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Oregon Travel

Where’s Oregon? He’s gone west, definitely west. Sorry, sometimes I just can’t help myself. Right, seriously now, Oregon is west at its best, and when any easterners get the hankering for a bit of “going west” they head straight to Oregon, and who can blame them. There are seven different major regions in Oregon, and each with their own unique flavor and activities on offer.

Travel Regions in Oregon

• The Oregon Coast – Oregon has a tremendous 363 miles of coastline (wow, I bet you didn’t now that) with everything from sand dunes to sandy beaches to rugged cliffs and miles of evergreen forest. The sea-food, as you would expect, is delicious. Don’t forget your camera, there are some stunning viewpoints, state parks, historic lighthouses, all served with a scattering of fishing villages. No wonder the Oregon coast is one of the most popular regions for Oregon travel.
• Willamette Valley, Oregon – when Dino sang about “Little Ole Wine Drinker Me” he might have been thinking about more than the delicious wines of California, Willamette Valley in Oregon is in the heart of agricultural country, and has more than 200 individual wineries nestled amongst the rolling hills. If you fancy wine tasting your way around Oregon, then this is a great place to start. Don’t get carried away though, there’s plenty of other stuff to see and do too. Willamette Valley in Oregon is a favorite destination for cyclists and hikers, why not stop off at one of the many farmers markers dotted along the way.
• Southern Oregon – is home to the deepest lake in the US, Crater Lake and the Oregon Caves National Monument. This place is fantastic for those with a thirst for adventure – there are rivers offering world class rafting and fishing, mountains to ski down (or climb up), golf courses to play golf on as well as tremendous trails for hikers and bikers. They also have a world famous chocolate festival and artisan Cheeses, as well as art galleries, museums, theaters, antique malls. Definitely worth the trip.
• Eastern Oregon – surprisingly, Eastern Oregon is where you’ll really find the spirit of the west – well, it’s still west of a lot of other places. There’s rolling hills, deserts, wild rivers, snow capped peaks. Hells canyon is in Eastern Oregon, and that’s the deepest river gorge in North America. Why not follow the original Oregon pioneer wagon trails – wagons roll!
• Central Oregon – boasts as much sunshine as Arizona, an astonishing 300 days, and fresh powdery snow in the winter time. It has 25 unique golf courses, more than 150 rivers and lakes where you can indulge your passion for fly-fishing, rock climbing, hiking and more snow sports than you can shake a stick at in the winter (or should that be a ski pole)?
• Mt Hood and The Gorge, Oregon – Mt. Hood has four ski areas in total offering the longest ski season in North America. The cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge tower above numerous quaint river front towns and villages, breath taking waterfalls and some of the finest windsurfing waters anywhere.  The rich and fertile valleys are perfect for growing fruits, with apples, apricots, blueberries and pears in abundance. They even make a little wine here. There are lots of things to do here whatever the season, and the awe-inspiring scenery really will take your breath away.
• Portland Metro – there is some urban life available in Oregon too, but the bustling Metropolitan Portland does have much more than urban adventures to offer. Within just a few miles of the city you can find wildlife preserves, kayaking waterways and the wonderful foothills of Mount Hood. You’ll find an abundance of wine producers, often offering year round tasting sessions. A lively and vibrant city criss-crossed by mountains, rivers and vineyards. A little bit of everything then.