The following months promise good weather and a bit more free time for students. What better way to spend your summer months than exploring Oregon's beauty and undoubtable quirkiness? Here's some of Oregon's most notable destinations and day-trips
1. Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock is a hotspot for climbing, biking, and hiking. Trails weave throughout the land and the park's tall cliffs make for breathtaking views. Pack a cooler with food and spend the day in Terrebonne, Oregon with friends (or your dog, if it's on a leash). Check out on-site camping information here if you have more than an afternoon.
2. Cougar Hot Springs (Terwilliger Hot Springs)
As one of Oregon's best, Cougar Hot Springs offers five natural pools that are open year-round. They are clothing-optional and vary in temperature, beginning at 90 degrees and peaking at 112. Bring cash to pay the $6 day fee and note that they are closed from sunset to sunrise. Avoid making the drive too early on Thursdays, as pools are cleaned from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Bring a book and spend the afternoon relaxing in Earth's waters.
3. Out'n'About Treehouse Treesort
This Treesort, with 15 treehouses and cabins, is a family-friendly bed and breakfast located just outside of Cave Junction, Oregon. If you're game for some adventure, sign yourself up for their zip line course (with lengths that cover 790 feet), horseback riding, river rafting, and more. Forget bellhops; here, you carry your luggage up steps that spiral around thick trunks until you reach your home in the trees. Out'n'About Treesort will satisfy your adventurous cravings and can be a refreshing break from your daily root-ine.
4. Alsea Falls
Located in Alsea, Oregon, these gushing waterfalls are encompassed by a thick forest of maples, Douglas firs, and cedars. Hidden in wild berry bushes are beavers who build dams with brushwood, and not too far off are grazing deer and elk. Alsea Falls is a great place to camp and fish (best known for salmon and steelhead), and its waters are a remedy for summer's sweltering sun.
5. Painted Hills
As one of Oregon's Seven Wonders, the Painted Hills are richly-hued claystones that reveal Oregon's natural history. The site, just 9 miles northwest of Mitchell, Oregon, is known for its high concentration of plant and animals fossils. Some findings have dated back 50 million years. In fact, just miles away, Thomas Condon Paleontology Center displays 40,000 of these findings with life-size replicas of animals that once roamed Oregon's soil. Plan a day-long excursion for this trip and you won't be disappointed.
6. Sloth Captive Husbandry Center
If you've been running too fast in the corporate rat race, slow down your pace by visiting the word's largest captive population of sloths in Rainier, Oregon. Small tour groups get the opportunity to enjoy extended visits with the little guys, with the chance of holding and feeding them. The Sloth Captive Husbandry Center works in conjunction with the Zoological Conservation Center to also home wolves, foxes, lemurs, and the teeny-tiny Fennec Fox native to the Sahara.
7. Cascades Raptor Center
Eugene, Oregon's Raptor Center is an outdoor and indoor exhibit where dozens of the Pacific Northwest's native raptors call home. Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Great Gray Owls, and many more are available to view and learn about for an $8 adult day pass.
8. Allen Elizabethan Theatre
If nature isn't really your thing, the Allen Elizabethan Theatre in Ashland, Oregon offers something for the performing art aficionado. It is home to the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival from February to early November. Watch William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" or Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," as well as participate in their workshops, lectures, and backstage tours. If you're thinking about making a trip to Ashland this summer, buy tickets to your favorite show here!
9. The Peculiarium
This one is not as easy to describe. It is a sort of real-life, Sci-Fi, "Goosebumps"-books museum, if you will. It is packed with Portland's greatest and creepiest oddities. Peculiarium displays artwork, performances, and themed exhibits that speak to Oregon's eccentric population. As a friendly tip, their website notes that "dogs and decent costumes get in free."
10. The Hat Museum
While in Portland, the Hat Museum is a great way to spend the latter half of your afternoon. With more than 1,000 hats to choose from, you can find a hat from every era dating back to the early 1800s. This option is a unique, quirky classic that is reservation only, so be sure to call in beforehand.
11. Portland Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden offers artistic, cultural, and educational events year-round. It is a must-visit destination for someone who is seeking a serene retreat.
Pick a few of your favorites and discover how Oregon makes for many unforgettable excursions!
