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If you can't make a trip to Oregon, or you simply can't wait to see for yourself what Oregon has to offer, why not take a virtual trip by exploring some of the many places Bonnie and Carmine have visited on the web. Check these out:
If it's whales you like to see, Carmine and Bonnie recommend a stop at Tradewinds Charters in Depoe Bay. This charter boat company gives excellent whale watching cruises off the coast especially during March and October when whales migrate to Alaska or Hawaii.
Also along the coast be sure to stop at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area in Reedsport. The sand dunes located, along a 50-mile stretch of coastline, provide recreational opportunities like dune buggy rides, horseback riding (check out C&M Stables) and plenty of hiking in several parks including Honeyman State Park. Florence is also located in dune country and offers other spectacular sights surrounding the dunes including the Darlingtonia Botantical Wayside -- home to carnivorous plants -- and the Sea Lion Caves, where thousands of sea lions make their home. Don't forget your virtual camera!
Further south along the coast, Bonnie and Carmine have explored the tide pools and coastal cliffs around Gold Beach. The couple once crossed Oregon's state line into California passing through Brookings -- the Banana Belt of Oregon, where the mild temperatures make it a haven for growing lilies and redwood trees.
Portland
When you arrive in Portland you will first
experience the city's International Airport. Bonnie and Carmine have spent many hours at
the airport picking up or dropping off family and
friends who visit. The airport is always a pleasant
experience for
it contains a food court and a small shopping mall with stores like Made In Oregon and Nike. The
airport is currently undergoing a huge expansion project
which might result in some confusion or delay for
travelers
as the construction phases into the terminal building.
Once you arrive in the "Most Livable City in the U.S.," you will quickly discover why the City of Roses has earned such a label. There are so many wonderful things to see and do in Stumptown and Bonnie and Carmine will be happy to show you some of their favorite sights like The World Forestry Center or the Metro Washington Park Zoo. The zoo is specially decorated for Halloween and Christmas and people of all ages will love a visit. A stop at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry will prove an educational and fun trip. The science museum is home to the Blueback submarine -- the best submarine exhibit Bonnie and Carmine have ever seen. This very interesting exhibit is docked next to the museum in the Willamette River.
If you are still enjoying your city tour why not take a moment and check out the bridges of Portland. With the Willamette and Columbia Rivers criss-crossing the city you can be sure there are many bridges in the downtown area. Be sure to look at the Marquam Bridge -- it's the one Bonnie travels over twice a day to and from work.
If it's summer you're sure to have a fun time at a Portland Rockies baseball game. This AAA team is affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. The team plays in a historic baseball stadium in downtown Portland and fans of all ages always have a fun-tastic time! Bonnie and Carmine always do.
Every weekend, March through December, local craftsmen, entertainers and chefs fill the Skidmore Fountain area for the nation's largest continuous outdoor crafts fair. Featuring more than 250 open-air booths, Portland Saturday Market is the area's premier marketplace of handcrafts.
In June be sure to stop at Tom McCall Waterfront Park where every year the Rose Festival is held. The Rose Festival is always a showcase of not only what's best about Portland, but the entire-four-county area. The Rose Festival has blossomed from a rose show and parade into a 24-day festival of more than 70 events, including a carnival, an air show and the spectacular Grand Floral Parade. The second largest in the nation, Portland's rose parade attracts hundreds of thousands from around the world.
Events include the Queens Coronation, fireworks, golf tournament, Starlight Parade, Milk Carton Boat Races, Dragon Boat Races, hot air balloons, IndyCar Races and the Rose Festival Fleet consisting of U.S. and Canadian battleships and destroyers.
Willamette Valley
A short drive away from Portland and
you can take in some
of the sights and sounds of the fertile Willamette Valley. A great
place
to start is in
Oregon's wine country. The Willamette Valley is
able to grow delicious wines that
rival those of the California Napa Valley.
Also, for those who aren't in a rush, take THE perfect Sunday drive through Oregon's covered bridge country. Explore some of the country's finest covered bridges set in scenic country meadows and on rural roads. An excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday. Don't forget your (virtual) picnic basket!
Depending what season you tour the valley, you can visit some of the many working farms in the area. In the spring (March/April) be sure to visit the Wooden Shoe Bulb Company during the Woodburn Tulip Festival. Rows and rows of colorful, happy tulips wait to greet you. By the end of May, the irises are in full bloom at Schreiner's Iris Gardens. Over Memorial Day weekend take in the beauty of the iris beds during an elegant garden barbeque at the farm. In late summer (August) you'll have to visit Swan Island Dahlias where acres of colorful dahlias are in bloom.
