Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region, is as diverse as can be in its landscape, climate, and culture. Throughout Oregon are mountains, rivers, lakes, and small rural cities. Most of the population in Oregon resides in the Williamette Valley, which includes the Portland metropolitan area. Tempered by the Pacific Ocean, Oregon has a mild climate throughout most the year.
The Coast region offers hundreds of miles of beaches and dunes. The coast is made up of cliffs and rocky shores, and is popular for fishing, boating, and water sports. These seaside cities and towns are small and laid-back with an historical ambience.
Astoria is situated at the mouth of the Columbia River, in the upper northwestern corner of the state. This scenic waterfront city is an excellent starting place for travels to other parts of Oregon, or across the bridge to the state of Washington. US Routes 30 and 101 run through Astoria. The Peter Iredale Shipwreck, Clatsop Spit, and Columbia River Maritime Museum are must-sees in this seaside city.
Warrenton lies beside Astoria in the upper northwestern corner of Oregon. Warrenton is a small fishing town surrounded by the Columbia River, Skipanon River, and Pacific Ocean. A part of the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Park is located in Warrenton with at Fort Stevens.
Seaside is a summer resort town with about six thousand residents. It is located south of Astoria on US Highway 101. Broadway Street is a popular spot for entertainment, and there are also local attractions such as the Seaside Aquarium, the Gilbert House, and Lewis and Clark Monument.
Lincoln City is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Devils Lake, Siletz Bay, and the Nelscott Reef. Lincoln City is known for its excellent surfing and beach side, tourist environment.
Newport lies just south of Lincoln City on US Route 101, along the Pacific Coast of Oregon. Newport has only ten thousand residents, but its attractions are numerous and include the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and Nye Beach.
Florence lies east of Eugene, on the seaside coast of Oregon along US Highway 101. Tourism and fishing are the mainstays of the Florence lifestyle, which features Old Town Florence, the Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, and the Sea Lion Caves. Just south of Florence are the Siuslaw National Forest, Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park, and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
The Portland Metro region offers the excitement of big-city attractions and events, with unique culture.
Portland and is located at the intersection of Interstates 5 and 84 at the confluence of the Williamette and Snake Rivers. Portland is the largest city in Oregon with nearly two million in its metropolitan area. Portland is famous for being one of the most environmentally friendly cities, as well as for its alternative lifestyles and liberal political scene. Oregon has a temperate year-round climate and is known as the City of Roses for its numerous gardens. Other outdoor places in this green city include the Forest Park, a wilderness area of five thousand acres, and Washington Park which features the Oregon Zoo, Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden. Three state parks are located in Portland: the Williamette Stone State Heritage Site, Tryon Creek State Natural Area, and the Government Island State Recreation Area. The unique culture of Portland has given way to a music, arts, and performance scene ranging from major institutions to smaller local theatres and live music venues, and its diverse artist community contributes to the Portland Art Museum. Portland also has a sports scene and is home to the Trail Blazers basketball team. The area is easy to traverse and is served by a well-planned citywide Metro system.
Clackamas is a town of only five thousand on Interstate 205, outside Portland. Named for the Clackamas Indian tribe, is situated in a beautiful area which includes rivers, the Mt. Hood National Forest, and Bull Run Watershed.
Hillsboro , a city of ninety thousand, is located in the Silicon Forest area of Oregon along the Tualatin River. Hillsboro contains a number of historic places, including the Old Scotch Church, Imbrie Farm, and the Richard and Helen Rice House. Hillsboro is quite scenic; agriculture is a major sector, and wineries and golf courses abound throughout the city, along with over twenty parks.
Lake Oswego is a wealthy Portland suburb surrounding Oswego Lake. Lake Oswego was founded as early as1850 by New York settlers, and was an important center for iron ore mining and production as well as railroad transportation. Arts and culture, as well as recreation are important to Lake Oswego; visit the Oswego Heritage House, Lakewood Center for the Arts, Millenium Plaza Park, and the numerous golf courses and public parks.
Beaverton is located just outside Portland in the Tualatin River Valley. This city of seventy-five thousand is one of the most rapidly-expanding areas in the state of Oregon. Beaverton is a mostly residential city with an economy based on technology in an area known as the Silicon Forest.
Tigard is a residential suburb of Portland located south of Beaverton. Its history is preserved at the John Tigard House, built in honor of the original settler of the town in 1880. Tigard is near all the big-city attractions of the Portland metropolitan area.
Gresham is a large city of over one hundred thousand just outside the Portland area. Visitors come to Gresham to see many attractions, but especially for the Mt. Hood National forest and the Columbia River Gorge. In Gresham, be sure to see the Zimmerman House Museum, Gresham History Museum, and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Troutdale is just north of Gresham, at the point where the Sandy River and the Columbia River meet. Visitors flock to Troutdale, which serves as the gateway to the Columbia River Gorge, Historic Columbia River Highway, and the Mt Hood Scenic Byway.
The Williamette Valley is rich in history and is a thriving agricultural region.
Albany is located on Interstate 5 in the Williamette Valley, at the confluence of the Calapooia River and Williamette Rivers. US Route 20 runs east from the Oregon Coast through Albany. The city was named by its first European settlers, after their hometown of Albany, New York, and was originally inhabited by the Kalapuya Native American people. Visit the Thomas and Walter Monteith House, built by these first settlers in 1849, and see Historic Downtown Albany and the Albany Reigonal Museum for more historical information.
Corvallis is situated west of Albany along Route 20. The name Corvallis means ìHeart of the Valleyî in Latin. Corvallis is home to the Oregon State University, as well as the Peavy Arboretum and Riverfront Commemorative Park.
