Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest of United States It features rugged rocky shores, dense forests, fun, cities, mountains, deep canyons, and the desert in the southeastern part of the state.
Understand
In the mid-1800s, tens of thousands of settlers embarked on a months-long journey across plains, deserts, and mountains to reach the fertile farmland of the Willamette Valley at the end of the Oregon Trail. They traveled on foot, with wagons, faced heat, dust, disease, exhaustion and hunger. But as you go to Oregon you will begin to understand what originally led the explorers and settlers to endure such hardships to get there.
Cities
- Salem - the capital and third city, situated in the middle of the Willamette Valley, one of the best agricultural regions in the world as well as home to Willamette University.
- Ashland - home of the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival
- Astoria - a historic fishing town at the mouth of the Columbia River, with many shipwrecks in the area
- Corvallis - home to Oregon State University on the western side of the Willamette Valley
- Eugene - home to the University of Oregon, the state's second city is known for being very socially and environmentally conscious.
- Hood River - located in the Columbia Gorge and subject to strong winds, the city is a haven for windsurfers.
- Newport - located on the Oregon coast, with a large aquarium and marina, attracting those interested in learning more about the coast and the sea
- Portland - the largest city and cultural capital of the state has one of the most livable urban centers in the country and distinct neighborhoods. Offers a wide range of educational opportunities such as Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, University of Portland, Portland State University (PSU), Oregon Health Sciences University (medical, nursing and dental school and teaching hospital); and Portland Community College (the largest community college in the state).
Other destinations
- Crater Lake National Park - is the deepest lake in the world above sea level and the only National Park in Oregon
- Lewis and Clark National Monument - 12 park sites located on a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast located at the western end of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
- Mount Bachelor: Ski and Snowboard (November to May)
- Oregon Caves National Monument - A marble cave complex that has been a tourist attraction since the late 1800s.
- Oregon National Historic Trail - as the forerunner of America's westward expansion.
- Cerros Pintados - It is a national monument of approximately 3,132 hectares, one of the most photographed areas in Oregon. The colors change as the sun moves across the sky, making for an extended visit quite enjoyable.
- Willamette National Forest -Offers numerous outdoor recreation activities including hiking, sailing, and camping on Waldo Lake.
Weather
The waterfall forms a dividing line between two climate zones in Oregon. Moisture from the Pacific Ocean assembles a barrier in the Cascade Range, leading to abundant rainfall in western Oregon during the fall, winter, and spring and more moderate temperatures overall.
East of the waterfalls, however, the climate is semi-arid and much drier, with a wide range of temperatures throughout the year. Snow falls heavily on the Cascade Mountains during winter.
Learn
Today, Oregon in a study in contrast and diversity was one of the first states to give citizens the power to pass laws by initiative and referendum. Electoral measures in the state run from the very conservative to the very liberal range, displaying a wide variety of opinions. The waterfalls both geographically and culturally divide the line between East and West. In Cascades West in the Willamette Valley, progressive views such as environmentalism prevail, while in eastern Oregon political thinking tends to be rather conservative.
Oregon, however, has a reputation for innovation for being the first state to allow the initiative and the referendum, it was the first state to establish a beverage container deposit law, the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide, an among the first to legalize medical marijuana.
To get
The vast majority of air travel in Oregon is made through Portland International Airport (IATA: 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 fast entry and exit due to its moderate size and lack of downtown services. Quick access to transportation of all kinds is readily available.
Domestic Services are provided by major US airlines, with direct flights available from westernmost airports. International service is limited to direct flights from Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Tokyo plus seasonal flights from some cities in Mexico.
Move around
Oregon has numerous highways in the state of its neighbors:
• From California is the Interstate 5 freeway originating from north Shasta crosses the Siskiyou Mountains and into the upper Willamette Valley and most of the largest cities in the state. If you are traveling to the Oregon coast, the US Highway 101 is a more scenic option connecting the Northern California coast with Oregon. To the east side of the waterfalls, the US Highways 97 and 395 offer good quality roads to access Central and Eastern Oregon.
