Hells Canyon National Recreation Area

Travel Eastern Oregon this season for holiday festivities and winter fun. Oregon's Ontario greets travelers along Interstate 84 entering Eastern Oregon. Located along the western banks of the Snake River, Ontario anchors the western end of Oregon's and Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Travel 75-miles northwest of Ontario on Old Oregon Trail Highway (I-84 W) to reach historic Baker City. Baker is a hub for tourism in Eastern Washington with the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center located east of downtown. Continuing northwest along I-84, travelers pass through La Grande before reaching Pendleton, located 95-miles from Baker City.

Pendleton is famous for the Pendleton Round-Up held early fall, however the city hosts entertainment and events year round. Pendleton’s Vert Auditorium on the east end of City Hall and the Pendleton Library complex is home to Oregon East Symphony and Chorale. Music Director and Conductor Anthony Spain leads the symphony in the Pendleton Holiday Music Festival December 10th. Join the Pendleton community for this festive holiday event at 7 pm in the Vert Auditorium.

The Oregon East Symphony continues performances in 2012 with “Bach, Baroque and Brews” on February 4th. In addition to the wonderful music, a reception following the concert features local brews and hors d’ouvres. The symphony performs “A Tribute to Pendleton” on March 3rd, featuring an encore performance by Audrey Marier on Violin.

The Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, part of Wildhorse Casino near Pendleton, is a must-see for visitors. Be sure to stop before the end of the year at the Museum at Tamastslikt to see the exhibit “Honoring Our Veterans”. The show focuses on the role of Native Americans in US Military operations, including the history of Indian scouts through soliders in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pendleton’s Tamastslikt offers free admission to active duty families year-round.

Winter visitors to Historic Baker City enjoy a variety of exceptional events. December brings Elkhorn Archers' 2nd Annual Hells Canyon Steelhead Derby. Fish from the bank or a boat on December 10th for the biggest catch of the day. The fishing area is unlimited and the shotgun start begins at 7 am – get some fishing in before the Holidays!

Enjoy a winter sleigh ride in historic Baker City. Geiser Grand’s sleigh ride and Bonfire tours are available through February. Board a Horse Drawn Sleigh for a tour of beautiful historic Baker City and a stop at a home along the Powder River for S’mores and hot cider around a bonfire. Join in a sing-along to old-time favorite campfire songs while enjoying historic Baker City.

Oregon Coast

Winter along the Oregon Coast is an adventure. Find it and keep it in Lincoln City. It is winter on the Oregon Coast and Lincoln City’s 2012 Finders Keepers tradition is underway. Visitors search the beach through Memorial Day to find treasured blown glass floats. Reminiscent of those formerly used by Japanese fishing crews, local artists craft the blown glass floats for winter’s Oregon Coast beachcombers. Being 2012, there are 2012 floats to be found through the season along Lincoln City public beaches. Visit and rise early to comb the 7½ miles of beach from Roads End to Cutler City for treasures.

The Culinary Center in Lincoln City offers foodies year-round entertainment. Private and group classes are offered on a variety of culinary subjects and cuisines. Lucky visitors to Lincoln City are treated to events like November’s Chowder Cook-off and January’s Mardi Gras Jambalaya Cook-off to the 2012 Ready...Set...Cook Competition March 3rd. Stop by the Culinary Center on your visit to Lincoln City and see what’s cooking.

Athletes don’t slack on the summer and fall exercise regime, the 4th annual Lincoln City Half-Marathon & 10k comes early spring. The 2012 race is March 4th, with the start and finish at Wapiti Park on Drift Creek Road. Walkers are welcome; just arrive for an early start at 8am. The Lincoln City Half-Marathon and 10K run begin at 9am.

The Oregon Coastal town of Seaside is located in along the northwest coast 15 miles south of Astoria and the mouth of Columbia River. Just 90-miles from Portland, Seaside is a popular getaway offering a 1.5 mile Promenade along the Oregon Coast. The Prom is an ideal spot to watch a dramatic winter storm or take in a spectacular Seaside sunset.

The Seaside Civic & Convention Center hosts a variety of events for residents and visitors to the Oregon Coast. Enjoy December's Festival of Trees and the QCED (Quartet Champions of the Evergreen District) Barbershop Quartet Cabaret January 20th and 21st. Seaside’s Liberty Theatre thrills theater fans with Annie Get Your Gun January 14th and 15th, with the Seaside Community Theatre performing A Company of Wayward Saints February 10th through the 12th. There is plenty of entertainment in Seaside any time you choose to visit.

