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Things to see and do in Oregon

Columbia River Gorge

Head for the stunning Columbia River Gorge, an hour from Portland, where the Columbia furrows its way through a canyon 300m (1,000ft) deep, plunging between hills and sheer cliff faces. See breathtaking waterfalls, hike, bike, rock climb, windsurf - the choice of outdoor activities is limitless.

Crater Lake National Park

Admire the beauty of Crater Lake, the nation's deepest lake plunging from an elevation of 1,800m (6,000ft) to a depth of nearly 600m (1,932ft). Located in southern Oregon, the lake forms the centrepiece of Crater Lake National Park (www.nps.gov/crla).

High desert

Enjoy 300 days of sunshine in central Oregon's high desert (www.oregonskiresorts.com), a region of winter ski fields, rock-climbing cliffs, hiking trails, golf courses and over 150 rivers and lakes to tempt the most avid fly fishermen.

Oregon's wineries

For the perfect wine and cheese pairing, sample award-winning vintages from Oregon's wineries (www.oregonwines.com), then finish off with artisan cheeses at the Rogue-Creamery.

Painted Hills

Artists and photographers will enjoy the spectacular colours of the Painted Hills in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (www.nps.gov/joda), 120km (75 miles) east of Bend.

Portland

Stroll Portland's gardens, restaurants, shops, concerts, jazz festivals, theatres and first-class hotels. The Portland Art Museum houses paintings and sculptures from the 1350s to the 1950s.

Salem

Visit Salem, capital of Oregon and the state's third-largest city. Visit its many fine museums, gardens and parks, including the Mission Mill Museum, Old Aurora Colony Museum, Bush House Museum and Oregon Garden, which contains a Frank Lloyd Wright House.

Shakespeare Festival

Visit the annual Shakespeare Festival or overindulge at the Chocolate Festival, both held in the bustling town of Ashland (www.osfashland.org) in southern Oregon.

Snake River

Jet boat or raft the Snake River, winding through Hells Canyon (www.fs.fed.us/hellscanyon) on the Idaho border. The sheer walls soar 1,650m (7,900ft) above the river in North America's deepest gorge.

US Highway 101

Drive Oregon's scenic and rugged Pacific Northwest coastline on US Highway 101, through quaint coastal towns and state parks that extend right to the ocean shore.

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