• From Washington, the most common is via Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 bridges in the Portland metropolitan area. There are several other crossing points on the United States shared Columbia River border for regional travelers, including the impressive causeway in the US. Highway 101, at the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria. Further east, if you are coming from the Spokane or Yakima areas, you cross Interstate 82 into the state near its northeast corner. A very scenic route also leaves along the Columbia River on us Hwy 12 (north end) and us Hwy 730 (south end). This joins Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon.
• From Idaho Interstate 84 is the primary way into the state, crossing the Snake River into Ontario and continuing through the Blue Mountains and the Columbia Gorge into Portland. Additionally, US Highways 20 and 26, which enter the state near Nyssa, offer routes through the eastern half of Oregon, crossing the waterfalls and the Willamette Valley, and ending on the Oregon coast. Several smaller roads cross the border for local access.
Respect
West of the Cascades, speed limits on freeways are typically 65 miles per hour outside of urban areas, while others are limited to 55 miles per hour. As of March 1, 2016, Interstate 84 east of The Dalles and Interstate 82 now have speed limits of 70 miles per hour and many of the rural highways east of the Cascades now have speed limits of up to 65 mph. Oregon has a reputation for strict speed limit enforcement, especially compared to some other western states. Fines start at $ 110 (2014) for exceeding the speed limit of 1 to 10 MPH and increase very sharply from there.
Watch
Tour the Oregon Coast • Majestic Mountains: The towering snowcaps of the Cascade Range, the lush covered hills of the Coast Range, and the rugged Eastern Oregon Ranges all provide beautiful backdrops for outdoor activities throughout the condition.
• Lush forests: Almost every region in Oregon is home to vast expanses of state and national forest land, although each region has a unique mix of tree species and flora.
• Flora and fauna: Due to the large amount of habitat in the state, you are able to see a large number of species of wildlife. This includes hundreds of species of birds, both migratory and resident, that can be seen in city parks, along beaches, and in wildlife refuges.
• Performing Arts: Portland is home to vibrant theater and music scenes, to a variety of flavors throughout the city's neighborhoods. Additionally, several major performing arts events are held in other locations across the state from jazz festivals on the beach to the world-renowned Ashland Shakespeare festival.
• Sports: Portland is home to three professional major league teams in the state, Portland Trailblazers of the National Basketball Association, Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer and the Portland Thorns national league women's soccer.
• Rivers and wetlands: With mountainous terrain and abundant rain and snow, several river networks throughout the state, from torrents fed by melting snow, raging rapids, over waterfalls and down into placid lakes and low-lying wetlands.
• Rocks and shoreline beaches: State beaches are all public, allowing unrestricted access to the shoreline with beautiful views of storm-struck coastal rock formations and watching the sun go down.
Do
•Camping : Oregon is dotted with campsites for different types of experiences due to numerous state parks, and the most popular sites can be reserved well in advance (especially those that offer more services) so it is best to reserve in advance.
•Rafting: in the rough waters of the Oregon Falls.
•Bicycles or horseback : The Spring Water Trail and Downtown Portland. Take advantage of Oregon's spectacular scenic bike paths.
To buy
Unlike most of the United States, Oregon does not have sales tax or taxes included in the published prices. This is worth considering if you are 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 highest sales taxes in the nation.
Portland has several neighborhoods with unique shops, as well as a Saturday local craft market, as well as food and music. Powell Books is the largest new and used bookstore in the state, but there are many smaller booksellers throughout Oregon.
Drink and go out
Oregon has more than 400 wineries in the state. Some of the largest and best known wineries are:
• Willamette Valley Vineyards, Turner (southeast Salem)
• Rex Hill, Newberg (southwest Portland)
• Valley View Vineyards, Jacksonville (southwest of Medford)
• King Estate, Eugene (southwest of the city)
• Erath Winery, Dundee (southwest Portland)
There are also several well-known distilleries such as:
• Chapel River Distillery, Hood River, specializing in traditional strong spirits such as gin, vodka, rum and whiskey. (Your Pendleton blended whiskey is recommended)
• Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, specializing in regional fruit product distilled spirits.
• Rogue Brewery has a nascent and flavorful distillation operation that produces specialty liquors.