Florence Oregon, located 75-miles south of Lincoln City, is a gateway to the popular Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Historic Old Town Florence is a historic and charming Coastal Oregon town. The Florence Events Center hosts the 2012 Winter Folk Festival in January. Join crowds for headliners Tom Chapin and Friends and We Five January 14th and 15th along with eight other performers. Don’t miss a visit to the Sea Lion Caves north of Florence. The largest sea cave in the world, this Oregon Coast attraction is home to wild Steller sea lions and a variety of sea birds. Watch the ocean surge into the caves while the sea lions roar and the birds cry out – this is an authentic Oregon Coast experience.

Multnomah Falls

The Columbia River Gorge is a lifeline between eastern and western Oregon. The natural chasm provides the only navigable route through the northwest’s Cascade mountain range. Stretching 80-miles through spectacular Oregon outdoor lands, the region is now protected as the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. Traversed by Interstate 80, the gorge is the eastern gateway to Portland, whose easternmost suburbs expand to the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. Forged over time by the Columbia River, the gorge also provides the only water connection between the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River Plateau. Not only a critical transportation lifeline, the Columbia River Gorge makes a spectacular getaway destination.

Fifteen miles east of downtown Portland, Troutdale is the western gateway to the Columbia River Gorge. Home of the public use Portland – Troutdale Airport, travelers have a variety of options for exploring the gorge. With limited time, consider a scenic air-flight from the Troutdale airport for a birds-eye view of the areas spectacular scenery. Dotted with quaint towns along the banks of the Columbia River, scenic views of majestic Mt Hood and the dramatic cliffs of the gorge add up to an awe-inspiring adventure.

It is prime season for Mt Hood Ski Bowl with America’s longest ski season and largest night-skiing area. Located 40-miles from Troutdale through scenic Mt Hood National Forest, Mt Hood Ski Bowl is the closest winter resort to Portland. Winter sports don’t get better than those visitors experience at Mt Hood. Summit Ski Area, also on Mt Hood is the oldest winter resort in the Pacific Northwest. Summit offers skiing and snowboarding along with Summit Snow Play and Snow Bunny Snowplay, offering a full range of activities from tubing to beginner ski slopes.

A visit to Troutdale offers travelers proximity to Portland’s urban amenities and events, along with convenient access to pristine outdoor activities. The Sandy River near Troutdale offers prime fishing for steelhead and salmon. Likewise fishing the Columbia River’s steelhead, salmon, walleye and bass is unsurpassed. Visitors access the Sandy River and Columbia River at Lewis and Clark State Park among other area locations. If shopping is your sport, Troutdale is home to the Columbia River Gorge Premium Outlets. The full diversity of name brand outlet stores offer discounts and bargains to ease the sting of holiday shopping.

Mt Hood Railroad offers a wonderful holiday experience for families with young children. The 2011 Polar Express runs November and December featuring a magical round-trip train adventure to the North Pole. Enjoy caroling and treats along the way along with a visit with Santa. Dress the kids in their PJs for the ride, make your reservation and board the Mount Hood Railroad Polar Express in Hood River for a memorable holiday experience.

Oregon State University - Corvallis

Oregon’s Interstate 5 links cities from Portland south to Ashland. It's safe to say, if you are traveling through Oregon, Interstate 5 is on the route. Bisecting Oregon, west of the Cascades, the 312 miles of Interstate 5 take less than 5-hours to travel, and is the quickest north to south route through Oregon. Quick, however is not how you want to visit the Beaver State. Oregon’s largest cities – Portland, Eugene and Salem lie along Interstate 5 along with charming towns like Ashland and Roseburg. Stop and enjoy the best of Oregon, as you travel along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Fall along the Interstate means heavy traffic on game days in and out of Corvallis and Eugene. The Oregon State University Beavers football team fills the stands in Corvallis at Reser Stadium, while men’s and women’s basketball heat up the court at Legenday Gill Coliseum well into 2012. Less than an hour south in Eugene, the University of Oregon and its Duck athletics, host football at Autzen Stadium while soccer fans hit the stands at Papè Field. With winter comes the excitement of men’s and women’s basketball at Matt Arena.

Speaking of Oregon sports, the Portland Trailblazers keep fans entertained through winter and into spring. Fans flock to the Rose Garden Arena just of I-5 in downtown Portland. The arena is located less than 12-miles from Portland International Airport making it convenient for serious fans. Catch the Blazers against Phoenix, LA and New York in December around the Christmas Holiday, but don’t miss a game before the season ends against the Utah Jazz mid-April.

Portland’s Saturday Market is a must see for visitors to the city. One of the nation's longest running outdoor arts and crafts markets, the Saturday Market actually runs on weekends, both Saturday and Sunday. Located at North Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza in Old Town Portland, this is the place to find greater Portland’s most unique handcrafted products. The historic market has been operating in Portland since 1974 and is bigger than ever.

