Oregon Attractions

On the Oregon side of Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls is a 611-foot-tall waterfall, the second highest in the country. Enjoy miles of hiking paths around Multnomah Falls National Scenic Area. Hike the trail to Benson Footbridge, cross 105 feet above the lower cascade, and continue to Larch Mountain Lookout on the top of the falls, offering spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge. A deep canyon through the Cascade Mountains, Columbia River Gorge is a haven for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, windsurfing, and rock climbing.  [Top]

Located in Ashland, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest theaters in the country. Founded in 1935, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents an eight-and-a-half-month season with 11 plays and over 780 performances annually. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2010 production schedule includes Hamlet, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice and Henry IV.  [Top]

A national landmark and official end of the Lewis and Clark Trail, Seaside is a spectacular vacation destination on Oregon’s north coast. A popular beach getaway, Seaside is paradise with miles of beautiful beach, spectacular ocean views, and excellent shopping and dining. Enjoy activities, such as beachcombing, surfing, hiking, biking, kite flying, and clam digging. Stroll along the oceanfront Promenade with shops, arcades, paddle boats, and miniature golf, or gather around a bonfire on the beach.  [Top]

Nestled in South Central Oregon, Crater Lake is a deep volcanic lake with an intense blue color and picturesque islands surrounded by high cliffs. A destination of dramatic beauty and a violent volcanic past, Crater Lake National Park offers wilderness hiking trails, open slopes, dense forests, and breathtaking views. Popular activities include boating, fishing, hiking, and rock climbing. Hike down Cleetwood Trail for a swim in the lake, or brave a longer hike on the Pacific Crest Trail.  [Top]

A Portland treasure, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden is a window into Chinese culture and history. A harmony of water, architecture, stone, and poetry, the richly planted landscape creates a tranquil oasis in Chinatown. Surrounding a lake, edged by a rock wall with Chinese images, the garden is a natural wonderland with native Chinese plants, trees, rare and unusual shrubs and perennials. Sip Chinese teas at the Tao of Tea teahouse as you enjoy garden scenes.  [Top]

Since the 1800s, Oregon Zoo has been preserving animals from all corners of the globe. Famous for its breeding herd of elephants, Oregon Zoo offers naturalistic exhibits, including the Africa exhibit, which features a naturalistic rainforest and savanna home to lions, cheetahs, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and hippos. Explore the snow cave of the Cascade Crest exhibit and meet mountain goats. See the orangutans and gibbons at the new Red Ape Reserve and enjoy summer concerts in the amphitheater.  [Top]

Flowing 215 miles through southwestern Oregon, from the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean, the Rogue River offers sparkling rapids for amazing whitewater rafting and kayaking. Lined with rugged scenery, beautiful rock formations, narrow canyons edged by towering cliffs, scenic hiking trails, and mountains, the Rogue River offers endless outdoor adventure, including hiking and wildlife viewing. Known for its salmon runs, the river offers excellent fishing.  [Top]

Learn about Oregon’s unique coastal ecosystem at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Located in Newport, the aquarium presents stunning indoor and outdoor exhibits with more than 1,500 marine animals and mammals, including sharks, rays, rockfish, jellies, sea lions, seals and sea otters. Go beneath the waves and ocean in the mesmerizing Passages of the Deep exhibit, where you can face large sharks, rockfish and bat rays.  [Top]

Opened in 1876, the University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research university with over 22,000 students. Oregon’s flagship institution offers 300 academic programs in liberal arts and sciences, professional programs and a successful athletics department on its beautiful 295-acre campus in Eugene and in Portland. UO offers 2,000 courses for undergraduate and graduate degrees – from advertising to veterinary medicine.  [Top]