Oregon (OR)

Oregon State Flag

"The Beaver State"

Koosah Falls (Middle Falls), OR. Photo Credit:  Davgood Kirshot/Pixabay 

Why visit Oregon?

Ideal for the outdoor travelers seeking a coastal scenery to enjoy arts, backpacking, beaches, bicycling, camping, clamming, canoeing, covered bridges, crabbing, culture, deserts, fishing, forests, geology, golf, hiking, historic lighthouses, history, kiteboarding, lakes, microbreweries, mountains, rivers, skiing, volcanos, water falls, water sports, white water rafting, wildlife, wilderness, wineries and windsurfing.

Mount Hood, OR. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Salem
• State Bird: Western Meadowlark
• State Dessert: None
• State Flower: Oregon Grape
• State Gemstone: Oregon Sunstone Labradorite
• State Mammal: Beaver
• State Rock: Thunderegg Agate 

Portland, OR. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• During World War II, six civilians were killed by a Japanese balloon bomb which exploded on Gearhart Mountain (Summer Lake).
  
• First state to institute vote by mail elections.
• The first state to implement, the Oregon Death with Dignity Act (legalized physician assist suicide). The second state in our country to legalize same sex marriages and recreational marijuana.
  
• Crater Lake (Southern Oregon), is the deepest lake in our country.
  
• A leading exporter of Christmas trees.
  
• Home to the single largest organism in the world, Armillaria Ostoyae (fungus/mushroom).
  
• Along the state's south coast farms is where majority of our nation's Easter lily bulbs are grown.
• Headquarters (Beaverton) to a billion dollar large public sportswear corporation, Nike, Inc.
  
• Our country's leading producer of hazelnut.
• Gresham (suburb of Portland) was the first to enact a law for tailgating.
  
• Claims to have shortest river D River (440 ft) and smallest park, Mill Ends Park (Portland) in the world.
  
• Given the climate, grapes planted and soil their wines are often compared (Alsace & Burgundy) to that of France.
• Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport) is ranks as the Top Ten Aquariums in North America. Also, was home to late Keiko (male Orca Whale) filmed in Free Willy.
  
• One of six states with a revenue limit, the "Kicker Law", pertains to the income tax collection exceeding state economists' estimates by 2% or more than excess must be returned to taxpayer(s).
  
• Features 1 National Park, 13 National Forests and 231 State Parks.

Bridge of the Gods, Cascade Locks, OR. Photo Credit: ArtTower/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Grayson Boucher (Athlete), Kim Rhoades (Actress), Lisa Rinna (Actress), River Phoenix (Actor), Ryan Potter (Actor), Soni Nicole Bringas (Actress), Tonya Harding (Athlete) and Ty Burrell (Actor), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: Animal House (1978), Free Willy (1993), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), The Goonies (1985), The Shining (1980), Twilight (2008) and Wild (2014), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in Oregon: The Jump Off Creek (written by Molly Gloss) and The Silent Sea (written by Clive Cussler & Jack Du Brul), just to name a few.

Painted Hills, Wheeler County, OR. Photo Credit: ArielJ/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Has two time zones, Mountain Time Zone or Pacific Time Zone.
  
• Portland has ranked one of the best bicycling cities in our country.
• Has no sales tax! So, shop, S-H-O-P, shop...
  
• State Law requires attendants pump your gas for you.
  
• Many hot springs, are known to be clothing optional.
  

• On Collins Beach (Sauvie Island) clothing is optional.

  
  
• State Law enforces "driving recklessly to vent anger at other drivers".
• Portland hosts the World Naked Bike Ride in June.

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, OR. Photo Credit: tdfugere/Pixabay 

• Best Time to Visit: June - October
• Coldest Months: November - February
• Hottest Months: July - August
• Peak Season: June - August  

