Oregon
Discover Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It features rugged coastlines, dense forests, fun cities, mountains, canyons, steppes, and desert in the southeastern part of the state. Oregon's regional makeup is largely defined by its impressive natural features; most importantly its mountain ranges which not only provide convenient dividing lines, but which even create a distinct climate in each of the state's regions. Travelers who cover several regions during their stay will find the differences between regions so stark that they can gain a wide variety of experiences.
What to Experience in Oregon
Taste of Oregon...
From the coastal hamlets to the valley cities to the remote towns of the high desert, Oregonians drink, and proudly. Because of the growing wine and microbrewery industries in the state which produce drink of world-class quality, having a tipple and touring beverage facilities is a popular pastime for Oregon residents and tourists alike. It is occasionally joked that one cannot throw a cat in the city of Portland without hitting a bar, while most other towns of any appreciable size have at least two places in which one can imbibe. Yes, the drinking culture here is strong, and if you like to pickle your giblets then you'll be in heaven. Oregon is an Alcoholic Beverage Control State and as such requires all distilled spirits to be sold by state-approved outlets. Because the liquor stores purchase their wares from the state at an inflated and heavily-taxed cost, liquor by the bottle or by the shot can run your booze bill up pretty quickly. Fortunately, Oregon has no shot size regulation (such as, say, Utah has) and many bars - especially in the Portland area - pour their drinks quite liberally; in fact, a literal three fingers of whiskey is not uncommon if you know the barkeep. There are no so-called "blue laws" concerning time of alcohol sales other than a daily 2:30-7AM restriction, so if you like kegs and eggs for your Sunday breakfast, Oregon's your kind of place.
Culture & Religion
Culture
Today, Oregon is a study in contrast and diversity. Oregon was one of the first states to give citizens the power to pass legislation via initiative and referendum. Ballot measures in the state run the gamut from very conservative to very liberal, displaying a wide variety of opinions. The Cascade mountain range forms both a geographical and cultural dividing line between west and east. West of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley, progressive opinions such as environmentalism prevail, while in eastern Oregon political thought tends to be rather conservative. Oregon, however, has a reputation for innovation. Besides being the first state to allow initiative and referendum, it was the first state to establish a beverage container deposit law (also known as a bottle bill), the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide, one of the first to legalize medical marijuana. A measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Oregon was approved on November 4, 2014.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Oregon into what it is today.
Humans have inhabited present-day Oregon since about 13,000 years ago, and by the time of European exploration in the 1500s there were many established Native American tribes. The earliest explorers came by sea to the west coast of North America in search of the Northwest Passage, and later by land, but they largely ignored many areas of present-day Oregon. Although numerous sea expeditions explored the coast of Oregon, it wasn't until 1792 when American captain Robert Gray first entered what would become known as the Columbia River, followed soon afterward by British captain George Vancouver. By land, American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition across the Louisiana Purchase to the mouth of the Columbia, arriving at the Pacific Coast in 1805. An expedition financed by John Jacob Astor later established a fort at what is now Astoria. From 1818 to 1846, the Oregon Country (which also included present-day Washington state and British Columbia) was jointly occupied by the US and the United Kingdom. At that time, most settlers were involved in fur trading. A group of early American settlers eventually established a provisional government in 1843 at Champoeg. As more American settlers followed the Oregon Trail and settled in the Oregon Country, a boundary dispute with the United Kingdom was settled in the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which drew the boundary line at the 49th parallel, the present-day boundary between the United States and Canada....
Climate
The Cascade Range forms a dividing line between two climate zones in Oregon. Moisture from the Pacific Ocean meets a barrier at the Cascade Range, resulting in abundant rainfall in western Oregon during the fall, winter, and spring, and milder temperatures overall. East of the Cascades, however, the climate is semi-arid and much drier, with a wider range of temperatures during the year. Snow falls abundantly in the Cascade mountains during the winter. Today, Oregon is a study in contrast and diversity. Oregon was one of the first states to give citizens the power to pass legislation via initiative and referendum. Ballot measures in the state run the gamut from very conservative to very liberal, displaying a wide variety of opinions. The Cascade mountain range forms both a geographical and cultural dividing line between west and east.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe vast majority of air travel into Oregon is done through 45.588611-122.59751 Portland International Airport (PDX), located on the north side of the city along the Columbia River. The airport has won several awards for traveler satisfaction and offers relatively quick ingress and egress due to its moderate size. Quick access to ground transportation of all types is readily available. National services are provided by all major United States airlines, with direct flights available from most western airports; Alaska Airlines uses PDX as a hub. International service is limited with direct flights available from Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Tokyo plus seasonal flights from some resort cities in Mexico. Flights into Oregon's other commercial airports are available from several neighboring states, but can be costly in comparison to flights into Portland. While several links are direct, many itineraries will involve a connection through Portland....
