Oregon Travel Guide
The state of Oregon has one of the most diverse landscapes of
any state in the Union, with its towering, thick forests, arid
scrublands, wide prairies, deserts and scenic Pacific coastline.
Oregon lies in the northwest section of the USA, bordered by the
ocean, and the states of California, Washington, Idaho and Nevada.
Along its northern boundary lies the Columbia River, and its area
encompasses the fertile Willamette Valley and two mountain ranges
(Pacific Coast and Cascade) where lift-serviced alpine skiing is
offered throughout the year.Most of Oregon's countryside, from beaches and valleys to
mountain peaks, is unspoiled, and the state has been dubbed 'God's
country'. The state boasts natural attractions like Hell's Canyon,
the deepest river-carved gorge in northern America, as well as more
than 6,000 lakes (including famous Crater Lake, deepest lake in the
USA) and more than a hundred thousand miles of rivers and streams.
In addition more than half of the state is covered in natural
forest. This makes it a delight for nature lovers, although its
merits as a tourist destination are somewhat marred by an
over-abundance of rainy days.Although Salem is the state capital, the largest city in Oregon
is Portland, straddling the Willamette River. The modern, compact
and vibrant city is the commercial and touristic hub of the state,
famed for its locally brewed beer and multitude of roses.It is far easier to head west on the 'Oregon Trail' today than
it was for the historic pioneers in their covered wagons, but
visitors are no less delighted by the charms of this destination
than were the gutsy emigrants of the mid-1800s.
Oregon Travel Guide
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Oregon Travel Guide
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Description:
The foremost of Portland's famed rose gardens, the International
Rose Test Garden was founded in 1917 during World War I, when
hybridists sent roses from around the world to keep them safe from
the bombing in Europe. Since then the garden has served as a
testing ground for new varieties. The 7,700 rose bushes,
representing 550 varieties, are enhanced by fountains, paths and
statues, with free tours offered by trained volunteers. Highlights
of the garden are the award-winning miniature roses planted along
the centre aisle, the Shakespeare Garden in the southeast corner,
and the Frank L Beach Memorial Fountain, designed and built by
local artist Lee Kelly.
Address:
850 SW Rose Garden Way (Washington Park)
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 823 3636
Email:
Website:
www.rosegardenstore.org
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Description:
The award-winning Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the
Mississippi, founded in 1887. It covers 64 acres and is home to a
vast variety of animals, including Asian elephants, Peruvian
penguins and Arctic polar bears. All are housed in their natural
habitats, and the zoo is also an internationally recognised centre
for wildlife preservation and research. Combined with a programme
of summer concerts, a variety of seasonal events and an olde worlde
railway ride which connects to Washington Park, the zoo is
Portland's favourite attraction, drawing around a million visitors
a year.
Address:
4001 SW Canyon Road
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 226 1561
Email:
Website:
www.oregonzoo.org
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Description:
Named the 'Garden of Awakening Orchids', this walled classic
garden in Portland's Chinatown is a replica of traditional gardens
found in Suzhou, Portland's sister city in China. It combines the
elements of water, stone, architecture, literature and plants to
create balance and harmony. The garden is both a living museum of
flora and fauna and a cultural heritage garden. The classical tea
house in the evocatively named Tower of Cosmic Reflections offers a
tactile experience of the art and culture of Chinese tea.
Address:
239 NW Everett Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 228 8131
Email:
Website:
www.lansugarden.org
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Description:
The trendiest neighbourhood in downtown Portland, the Pearl
District is the place to see and be seen. Old warehouses have been
turned into desirable loft residences and the streets are lined
with restaurants, cafes, wine bars, upmarket shops and art
galleries. Gallery walks are held on the first Thursday of each
month. 'The Pearl' is also home to Portland's iconic Powell's
Bookstore - arguably one of the finest in the entire country. The
Pearl District is well worth a visit, especially for those
interested in urban renewal and sustainable redevelopment.
