It’s tough to argue that any state in the country has it better than Oregon. From its gorgeous coastal cities to majestic forests to the expansive open spaces of Eastern Oregon, there is something for everyone.
Add in world-class cities for food and general weirdness like Portland and outdoor meccas like Hood River and Bend, and you will have the makings of a state that truly has it all.
If you’re from Oregon or have wanted to visit for years to see the state’s incredible waterfalls, lakes, and beaches, then this article is for you!
The Coast
The Oregon coast draws in thousands of visitors every year, eager to take in the towns, beaches, and lighthouses that make this stretch of coastline so unforgettable. From busy tourist hubs like Cannon Beach and Newport to quaint seaside towns like Port Orford where you may see as many whales as people there is a place for everyone.
Don’t miss sights like Thor’s Well, where it looks like the rocks have opened up and are swallowing the ocean, and the infamous sea lion caves, which are as memorable for the smell as they are for their sheer size.
It’s Amazing Beer Scene
It’s no surprise that a region that breeds innovation in food, coffee, and art also brews some of the best beer in the country. Add in the fact that the Pacific Northwest is the primary hop-growing region in the country, and you have the perfect storm for incredible beer.
While Portland may take the crown for its sheer number of breweries, incredible beers can be found all over the state.
Head to the remote eastern side of the state, and you’ll find standout breweries like Terminal Gravity in Enterprise and Barley Brown’s in Baker City. Or take a drive down the coast, where you can grab a cold one from Fort George Brewing in Astoria or de Garde in Tillamook.
An Outstanding Pizza Scene
Did you know that Portland is home to three of the top 50 pizza restaurants in the nation per 50 Top Pizza? Well, it’s true, and there are so many more pizza restaurants throughout the state that are worth a visit.
It should be no surprise that in a state known for producing incredible cheese, offering prime mushroom foraging, and having no shortage of makers of mouthwatering cured meats, chefs wouldn’t come along and turn that bounty into pizza that is to die for.
Jaw-Dropping Wildflowers
Come springtime, most Oregonians can be found tromping through trails in the Columbia River Gorge or up mountains in the cascades to take in the stunning wildflower displays. Whether you’re looking for hillsides covered in canary yellow balsamroot or high peaks dancing with thousands of pillowy beargrass blooms, Oregon has you covered.
Head to the gorge in early spring as the warm weather attracts the first flowers. As the weather warms up and the snow melts, start heading to higher elevations for jaw-dropping displays framed by our famous volcanic peaks.
General Weirdness
Portland may be known for its motto of Keep Portland Weird, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of other odd events and sights to see across the state.
Still, Portland should be your first stop on a weirdness tour for sights like Mill’s End Park and the Ladds 500 (a 500-lap bike “race” around a quasi-traffic circle.) For more weirdness around the state, head to the handmade Enchanted Forest and walk through the witch’s mouth, or pay a visit to the Oregon Vortex and the House of Mystery.
Incredible Local Foraging
Head out to almost any Oregon forest during the late spring or early fall, and odds are, you’ll run into one of the many edible plants that are prized by foragers and chefs around the state.
Mushrooms are one of the state’s most prized wild foods, from morel mushrooms in the spring to porcini and the famed Pacific golden chanterelle in the fall. Also on the list are huckleberries, which thrive in alpine meadows throughout the cascades, and the elusive truffle, which takes a trained nose to uncover.
Truly Wild Places
Most tourists who visit Oregon never make it beyond Bend, if they even venture east of the Cascade Mountains. But for those who do venture into the Oregon outback, neverending adventure lies in wait.
From sprawling playas perfect for exploring to massive mountain ranges where the wild horses outnumber humans to remote hot springs where you will be the only person for miles. These places are perfect for adventurers looking to get away from the crowds and explore a part of the state that few manage to see.
