You Might Want To Live Here. We Can Help You With That.

In recent years, our home state in the Pacific Northwest has gotten a lot of attention. People can’t seem to say enough about it. And a lot of the things they’ve been saying are true. For instance, it’s true that Oregon is blessed with some of the most diverse and breathtaking landscapes in North America. It’s really nice to live near places like the Coast, Crater Lake, Mt. Hood, the Wallowas, the Columbia River Gorge, Smith Rock and the Painted Hills. And it’s also true that our regional bounty has led many of the world’s greatest chefs to open restaurants in Portland and the Willamette Valley. And yes, it’s true that Oregon has become home to some of the most innovative and talented creative minds around.

Our biggest city even has its own television show! There are lines forming outside our doughnut shops. We had to add a couple of new X-ray machines at Portland International Airport, where the carpet might be the most photographed item in the city.

Let’s face it. Oregon is a very special place. And we know you’ll like it. But it’s just a place with a bunch of mountains and lakes and trees and beaches and those kinds of things. Sure, Crater Lake is the most beautiful lake you’ll ever see. And all those waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge are nice, if you like that sort of thing. And yes, you can ski Mt. Hood in the morning and be surfing at the Coast by afternoon, but you have to drive a few hours to make that happen.

Oregon Coast

There is no place quite like the Oregon Coast. Sometimes it is bathed in warm sunshine. Other days it lies shrouded in a moist cloudy mist. It doesn’t really matter, because people don’t come to the Oregon Coast to work on their tans. You won’t see many bikinis on Cape Blanco or folks sitting idly with a book next to the Devil’s Punchbowl. As soon as you hear the surf crashing into the cliffs, you stop paying attention to anything else. That’s the moment you start to realize how big this all is. Troubles seem smaller and the little moments feel magnified. And as you splash in the tide pools, watch the whales, hunt for agates, explore lighthouses and wander all 363 miles of free and public coastline, you might be like, “I’m calling in sick tomorrow. I’m learning to surf.” Eventually you realize that your beach bod still looks pretty good under those layers of clothing. From Astoria to Brookings, so much unique beauty, including Cannon Beach, Oswald West, Tillamook, Newport, Yachats, Florence, Gold Beach and Bandon. Take your pick and become an explorer. Just like Lewis and Clark.

Mount Hood and The Gorge

Waterfalls are nice, if you like that sort of thing. The Columbia River Gorge is filled with them, from Crown Point to the Fruit Loop, all just a short drive from Portland. Multnomah Falls. Horsetail Bridal Veil. Ponytail. But if you get tired of watching waterfalls, you can visit the small towns to see their famous craft breweries turn some of that water into the best handmade beers on earth. And you don’t actually have to be good at winter sports to enjoy Mt. Hood. You can just walk around. There’s a lot to check out when you’re 11,000 feet above sea level: deep forests, glassy lakes, meadows and valleys that grow wildflowers in spring and perfect fruit in fall. But if you do enjoy skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, Mt. Hood having the nation’s longest ski season is going to come in handy no matter what time of year you visit Oregon.

The Willamette Valley

You’ve heard of The Oregon Trail? Well the Willamette Valley is where it ended and folks left their wagons and built homes and a future. You can pack a lot into 150 miles. There are the award-winning vineyards. More than 700 of them, actually, bottling world-famous pinot noirs, pinot gris and rieslings that connoisseurs around the world won’t shut up about. There are also acres of farms raising the organic livestock and produce sold at the local restaurants and markets you’ll find in the historic towns here. all of which are connected by miles of cycling and hiking trails traversing the land from Opal Creek to Mt. Angel. There are enough fields of flowers, winding rivers, covered bridges, hot springs and scenic waterfalls to fill a month of Sunday drives. There’s rarely a weekend without a rodeo or a craft brew fest. And there are plenty of hotels, but also sleepy tipis, vintage trailers and treetop campsites to sleep in if you’re over hotels. In Willamette Valley, the hard part isn’t finding something to do.

Central Oregon

If you enjoy trees, mountains, lakes, rivers and fresh air, Central Oregon may be your thing. Outdoor adventure of all types can be found here, from roadside picnics to swimming hole excursions to fly-fishing on the Deschutes. The McKenzie Pass Scenic Bikeway offers the most spectacular ride in Oregon. And the chasm of White River Falls tells a geologic story of violence and power. if standing in slack-jawed awe at the majesty of nature is something you’re into. Bend has some really good breakfast options, if enjoying some of the best meals you’ll ever experience is something you want to experience. Skiing at Mt. Bachelor is the best you’ll find in the Pacific Northwest. The resort communities of Sunriver and Black Butte Ranch are wonderful getaway destinations any time of year.

Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon is like a well-kept secret. A perfect blend of northern California and Oregon. It’s warmer here. The landscape is beautiful and unique. Take Crater Lake National Park. It’s a volcanic lake, but not a lake of lava as you might be imagining. It’s just regular, clear, beautiful water that happens to fill an enormous alpine crater. It also happens to be the deepest and bluest lake in North America, if you’re looking for one of those. The century-old floating tree stump we call the Old Man of the Lake might even show up if you’re there at the right time. There’s also Southern Oregon’s vineyards, cheese makers, tree-house camping, rafters on the raging Rogue River, Oregon Caves National Monument and world-famous Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, surrounded by the Siskiyou Mountains.

Eastern Oregon

It would be easy to walk across the cracked surface of the Alvord Desert and assume you were standing on another planet. But no, you’re just in Eastern Oregon. Things look different out here in the big, vast nowhere. Which is why so many people like it. It’s hard to look down into Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America, or quietly steer your canoe across the placid waters of Anthony Lake and not feel a little more connected to the world we live in. It’s not all cowboy country though. If you need a break from all the cabins and camping and unspoiled-wilderness adventures, towns like Joseph and Enterprise offer art galleries, shopping and incredible farm-to-table dining. But the real star will always be the land itself. Between the alpine summits, twisting rivers, rolling pastures, herds of bison, deserts and lonesome ghost towns, the West is still wild in Oregon.