To ease holiday shopping stress, the Portland Saturday Market and Pioneer Courthouse Square host the Holiday Artisan Market at Pioneer Courthouse Square, Thursday through Sunday, December 8th through the 11th. In addition for the procrastinators, the Festival of the Last Minute will be held December 17th through Christmas Eve. This means the Saturday Market is on for the full week – there is no excuse for anyone on your gift list to go without.

Salem, just about an hour south of Portland in the mid-Willamette Valley, is Oregon’s state capital. Salem offers visitors a delightful mix of urban excitement and incredible outdoor recreation. Following in Portland’s footsteps, the Salem Saturday Market hosts the Holiday Market December 10th and 11th at the Americraft Building at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. Along with over 200 local vendors featuring handcrafted goods, the Holiday Market includes live entertainment and loads of fun. Don’t miss this if you’re in Salem, especially if your gift list is long.

Crater Lake National Park

Visit Southern Oregon in winter and enjoy it’s well-known events and activities. The Klamath Basin and Southern Oregon is home to Oregon’s only National Park, Crater Lake. Make a visit in winter to enjoy the magic of Crater Lake surrounded by a blanket of snow. Ashland’s well-known Oregon Shakepeare Festival kicks off the 2012 season in February, a must-see for theatergoers and Shakespeare enthusiasts. Enjoy he best of Southern Oregon’s amazing outdoor activities with winter skiing in the Siskiyou Mountains. Visit Mt Ashland Ski Area for downhill runs or enjoy Oregon’s backcountry on snowshoes or cross-country skis. Southern Oregon offers a full calendar of winter season fun.

The Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater in Medford is just west of Interstate 5. A full calendar of Theater and music keeps Southern Oregon residents and visitors entertained through winter. The Teen Musical Theater of Oregon presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in December and in January, Jackson County Community Concert Association and the Rogue Valley Symphony perform concerts. February brings “Damn Yankees” from the Youth Symphony of Oregon among the Craterian’s offerings. Check the calendar at the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater for exceptional entertainment any time you visit Medford.

The Southern Oregon Ice Arena – The RRRink - is home of Southern Oregon’s Spartans Hockey. Join Medford fans for exciting Spartan’s Junior A Hockey through February. The Spartans host Seattle for the last home match February 10th and 11th. Want to step on the ice yourself? The RRRink offers High School, youth and family hockey times as well as public free-skate and figure skating times.

Ashland, less than 15-miles south of Medford on Interstate 5, is famous as the home of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. The 2012 Oregon Shakespeare Festival begins in February with “Romeo and Juliet” at the Angus Bowmer Theatre alternating with “Animal Crackers” and the world premiere of “The White Snake”. The New Theatre initiates the 2012 season with “Seagull” running February 23rd through June 22nd.

Make Southern Oregon your winter destination for winter sports at Mt Ashland Ski Area. Nestled in the Siskiyou Mountains south of Ashland, Mt Ashland Ski Area offers 23 ski runs and open bowl skiing accessed via four chair lifts. Business travelers to Southern Oregon enjoy night skiing Mt Ashland during its twilight hours -Thursday and Friday evenings until 9 pm. Plan now for the Big Mountain Bash 2012 at Mt Ashland in March with live entertainment, BBQ and excellent spring skiing.

Outdoor enthusiasts traveling through Southern Oregon find Klamath Falls and Klamath County ideal winter destinations. Home of Crater Lake National Park, Oregon’s only National Park, Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge and Lava Beds National Monument. Birding fans, plan for Klamath Falls’ 33rd Annual Winter Wings Festival. The Klamath Basin Audubon Society produces Winter Wings, the longest running birding festival in the US. Join naturalists, bird experts and photographers February17th through the 19th in the Klamath Basin for the 2012 Winter Wings.

Mt. Bachelor

Mt Hood, Oregon’s highest peak graces the state's Northern Cascades. Just south of the Columbia River Gorge, Mt Hood offers year-round skiing and is one of the world’s most popular climbing mountains. The community of Government Camp is a gateway to Mt Hood Ski Bowl, Timberline Ski Area and Mt Hood Meadows. With fall comes the anticipation of ski season and the last of warm days and dry trail recreation. Traveling south through the Cascades, the peaks of Three Sisters shadow the towns of Sisters and Redmond to the east. Crater Lake National Park is set in the southern Cascades, with Mount McLoughlin anchoring the range near Klamath Falls.

