.

Once guests arrive, they’re free to eliminate hassles and trivial-pursuit questions from the concierge with a speed key check-in, which allows couples to check in on their own with an envelope of instructions. Inside the lobby, a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast is available all day and includes fresh fruit, an assortment of baked goods, oatmeal, breakfast bars, and fresh-brewed coffee, tea, and bottled water.

Hillsboro, Oregon: Charming Small Town with Lively Arts Scene

The Orenco Hotel is tucked into the trendy Orenco Station neighborhood of Hillsboro, lauded as the Best New Burb by Sunset magazine. Adding to the appeal is its lively town center, which is filled with wine bars, restaurants, and live music. At the nexus of this area is the 3-acre Orenco Station Central Park, which was modeled after a French city park near Versailles.

About 4 miles northwest of the inn, the Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals contains a working collection of more than 20,000 earth-hewn, geological specimens, which are housed in a sprawling ranch-style home listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Though it began as just a husband and wife's private collection, the ranch eventually garnered national attention; its galleries twinkle with rubies, sapphires, an opal-filled thunderegg, as well as dinosaur fossils, meteorites, and fragments of Humpty Dumpty's shell. The crystal collection numbers more than 4,000, highlighted by the bright-red Alma Rose rhodochrosite crystal—an extremely valuable gem unearthed from a mine in Alma, Colorado.

Nearby, in downtown Hillsboro's restored Venetian Theatre, resident theater company Bag&Baggage produces a varied lineup of quality plays. The upcoming Shakespeare's R&J puts a fresh spin on Romeo and Juliet: after Catholic-school students discover a copy of the Bard’s classic tale, they gradually begin to take on the roles of the story. Throughout the downtown area, there’s an inviting small-town feel; crowds course through the pedestrian-friendly streets to pop into antique stores and art galleries.