Field trips are a great way to reboot a bad homeschooling week, get out of the house when everyone has cabin fever, and learn about your local area. Before heading out, check out Jeanne's tips for improving homeschool field trips.
Our listing of Oregon field trips for homeschoolers is ordered alphabetically by city. If you would like to submit a Oregon field trip destination, you may do so using the red button above.
Christmas Storybook LandAlbany
Christmas Storybook Land is a free event each December. They have 150 scenes that range from Nursery Rhymes that will encourage your students to discuss unfamiliar ones with parents and grandparents, encouraging stronger family bonds and exposure to new stories. They also have scenes based on popular children's books like Peppa Pig and Pete the Cat. 2025 season is November 29th through December 21st. Interested groups email csblschools76@gmail.com to schedule their visit. See website for full schedule.
Schneider Museum of ArtAshland
The museum is open year-round, and features a rotating slate of exhibitions focused on historical and contemporary perspectives of art and progressive work by nationally and internationally recognized artists. The museum’s permanent collection is primarily focused on works on paper from the twentieth century and beyond, and includes artists Mark Tobey, David Siqueiros, Jack McLarty, George Inness, and Alexander Calder. Other works in the collection: lithographs by William Hogarth, Pre-Columbian ceramics from Costa Rica, Native American baskets, and woven artifacts from New Guinea.
Science Works Hands-On MuseumAshland
ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum is a vibrant hub for curiosity, creativity, and discovery located in Southern Oregon. Designed for learners of all ages, ScienceWorks offers interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops, and engaging programs that bring the wonders of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) to life. It's more than a museum—it's a place to spark imagination and discover new ways to play, learn, and stay curious!
Fort Stevens State ParkAstoria
Fort Stevens marks the site of a military installation once used to guard the mouth of the Columbia River. The fort saw service for 84 years, from the Civil War to World War II. Enjoy year-round military displays at the military museum and information center. Visit the only Civil War era earthen fort on the west coast, or explore the many turn-of-the-century, concrete artillery gun batteries. Underground tours are available during the summer of a gun battery that served as a World War II command center.
The Living Rock StudiosBrownsville
The Living Rock Studios in is a unique cultural and educational experience. Made of 800 tons of rock, this two story hand build building contains: seven one-of-a-kind translucent rock Living Rock Pictures, bird paintings (many life size) original wood carving made out of native Oregon woods, over 300 specimens of rocks and minerals on display, tons of petrified wood, a crystal display, gift shop and much more. We give family oriented, personal tours. Groups, please call in advance to make your time special. Open Wed.-Sat. 10-5, donations requested.
Oregon Caves National MonumentCave Junction
Oregon Caves National Monument offers family-focused opportunities to explore a marble cave, visit a National Historic Landmark (the Oregon Caves Chateau), hike trails through ancient forests, and earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Discover the marble halls of Oregon on one of the three guided tours of the cave.
Crater Rock MuseumCentral Point
The museum exhibits include a collection of world class minerals, as well as a large collection of petrified woods and indigenous rocks of Oregon, the US and Mexico. Other exhibits feature fossils, Native American artifacts, a mid-1800s scrimshaw collection, a collection of glass work by Dale Chihully and his students, and a wonderful collection of shells.
Crater Lake National ParkChiloquin
Like No Place Else on Earth - Crater Lake has inspired people for hundreds of years. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; two picturesque islands; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom. There are no inlets or outlets to the lake. Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States.
Philip Foster FarmColton
Hands on pioneer historic site. Includes items that are also tied to 4th grade history and math curriculum. Hands on tools include log cabin building, loading a covered wagon, washing laundry, cross cut saw, corn grinding. As well as tours to historical buildings (1860 house, 1883 house, 1860 barn, and repro. 1848 cabin). Gardens, orchards with varieties from the period.
CAM: Coos Art MuseumCoos Bay
Through collections, exhibitions, and educational programs, we build an arts and cultural community by promoting the appreciation, understanding, and expression of visual art. Coos Art Museum offers S.T.E.A.M. and Art Field Trips to families and groups. Request one today!
Sunset Bay State ParkCoos Bay Area
Sunset Bay offers unique interpretive opportunities ranging from wildlife viewing to geology. Interpretive staff provide on-site services including guided tidepool and nature walks, living history walks, school group tours, and youth programs. For a schedule of programs, visit the Interpretive Center on site or call 541-888-0982 for more info on planning your visit.
