: Bandon Beach Ride by Dylan VanWeelden

52 Oregon Adventures in 2023

Get your travel inspiration in time for National Plan for Vacation Day.
December 21, 2017 (Updated January 4, 2023)

Resolve to make 2023 your best year yet.

We’re here to help, with 52 trip ideas for the 52 weeks of the year. And there’s something for every type of mood. You might be interested in a cozy mountain getaway or maybe you’d rather camp under the stars. Plan a dream trip with an expert guide or experience the region’s natural bounty by eating your way through a food trail. Unleash your inner cowboy at a rodeo or find peace on a river paddle. Go deep underground in a complex cave system or swing through the trees at a zip line park. Better yet, do them all.

January 31, 2023 is National Plan for Vacation Day — your opportunity to start the year right. Studies show that simply anticipating vacation contributes to a boost in happiness and those who plan are more likely to use their days off. So you have every reason to make our trip ideas your own.

Oregon has an adventure waiting for you every week of the year. Look at our list and start making plans:

Crater Lake by Tyler Roemer

1. Check off as many of the Oregon Coast’s 11 historic lighthouses as you can.

2. Hike the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park as it weaves behind roaring cascades.

3. Slide down snowy hills covered in LED lights and lasers at Skibowl’s Cosmic Tubing experience.

4. Train your dog to hunt for truffles with help from the Oregon Truffle Festival (or just train your palate).

5. Snowshoe or cross-country ski Crater Lake, then go birding in Klamath Falls, home to the largest wintering concentration of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.

6. Visit the otherworldly Painted Hills during cooler weather, when moisture causes the colors to pop, and nearby attractions are near-empty.

7. Ride your bike on the clay dirt of the coastal forest while taking in stunning views of the ocean on the Whiskey Run Mountain Bike Trail.

8. Hike to some of Oregon’s most jaw-dropping peaks by snagging a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit.

Sokol Blosser Hyland Vineyard by Carolyn Wells-Kramer
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9. Explore the mystique of Oregon’s ghost towns, once thriving communities now relics of the Old West.

10. Visit the state’s Black-history sites and learn about some of Oregon’s lesser-known pioneers, explorers and cultural mainstays.

11. Keep your eyes peeled at the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay for the migration of thousands of gray whales.

12. Hit the slopes in sunny weather with Oregon spring skiing, thanks to some of the longest ski seasons in North America.

13. Attend the world-famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. This year’s lineup includes “Romeo and Juliet” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Rent.”

14. Find your new favorite farm along the Hood River County Fruit Loop when the blossoms are in bloom. 

15. Challenge yourself and train to summit Mt. Hood, the tallest peak in Oregon at 11,250 feet (3,429 meters).

16. Ride your bike through the vineyard countryside or around Crater Lake in one of Oregon’s top bike rides.

17. Take a car-free trip to Lincoln City and look for Finders Keepers’ glass floats hidden along the beaches in town.

18. Ignite your senses while sipping special pours at one of Oregon wineries’ unique wine pairing events.

19. Track down famous filming locations in Astoria (maps at the Oregon Film Museum), then toss a balsa wood airplane off the iconic Astoria Column.

20. Spend an unforgettable night enveloped by the dark sky of Oregon’s Outback.

21. Take a designated Oregon Scenic Byway, like the Blue Mountain Scenic Byway, stretching between the Columbia and Snake rivers.

National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City

22. Experience solitude in the remote, crowd-free campgrounds of Eastern Oregon.

23. Eat your way through the state by visiting the growers, tastemakers, eateries and more along one of Oregon’s many food trails.  

24. Practice your balance and try stand-up paddleboard (SUP) yoga on Oregon’s gentle, peaceful waterways.

25. Paddle through whitewater rapids on the scenic Rogue River — or join a jet boat tour if that’s more your speed.

26. Unleash your inner cowboy (“yeehaw!”) at a famous Oregon rodeo.

27. Go on an unforgettable Southern Oregon RV trip to the region’s stunning mountains, pristine alpine lakes and many family-friendly attractions.

28. Travel by rail, tram or llama in the Wallowa Mountains, known as Oregon’s “Little Switzerland.”

29. Discover secret spots and hear a place’s meaningful stories from Oregon’s expert guides — all while not fussing over the details.

30. Dig for Oregon’s dazzling state gem at the public Spectrum Sunstone Mine near Plush.

31. Celebrate Oregon’s roots by sampling the region’s Native foods at the state’s Indigenous-owned farms and restaurants.

32. Camp under a sparkling sky at one of Oregon’s prime stargazing spots.

33. Go deep underground in Oregon’s cool cave systems.

34. Hike or bike along the Crown Zellerbach Trail, a historic railroad converted into a forested path north of Portland.

Crosswater golf course by Sunriver Resort

35. Stroll, roll, meander or amble along one of Portland’s accessible river paths.

36. Soak in the tranquil hot springs of southeastern Oregon and let your troubles steam away.

37. Celebrate LGBTQ residents of Portland and beyond at one of the state’s many Pride events.

38. Admire brilliant reds and golds at the fall foliage hot spots around the state.

39. Pedal past lava rock, waterfalls and old-growth forests on the McKenzie River Trail.

40. Look for ghosts at one of Oregon’s “haunted” spots and learn how they got their spooky reputations.

41. Check off your trail bucket list with a hiking tour of the Oregon Coast, from Ecola State Park to the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.

42. Splurge on a gourmet Willamette Valley experience such as a hot air balloon ride, dinner cruise aboard a sternwheeler, or visiting wine country on horseback.

43. Golf where the professionals played at one of the championship courses in Sisters, Sunriver and Bend.

44. Spend the day weaving through vineyards and sampling the diverse varietals at Oregon’s Rogue Valley wineries.

45.  Get in touch with your inner kid by flying a kite on the Oregon Coast.  

46. Celebrate harvest season and taste the flavors of Hood River Valley’s cider scene.

47. Spend the night in a coveted fire lookout (and make your reservations well in advance).

North Umpqua River by Tyler Roemer

48. Take in the colors, symbolism and craftsmanship of Portland’s exceptional street art.

49. Cast a line in the North Umpqua River, known for its prime steelhead fly fishing spots.

50. Plan a cozy mountain getaway at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort with the family.

51. Taste beers along the Bend Ale Trail with stops at the city’s notable craft breweries. 

52. Experience the winter wonderland of Eastern Oregon with activities for the whole family.

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