Salem is the capital of Oregon and is located between Portland and Eugene on Interstate 5. Salem is an agriculturally important city, and cherries are its unique crop, along with many local vineyards and wineries. There are many interesting historic places including the Elsinore Theatre, Mission Mill Museum, and the Hallie Ford Museum of Art. Downtown features the Riverfront Park along with entertainment, shopping, and weekly outdoor markets. Also visit a few of the lovely parks, such as the Williamette Mission State Park, Silver Falls State Park, and the Cascade Getaway Park.
Eugene is the second-largest city in Oregon, after Portland. The city is located on Interstate 5 in the Williamette Valley. A city famous for eccentric and counterculture lifestyles along with political activism, Eugene is the home of the University of Oregon. Its live music scene is quite popular with genres ranging from rock to jazz and ethnic music, as well as the performing arts organizations including the Eugene Opera, Eugene Symphony, and Eugene Ballet. Street festivals and markets can be found throughout the year in Eugene, such as the Oregon County Fair and Oregon Festival of American Music. Other attractions in Eugene include the Science Factory Children's Museum and Planetarium, Oregon Air and Space Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, and the Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
Springfield is just across Interstate 5 from the large city of Eugene. This forested area is important in the lumber and logging industry and also grows nearly all of the hazelnuts harvested in the United States.
Cottage Grove was originally part of the Oregon Trail, and today is located south of Eugene along Interstate 5, in the southern part of the Williamette Valley. Take a bike ride or walk along the Row River National Recreational Trail to see all of Cottage Grove, and visit the seven covered bridges located in this All-America City.
Southern Oregon, near the California border, is a beautiful region with mountain landscapes, gardens, wildlife, state parks, and riverfront cities.
Grants Pass is located where US Highway 199 meets Interstate 5 in southwestern Oregon. Grants Pass is a tourist city known for its excellent weather and the famous rapids of the Rogue River. Year-round festivities and many outdoor parks and recreation areas make Grants Pass a wonderful place to visit any time of year.
Ashland is located on Interstate 5, just a few miles from the Oregon-California border. Ashland, situated in the Rogue Valley, features the beautiful one-hundred-acre Litha Park, however its most well-known attraction is the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival. With its season lasting from February to October, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival draws well over a hundred thousand visitors each year.
Medford is a vibrant city with two hundred thousand in its metropolitan area. It is situated in the Rogue Valley between the Cascade and Siskiyou Mountains. Due to its favorable location, Medford has a warm climate and beautiful scenery throughout the year, showcased in areas like Prescott Park, Alba Park, and the Claire Hanley Arboretum.
Roseburg is located on Interstate 5 between Eugene and Medford. To explore the area, take the Applegate Trail or spend a day in the Hundred Valleys of the Unpqua or the Cascade Mountains.
Klamath Falls is north of the Oregon-California border when following US Route 97. Klamath Falls is located upon the Link River. Visit the Crater Lake National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, and Mountain Lakes Wilderness Area to see the natural scenery and unique plant and animal species in this area.
Central Oregon, with its mild climate, is year-round destination for everything from hiking and biking to fishing, golf, skiing, and more.
Bend is a city of approximately eighty thousand located in Central Oregon, at the intersection of Route 97 and Route 20. Bend is a popular tourist city, owing to its excellent opportunities for year-round outdoor sports such as hiking, fishing, and camping. During the winter skiing is available at three resorts: the Hoodoo Resort, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, and the Williamette Pass Ski Area. Bend is situated on the Deschutes River on the edge of the Cascade Mountains.
Redmond can be found on US Route 97 in central Oregon. It is part of the Bend metropolitan area, and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Many resorts are located in Redmond and nearby, as well as twenty local golf courses and the Smith Rock, Cove Palisades, and Tumalo State Park.
Eastern Oregon is a large but sparsely populated region. Mountains and rivers wind through the Eastern Oregon, giving the area a scenic and varied landscape.
The Dalles , a small city of twelve thousand on Interstate 84, is the major commercial center between Portland and Pendleton. Visit Sorosis Park, the Fort Dalles Museum, and the former US Mint Building, which is now the Erin Glenn Winery.
Pendleton , in northeastern Oregon, is a multicultural city known as an area center of arts and culture. Pendleton is also a famous rodeo town and features the annual Pendleton Round Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame.
Enterprise is a very small town in the northeastern corner of Oregon, with a population of only two thousand. Although small, Enterprise offers a wealth of outdoor activities including white water rafting with Back Country Outfitters, golfing at Alpine Meadows Golf Course, and horseback riding at the Eagle Cap Wilderness Pack Station.
La Grande is situated between the Blue Mountains and Wallova Mountains on Interstate 84. Considered the hub of northeast Oregon, La Grande has a population of about twelve thousand. La Grande is full of mountain landscapes and wide-open spaces, and features the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Refuge, Anthony Lakes, Boise Cascade Lumber and Mills, and several golf courses and camping sites.
Baker City is located on Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon. Baker City is a small city with a population of less than ten thousand, and is a historic tourist city along the Oregon Trail. It features the Baker City Historic District, National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Oregon Trail Regional Museum, and several annual events.
Ontario is located along the Snake River on Interstate 84 and US Highway 30. Ontario was named, of course, after the city in Canada by its original settlers and today has a population of ten thousand. Ontario, on the Oregon-Idaho border, is located in a rich potato-growing region and also produces many other crops. Learn about the history of Ontario by visiting the Four Rivers Cultural Center.
Oregon is a diverse state that combines outdoor adventure and breathtaking scenery with colorful culture and all around entertainment. Oregon is a great choice for a diverse and enjoyable vacation experience, from culture and heritage to scenery and landscapes to recreation and attractions. No matter what type of vacation you prefer, you will find it in Oregon.
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