Cannon Beach, OR. Photo Credit: Sam Jotham Sutharson/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Aubrey Watzek House, Bonneville Dam Historic District, Columbia River Highway, Crater Lake Superintendent's Residence, Deady & Villard Halls (University of Oregon), Fort Astoria Site, Fort Rock Cave, Jacksonville Historic District, Kam Wah Chung Company Building, Lightship WAL-604 (Columbia), Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon Caves Chateau, Pioneer Courthouse, Skidmore/Old Town Historic District, Sunken Village Archeological Site, Timberline Lodge and Wallowa Lake Site.
• Museums: Adventure! Children's Museum, Albany Regional Museum,
  Baker Heritage Museum, Bandon Historical Society Museum, Benton County Historical Museum, Bohemia Gold Mining Museum, Bowman Museum, Burrows House, Canby Depot Museum, Chetco Valley Historical Society Museum, Children’s Museum of Klamath Falls, Collier Logging Museum, Columbia River Maritime Museum, Coos Art Museum, Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection, Crater Rock Museum, Creswell Historical Museum, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Deepwood Museum & Gardens, Douglas County Museum, East Linn Museum, Enchanted Forest, End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Eugene Science Center, Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, Flavel House Museum, Fort Klamath Museum, Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum, Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum, Frazier Farmstead Museum, Garibaldi Museum, Gilbert House Children's Museum, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Heritage Museum, Heritage Station Museum, High Desert Museum, Historic Carousel & Museum, Hutson Museum, International Police Museum, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Kam Wah Chung State Heritage Site, Kidd Toy Museum, Lane County History Museum, Leo Adler House Museum, Linn County Historical Museum, Maritime Museum, Marshfield Sun Printing Museum, Milwaukie Museum, Museum At Warm Springs, Museum of Natural & Cultural History, Museum of the Oregon Territory, Museum of Whimsy, National Hat Museum, National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, North Lincoln County Historical Museum, OMSI, Oregon Air & Space Museum, Oregon Coast Military Museum, Oregon Electric Railway Museum, Oregon Film Museum, Oregon Historical Society, Oregon Jewish Museum & Center for Holocaust Education, Oregon Maritime Museum, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry, Oregon Rail Heritage Center, OSH Musuem of Mental Health, Pacific Northwest Truck Museum, Petersen Rock Garden & Museum, Polk County Museum, Portland Art Museum, Portland Children's Museum, Portland Police Museum & Historical Society, Portland Puppet Museum, Port Orford Lifeboat Station, Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, Schmidt House Museum & Library, ScienceWorks Hands On Museum, Shelton McMurphey Johnson House (Castle on the Hill), Sherman County Historical Museum, Siuslaw Pioneer Museum, Springfield Museum, Stark's Vacuum Museum, The Faux Museum, The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium & Museum, The Lincoln Street Kayak & Canoe Museum, The Zymoglyphic Museum,Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, Union County Museum, Vernonia Pioneer Museum, Vista House, Wallowa County Museum, Washington County Museum, Willamette Heritage Center and World of Speed Motorsports Museum.
• Popular Attractions: Alton Baker Park, Bagby Hot Springs, Bastendorff Beach, Beverly Beach State Park, Bridal Veil Falls, Bridge of the Gods, Bullwinkle's Wilsonville, Bush's Pasture Park, Cape Arago State Park, Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, Cape Lookout State Park, Cape Meares Lighthouse, Cape Sebastian State Scenic Corridor, Carl G Washburne Memorial State Park, Cascade Mountains, Cascade Range, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Chinook Winds Casino, Columbia Hills Historical State Park, Columbia River Gorge, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Coquille River Lighthouse, Crater Lake National Park, Deschutes National Forest, Deschutes River, Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area, Drake Park, Eagle Creek, Elowah Falls, Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, Fort George Brewery, Fort Stevens State Park, Frank Lloyd Wright Gordon House, Fremont–Winema National Forest, Full House Poker, Ground Kontrol, Harris Beach State Park, Haystack Rock, Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, Historic Columbia River Highway, Horsetail Falls, Horsfall Beach, Hoyt Arboretum, Hug Point State Recreation Site, Indian Head Casino, International Rose Test Garden, Jessie M Honeyman Memorial State Park, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Klamath National Forest, Kla-Mo-Ya Casino, Lan Su Chinese Garden, Latourell Falls, Laurelhurst Park, Lava River Cave, Leach Botanical