Address:
Around NW Everett Street, Portland
Postcode:
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Website:
explorethepearl.com
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Description:
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is a feast of fun for
young and old. It includes fascinating permanent exhibits dealing
with maths, science and technology, and laboratories where children
can undertake science experiments. The complex also contains a
planetarium (one of the most technologically advanced in the
country), the Omnimax theatre and the submarine USS Blueback, which
featured in the popular movie, 'Hunt for Red October'. The museum
also hosts a plethora of interesting temporary exhibitions.
Address:
1945 SE Water Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 797 6674
Email:
Website:
www.omsi.edu
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Description:
Cannon Beach is Oregon's most famous and popular
coastline among Portland tourists. The beach is dominated by
Haystack Rock, a 235-foot (71m) steep formation that can be walked
to in low tide. The first tourist to the beach was William Clark,
during the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805. The same nine miles
(14.5km) of sandy beach, beautiful hiking trails, and tidal pools
filled with sea life are there for new explorers to discover. A
touristy beach town gives present day visitors quaint hotels,
cottages and restaurants.
Address:
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Description:
Mount Hood Meadows, 67 miles (108 km) east of
Portland, is one of the largest ski resorts in Oregon. It has both
alpine and nordic ski areas and offers night skiing. Its position
on the sunny, wind-protected east side of Mt. Hood gives Mt Hood of
the best snow in the Pacific Northwest. There is no accommodation
in the resort itself although many nearby hotels and lodges offer
shuttles to the slopes. The scenery over the snow-dusted Central
Cascade Range is magnificent, reason enough to pause between
runs.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 337 2222
Email:
mhminfo@skihood.com
Website:
www.skihood.com
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Description:
As you'd expect from a city with a memorial statue of 'Merry
Prankster' Ken Kesey in its downtown area, Eugene is an offbeat
place, full of people - from original hippies to new-age hipsters -
seeking out alternative lifestyles. Home to the University of
Oregon, and once proudly calling itself the 'World's Greatest City
for the Arts and Outdoors', Eugene has since toned down that claim,
and is now simply known as a 'Great City for the Arts and
Outdoors'. Despite its modest size (about 140,000 permanent
residents), Eugene does indeed have a thriving arts community, and
lots of outdoor sports opportunities are available to visitors
(running, cycling, rafting and kayaking are especially popular).
Eugene is also home to an eclectic assortment of self-proclaimed
political activists, from your run-of-the-mill 'green-niks' to your
'anarcho-primitivists' - and no matter what one ends up actually
doingin Eugene, visitors are sure to have a great time in
what is surely one of the most self-consciously progressive cities
in America. There are plenty of art museums to be visited in
Eugene, and the region is also famous for its wineries (some of
them, just a short but scenic drive away). Visitors are strongly
encouraged to walk the streets of the city and to chat to some of
the uniformly-interesting locals, before enjoying the vibrant
night-life that's on offer. Just remember to go easy on the
Kool-Aid...
Address:
About two hours (111 miles, 180km) south of Portland, on
Interstate 5
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Website:
www.eugene-or.gov
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Description:
The Hoyt Arboretum, located within Washington Park and about two
miles west of downtown Portland, is home to an outstanding
collection of rare and exotic tree species. The 187-acre arboretum
is nothing less than a 'living laboratory', and boasts more than
10,000 individual trees and shrubs, from more than 1,100 different
species - including a few specimens of Dawn Redwood, a tree which
was thought for many years to be extinct. The trees are arranged by
taxonomy and geography, and are labelled so that visitors can learn
more about the ones they find particularly memorable (although
volunteer tour guides may also be engaged). The arboretum consists
of 12 miles (about 19 km) of walking trails, a visitor's centre
that is open six days a week, an enormous picnic shelter, and a
meadow. Visitors of all ages will enjoy spending time in this
'urban oasis' on the banks of the Willamette River.
Address:
4000 Southwest Fairview Boulevard
Postcode:
Telephone:
(503) 865-8733
Email:
Website:
www.hoytarboretum.org
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