Regions
Explore AreasOregon's regional makeup is largely defined by its impressive natural features; most importantly its mountain ranges which not only provide convenient dividing lines, but which even create a distinct …...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck website provides up-to-date info on available transportation services in Oregon, whether it's intercity buses, trains, or local public transit. Use this handy resource to find your way around the state car-free. Amtrak provides Thruway service to almost any destination in Oregon that is served by an intercity bus. Many trips involving a bus can be booked with Amtrak, even if your itinerary does not include a train ride. Similarly, you can book most bus trips through Greyhound, even if Greyhound doesn't operate any of the buses you ride. Amtrak offers several ways to enter and travel throughout Oregon by train: Road travel within Oregon is facilitated by a network of highways criss-crossing the state. Oregon does not have many freeways, with only Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 covering any significant distances beyond urban areas.
Where to Stay
The Oregon State Parks are among the best in the United States, being very well maintained and in beautiful locations. Accommodations range from hiker-biker tent sites to standard car camping/RV lots to cabins and yurts. While some parks have an allotment of "first-come, first serve" camping spots, booking ahead is a necessity during the summer months. Oregonians are known for being exceptionally kind and welcoming people; accordingly, violent crime in Oregon is quite low and visitors are not likely to have any harm come to them during their stay. Property crime is infrequent, but does occur. In urban areas and rural alike, mind your valuable items as you would anywhere else. Car prowling is a pervasive problem in the Willamette Valley cities (Portland, Eugene, and Salem) and forest trailheads; pay special attention in these areas. If you are in need of emergency assistance, dial 911 on your phone. Recreational use of marijuana is legal in Oregon.
Money & Budget
Unlike most US states, Oregon has no sales tax. There is no tax included in posted prices and no tax is added at the till. This is worth bearing in mind if you're planning on making any large purchases during an interstate trip. Many large chain stores are located in Portland along the Columbia River. These stores attract shoppers from neighboring Washington, which has some of the nation's higher sales taxes. Portland has several neighborhoods with unique shops, as well as a Saturday Market for local arts and crafts as well as food and music. Powell's Books is the largest new and used bookstore in the state, but there are many smaller book sellers throughout Oregon.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Oregonians are known for being exceptionally kind and welcoming people; accordingly, violent crime in Oregon is quite low and visitors are not likely to have any harm come to them during their stay. Property crime is infrequent, but does occur. In urban areas and rural alike, mind your valuable items as you would anywhere else. Car prowling is a pervasive problem in the Willamette Valley cities (Portland, Eugene, and Salem) and forest trailheads; pay special attention in these areas. If you are in need of emergency assistance, dial 911 on your phone. Recreational use of marijuana is legal in Oregon. Adults 21 years and older can legally carry one ounce of marijuana on their person and purchase it from licensed marijuana dispensaries. However, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal; you cannot carry marijuana across state lines (even to neighboring Washington and California, where recreational marijuana is also legal), nor is use of marijuana in public places allowed.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Oregon
The beautiful Oregon coast.
Trillium Lake’s serenity welcomes Mt. Hood
I was driving a little too fast on this windy forest road and when I saw this sign I tried to pull out my camera in time but I was not fast enough. So I had to turn around and go back to capture this and wait a few minutes for someone else with the same idea to move out of the way, but it was definitely worth the trouble.
waterfalls during daytime
Serenity from Trillium
We headed back to Mt. Hood National Forest early this morning to hike Bald Mountain. It was really cool watching the fog and clouds roll through the deep forest. We also saw deer! Good vibes.
Oregon coast
If you read this say hi.
Natural Bridges
Watch Vlog: https://youtu.be/qorH5hiqEvw
The beautiful Oregon coast.
Trillium Lake’s serenity welcomes Mt. Hood
I was driving a little too fast on this windy forest road and when I saw this sign I tried to pull out my camera in time but I was not fast enough. So I had to turn around and go back to capture this and wait a few minutes for someone else with the same idea to move out of the way, but it was definitely worth the trouble.