The beauty of the Oregon Coast is utterly unique. The terrain is as rugged as it is romantic, from its cliffs to its beaches, its evergreen forests to its sandy dunes. Although Oregon consistently strives to preserve the wilderness of its coastline, there are also many cities situated along the coast line such as Manzanita, Astoria and Cannon Beach, offering beautiful accommodations and fresh seafood.
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River which consumes 80 miles between the border of Washington and Oregon. It is federally protected as a National Scenic Area and is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Pacific Northwest with a high concentration of cascading waterfalls and pristine forest. There are many accommodations located throughout the Columbia River Gorge and opportunities for rafting, fishing and other outdoor activities.
Mt Hood is an iconic landmark located in northern Oregon on the border between Clackamas and Hood River County. It is the highest mountain in Oregon at 11,249 feet, the fourth-highest in the Cascade range and is home to twelve glaciers. The mountain has six ski areas and about 10,000 people climb Mt Hood every year, making it the second most climbed mountain after Mt. Fuji.
Bend, Oregon is a beautiful get-a-way just hours from the city of Portland, but it is also a bustling city itself. Originally a logging town, Bend is now a destination spot for tourists who are attracted to Bend’s natural landscape, the Cascade lakes and Mt. Bachelor. Bend also has a thriving culture, serving as host for the Bend Film Festival.
Sunriver is a resort community 15 miles south of Bend in Central Oregon at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. It was once the site of Camp Abbot, a World War II training facility. Sunriver is autonomous and has its own homeowners association, public works department, water services and budget. Approximately 1,700 people live in Sunriver and the resort property consists of four golf courses, an airport and stables.
The city of Hood River, also known as the wind-surfing capital of the world, is a port on the Columbia River, directly facing the border of Washington. A multitude of wineries, orchards, microbreweries and watersports attract tourists from all over. The population of the city is small, approximately 6,500.
The Portland Art Museum is the seventh oldest art museum in the United States, now celebrating its 114th year. Located in downtown Portland, the permanent collections are comprised of over 42,000 works dating from ancient times to contemporary day. The museum is famously noted for its distinguished collection of native art from across North America. The Portland Art Museum is also actively involved in outreach and community educational programs.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry was founded in 1944 and remains today one of the leading science museums in the country. The museum offers a wide array of educational services such as classes, summer camps and events, as well as an indoor planetarium, an IMAX movie screen and frequent visiting exhibits.
Mt Bachelor is located in Central Oregon, the youngest of Oregon’s “Three Sister” volcanoes. Skiing is available all year round and the mountain is home to one of the largest ski resorts in the Pacific Northwest.
Autzen Stadium is an outdoor football stadium located in Eugene, Oregon and homefield for the Oregon Ducks. This stadium was opened in 1967. Since its opening, the stadium has received $100 million in renovation and is nationally recognized for its game day atmosphere as one of the loudest stadiums in the United States.
Matthew Knight Arena is a new arena on campus that will host the University of Oregon basketball teams, set to be completed by the 2010-2011 basketball season. It is estimated to be the most expensive campus basketball arena in the United States, coming to a grand total of $200 million in construction. This new facility is expected to be one of the most innovative college basketball venues in the country.
The Portland Trail Blazers franchise was founded by Larry Weinberg and Harry Glickman. They entered the league in 1970. The Blazers were named through a contest with more than 10,000 entries were submitted. While the most popular name choice was “Pioneers”, that name was already taken by Lewis and Clark College so the team became known as “The Trail Blazers”. The Blazers have a rich tradition of winning, with strong community support throughout the state of Oregon. From 1977 to 1995, the team sold out 814 consecutive home games, the longest such streak in American professional sports. After winning their first NBA Championship in 1977, the Blazers returned to the NBA finals twice in the early 1990’s.
The Timbers are Portland’s professional soccer team and joined the North American Soccer League in 1975.The games are hosted at PGE Park in Downtown for a stadium of very devoted Portland fans who share the long-running rivalry with the Seattle Sounders. At games fans dress in green and white, the Timbers colors, to show their support.
Reser Stadium is located on the campus of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. It was originally named Parker Stadium and is home to the Oregon State Beavers. The stadium broke ground in 1952 and opened its gates November 14, 1953. It was renovated for the 2007 football season with a seating capacity of 45,674.