Fall is ideal for an adventure along the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway outside Klamath Falls. This All-American highway begins at the north with majestic Crater Lake. The clarity and depth of Crater Lake is astounding and the fall setting magical. Follow Oregon Route 62 south past Fort Klamath and the Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge - birding enthusiasts find over 250 species of birds in this area.

The town of Klamath Falls makes an ideal stop for travelers. The Klamath Falls Gems’ season is over, however check out Kiger Stadium and the Field of Screams for a fun Halloween outing. October 2011 is the first for the Field of Screams and promises scares for all. Visit Kiger Stadium October 28th through the 31st for Halloween terror at the Field of Screams.

Klamath Falls celebrates the Snowflake Festival at Kingsley Field, with Grand Marshall Lt. Col. Lance P. McCuiston, the Base Fire Marshall. Get in the spirit of the season with the 2011 theme “Snowflake Adventures”. Enjoy Warren Miller Films, Snowflake Brunch with Santa and the Snowflake Parade on Main Street, among the Klamath Falls' festivities. For another traditional holiday event, the Ross Ragland Theater hosts the Eugene Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker on December 19th.

Redmond and Bend, on the sunny side of the Cascades, are located in the central Cascades, less than 20-miles apart. Bend, the center of commerce and a hub for Central Oregon offers year-round fun. A premier recreation destination in Oregon, activities in Bend and Redmond are seemingly endless. Play spectacular golf courses surrounded by forests - try a round of golf at Widgi Creek Golf Club, Lost Tracks Golf Course or Black Butte Ranch for starters.

Bend hosts The 2011 Nature of Words in November. This literary gathering is held November 2nd through the 6th featuring guest authors like Augusten Burroughs and Mark Spragg among a great lineup of nine well-known authors. Enjoy readings, workshops and lectures along with networking with like-minded guests and leading authors. This is the premier literary event for Central Oregon.

St. Johns Bridge
Portland, Oregon

Exactly half way between the North Pole and the Equator sits Oregon’s capital city, Salem. The Oregon Capital is located an hour south of Portland, the state’s largest city. Traveling on Interstate 5 makes commuting between the two cities convenient and easy. Portland and Salem anchor the north end of the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s major agricultural region. With charming and desirable small towns like McMinnville, the area is rapidly becoming known as Oregon’s Wine Country, drawing wine enthusiasts to vineyards and tasting rooms. Salem is an ideal mix of urban and outdoor fun. Split by the Willamette River, Salem offers abundant riverside trails and green spaces.

Salem’s Union Street Railroad Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge links Wallace Marine Park and Riverfront Park. Just one of the city’s prime recreation sites, Salem’s parks include over 1,600 acres of land across 46 developed parks – a hike, walk or bike ride is always nearby. If you are visiting Salem with your dog, check out Minto-Brown Island Park or Orchard Heights Park which both have off leash areas for dogs.

The popular Oregon State Fair is a late summer event hosted in Salem. Off season, the Oregon State Fairgrounds and Exposition Center hosts other not to be missed events. Car enthusiasts watch for the Annual Peterson Classic Car Auction. The Oregon Wine, Food & Brew Festival is mid-January featuring the best of Oregon’s wines, brews and food. Mark January 13th and 14th on the calendar and join the festivities at the fairgrounds on 17th Street Northeast. Sample the most recent vintages of Oregon Wine, craft beers and spirits along with culinary demonstrations and classes. Enjoy live entertainment and exhibitions of local artists – a fun and festive event to kick off the New Year.

Travel northwest of Salem thirty miles to reach the charming community of McMinnville. Located in the heart of Oregon wine country, McMinnville makes a delightful getaway. Home of Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, a visit to see the Spruce Goose is a must. The museum is located across from McMinnville Municipal Airport and you’ll know you arrived when you see the B747-100 aircraft on the top of the building. Plan ahead when you visit and allow time for a show at the IMAX Theater – catch a screening of Fighter Pilot or Legends of Flight 3D for an unforgettable experience.

Take a trip to Portland, 40-miles northeast of McMinnville to enjoy spectacular holiday season events. The Pioneer Courthouse Square Christmas Tree arrives in downtown Portland November 10th to first of the season holiday music and beverages. Return to Pioneer Courthouse Square November 25th for the tree lighting ceremony hosted by SmartPark – Pink Martini provides the entertainment, so arrive early.

The Oregon Symphony Orchestra makes its home in Portland, performing at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Join the Symphony and the Northwest Gospel Choir for 2011 performances of Gospel Christmas December 9th through the 11th. Take the kids to Happy Holidays on December 18th, for the Kids Series Concert featuring holiday music and dancing while Mrs Claus saves the holiday. A wonderful family holiday event.