Oregon summer vacation spots
Oregon is a great place to live, work, and play.
The state is beautiful, with scenic mountains, rivers, and lakes. Oregon has plenty of urban centers and small towns throughout its vast landscape. The state’s population is highly educated, with more than half of the adult population holding at least a bachelor’s degree. At least 60% of Oregon’s residents are homeowners, and nearly one-third own their homes outright.
Oregon is a state that has everything. From the majestic Mount Hood to the breath-taking Columbia River, Oregon is a place where you can be yourself and feel at home. It’s also known for its strong outdoors culture, with many of its residents spending time in the great outdoors every year.
Oregon is home to some of the most beautiful natural areas in the country—including Crater Lake National Park and Mount Hood National Forest—and it’s a great place to get outside and explore them.
Oregon summer vacation spots
Mount Hood
There are dozens of mountain ranges in Oregon, but Mount Hood is one of the best.
In the winter, you can enjoy just about every snow sport under the sun, including skiing, sledding and snowboarding.
In the summer, after all of the icicles have melted from the trees, the forests become gorgeous places for hiking and camping.
Do you prefer relaxation to athleticism? Mount Hood still has you covered.
The main resort is Mount Hood Meadows, a home-away-from-home that offers all of the amenities that you could need, but there are other, more rustic lodgings available as well.
You can pamper yourself with a luxurious suite or become a cowboy in a rustic cabin.
No matter what kind of vacation that you’re hoping to have, Mount Hood is one of the best places to see in Oregon.
It might even be one of the most beautiful places in the US all together.
If you’re wondering what to see in the northwest, this is it!
Sea Lion Caves
Home to hundreds of sea lions, the Sea Lion Caves are a series of gigantic underground caverns where these playful critters come to frolic.
Visitors have to descend stairs and take an elevator just to reach them.
When you get there, however, you’ll enjoy a new kind of site seeing.
The stone walls are covered in moss and lichens, and the underground streams are always rushing fast.
The sea lions tend to gather on the rocks as they caper, chatter and socialize.
When you’ve filled up your camera roll, you can step outside to the whale-watching deck and see if you can spot any orcas on the horizon.
There are also learning stations if you want to know more about marine life, and a gift shop is nearby for souvenirs.
Sea lions are some of the coolest marine animals that you’ll ever see, and with the Sea Lion Caves, they’re more accessible than ever.
North Mississippi Avenue
Located in Portland, this avenue is basically a neighborhood in its own right.
It’s known for its trendy, high-energy atmosphere, and its streets are always alive with culture and commerce.
The buildings have been painted with every color of the rainbow.
The businesses are an eclectic mix of everything from bakeries and bubble tea shops to jewelry stores and pottery barns.
Food carts are always roaming, and live music can be heard from bars, cafes and studios.
Art lovers will find a lot to appreciate on the avenue as well.
It hosts a number of independent galleries, and it sees a lot of up-and-coming creators.
It’s a must-see destination if you like independent art.
Are you traveling to Portland and wondering about the best things to do in Oregon this weekend?
Stop by North Mississippi Avenue.
Take advantage of your proximity to one of the most interesting places in the state!
Wildlife Safari
With the fields and savannas of Wildlife Safari, you can travel to Africa without ever leaving Oregon.
It’s home to dozens of species, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos and giraffes, and they roam freely across 600 acres of protected land.
You can drive along a trail to see them in action, or you can stop at the petting zoo to actually handle some of the smaller, gentler creatures.
A nice thing about Wildlife Safari is that it isn’t exploitative.
It’s contributed to a lot of conservation efforts, and it’s been praised by animal rights activists for its open, natural habitat.
It considered one of the top organizations of its kind in the state.
For some guilt-free fun with African animals, take a drive through Wildlife Safari.
You’ll send your wheels churning through one of the best destinations in Oregon, and you’ll be helping a charitable organization at the same time.
Mount Jefferson
Mount Jefferson isn’t for the faint of heart.
As the second-highest mountain in Oregon, it has steep cliffs, hard summits, low levels of oxygen and a remote setting that scares off many potential visitors.
It also has a death toll: At least one person dies while attempting a climb each year.