Boiler Bay State Scenic ViewpointDepoe Bay
A miraculous and rugged, basalt-rimmed bay, Boiler Bay is a great place to watch wild surf action on the rocky spurs. This splendid panoramic viewpoint presents a good opportunity to see migrating and resident gray whales. Take your binoculars -- this is one of the best sites in Oregon to see ocean-going birds (like shearwaters, jaegers, albatrosses, grebes, pelicans, loons, oystercatchers and murrelets). In 1910, an explosion sank the J. Marhoffer, and you can see the ship's boiler at low-tide. A short, rough trail takes you to some of Oregon's richest tide pools.
Whale Watching CenterDepoe Bay
Located along the seawall in Depoe Bay, the Whale Watching Center is dedicated to sharing information about whales. The center is home to the Whale Watching Spoken Here program, which sponsors the winter and spring break whale watching weeks. Gray whales migrate past the Oregon Coast on their way to and from the waters off Alaska and Mexico. The center includes exhibits on the history and behaviors of whales and a free theater showing whale movies.
Shelton McMurphey Johnson HouseEugene
SMJ House is a Victorian House Museum in Eugene, OR. We offer an educational program for grades 3-4 but it can be altered to fit younger or older students. All school groups pay a special school rate for kids and caregivers. Our museum focuses on late 1800's to 1950's, specifically regional history and Victorian Era. There is also a video tour available for those unable to travel.
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of ArtEugene
The University of Oregon's Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) a premier Pacific Northwest visual arts center, features engaging exhibitions, significant collections of historic and contemporary art, and exciting educational programs that support the Virginia Haseltine's academic mission and the diverse interests of its off-campus communities. The JSMA's collections galleries present selections from its extensive holdings of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art.
Darlingtonia State Natural SiteFlorence
Darlingtonia State Natural Site is the only Oregon state park property dedicated to the protection of a single plant species. Concurrently, the plants it protects are the only carnivorous flora in the system. This 18-acre botanical park provides parking and a boardwalk trail out into a fen that is home to Darlingtonia californica. Also called a cobra lily, the rare, strangely-shaped plant is the only member of the pitcher plant family (Sarraceniaceae) in Oregon.
Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic ViewpointFlorence
Heceta Head Lighthouse sits 206 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The iconic 56-foot tower and stunning setting make it one of the most photographed on the Oregon Coast. The light atop the tower was first illuminated in 1894. Its automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast. Visit the first floor of the lighthouse from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the summer (March through October) and 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the winter (November through February), weather and staff permitting. No reservations are available for public access inside the ground floor of the lighthouse. School and tour groups may schedule ahead by e-mail to heceta.h.lighthouse@oprd.oregon.gov. The program includes the outdoor area around the base of the lighthouse and the ground floor of the tower. Upper levels are closed to the public. The trail just before the lighthouse will take you to a viewpoint of the lens. This trail passes the assistant lightkeeper's house, which was built in 1893, and is one of the last remaining on the Pacific Coast.
Wolf Creek Inn State Heritage SiteGrants Pass
Imagine yourself as a traveler along a section of the Applegate Trail in the late 1800s. Take a step back in time and visit the inn, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In front of the tavern, you'll find interpretive panels depicting life on the Applegate Trail. The inn still provides lodging and meals to the weary traveler. Wolf Creek Inn is the oldest continuously operated hotel in the Pacific Northwest.
Sanctuary OneJacksonville
Sanctuary One's Learn, Care and Grow Field Trips are offered in three distinct, yet interwoven, varieties, each exploring the Care Farm model of simultaneous, holistic care for animals, people and the earth. All field trips include hand-on activities, games, farm tours, and animal interaction in a unique outdoor classroom setting, and are appropriate for school grades K-12 as well as other youth-service organizations. Field trips are conducted year-round. Public tours allow visitors to visit the farm and animals April - October.
John Day Fossil Beds National MonumentKimberly
A visit to the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is like taking a journey into ancient Oregon. Whether you tour the museum at Sheep Rock, hike a trail at the Painted Hills, or picnic at Clarno, Oregon's exciting past will be revealed.
Collier Memorial State ParkKlamath Falls
Collier Memorial State Park features a campground; outdoor museum of historic logging equipment; relocated pioneer village; and a new four-corral, primitive horse camp and trailhead. At the state's finest logging museum, you'll see rare and antique logging equipment dating to the 1880s, as well as more recent pieces.
Oswego Heritage HouseLake Oswego
The Oswego Heritage House invites visitors of all ages to stop by and see the historic house and attend our featured events. Oswego Heritage's permanent history exhibit begins with an introduction to local Native American history and continues around the room, bringing you to Oswego's more current history. There are revolving exhibits that focus on aspects of Oswego Heritage's research throughout the year. The museum is free to attend.
D River State Recreation SiteLincoln City
The shortest river in the world, D River flows a mere 120 feet from Devils Lake into the roaring ocean. The park is right off the highway with easy access to a busy -- and reliably windy --beach. D River Wayside is home to a pair of the world?s largest kite festivals every spring and fall which gives Lincoln City the name Kite Capital of the World.
