Wondering what is there to do in Oregon, read on for a list of great adventures

The United States’ Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas that the country has to offer. It is really not a huge secret why people travel to Oregon, Washington State and the surrounding areas every year.

Of course, the scenery is always something that is great to take in, but if you are making the journey up there, you might want to do a little bit more than simply ooh and aah at the lush greenery of the area. Luckily for you there are plenty of things to do that will take up your visit and leave you wishing you had a little more time.

The answer to what is there to do in Oregon, really depends on what it is you are interested in. The state has a ton of art you can take it, it has attractions that you can tour and see first hand and it has a couple of first rate sports programs, should that be your cup of tea. 

Portland is the state’s largest city and is really the only metropolis that Oregon boasts. Because of this, if you are looking to do more activities than just nature-based sight seeing, Portland is probably where you should end up. If you want to get a bit of a humorous take on the city, you can watch a couple of episodes of the hit sketch show “Portlandia” that is set in the City of Roses. If you are already a fan of the show you might even want to check out some of the most famous backdrops that the show uses, and walk where the stars of the show have walked.

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If you are not someone who feels the need to walk where the stars have walked, then there is still plenty to do. If history is more your bag, than Oregon has more than enough of that to fill your days. If you do hit Portland than you will need to check out the Pittock Mansion. This old house was erected by Henry Pittock in 1914. Pittock was the man who was most credited with bringing the Portland based newspaper “The Oregonian” back from the dead. These days visitors can stroll the grounds for free and even have a picnic lunch if the mood strikes.

If you are looking for a combination of history and something a little bit more new-age, you can pay a visit to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. You can learn an awful lot about the early years of the fields of science and industry while also taking in some “hands on” exhibits that will please kids and adults alike.

If you are into sports, Oregon has you covered there as well, as long as you visit at the right time of year. While Oregon does have a professional basketball team (the Portland Trailblazers) they don’t have a pro baseball or football team. That doesn’t mean that football is completely ignored though. Should you want to head out to Eugene to watch the Oregon Ducks or to Corvallis for the Oregon State Beavers you will get to see some great football. The Ducks home football field is widely known as one of the most raucous in the college sports world.

Even if hiking through nature really isn’t your cup of tea most of the time, you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check out at least a couple of different sights. The Punch Bowl Falls is widely known as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the United States, let alone the Pacific Northwest.

If you happen to be down in Eugene anyway to see the Ducks, you should also stop by the Hendricks Park Rhododendron Garden. Of course, you should actually check this place out in the spring, when the flowers are blooming, so make a special trip there and don’t worry about finding a place to tailgate.