USA Holidays
Sample itineraries
Awesome Oregon Tour
From £1375
The sheer variety of Oregon's scenery is staggering from cascading waterfalls, dense forests, glorious wild mountains ranges and deep canyons to uncrowded beaches and quaint towns.
Highlights:
- Crater Lake National Park
- Oregon's Pacific Coast" All American Road"
- Hells Canyon
- Columbia Gorge and Hood River
- Gold Beach
- City of Portland
- The wine regions around Newberg, Salem and Eugene
- The Rogue River boat trips
- The stunningly beautiful "Volcanic Legacy All American Highway"
-
Miles and miles of uncrowded beaches and pristine wilderness.....
Price per person includes:
- Return flights to Portland, Oregon
- Mid-size all-inclusive car hire
- 9 nights accommodation in sought after locations
-
A personalised road book which is a complete guide to travelling within North
America and provides bespoke driving instructions for
your holiday.
Time to visit: late April-October
Prices are based on off-season travel. Please call or email for costs for your preferred date of travel.
Days 1-2 Portland
Arrive at Portland International Airport and consider taking the Airport MAX light railinto town. Check into your hotel, and start exploring Portland, the "City of Roses".
Visit Washington Park and its International Rose Test Gardens, Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo and Forest Discovery Centre. Plan a relaxing dinner near the hotel orenergetic, catch a live theatre performance, music event, or one of Portland's professional sports.
This city has many unique neighbourhoods, all of which you can enjoy via public transportation. The Portland Streetcar and MAX train will take you to Nob Hill - around NW 23rd Street with its many boutique shops and Victorian villas. Portland's many neighbourhoods and districts offer much to see and do and show off the many unique flavours of this great city: the Cultural District of Portland with the Portland Art Museum, the Lloyd District with sports and concert venues, and Lloyd Centre mall, Hawthorne with its "young and retro" feeling. Check out "the Pearl's" galleries, Chinatown's rare Classical Chinese Garden (the largest outside of mainland China), or just enjoy strolling along Waterfront Park. The blocks are short and it's a very "green" experience in Portland. Top off the day with a dinner cruise on the Willamette River boarding from downtown.
Days 3 Florence
Distance: 174 miles
Today experience the Land of Plenty as the Oregon Trail Pioneers referred to Oregon's fertile Willamette Valley. The wine regions around Newberg, Salem (Oregon's capital city) and Eugene offer over 100 wineries.
Additional major attractions include the Evergreen Aviation Museum, The Oregon Gardens and Mission Mill Museum. Spend the night in Florence, on the Oregon Coast, a
Day 4 Brookings
Distance: 156 miles
An entire day on one of the world's most scenic Coastal Highways - Oregon's Pacific Coast All American Road! Today's journey may include a nature hike or dune buggy ride in the huge dunes, stop at one of the many Oregon State Parks which dot the Oregon Coast, a visit to the Oregon Connection-a myrtlewood factory and store, the small commercial fishing town of Charleston, Shore Acres State Park with all its beauty (in December decked out with over 250,000 lights), lighthouses, a horseback ride on the beach in Gold Beach and so much more.
Day 5 Klamath Falls
Distance: 206 miles
After taking a breath or many more of fresh sea air in Brooking Harbor, take Highway 199 inland and stop to enjoy the huge Redwood Trees along the way.
The Oregon Caves National Monument and Caves Chateau are approximately one hour off this highway, and worth a stop. The Rogue River in Grants Pass is a major activity centre in Southern Oregon. The entire city of Jacksonville is on the National Register of Historic Places and Medford is the home to the internationally famed Bear Creek Company, including Harry&David's and Jackson Perkins roses.
Ashland has gained much national and British recognition as the home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which runs February-November. Head east to Klamath Falls.
Day 6 Bend
Distance: 176 miles
The stunningly beautiful Volcanic Legacy All American Highway will be your destination today. Activities on Klamath Lake include kayaking, bird and wildlife watching, hiking and more. Drive along Klamath Lake and its unspoiled nature to Crater Lake National Park. Along the Rim Drive, the sight of the deepest lake in the U.S. and its wizard island will make your camera click by itself.
Boat rides on Crater Lake are available during the summer months; the south entrance to the National Park is open year-round. Head north and consider driving the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway - with views of snow-topped mountains - into Bend or any of the quaint communities in Central Oregon.
Day 7 Baker City
Distance: 232 miles
The John Day Fossil Beds National Monuments, parts of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway are on today's program and lots more of Oregon's Pure Nature. Enjoy driving through the Ochoco National Forest, stop at the Painted Hills and John Day's Sheep Rock unit. Visit the Kam Wa Chung National Memorial in John Day, a tiny and truly unique Chinese medicine man's home.
Ghost towns are alongside the road and stop at the Sumpter Dredge, now an Oregon State Park, before arriving in Baker City.
Day 8 La Grande via Hells Canyon
Distance: 198 miles
The Hells Canyon All American Road, where the road itself is the destination is planned for today. The Flagstaff Hill Oregon Trail Interpretive Centre in Baker City is your first must-see. The Oregon Pioneer story is told here with the many wonderful exhibits. The little town of Halfway, also known as half.com, invites you for a leisurely stroll. Continue on the Hells Canyon Highway, with a possible stop for a jet boat ride at Copperfield dam. The Hells Canyon Overlook cannot be missed.
Joseph, named after the famous Chief Joseph, Nez Perce Indian Chief, is a hub for outdoor adventure fun in the Wallowa and Eagle Cap Mountains or on Wallowa Lake, bronze foundries and galleries.
Day 9 Hood River
Distance: 229 miles
Only a short and lovely drive from LaGrande, is the rural town of Union with its historic hotel and the "Cowboys Now and Then" Museum. Just east of Pendleton visit the Umatilla Reservation and Tamastslikt Cultural Institute and Wildhorse Casino Resort. Pendleton hosts the largest "Round-Up" in the U.S. every year in September, and offers visitors year-round attractions as well, including the Underground Tours and the Round Up Hall of Fame. Through wheat fields and agricultural countryside continue to The Dalles for a visit at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Centre. Continue west to Hood River, considered the wind surf capital of the world.
Day 10 Portland
Distance: 63 miles
On route back to Portland, the Hood River's lively atmosphere will energize you. The Historic Mount Hood Railroad, the Carousel Art Museum, the breweries, and of course the Columbia River - all there for you to experience.
Now you are travelling in the only Congressionally-designated National Scenic Area of the U.S. and along the fourth Oregon All American Road - the Historic Columbia River Highway with the many waterfalls and stunning vistas. Bonneville Dam with its large visitor centre, underwater fish ladders and fish counters, and sturgeon centre (a pre-historic fish) is a wonderful free attraction. Riverboat cruises start in Cascade Locks. Troutdale offers an outlet shopping centre - remember no sales tax in Oregon - before flying back home!
Want to extend your holiday and discover the adjoining states of Washington, California or Idaho? Our holidays are flexible, Call Bon Voyage to discuss the options available to you.
