Last summer, I had the privilege of traveling to the West Coast for the first time ever.
My brother is quite the world traveler; at just 26 years old, he’s lived in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Delaware and Oregon. Honestly, I’ve probably forgotten a few states in there, too. That said, it’s only right that my parents and I venture out into his neck of the woods from time to time.
A few years back, we visited him when he was living in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Aside from the cheese, I wasn’t too impressed. It was the furthest west I had ever been and I was sadly disappointed.
Last summer, we headed out to Portland, Oregon to visit my brother in his new home. Will he stay there long? Who knows (I think yes, though).
We put a good 1,000 miles on his new 4Runner while checking out the Pacific Northwest. He was quite the tour guide.
Spending time in Oregon was life-changing for me. Pictures do it no justice. If you even have the slightest interest, I suggest you head out there and check it out for yourself. To call the entire state beautiful, picturesque or even awe-inspiring would be a wicked understatement.
While I was there, I was truly able to live out my granola girl dreams. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my brother and I now have similar music tastes. Who would have thought?
Driving around the entire (and I mean the entire) state of Oregon while enjoying some indie tunes was one of the highlights of my existence. For all my adventuresses and granola girl wannabes, here’s a piece of my playlist, carefully curated and brought to you from Portland, Oregon (and surrounding areas).
- “Nellie” by Dr. Dog
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Dr. Dog is an incredible artist. I believe (don’t quote me), that I’ve mentioned him in one of my previous articles. I’m not surprised he’s made a reappearance.
You probably live under a rock if you haven’t heard “Nellie” circulating around TikTok. Besides the point.
I cannot wait until summertime. “Nellie” will be on 24/7. I’ve already made plans to frolic about an empty field as the sweet, sweet sounds of Dr. Dog play through my AirPods.
- “Morning Song” By Babe Rainbow
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When we visited Oregon, the second season of “Outer Banks” had just come out and I was stoked. After a day full of adventuring, I’d pop a few episodes on my brother’s TV. Thankfully, his roommate was just as obsessed as I was.
While watching series and shows, I keep an open ear for some good music. I’ve found some of my favorite smaller artists in the background of TV shows.
Babe Rainbow’s “Morning Song” was featured in “Outer Banks” and I fell in love with the soft, playful indie sound. I still listen to this song often and, let me tell you, it makes bike rides to class in the rain turn into pure bliss.
- “RoadTripsong” By Abby Cates
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I found Abby Cates while mindlessly scrolling through TikTok last year. At the time, she had only one released song on her artist profile on Apple Music and Spotify. Sadly, it was only a song that she was featured in.
I followed her on TikTok and she continued to post beautiful, lyrical original songs in bits and pieces. She promised to eventually release them.
I waited patiently for her to release full-length songs; after months, I was blessed with “Roadtripsong” and, boy, am I thankful. This song makes me want to give the Earth the hugest hug. Give it a listen and I’m sure you’ll love it, too!
- “Dream” By Miley Cyrus
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I feel like it’s only right to include a little throwback in this playlist. Miley may have a bad rap with the older generations from her “Wrecking Ball” phase, but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for some of her slower tunes.
Who wouldn’t want to listen to “Malibu” while soaking up the sun at the beach? If we throw it back to her Hannah Montana days, we can find some similar soft-adventure jams. “Dream” is the perfect song to enjoy while trekking to your destination!
- “Flower power” By Greta Van Fleet
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What can I say, Greta Van Fleet has my heart. If you’re looking to embrace your femininity, start with this song.
In addition to “Flower Power”, GVF has a ton of other rock-ethereal-granola-girl-esque songs. I think I just made up a new genre.
- “Magenta Mountain” by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
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Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to listen to this gem out West, but it’s too good to leave out. A friend just introduced me to this song and it’s been stuck in my head ever since. It reminds me a lot of Still Woozy’s music, which I also recommend for a good road trip playlist.
- “Dog Inside a Car” by Fell Runner
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This song is super fun and suits whatever adventure you’re off on.
Beach vibes? Yep! I could 100% see myself laid out of the shore listening to this one.
Driving through the mountains with your windows down? You bet.
Hiking in the forest? Stick “Dog Inside a Car” on. It’s a phenomenal adventuring theme song.
- “This is the Day” by THe The
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This song has had its grip on me for far too long. “This Is the Day” has this beautiful blend of 80’s synth, accordion and an ensemble of stringed instruments that I can’t identify.
It’s had a special place in my heart since high school and has been an adventure track for me forever. It was only fitting that I took it with me on my Pacific Northwest adventures as well.
- “Frozen Pines” By Lord Huron
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After its feature on the Netflix hit “13 Reasons Why,” “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron became a hit. I still hear it a lot on social media to this day.
If listeners were daring enough to dig deeper, they’d find a whole treasure chest of music by Lord Huron. While in Oregon, I loved listening to “Frozen Pines” as we drove through miles and miles of forest.
Wherever your next adventure leads, make sure the journey is filled with good tunes. Road trips are simply the best time to share some music with your friends and family! You’ll definitely set the vibe with these songs.