North America Travel Service (NATS) has a 15-day Scenic Oregon Circle itinerary that takes in some of the best attractions in the northwest state.
The fly-drive option takes visitors on a journey that explores Oregon’s wide-open spaces, its rugged coastlines and a collection of natural wonders, including Crater Lake National Park, Columbia River Gorge, Mt. Hood, Smith Rock State Park, Hells Canyon and Painted Hills.
It starts in Portland, where guests collect their rental car and then head to a downtown hotel. Options for exploring Portland include a city tour by bike, Segway or on foot.
Heading to the coast, stops include Seaside, with its surf shops, oceanfront boardwalks and ice cream, and Cannon Beach, where the Haystack Rock is one of the most iconic images of Oregon’s coastline.
Heading south, the journey continues along a coastline which is dotted with scenic lookout points and quaint small towns and villages. Visit Depoe Bay Sea Wall, where crashing waves pummel the coastline on one side of Highway 101 and over 20 shops and restaurants line the other side.
Newport has a scenic waterfront with many small galleries, gift shops and cafes and from where many boat tours depart. The dock is also home to a noisy sea lion population.
Two nights are spent at Gold Beach, before briefly crossing the state line into northern California to the Redwood National and State Parks.
Back in Oregon, make a stop at Jacksonville, voted one of America’s coolest small towns. A two-night stay in Bend allows for a full day in Crater Lake National Park, one of the USA’s most spectacular lake landscapes. Rim Drive offers dozens of lake viewpoints, and the grand 1915 Crater Lake Lodge warrants a stop too.
The final four days of the trip take guests through central and eastern Oregon, to the sheer cliffs and mountain bike trails near Redmond; Painted Hills, where millions of years of history are revealed in the multi-coloured layers of mountainous earth; Baker City, at the start of a 208-mile scenic byway, ending at La Grande; and Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood; before the short drive back to Portland International Airport.
Those with an extra day on their hands can head to Willamette Valley, which is at the heart of Oregon’s wine region.
NATS does not display pricing on its website, which states: “With airlines and hotels regularly introducing special offers, we’ve elected to not display pricing on our website. To ensure that we give you the most competitive price for the itinerary you’re interested in, we’ll apply the best rates, promotions and offers that are available when we receive your enquiry.”
northamericatravelservice.co.uk; traveloregon.com
