Welcome to 2026, the year for traveling to new places or revisiting the ones you love. Oregon is the place for both, and we’re here to help. Whether you’re looking to gaze up in wonder at some of the darkest skies in the country or learn to taste wine like a pro, the list of fun trips to take this year could fill a book. To make it easy, here are 26 of the best ways to make 2026 stand out.
Get Outside and Enjoy Oregon’s Public Lands
1. Recharge in Oregon’s magical hot springs, choosing from steamy pools at forested resorts or rustic high-desert hideaways.
2. Set off on one of Oregon’s newest designated scenic bike rides to experience the Willamette National Forest’s historic covered bridges, old-growth trees and remote beauty, just east of Eugene.
3. Launch your own epic accessible adventure, heading out into Oregon’s urban and wide-open spaces for stunning landscapes and friendly communities.
4. The Columbia River Gorge attracts millions of visitors per year, but you can have some solitude with a backpacking trip on a route that’s good for everyone from beginners to experts.
5. Paddle the quiet waters among the lilies of the Upper Klamath Lake looking for the 300 species of birds that call this area home, then zoom through the trees on a thrilling zip line near Crater Lake.
6. Watch Oregon’s magnificent salmon swim upstream to spawn in fall, all while taking a hike along the Rogue River.
Sample Local Cuisine on an Oregon Culinary Adventure
7. Know where to go when you’re looking for community-filled sober travel in Oregon, from bars with great zero-proof drinks to non-alcoholic distilleries.
8. The Columbia Gorge is one of the few places where you can buy freshly caught salmon directly from tribal fishers.
9. Add some potential pie to your future with a trip to one of the many U-pick farms along Oregon’s food trails, where you can gather your fill of some of the sweetest, juiciest berries around.
10. Learn to taste wine like a pro while visiting Oregon’s wine country in the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon, the Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge region and Eastern Oregon.
11. Plan your next trip around these destination-worthy restaurants that have been recognized with recent James Beard Awards, and find out what Oregon’s world-class culinary reputation is all about.
Take a Journey Into the Arts and Culture of Oregon
12. Spend a few days soaking in thermal springs, floating down a natural lazy river or hiking near Warm Springs at tribal-owned Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, where you can also stay in a tepee.
13. Did you know that Oregon is home to a some of the country’s top collections of public art? Add these “50×50 Percent for Art in Public Places” works to your bucket list the next time you’re looking for inspiration in nature through art.
14. Think you know the Rose City? Plan a staycation or rally your crew for a first-time visit, and follow this beginner’s guide to 3 days in Portland.
15. Celebrate Pride year-round in Oregon, where you can find inclusive festivals and gatherings in cities and towns large and small.
16. Make this the year you experience a show or two at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, while soaking up the top-notch culinary scene and outdoors at the same time.
17. Immerse yourself in the magic of glass art on your next trip to the Oregon Coast, and take home a handmade glass float — or if you’re lucky enough, one that you found on the beach.
Ponder the Universe Under Oregon’s Pristine Skies
18. Gaze up in wonder at the Milky Way, the galaxies and the static blast of stars over Prineville Reservoir State Park, where you’ll find some of the darkest skies in the populated world.
19. Go mine for the strikingly gorgeous Oregon sunstone or kayak the Warner Wetlands by day, then bask under the heavens in the Oregon Outback on a road trip to Plush.
20. What’s better than spending time under a sky full of stars? How about taking a guided jetboat tour at dusk and settling into a gourmet picnic and guided stargazing session, complete with s’more and campfire?
Let an Expert Guide You on Oregon Adventures
21. Spend the best starry night of your life high in the canopy of an ancient tree in Silver Falls State Park, where an expert climber shows you the way.
22. Hop aboard a locomotive tour in Hood River for a vintage train ride complete with a parlor car and stops at a winery and orchard for tastings and picnics.
23. Always wanted to go crabbing, clamming or agate-hunting but don’t know how? These expert-led coastal adventures will teach you everything you need to know.
24. What is packrafting? Find out as you unplug and paddle deep into the soaring beauty of Eastern Oregon on a guided packrafting trip, complete with gourmet food, drink and glamping accommodations.
25. Let a guide show you Bend’s awesome mountain biking trails and golf courses on an accessible outdoor adventure designed for people of all mobilities.
26. Be among the first to experience the newly undammed Klamath River on a guided rafting tour. See how fish and ecosystems have returned. Be sure to book early, as trips fill up.