Garden, Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, Lithia Park, Lone Fir Cemetery, Lost Lake, Malheur National Forest, Memaloose State Park, Mount Bachelor, Mount Hood, Mount Tabor Park, Multnomah Falls,  Munson Creek Falls State Natural Site, Muriel O Ponsler Memorial State Scenic Viewpoint, Nehalem Bay State Park, Newberry Volcano, Newport Historic Bayfront, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oaks Amusement Park, Ona State Park, Oneonta Gorge, Oregon Caves, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon Vortex, Oregon Zoo, Oswald West State Park, Painted Hills, Paisley Caves, Pearl District, Pendleton Woolen Mills, Pioneer Square, Pittock Mansion, Powerland Heritage Park, Portlandia, Portland Oregon White Stag Sign, Portland Saturday Market, Poulsen House, Powell's Bookstore, Proposal Rock, Proxy Falls, Punch Bowl Falls, Ripley's Believe It or Not! World of Adventure, Rooster Rock State Park, Sara Hite Rose Garden, Sea Lion Caves, Seaside Aquarium, Seaside Beach Oregon, Seven Feathers Casino, Shanghai Tunnels, Silver Falls State Park, Samuel H  Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Shore Acres State Park, Smith Rock State Park, South Beach State Park, Spirit Mountain Casino, St Johns Bridge, Sunset Bay State Park, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Terwilliger Hot Springs, The Astoria Column, The Cove Palisades State Park, The Grotto, Thor's Well, The Oregon Garden, The Potter's Vineyard & Clay Art Gallery, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, Tillamook Creamery, Toketee Falls, Tolovana Beach State Recreation Site, Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Trillium Lake, Tumalo Falls, Umpqua Lighthouse State Park, Umpqua National Forest, USS Blueback Submarine, Valley of the Rogue State Park, Wahclella Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Wallowa Lake, Washington Park, West Coast Game Park Safari, Wildlife Safari, Willamette National Forest, Willamette Valley, Wings & Waves Waterpark, Witch's Castle, Wizard Island, World Forestry Center, Wreck of the Peter Iredale, Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
• Popular Cities/Towns to Visit: Ashland, Astoria, Bend, Beaverton, Corvallis, Eugene, Florence, Gresham, Hillsboro, Hood River, Lincoln City, Medford, Myrtlewood, Newport, Pendleton, Portland, Salem, Springfield, Tillamook and Warrenton.
• Special Events: (January) Chamber Music Northwest Winter Festival, Fertile Ground Festival, Florence Winter Music Festival, Old Time Music Gathering, Portland Seafood & Wine Festival, Reel Music Film Festival, Rose City Classic, (February) Festival of Dark Arts, Figure Skating Spectacular, FisherPoets Gathering, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Winterfest, PDX Jazz Festival, Portland Winter Light Festival, Valen Tango, Zwickelmania (March) Big LEGO Convention, Celtic Pride, Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, (April) PIR Auto Swap Meet, Portland Swap Meet, Tulip Fest, (May) Florence Rhododendron Festival, McMenamins UFO Festival, Rose Festival, St Johns Bizarre, Upper Clackamas Whitewater Festival, (June) 4 Peaks Music Festival, Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, Chainsaw Carving Championship, Lincoln City Kite Festival, Pride Festival, Rockaway Beach Pirate Festival, Tigard Festival of Balloons, World Beat Festival, World Naked Bike Ride, (July) DuneFest, Estacada Timber Festival, Northwest World Reggae Festival (NWWRF), Shift Festival, Harefest, Klamath Basin Brew & Q Food & Music Festival, Northwest String Summit, Oregon Brewers Festival, Oregon Country Fair, Oregon Jamboree, Pendleton Whisky Music Fest, Pickathon, St Paul Rodeo, The Big Float, Waterfront Blues Festival, Wildwood Music Fest, (August) Airshow of the Cascades, Beloved Festival, Durkee Steak Feed, Faerieworlds, Hood to Coast, Oregon State Fair, PDX Adult Soap Box Derby, Pickathon, Pig-n-Ford Races, Providence Bridge Pedal, SLUG Queen Pageant, (September) Cycle Oregon, Feast Portland, Mount Angel Oktoberfest, Oregon's Alpenfest, Oregon International Airshow, Pendleton Round-Up, Rose City Comic Con, Sisters Folk Festival, Sublimity Harvest Festival, (October) Giant Pumpkin Regatta, Harvest Party, H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival, McMinnville Short Film Festival,l (MSFF), Mount Pisgah Arboretum Mushroom Festival, Portland Greek Festival, Retro Gaming Expo, The Wedge, (November) Holiday Ale Festival, Holiday Lights at Shore Acres, Wordstock, (December) Lighted Christmas Parade, New Year's Eve Sobriety Powwow, SantaCons, St Charles Christmas Tree Auction and Tuba Christmas.

Crater Lake, Klamath County, OR. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Ready to embark on custom and personalized services, your journey begins with Louvet Travel? 

Your one stop source: Accommodations I Air I Car Rentals I Cruises I Disney I Excursions I Tours I Transfers I Travel Insurance I Villa Rentals

All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.