Fodor's Oregon, 2nd Edition

by FODOR'S

• ISBN13: 9780679004035
• ISBN10: 0679004033
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2000-05-16
• Publisher: Fodor's

Summary

Fodor's Oregon 2nd ed."Fodor's guides are always a pleasure."- The Chicago Tribune "Teeming with maps and loaded with addresses, phone numbers, and directions."- Newsday Experienced and first-time travelers alike rely on Fodor's Gold Guides for rich, reliable coverage the world over. Completely up-to-date, Fodor's Gold Guides are essential for any kind of traveler. Insider info that's reliable and smart Local experts show you all the things to see and do -- from top sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from sports to shopping, from nightlife to recommended walks. Hotels and restaurants in all price categories From B&Bs to luxury hotels, from casual eateries to elegant restaurants, we list hundreds of detailed reviews that show what is distinctive about each place. Practical info that's completely up-to-date Useful maps and background information; key contacts; how to get there and get around; when to go; what to pack; local do's and taboos; costs, hours, and tips by the thousands. Here's a helpful complement toFodor's Oregon. To learn more about it, just enter the title in the keyword search box.Fodor's Compass American Guides: Oregon: A full-color guide, providing in-depth coverage of the history, culture, and character of Oregon.

Table of Contents

On the Road with Fodor's	v
Don't Forget to Write	v
Smart Travel Tips A to Z	xii
Destination: Oregon	1	(7)
Oregon Country	2	(1)
New and Noteworthy	3	(1)
What's Where	3	(1)
Pleasures and Pastimes	3	(1)
Great Itineraries	4	(1)
Fodor's Choice	5	(3)
Portland	8	(49)
The Oregon Coast	57	(26)
The Willamette Valley and the Wine Country	83	(27)
The Columbia River Gorge, the Oregon Cascades, and Central Oregon	110	(19)
Eastern Oregon	129	(17)
Portraits of Oregon	146	(13)
``Oregon, A Brief History''	147	(10)
Judy Jewell
Books and Videos	157	(2)
Index	159

Excerpts

Destination: Oregon

At its eastern end, Oregon begins in a high, sage-scented desert plateau that covers nearly two-thirds of the state's 96,000 square mi.  Moving west, the landscape rises to 10,000-ft-high alpine peaks, meadows, and lakes; plunges to fertile farmland and forest; and ends at the cold, tumultuous Pacific. Within a 90-minute drive from Portland or Eugene you can lose yourself in the recreational landcape of your choice: a thriving wine country, uncrowded ocean beaches, snow-silvered mountain wilderness, or a butte-studded desert that has been used as the backdrop for many a Hollywood western.

Oregonians, who have been called the hardest-working and the hardest-playing Americans, take full advantage of the outdoors.  There is a story, never confirmed, that early pioneers arriving at a crossroads of the Oregon Trail found a pile of gold quartz or pyrite pointing the way south to California.  The way north, on the other hand, was marked by a hand-lettered sign: TO OREGON. Oregonians like to think that the more literate of the pioneers found their way here, while the fortune hunters continued south.

Tourism grows in importance every year -- Oregonians have discovered that the scenic and recreational treasures that thrill them also thrill visitors from all over the world.  A sophisticated hospitality network has appeared, making Oregon more accessible than ever before.

Dining

Fresh foods grown, caught, and harvested in the Northwest are standard fare in gourmet restaurants throughout Oregon. Outside urban areas and resorts, most restaurants tend to be low-key and unpretentious, both in ambiance and cuisine.  On the coast, look for regional specialties -- clam chowder, fresh fish (particularly salmon), sweet Dungenesse crab, mussels, shrimp and oysters. Elsewhere in the state, fresh water fish, local lamb and beef, and seasonal game dishes appear on many menus.  Desserts made with local fruits such as huckleberries and marionberries are always worth trying.

Biking and Hiking

For the past 20 years, Oregon has set aside 1% of its highway funds for the development and maintenance of bikeways throughout the state, resulting in one of the most extensive networks of bicycle trails in the country.  The system of hiking trails throughout state-park and national-forest lands is equally comprehensive.

Boating, Fishing, and Rafting

Oregon's many waterways afford limitless opportunities for adventure.  Many companies operate boating and white-water rafting tours, or you can rent equipment and head out on your own.  Fishing requires a license.

Rockhounding

Rockhounding -- searching for semiprecious or unusual rocks -- is very popular in the Ochocos in central Oregon and Harney County in the Stinkingwater Mountains in eastern Oregon.  Agate, obsidian, jasper, and thundereggs are among the sought-after stones.

Skiing

Most Oregon downhillers congregate around Mount Hood and Mount Bachelor, but there is also skiing to the south, at Willamette Pass and Mount Ashland.  The temperate willamette Valley generally receives only a few inches of snow a year, but the Coast Range, the Cascade Range, and the Siskiyou Mountains are all Nordic skiers' paradises, crisscrossed by hundreds of miles of trails.  Every major downhill ski resort in the state also has Nordic skiing, but don't rule out the many Forest Service trails and logging roads.

Wine Tasting

The Willamette Valley is Oregon's main region for viticulture -- many area wineries are open for tours, tastings, or both.  Wineries near Forest Grove can be toured in an afternoon outing from Portland. South of the Willamette Valley are the Umpqua Valley and Rouge River wine-growing regions.

---

Excerpted from Oregon: Expert Advice and Smart Choices: Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore on and off the Beaten Path
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.