The Waterfalls
Oregon is famous for many things, but it may be waterfalls that top most tourists’ lists when making their way to this part of the country. From the massively popular Multnomah Falls, which sees over 2 million visitors per year, to remote waterfalls that are only seen by hikers willing to make the sometimes double-digit mile trek on foot, there are hundreds of waterfalls across the state to visit.
The two most popular waterfall viewing areas are the Columbia River Gorge, where a new waterfall awaits around every turn along the highway, and Silver Falls State Park, which is home to the popular Trail of Ten Falls.
The Country’s Deepest Lake
Oregon is home to Crater Lake, which is the deepest lake in the country at over 2,000 feet. This former volcano, which collapsed on itself during an eruption just 7,700 years ago and slowly filled with melted snow, now stands as Oregon’s only national park.
There may be no better sight in the entire state than cresting over the rim and gazing upon the lake for the first time. Crater Lake’s waters are almost unfathomably blue and are a photographer’s dream.
Wineries Galore
The Willamette Valley wine region has established itself as one of the top wine regions not just in the United States but in the entire world. Famous for its earthy pinot noirs, this region has become a must-visit for wine enthusiasts who want to take in the gorgeous scenery and try the award-winning wines.
There are several subregions within the Willamette Valley, from the hotter and drier southern areas that focus more on Spanish-style wines to the coastal-influenced hills west of McMinnville, where pinot rules the day.
Towering Mountains
Oregon is home to more than just Mt. Hood when it comes to impressively large mountains. While Mt. Hood may dominate the Portland skyline, there are also the old cascades that run north and south between the Willamette Valley and Central Oregon, as well as the massive volcanoes that flank the region.
Heading to the east side of the state, the Wallowas rise out of the farmland. This little-visited mountain range wouldn’t look out of place in the middle of Switzerland, yet many people in Oregon have never even heard of them, let alone visited!
The Food Truck Scene
With access to so many incredible Pacific Northwest-grown foods, you would think that it would be chefs who highlighted these ingredients that brought Oregon’s food scene to national prominence. Instead, it was the rise of the food trucks, first in Portland, but now they have become ubiquitous across the entire state.
With the low cost of entry, food trucks allowed chefs to take risks and try out new ventures. This led to many Portland chefs becoming local or even national celebrities on the food scene for their creative flavors.
Food cart pods dot the cities throughout the state and, when combined with one of the state’s famous beers, make for a perfect culinary treat.
Hot Springs Galore
Oregon is home to dozens of natural hot springs, ranging from built-up resorts to rustic soaking pools deep in the forest to repurposed cattle troughs in the Eastern Oregon desert. Whatever your style, there are plenty of options throughout the state to meet your needs.
If you’re looking for one of the best and cleanest soaks around, try out Crane Hot Springs deep in Central Oregon or the off-grid sanctuary of Breitenbush Hot Springs high in the Oregon cascades.
Charming Small Towns
Get outside of Portland and off the I-5 corridor, and you’ll find countless charming towns throughout the state. These towns have managed to embrace the summer influx of tourists while remaining true to their past and providing a wonderful experience for visitors.
On the coast be sure to swing by Astoria for the maritime history of this incredible region. If you’re headed to the east side of the state, then a detour to the town of Joseph is well worth the drive.
Neverending History
Oregon is full of interesting history with many of it standing right in front of your eyes.
Little-known Fort Rock in southcentral Oregon is home to caves that held sandals dated to over 10,000 years old. This would make them the oldest known footwear ever found in the world.
The Columbia River Bar in northwest Oregon is home to hundreds of shipwrecks and none more prominent than the Peter Iredale, which, after 100 years since running aground, still sits on the beach outside of Astoria.
Coffee That Pushes the Envelope
There may be no city in the world that embraced the 3rd wave coffee movement more than Portland. With Stumptown as the leader of the pack, numerous coffee shops popped up around the city that focused not on overroasted beans but instead accentuated the natural flavors of the coffee.
Today, there are coffee shops on nearly every corner where you can learn how the beans are processed and watch the roasters work right behind the counter.
