Cool Excursions and Activites

Tours of Portland and Vicinity

Tours of Portland and the surrounding scenic sights
Tours to Mt. Hood, wine country, the Columbia River gorge, and other scenic sights near Portland. See http://www.gorgetours.com

Day tours from Portland area to Oregon and Washington. Features various tourist destinations around the area. http://www.ecotours-of-oregon.com/

Greater Portland Tours, Activities & Adventures
Looking for things to do in Greater Portland? These pages will help you plan and book activities during your visit to Greater Portland.
http://www.greaterportland-or.worldweb.com/ToursActivitiesAdventures/index.html

Cool Excursions

The Coast

Lush evergreen forests, picturesque coastal scenery, rugged cliffs, impressive sand dunes and vast sandy beaches await you along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US Highway 101. The Oregon Coast has fully developed resort communities with every possible amenity to quiet coastal towns where the loudest sounds you'll hear are waves on the shoreline and seagulls overhead.

Williamette Valley Wine Tasting

Natural boundaries and the Willamette River create the 100-mile long, 60-mile wide Willamette Valley, home to more than 150 Oregon wineries and many  wine shops .  Coolest of Oregon's wine regions, this elongated, "V"-shaped Valley is bordered to the north by the Columbia River, to the south by the Calapooya Mountains (south of Eugene), to the east by the Cascade Mountain foothills, and to the west by Oregon's Coast Range. Willamette Valley Guided Tours and Driving Services

Mount St. Helens

Famous for the 1980 eruption that decimated a large chunk of the mountain and the surrounding area, Mount Saint Helens is a testament to the power of nature. Since the blast, the area has slowly been restored to the recreation area that existed prior to 1980 and now features an interpretive center at Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument that shows the chronology of events that led to the massive blast. Local flora and fauna have also made a steady recovery since the eruption, affording visitors glimpses of the local wildlife that continues to call Mount Saint Helens home. The surrounding area is easily explored from the towns of Morton , Kelso and Castle Rock , all of which are located within 40 mi (64 km) from this giant of geologic history. Aside from seismic chronicles, this region features several state forests ideal for hiking, biking and picnicking.

Mount Hood - Timberline Lodge

Timberline is a favorite destination for skiers and non-skiers alike. Timberline is located in the middle of a world-class recreation area.

There are trails right outside the front door plus a year-round heated pool, sauna, and whirlpool. Also, a ping-pong table, shuffleboard, boardgames, and movies are available for hotel guests. Other activities in our proximity include mountain climbing, hiking, golf, mountain biking, team building activities, fishing, and river rafting. In the summer, you'll also find a myriad of nearby recreational options on the Mt. Hood Loop such as windsurfing, a scenic train ride, alpine slides, and horseback riding. In the Fall, mushrooming is a popular activity.

The Columbia River Gorge about 40 miles east of Portland, with Mount Adams in the distance

The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacular river canyon cutting the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range.

It's 80 miles long and up to 4,000 feet deep with the north canyon walls in Washington State and the south canyon walls in Oregon State.

Cape Horne Lookout

This is a shear volcanic wall on the North.This I believe the best place to take a picture of the Gorge. You will know when you are there because it looks like you are going to plunge 300 ft into the Columbia river when you round a corner.

Beacon Rock

Beacon Rock stands 848 feet above the mighty and majestic Columbia River, in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge.  Beacon Rock is the second largest monolith in the Northern Hemisphere, Gibraltar being the first. Starting out as the core of an ancient volcano, Beacon Rock was initially whittled down by the Missoula Floods, which took the softer soil and rocks downstream. 

Beacon Rock served as a landmark for river travelers for hundreds of years. The Indians knew it marked the last of the rapids on the Columbia River and the beginning of tidal influence from the Pacific Ocean, 150 miles away. Lewis and Clark were the first white men to see the rock. They camped at its base in November of 1805, noting the rock in their journal and giving it its present name. In 1811, Alexander Ross, of the John Jacob Astor expedition, called the rock 'Inshoack Castle,' and it was known as 'Castle Rock' until the United States Board of Geographic Names officially restored the title of 'Beacon Rock,' in 1961.

