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Travel Oregon
670 Hawthorne Avenue SE
Suite 240
Salem, Oregon 97301
www.traveloregon.com
Central Oregon Visitors Association
661 SW Powerhouse Dr
Suite 1301
Bend, Oregon 97702
(541) 389-8799
1-800-800-8334
www.visitcentraloregon.c
om
Southern Oregon Visitors Association
Medford, Oregon 97501
(541) 779-4691
www.sova.org
Willamette Valley Visitors Association
250 Broadalbin St SW
Suite 110
Albany, Oregon 97321
1-866-548-5018
www.oregonwinecountry.or
g
Oregon Coast Regional Tourism Association
137 NE First St
Newport, Oregon 97365
(541) 574-2679
1-888-628-2101
www.visittheoregoncoast.
com
Eastern Oregon Visitors Association/Oregon Trail Marketing Coalition
15477 Sky Ranch Lane
Haines, Oregon 97833
(541) 523-9200
1-800-332-1843
www.eova.com
Portland Oregon Visitors Association/Portland Metro Tourism Alliance
1000 SW Broadway Suite 2300
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 275-9750
1-800-962-3700
www.travelportland.com
Oregon’s Mt Hood Territory/Clackamas County Tourism Development Council
2051 Kaen Rd
Suite 427
Oregon City, Oregon 97045
(503) 655-8490
www.mthoodterritory.com
Posted by: Larry Geddis
Introduction
Oregon, known for its natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes, is wild and adventurous. The state, the 10th largest, has a population of about 3.5 million people. Salem is the capital; Portland is the largest city, with 2.2 million people living in the metropolitan area. Seven distinctive regions in Oregon — the Coast, Portland Metro, Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge, the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, Central Oregon, and Eastern Oregon — represent a wealth of diverse climates, cultures and recreational opportunities. There is always something to do and plenty to see. So pack your bags and hit the road for one of the most diverse places to visit in the United States. You have some exploring to do!
Few other states in the US offer such incredibly diverse landscapes as Oregon. In the West almost 400 miles of rugged coastline run along the Pacific Ocean, dotted with charming fishing villages, historic lighthouses and dramatic scenery. Further inland, rivers run through rich valleys, lush green pastures and vineyards. Romantic towns welcome visitors with quaint antique shops, art galleries and covered bridges.
To explore Oregon, Portland, its largest city, is a good starting point. Visitors will find a vibrant nightlife, great restaurants and museums and world-class gardens and parks. Nearby, some of the most stunning scenery in Oregon can be found along the Columbia River, which has cut a deep gorge with waterfalls that cascade down rock formations. Mt. Hood, the highest peak of the state, towers over the gorge.
While Mt. Hood impresses with its altitude, Crater Lake in the South amazes visitors with its depth. Over thousands of years this volcanic crater has been filled with rainwater, creating the deepest lake in America.
Mt. Hood and Crater Lake area are part of the Cascade Mountain Range that runs through the entire state. The snow capped volcanic peaks not only divide Oregon in a lush, green West and a dry high desert in the East; they also offer perfect conditions for skiing, hiking, biking, camping, fishing and other outdoor activities.
For a unique experience head to Eastern Oregon where the true “wild west” is still alive and visitors can follow the desert ground tracks that the ox-drawn wagons of the first settlers of the famous Oregon Trail left behind over 150 years ago.
Today, visitors to Oregon enjoy the unspoiled nature the state has to offer, experience the great food and cultural attractions, shop tax-free and meet friendly Oregonians that welcome them into their home state.
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