Oregon holidays

Standing in the shadow of dramatic Mount Hood, Portland is Oregon’s biggest city. It’s a creative, vibrant hub, crammed with music venues, craft breweries and green spaces. Whatever you’re into, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Portland.

Want to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors? Portland boasts more than 200 parks. You can see an extinct volcano at Mount Tabor Park, or go hiking, running or cycling along Forest Park’s many trails. And make sure you check out Washington Park, where you’ll find an arboretum, a Japanese garden and Oregon Zoo.

Culture-lovers will be happy, too. You can admire Portland Art Museum’s varied exhibitions, or head to one of the city’s famous film festivals. Search for treasures in vintage shops, then tap your feet at an open mic night. And don’t forget to immerse yourself in Portland’s exciting food and drink scene. Hundreds of food trucks serve up tasty bites in this city, while 70 breweries offer delicious craft beers – many of which are unique to Portland.

With its jaw-dropping scenery, it’s no surprise that Oregon is home to some incredible national and state parks. Less than an hour’s drive east of Portland, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area stretches for 80 miles. You can discover loads of hiking and biking trails, and see Multnomah Falls – the second-highest waterfall in North America. And, on the river itself, you can get involved with kayaking, rafting, windsurfing and more.

And no holiday to Oregon would be complete without a trip to Crater Lake National Park. This picture-perfect lake is one of the deepest in the USA. Don your hiking boots and explore some of the 90 miles’ worth of trails, or drive along the historic 33-mile Rim Drive, which has more than 30 viewpoints – perfect for taking photos.

Fancy something a little different? Visit Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area. Sweeping along the coastline for 40 miles between the Coos and Siuslaw rivers, this is the largest stretch of coastal sand dunes in North America.

With more scenic byways than any other state, Oregon was made for driving. So, if you’re keen to really get under the skin of the Beaver State, it’s best to hire a motorhome and go on an epic road trip.

You could go on a week-long drive in a picturesque loop, starting and ending in Portland. During the first few days, you can tick off coastal spots like South Beach State Park and Bullards Beach State Park, before venturing inland to Crater Lake, the Cascade Mountains and Wallowa State Park.

Alternatively, why not see Oregon and California in an amazing two-week trip? You can hire a campervan and drive all the way from Portland to San Francisco, travelling along stunning roads like the Columbia River Highway and the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. Admire Oregon’s blonde beaches and soaring peaks, before reaching California’s ancient forests, pin-striped vineyards and sun-soaked cities.

Oregon has a pleasant, seasonal climate, so there’s no single best time to go. Just remember that, as a general rule, the cities will be a few degrees warmer than the state’s breezy coast and elevated mountains.

If you’re keen to spend your Oregon holiday hiking, spring is a great time to go. The winter snows melt away to reveal the state parks’ trails and waterfalls, and temperatures hover between 16°C and 23°C.

Prefer toasty temperatures? Plan your trip between July and September, when temperatures hover in the mid-to-high twenties. Portland’s calendar is packed with events and festivals at this time of year, too.

It’s best to avoid travelling to Oregon between October and March. This is the wetter half of the year, with November and December being particularly rainy.