If you’re an experienced outdoorsman, however, you might enjoy the challenge presented by Mount Jefferson.
Your first test will be getting there.
It’s so secluded that it’s only accessible by foot or horseback, and there’s a distinct lack of trails on certain areas of the mountain.
Of course, if you can hack it, you’ll be treated to some of the best landscapes in the state of Oregon.
The views on Mount Jefferson have to be seen to be believed.
Not only will they put you on top of the world, but they’re also far enough from the big cities that they’re almost completely free from lights and pollution.
Are you the type of adrenaline junkie who sees a death-defying mountain climb as a fun excursion?
If so, Mount Jefferson is waiting.
Wanderlust Tours
If you’re wondering what to do in Oregon but don’t have any firm plans yet, consider booking a trip with Wanderlust Tours.
Rain or shine, they can show you the best parts of the Bend region, including lakes, forests, rivers, caverns and more.
Would you like to swim in stunning blue waters or ski down a snow-topped mountain?
Have you always dreamed of white water rafting or exploring an underground lava tube?
Do you get a thrill out of camping underneath the stars?
Wanderlust Tours can provide all of these experiences and more.
They’ll take you to all of the best Oregon vacation spots, and they’re open all year long, so you don’t even have to worry about seasonal closings.
Whenever you’re headed to the area, they can be ready and waiting for you.
You just have to pick up the phone and call!
Willamette Valley
You don’t have to go to Napa Valley for amazing wine.
While the vineyards of Oregon might not be as famous as their California counterparts, they’re still lush and beautiful, and they can offer a sweet afternoon with a good drink and good company in a natural setting.
Willamette Valley is the best example of a wine country in Oregon.
It has sprawling vineyards in every direction, and it’s dotted with quaint little shops and cottages to give the full, picturesque look.
Local activities include everything from wine tastings to horseback riding across the fields.
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Oregon, consider a trip to Willamette Valley.
Once you step on the thick green grass of the countryside and take a deep breath that smells like grapes, you’ll realize that you made the right decision in going there.
Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks
Covering thousands of acres in multiple states, the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks is a series of parks and nature reserves that celebrate the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Some of the trails were actually pounded by Lewis and Clark’s boots; others were just designated as likely areas of travel for the duo as they made their way west.
These are the official parks on the Oregon side of the border:
– Ecola State Park
– Fort Stevens State Park
– Sunset Beach State Recreation Site
These are the parks on the Washington side that are just a few hours away if you feel like taking a drive:
– Cape Disappointment State Park
– Fort Columbia State Park
If you’re looking for historic places to see in the northwestern United States, the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks should keep you occupied for a while.
Bridgeport Village
Shop ’til you drop at Bridgeport Village.
It’s an upscale, open-air shopping mall, so you’ll need a little money to burn, but it’s worth the cost for the experience alone.
The complex is lined with shops, cafes, bookstores, bakeries and boutiques.
Fairy lights are draped over the rooftops.
Music can always be heard from windows and patio decks, and vendors often line the main square to hand out balloons, coupons, perfume samples and ice cream cones.
It’s okay if your budget doesn’t quite meet their standards.
When a complex is this nice, even window shopping is fun!
Bridgeport Village isn’t like the harshly-lit malls of your hometown.
It’s a warm, friendly place, and it’s one of the top vacation ideas for people traveling to Tigard.
If you’ll be visiting the area, don’t miss the opportunity to admire Bridgeport Village.
Kam Wah Chung and Company Museum
Originally built as a trading post in the late 1800s, the Kam Wah Chung and Company Museum was forgotten for decades after the death of its owner.
When it was rediscovered, it had become an untouched time capsule of early Chinese-American life, so the decision was made to turn it into a museum.
Today, you can find all sorts of delights and oddities on the shelves.
There are knick-knacks ranging from toys to jewelry boxes; there are ancient medicine bottles mixed with spice jars and dried herbs.
Mysterious symbols are stamped on letters. Everything is decorated with vintage fabrics and furniture pieces from the 1800s.
From Japanese gardens to Chinese museums, the state of Oregon can be a real melting pot of different cultures.
If you’re wondering how to plan a trip and see them all, start with a visit to the Kam Wah Chung and Company Museum.