There isn't a more appropriate setting for an American version of the "Old World" Oktoberfest than in Mt. Angel, Oregon. The small community was settled by German pioneers in the 1800s and readily reminds one of the rich Bavarian countryside. Oregon's oldest and best-loved Oktoberfest began in 1966 as a tradtional harvest festival to celebrate the bounty of the earth and the goodness of creation. It's the largest folk festival in the Northwest. This year Mt. Angel's 33rd Oktoberfest will held Sept. 17-20, 1998.
A scenic drive from historic Silverton, Oregon through hops and flower fields and Christmas tree farms will take you to Silver Falls State Park, where you can hike past ten waterfalls or venture off the trails with a llama. Wiley Woods Ranch can outfit you with a llama who will carry your light gear as you lead him along the trail. Frequent stops allow you to take in the fabulous views. Be sure to check out Bonnie and Carmine's Llama Trek Photo Album.
Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge
One aspect that helps makes Portland beautiful is the
scenic view of Mt. Hood --
Oregon's highest mountain at 11,239 feet! The Cascade
mountain range is simply beautiful. Of course the
best view
of majestic Mt. Hood is at the Timberline
Lodge -- some 6,000 feet up the mountain. This
historic lodge was built by the WPA and serves as a ski lodge and
hotel. Say hello to Bruno, the St. Bernard mascot who roams the halls of the rustic
lodge and get ready to build snowmen in July!
Another short trip from Portland is to Multnomah Falls located in the Columbia River Gorge. The Gorge offers terrific hiking trails, amazing waterfalls and fabulous wildlife. Don't miss it!
Central
Oregon
Bordered by mountainous pine forests on the west and high-desert vegetation on the east, Bend is a hub of activity, minutes away from an endless list of recreational pursuits. Bonnie and Carmine recommend a stop at the High Desert Museum, nationally recognized for its close-up look high-desert history, cultures and creatures. The Lava Land Visitor's Center provides excellent orientation to the region's volcanic features. A gravel road from Lava Lands leads to powerful Benham Falls (bring mosquito repellant) and the Lava River Cave and Lava Cast Forest are "natural museums" in this region of volcanic landscapes.
Bonnie and Carmine enjoy visiting Newberry National Volcanic Monument whichs holds a wealth of geologic and natural wonder within its five-mile-wide caldera, like Paulina and East Lakes, two of Oregon's best fishing areas, with rustic resorts and campgrounds.
Redmond and high desert country offer wonderful things to see and do like excursions on the Crooked River Dinner Train and Smith Rock State Park, one of the state's most spectacular sights and a mecca for rock climbers. The majestic spires and sheer walls rise directly above the Crooked River, where you can hike along several trails and enjoy a picnic.
In Prineville, make a stop at the Prineville Reservoir and the Ochoco National Forest. Recall the days of the Old West in Sisters, Oregon. This charming town has excellent antique shops and western stores. The town is also home to the world's largest llama breeding ranches.
Driving north along Highway 97 toward Madras look for signs to Cove Palisades State Park on Lake Billy Chinook. Here, Metolius, Deschutes and Crooked Rivers converge in a massive reservoir. The sight here is spectacular so much so that Bonnie that she dropped her camera lens along the road. If you find a 50mm lens along the road (or perhaps in the lake) please return it! For those of you from the East Coast, the sights at this park will leave you breathless for sure.
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have a reservation which hosts the Kah-Nee-Ta Resort famous for its hot springs, dry climate and annual festivals.
Central Oregon also offers some great ghost towns -- like Shaniko and Fossil -- and ruts from the Oregon Trail are still visible in the towns of Moro and Wasco.
Southern
Oregon
Bonnie and Carmine have visited the southern portion
of the state only a few times, but the memories of this
gorgeous area will remain with those who visit it forever --
from the sight of dozens of bald and golden eagles flying in the sky to the
scent of vanilla from the large ponderosa pine trees -- southern Oregon should not be missed!
First, your trip should include a stop at Crater Lake National Park. The park offers historic and spectacular lodging and dining in the newly restored Crater Lake Lodge. Take a volcano tour in the heart of the caldera. One of the world's most unique boat trips, those bold enough can jump in for a swim at Wizard Island.
An overnight stay in Grants Pass will be perfect for a jetboat trip down the Rogue River. Hellgate Jetboat Excursions give exhilarating adventure jetboat trips down the famous Rogue River through Hellgate Canyon where you can enjoy breathtaking scenery, abundant wildlife and close-up views of nature on fully narrated boat tours. Dress appropriately -- you WILL get wet!
Eastern
Oregon
One of Bonnie's favorite places to explore is eastern Oregon. Bonnie and Carmine love camping at Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Oregon.
Stop by the Eastern Oregon Visitor's Center to learn more about some the great places Bonnie and Carmine have visited -- like the Snake River Canyon, Baker City, the Blue Mountains, John Day Fossil Beds and much more. See for yourself!