Travel The Different Parts of Oregon

The state of Oregon has much to see and is classified as part of the great Northwest.  If you travel from one part of Oregon to the next, you will be amazed at just how many different topographies you will see and how many wonderful places there are in each region.

Oregon consists of 7 regions - Portland Metro area, the Willamette Valley area, Central Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge area and the Oregon Coast.

For more information on Oregon travel and all the beautiful places that await you by region, visit this website.

Portland is located in the northwest part of Oregon and is home to the Portland Trailblazers. This busy city has the feel of Seattle though on a much smaller scale. Park your car and ride the transportation system MAX wherever you want to go. Portland boasts many beautiful museums, a fabulous zoo, a huge public market and countless venues for shopping and dining. Portland is situated at the mouth of the Columbia River and all the amenities that go along with a seaport abound in Portland. It is a beautiful city with many other parts of the Northwest just minutes away.

The Willamette Valley area of Oregon is most notable for its wineries. The entire valley is made up of vast farmlands where they produce famous wines especially of the pinot gris and pinot noir variety. However, the Willamette Valley is also famous for exporting Christmas trees, producing superb crops of hazelnuts, raspberries and blueberries. Orchards abound in this perfect agricultural climate and share space with the many wineries. Willamette Valley is also famous for its bed-and-breakfast trade and boasts some of the finest B&B's in the country.

Central Oregon is most famous for its climate - boasting on average 300 clear days per year! The climate of Central Oregon is high mountain desert so while you may see temps climb into the 100's on a summer day, it will always be cool again come nightfall. Central Oregon overflows with venues for recreation such as river rafting, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and fishing to name a few. The Cascade Lakes are located in Central Oregon and are a favorite vacation spot for people from around the world. As well, Central Oregon boasts such attractions as Smith Rock, Painted Hills of Oregon, John Day Fossil Beds, SunRiver, Mt. Bachelor and the Newberry Crater - to name only a few.

In Eastern Oregon, you will find the Blue Mountains and such treasures as the town of Joseph set high in the mountains. Joseph, Oregon is home to some of the largest bronze factories in the United States and many of the bronze statues that you find in Oregon originate here. It is a simple, sleepy little town with beautiful views, wildlife everywhere, and surprisingly some unique yet gourmet restaurants. Eastern Oregon is a recreational playground as well for fishing and river rafting; it is also a treasure trove of history going back to the gold mining days. The mainstay in Eastern Oregon has always been ranching and timber and you will find many, many miles of pristine beauty within this region. Towns like Baker City and LaGrande are well worth the trip as they have small town charm with a modern twist. Also close by is Hell's Canyon, one of the most spectacular places in the Northwest.

Southern Oregon boasts rich farmlands and recreational opportunities galore. River rafting and mail boat rides are activities that Southern Oregon offers that are quite unique. The town of Ashland, Oregon is also in Southern Oregon and is the home of the Shakespearean Festival. People come from all over the world to participate and to attend. Ashland, Oregon is also known for its famous Lithia Park and for its many and varied B&B's. Southern Oregon is rich as well in winter recreational possibilities with Mt. Ashland nearby. Crater Lake is one of the most incredible parts of Southern Oregon and is worth the trip. It is a breathtaking natural wonder. Summer usually finds Crater Lake more accessible when it's possible to walk down to the bottom of the lake. The views are incredible and the drive to get there well worth it.

Mt. Hood is an incredible ski area/snow park that attracts thousands of people. Timberline Lodge is one of the most beautiful lodges in the Northwest. The area surrounding Mt. Hood is famous for its orchards, specializing mostly in pears but also apples. There are also abundant wineries and B&B's for the weary traveler. The town of Hood River is perched above the Columbia River Gorge and is most famous for its Columbia River famous pastime - wind surfing. The city attracts wind surfers from all over and the town offers much in terms of breweries and great restaurants. The Columbia River Gorge itself is spectacular. In fall, the changing colors on the crags of the gorge look like carpeted patterns and the views of the gorge are magnificent. For variety, you can also take a steamboat tour up the river gorge.

One of the most popular destinations in Oregon travel is The Oregon Coast. Even though the weather is sometimes not balmy, it doesn't seem to bother anyone. The Oregon Coast spans roughly 400 miles or so of coastline and the beaches are like no others. They are wild and untamed and one of the most popular attractions on the coast is the storm watch. There are also many events throughout the year such as the Rainy Day Festival, the Sandcastle Festival, and the Kite Flying Festival to name a few. B&B's are abundant as are hotels and great dining establishments all along the coast - most times it is essential to book well in advance because the Oregon Coast is extremely popular. There are aquariums, sea lion caves, lighthouses, and staggering forested cliffs to view - not to mention beachcombing on some of the loveliest beaches in the country.

No matter where you go in Oregon, you will be amazed. It does bring to mind the phrase 'God's country' because there is such raw beauty in every part of Oregon and most of it has been left unspoiled.

Oregon is a wonderful place to visit any time of year and depending on what you have in mind for recreation, you can find it.

Remember to pack your camera or your video camera as scenery doesn't get much better than this!