There are several gardens around the Portland Region. Near the Japanese Garden (in Washington Park) we also have the International Rose Test Garden and the Hoyt Arboretum, along with the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Oregon Zoo, and the Portland Children’s Museum, and some beautiful hiking trails, if any of those interest you. In downtown Portland there’s the Lan Su Chinese Garden. On the southeast side of the city we have the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and the Leach Botanical Garden. On the north side there’s Peninsula Park, which is the site of our original rose garden (1909) and still has a lot of the original features, including the 100+ year old fountain in the center of the rose garden. The Elk Rock Garden is just west of downtown, and not far from the Portland Airport (PDX) is the National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother, otherwise known as The Grotto. There’s several more gardens near Portland, I’ve just listed some of the largest or most well-known.
What are the most photoworthy bridges and waterfalls in Oregon?
My first suggestion would be to order our Travel Oregon Visitor Guide, Scenic Byways Guide, and Oregon State map that we can mail to you for free. (Here is the link for that.) The scenic byways guide will be able to give you some ideas for beautiful places you might want to photograph, and the state map has little icons that show you where the covered bridges are. This article about the Cottage Grove Covered Bridge Tour Route might be helpful, too.
Some other places might be Cape Perpetua and Thor’s Well, the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, or maybe the Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint, all on the Oregon Coast. If you are checking out the covered bridges near Cottage Grove there’s a couple of lesser known places with some amazing scenery, like Moon Falls and Pinard Falls, or Koosah and Sahalie Falls.
Do we need 4WD for our visit to Central Oregon in February?
I would suggest renting a 4-wheel- or all-wheel-drive vehicle because Central Oregon usually gets quite a bit of snow. One good thing is that the roads will usually be either snow covered (which isn’t difficult to drive in if you take your time) or completely clear because they de-ice and plow pretty frequently. Here is a link to the Oregon Department of Transportation’s website called TripCheck.com that has information on construction, road closures, real time traffic, and webcams you can click on that are updated every few minutes, and I would highly recommend checking the website before you travel around Oregon.
I hope that answers your question, and we’ll see you soon!
Does Portland have good public transportation?
We have a great public transportation system here in the Portland Region; it’s called TriMet and the website is trimet.org. It includes the MAX light rail system that covers several cities around the Portland metro area (including Beaverton), the Portland Streetcar(s), and buses. If you go on the website there is a tool called the Trip Planner that will tell you exactly how to get wherever you are going. You put in where you are at and where you want to go, whether you want “Train Only”, Train + Bus”, “Bus Only”, etc, and it routes you right there. Beaverton has the Red Line Max and several bus routes, so there should be no problem getting around.
I hope that answers your question, please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with!
Is it illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon?
No. It is not illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon, although this is a relatively new law. In 2023, the Oregon legislature passed two bills into law that changed the way Oregonians and visitors pump gas. In rural counties, gas stations may offer self-serve gas at all hours. In non-rural counties gas stations must offer attended service, but they may also offer self-serve gas at no more than half of their pumps during operating hours. Signage is provided so customers can identify which pumps are self-service or attended service and you’ll pay the same price whichever way you choose to pump.
I hope that helps answer your question!
Are there yurt campsites at Oregon State Parks?
Indeed! There are quite a few parks with yurts, actually. The most popular yurt campground is Valley of the Rogue State Park, located conveniently off I-5 near Gold Hill in Southern Oregon. Wallowa Lake State Park has two yurts that are designated ADA. The Oregon Coast has an abundance of yurt campsites; for instance South Beach State Park has 27 yurts, including 14 that are pet friendly.
To find the right campsite for you, check out the Oregon State Parks website and filter it to show “Cabins & Yurts.” There is a spot on the left side of the web page to reserve online, or there is a phone number you can call if you want to do it that way. I can tell you that the yurts are very popular, so I recommend reserving one as soon as you can so you have a better chance of getting one.
What’s happening around the Wallowas in August?
There’s a few things going on in that area in August, like the Back Country Bash in Joseph (July 31-Aug. 1), the Wallowa County Fair (Aug. 1-8), and the Wallowa County Stock-Growers Ranch Rodeo (Aug. 15). You’ve got some beautiful scenic drives, like the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway, or you could ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway to the top of Mt. Howard for the best view of Wallowa Lake you could possibly ask for (and some gorgeous hiking trails!).
Are there campsites near breweries in Eastern Oregon?
There are a few great places that come to mind near my home base where you can camp and be close to the best local breweries out here in Eastern Oregon. There is camping at points all around Joseph, where long running Terminal Gravity has recently expanded to a new taproom, East Fork, while also maintaining its flagship at its original space in nearby Enterprise. In La Grande there is camping at Morgan Lake and Fox Hill, close to my local favorite, Side A Brewing. Then just south in Baker City is another longtime favorite, Barley Browns and campgrounds all throughout the Wallowas and down into the Snake River gorge.
Here are a few secret campground ideas for Eastern Oregon as well. These breweries and nearby campgrounds are also just the first few of many. There is a great affinity for beer and the outdoors across the whole region, from Hermiston to Pendleton, Milton Freewater to further south in John Day and Burns too. I have also found that the local owners and those pouring from the taps can also offer a lot of suggestions and advice on where to camp and enjoy this region.
What are the best things to do in Medford?
Thanks for your question! You’re asking about my hometown, so I’m happy to help. Not knowing your exact interests or the time of year you’re visiting Medford, I’ll try to hit the broad strokes! The good news is, it’s a small city, so wherever you’re staying, you’ll be close to everything. If you’re a fan of getting outdoors, I recommend a day hike to Upper Table Rock just outside town, or, if you’re not afraid of heights, up the steeper Pilot Rock near Ashland.
If you’re a cyclist, the Bear Creek Trail cuts through Medford, which is a paved path spanning miles, from Ashland past Central Point. If you’re wine lover, we have several wine trails: I recommend this winery map to get you started. If you want to check out lots of local wines in one location, head to Old 99 Road in Medford or South Stage Cellars in Jacksonville. There’s also Urban Cork downtown Medford. The entire downtown region is undergoing a revival, actually. I recommend Jefferson Spirits for drinks and Downtown Market for lunch. This site gives you more options.
If you want to taste award-winning cheese, head to Rogue Creamery in Central Point, and next door, you can taste chocolate, too!
What remote areas of Oregon should we explore?
Have you spent any time east of Bend or in the Oregon Outback area? These are some of my favorite places in the state. The China Hat/Four Corners area south and east of Bend is terrific for dirt bike riding, etc. Some amazing views out there of the high desert and the Cascade Range. Bend has all of the food and whiskey you’ll need, including many, many breweries and pubs. Tons of lodging choices too. For hot springs, head south to Silver Lake and Paisley area. Summer Lake Hot Springs is right in the middle. There is camping or cabins there. Hike on Winter Rim. Fish the Chewaucan River. Drive east to Hart Mountain and see the pronghorn. If you haven’t spent any time down that way, it’ll change your life.