With its large artistic community and an overload of urban green space, Portland and its residents often come across as a little quirky to outsiders. With Voodoo Doughnut serving up world-famous giant doughnuts in a multitude of flavors and an art gallery dedicated to velvet paintings nestled between dozens of fine art and craft spaces, Portland really does offer something for everyone. A getaway to the pedestrian and bike friendly Rose City doesn't even require a rental car, unless you want to travel outside the urban center to explore the Columbia River, Mount Hood or Hood River Valley, which are all easily accessible from the city.
Just south of Portland sits the Willamette Valley, home of over 200 wineries and the growing region of America's most used hop. Wine and beer aside, a getaway to this rural region of Oregon offers a great escape for hikers and cyclists, as well as those just looking to cruise on some quiet back roads discovering covered bridges and picturesque farmland. The Willamette Vallet runs for about 150 miles along Interstate 5, making it an easy travel getaway. It's pronounced "will-LAM-ette" in case you're wondering.
About 360 miles of public coastline spans the western edge of Oregon, which is dotted with small towns and ragged cliffs. Hiking, camping and fishing are a big part of summer getaways to the area, while winter offers a great chance for storm watching and curling up next to a fire in a rented beach house. Cities like Seaside and Newport serve as a tourist's playground with cute shops, gourmet food and unique galleries. When the weather allows, visit the Sea Lion Caves near Florence, climb the spiral staircase up the Astoria Column or venture to one of the dozens of lighthouses that dot the shore.
If you're looking for an adventurous outdoor getaway, then Oregon has exactly what you're looking fro in a travel destination. Travel to the Mt. Hood region to explore more than 60 miles of forested mountains, 77 waterfalls, 4 ski areas and countless rivers. Timberline Lodge offers the country's only year-round skiing and snowboarding, while the Hood River offers wind mighty enough for exceptional windsurfing and kite boarding. Even the museums center around the natural environment of the region with the Oregon Trail Interpretative Center and the Columbia Gorge Discover Center, offering hours of educational fun for families.
