Welcome to Oregon

Welcome to outdoorsy Oregon, where a laid-back vibe and a love of the great outdoors permeates through every crack and crevice in the state. Once you’re here, it’s easy to see why. In a nutshell, Oregon has it all—from the craggy oceanic coastline and lush evergreen forests to endlessly arid deserts and ancient icy glaciers.

Hip and trendy Portland is Oregon’s largest city and its cultural capital. The downtown area is walkable, features lots of green space, and is stuffed with great shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It’s also home to the Cultural District, where you’ll find a collection of theaters, museums and Portlandia—the second-largest hammered copper sculpture in the country (behind only the Statue of Liberty). Located above the entrance of the Portland Building, the depiction of a female holding a trident is one of the town’s major landmarks. Don’t miss the Portland Saturday Market (one of the largest outdoor markets in the country), the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Art Museum and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

Other highlights around the Beaver State include the wineries and historic towns of the Willamette Valley, the beachfront communities dotting the Oregon coast and the surreal, otherworldly landscapes of eastern Oregon.

Adventure

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person or family, Oregon won’t disappoint. Whether you’re looking to hike, bike, fish, hunt, canoe, kayak, ski or snowboard, the Beaver State is bursting with destinations and opportunities for outdoor adventure.

One of the most popular and easy-to-access destinations is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, located just east of Portland along the Oregon-Washington border. Here, the Columbia River cuts a swath through the Cascade Range, resulting in sweeping scenery and an abundance of epic waterfalls.

In the extreme northeastern corner of the state, you’ll find one of the most rugged and visually breathtaking sites in the country—Hells Canyon. The deepest river gorge in North America, Hells Canyon is best explored on an official guided rafting tour. Much of the surrounding area is officially designated as “wild,” but there are nearly 900 miles of incredible hiking trails winding their way through the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

Other popular spots include Crater Lake National Park in southwestern Oregon, Multnomah Falls in northern Oregon, the Painted Hills area in central Oregon and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on the Oregon coast.

Entertainment

When it comes to big-time festivals and events featuring lots of fanfare, Oregon doesn’t disappoint.

If you’re visiting anytime between February and November, you’d do well to catch a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. This Tony Award-winning festival has been running since 1935 and presents more than 700 performances each year.

Summer brings in the Portland Rose Festival, which has been attracting visitors from far and wide for more than a century. Highlights include the Grand Floral Parade (one of the largest all-floral parades in the country), live performances from top musicians and fireworks.