Portland Excursions

Oregon Coast.

Experience evergreen forests, picturesque coastal scenery, rugged cliffs, impressive sand dunes, historic lighthouses, verdant parks, scenic hiking and horseback trails, and sandy beaches on the breathtaking Oregon Coast. From resorts to peaceful coastal towns where the loudest sounds are waves on the shoreline and seagulls, a drive along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US Highway 101, is a wonderful adventure. Enjoy endless recreational opportunities such as fishing, cycling, kite flying on the beach, scuba diving, hiking through old-growth forests, windsurfing, surfing, beachcombing, and whale and bird watching. Visit coastal attractions, including aquariums, casinos, art galleries, theaters, festivals and parades. The solitude of the coast offers relaxing stretches of peaceful beaches, untouched tidepools, spectacular sunsets and nights beneath starry skies. Storm watching during winter months captures your breath as crashing waves pound the rocky beaches and shoot water into the sky. Visit www.visittheoregoncoast.com.

Oregon North Coast Beaches.

Explore the pristine Oregon North Coast beaches of Seaside, Cannon Beach, Warrenton, and Gearhart - only 90 miles west - and enjoy kite flying, clamming, surfing, windsurfing, boogie boarding and skim-boarding.

These charming beaches offer treasures to the beachcomber - and the rewards are greatest after a North Coast storm. Close by beach access includes Rooster Rock State Park, Sauvie Island, and freshwater beaches on the Columbia River. These offer miles of sandy beach within 45 minutes of Portland.

Oregon Coast Aquarium.

Experience 500 species of animals in stunning indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The Aquarium features many exciting exhibits, animal encounter programs, tours and events. Indoor exhibits include Passages of the Deep, Keiko’s former home, an undersea adventure featuring sharks, rays and curious ocean creatures. Colorful and interactive, Claws! explores the adaptations and remarkable diversity of crabs, lobsters, shrimp, isopods and copepods.

You’ll also see jellies, sea otters, seals, sea lions and a variety of shore birds. Visit www.aquarium.org.  [Top]

Mount Hood.

An outdoor utopia along the Columbia River, Mount Hood is the tallest mountain in Oregon at 11,237 feet. A stratovolcano of lava flows and domes, Mt. Hood is popular with skiers, hikers, and climbers, and is the most climbed glaciated peak in North America. Crater Rock, a rocky pinnacle below the summit, is the most recent lava dome. Visit www.mthood.org, www.stayandplayhood.com, or www.mthood.info.

Mt. Hood National Forest & Timberline Lodge.

Mt. Hood National Forest - encompassing 1,067,043 acres - is a playground for skiing, biking, hiking, boarding, boating, rafting, camping, fishing, climbing, backpacking, horseback riding, and hunting. Fish in countless streams, enjoy hot chocolate at Timberland Lodge atop Mt. Hood or take a hike and enjoy splendid panoramic views. Extending from the Columbia River Gorge across 60 miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams, the Mt. Hood National Forest offers 1,000 miles of riding and hiking trails that offer challenges for hikers, horseback rides, mountain bikers, and off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts. Rewarding destinations are: Timberline Lodge, Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Timothy Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir, the Old Oregon Trail, and the Mt. Hood Wilderness. The Forest also has many developed campgrounds and picnic areas. Click here for more information.

Mt. Hood Railroad.

Sixty miles east of Portland, Mt. Hood Railroad offers scenic excursions and tours through the Hood River Valley, as well as narrated Historic Excursion Train Tours and Dinner & Brunch Trains. The fun begins the moment you step aboard this century-old railroad. Dating from the early 1900s, the Excursion Train is comprised of enclosed Pullman coaches, a concession car offering refreshments, a red caboose and an open air car. The vintage dinner and brunch train captures the nostalgia of classic American train travel. Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner or brunch served at the large windowed booths, or stroll to the lounge car during the journey. On certain dates, special entertainment is offered including Murder Mystery Dinner Trains. Visit www.mthoodrr.com.  [Top]

Columbia River Gorge.

A 50-million-year-old natural wonder, Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting through the Cascade Mountains. Eighty miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep with north canyon walls in Washington and south walls in Oregon, Columbia River Gorge is a haven for hiking, mountain biking, windsurfing, camping, fishing, boating, sailing, wildlife watching, birding, wildflower viewing, photography, picnicking, and rock climbing. A natural wind tunnel, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area offers unmatched windsurfing and whitewater rafting. Explore the Gorge’s breathtaking waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States. The Gorge offers scenic vistas and leads to hundreds of wilderness areas and recreation destinations, such as Bonneville Dam and Cascade Locks. Visit www.crgva.org/ or click here for more information.

Multnomah Falls.

The cascading water of Multnomah Falls - the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation - drops 620 feet from Larch Mountain. The frozen Falls are a sight to behold. Enjoy miles of hiking paths that surround the Multnomah Falls National Scenic Area, then relax and dine at the Lodge, built in 1925, serving fine food with a gorgeous view of the Falls. To get to the falls, take the winding Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, where you’ll be captivated by breathtaking views of the Columbia River Gorge. Click here for more information.  [Top]

Mt. Saint Helens.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens erupted. Shaken by an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, the north face of this tall symmetrical mountain collapsed in a massive avalanche. Nearly 230 square miles of forest was blown down or buried beneath volcanic deposits. A mushroom-shaped column of ash rose thousands of feet skyward, turning day into night as dark, gray ash fell over eastern Washington. The eruption lasted 9 hours, but Mount St. Helens and the surrounding landscape were dramatically changed forever. In 1982, Congress created the 110,000-acre National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to disturbance. Mt. St. Helens is a favorite destination for mountain climbing, hiking, fishing and exploration when permitted. Click here for more information.  [Top]

Shakespeare Festival in Ashland.

Founded in 1935, the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival is one of the oldest and largest professional theatres in the nation. Each year OSF presents an 8 ½-month season of 11 plays in three theatres and numerous activities, and undertakes an extensive theatre education program. OSF presents more than 770 performances annually with attendance of 360,000 people. Visit www.osfashland.org.

Crater Lake.

One of Oregon's greatest natural monuments, Crater Lake National Park is a perfect outdoor Oregon adventure. Located 100 miles inland from the Oregon Coast Line, situated on the crest of the Cascade Mountains. Crater Lake develops its crystal blue coloring from being one of the deepest lakes in the world. The lake was created more than 7,700 years ago as the result of a violent eruption and collapse of Mount Mazama. To learn more about Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla  [Top]