Bonneville Dam

Located in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, Bonneville Lock and Dam spans the Columbia River and links the two states.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains Bonneville Lock and Dam for hydropower production, fish and wildlife protection, recreation and navigation. Since 1938, Bonneville Dam has supplied the region with inexpensive electrical power. Today, we work with other federal, state, local agencies and Native American Tribes to accomplish our mission.

With one of the the largest public viewing facilities in the Corps of Engineers, visitors have lots to see and learn at Bonneville Lock and Dam.

To get to Bonneville Dam, take Interstate 84 to exit 40 or Washington State Highway 14 to milepost 40. The Bridge of the Gods, located about 2 miles upstream of the dam, provides public access between Oregon and Washington.

Open daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 pm, year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's days. Hours subject to current status of security precautions. Call 541-374-8820 for information.

Skamania Lodge and Bridge of the Gods

Incorporating timber, stone, custom-designed furnishings, and an extraordinary collection of Native American and Northwest art, Skamania Lodge resonates the charm of an early 20 th -century great lodge while offering all the amenities and conveniences of a modern resort.

Surrounded by the waterfalls, peaks, forests and canyons of the majestic Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, this splendid Columbia Gorge resort is located just 45 miles east of Portland in Stevenson, Washington. Native Northwest cuisine, luxurious spa services, an 18-hole golf course and year-round outdoor recreation make Skamania Lodge a magnificent destination for both leisure and business.

Multnomah Falls

Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the nation. Here, all your senses will come alive as you experience the sights and sounds of these magnificent falls.

At the base of the falls lays historic Multnomah Falls Lodge . Built in 1925 the lodge provides fine northwest cuisine with a panoramic view from your table.

Crown Point

Millions of visitors driving from Portland through the Columbia River Gorge don't realize the full impact of its beauty until they come around the bend near Corbett at exit 22 and see the famous building on the top of the cliff to the right. This is Crown Point and the building is the Vista House.

Outdoor Activities

Skiing

If you are a Skier Mt. Hood is a little over an hours drive from downtown. The Skiing should still be relatively good in March. The 3 main resorts are Timberline, Meadows, and Ski Bowl. Ski Bowl is the closest and has great night skiing. Meadows is considered by most to have the best snow and they also have the best snow boarding park. Timberline is the home of Timberline lodge which was the resort featured in the movie The Shining with Jack Nicolas. If we run out of snow it also has a glacier which offers year round skiing.

Fishing

The Northwest is known for it's Salmon and Steelhead fishing. It may be a little early for the Spring Salmon but you should be able to get into a little Steelhead fishing. Sturgeon is also very popular. Some can get over 12 ft. Here is a link to some local guide services.

Golfing

The chances of golfing a dry course in Portland during March are slim to none. If you don't mind getting a little wet they will certainly be open. We have some spectacular public courses that are both challenging and affordable. Here are links to some of the better ones:

Hiking

The city is a great urban environment for anyone who wants to stretch their muscles with a walk in the woods. Head east on I-84 and within half an hour, you'll hit the Columbia River Gorge . The scenic river country offers a huge selection of hikes from an hour to a week. Hiking in the Columbia Gorge
Here are some other local hiking opportunities.

Biking

Portland is continuously being voted as one of the most bike friendly cities in the USA . Portlanders like bikes. You can take your bikes on most public transportation and there are bike lanes on most streets. Be sure to lock it up because like I said Portlanders like bikes. If you are looking for scenic biking head east into the gorge and foothills of the mountains. There is even a great park just west of the city which is loaded with trails. I believe it is the largest park located within a city limit.

Windsurfing

Two words " Hood River ". This is one of the premier windsurfing locations in the world. Hood River is a town on the Columbia River around 60 miles east of Portland where the wind just doesn't stop blowing. It is also home to some great restaurants, galleries and craft breweries. It is a great place to spend a day even if you don't windsurf.