Lewis & Clark National Historic TrailMulti-state
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean.
Oregon National Historic TrailMulti-state
The Oregon Trail was for fur traders, gold seekers, missionaries, and others, the pathway to the Pacific. Wagon ruts and landscape scars can still be seen from that time.
Nez Perce National Historic TrailMulti-state
The Nez Perce (Nimiipuu or Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail stretches from Wallowa Lake, Oregon, to the Bear Paw Battlefield near Chinook, Montana. It was added to the National Trails System by Congress as a National Historic Trail in 1986. The 1877 flight of the Nez Perce from their homelands while pursued by U.S. Army Generals Howard, Sturgis, and Miles, is one of the most fascinating and sorrowful events in Western U.S. history. Chief Joseph, Chief Looking Glass, Chief White Bird, Chief Ollokot, Chief Lean Elk, and others led nearly 750 Nez Perce men, women, and children and twice that many horses over 1,170 miles through the mountains, on a trip that lasted from June to October of 1877.
Lewis and Clark National Historical ParkMulti-state
The Park is made up of 12 park sites located on a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific coast from Long Beach, WA to Cannon Beach, OR. Visit the sites in any order you wish; we recommend starting at Fort Clatsop or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment. Both offer rangers, gift shops and exhibits on the region.
Champoeg State Heritage AreaNewberg
This is the site where pioneers voted to form Oregon's first provisional government by a historical vote in 1843. A thriving town of 200 was established, only to be washed away during a great flood in 1861. This rich history earns the park’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
Yaquina Bay State ParkNewport
The historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached, and the only historic wooden Oregon lighthouse still standing.
Devils Punch Bowl State Natural AreaNewport
Surfers and surf watchers energize this area! During winter storms, water from the restless ocean slams with a thundering roar into a hollow rock formation shaped like a huge punch bowl. The surf churns, foams, and swirls as it mixes a violent brew. The punch bowl was probably created by the collapse of the roof over two sea caves, then shaped by wave action. The park is a popular whale watching site and displays an intriguing geology. This is a scenic picnic spot atop the undulating rocky shoreline. Don't forget to explore the tidepools.
Otter Crest State Scenic ViewpointNewport
Otter Crest offers sweeping views of the Oregon Coast and an opportunity to visit the historic Cape Foulweather Gift Shop that dates back to 1937. The Cape Foulweather Gift Shop was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 for its association with the commerce and tourism industry along the Oregon coast from 1937-1963, as well as its association with World War II and defensive measures. Now visitors can browse park and coastal souvenirs and enjoy one of the best views on the Oregon Coast from inside the gift shop. It's open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It's closed January and February.
Coos Historical & Maritime MuseumNorth Bend
The communities of coastal southern Oregon face the present and future with a special history of self-sufficiency and extensive reliance on waterways. The Coos Historical & Maritime Museum is a cultural gathering place that encourages awareness and appreciation of that unique, sometimes hidden history. We enhance community awareness of local history as a key to modern times, with school programs, lectures, partnerships with other community groups, author nights, research services, and a store. Our museum offers changing exhibits that feature our extensive trove of images, artifacts, and archival materials that illuminate regional history.
Four Rivers Cultural Center and MuseumOntario
At Four Rivers Cultural Center, we marvel at the transforming power of story. It's why we celebrate the history of our diverse world. We acknowledge that by building a connection to our world, we are creating a healthy atmosphere of curiosity, discovery, education, and inspiration for a better future. A powerhouse of stories, our museum houses the regional wonders of more than a century. Our unique collection includes unforgettable life-scale dioramas that trace the settlement patterns of the cultures which formed the Four Rivers region. Taking a closer look at its people, its land, and its water, the museum brings to life the remarkable stories of the Northern Paiutes, Basque, Japanese, Hispanic, and EuroAmerican immigrants.
Frenchglen State Heritage SiteOR 205, 60 miles S. of Burns
Frenchglen Hotel is a small slice of peace and quiet in southeastern Oregon at the gateway to the mighty Steens Mountain. Offering rooms for rent, the accommodations are rustic, and the food is excellent. You don't need to drive to the Sierra Nevada or Montana to get that glorious wide-open sky feeling. This historic building has been preserved and is open during the summer season. Come enjoy the history and unique beauty of this timeless piece of Oregon history. The hotel was built about 1917 to serve visitors to the community.
McLoughlin HouseOregon City
He was known in Oregon City as the "Doctor" - a trained physician who once presided over British fur trade interests in a vast area stretching from California to Alaska. John McLoughlin, former Chief Factor at Fort Vancouver in the Oregon Country from 1825-1845, possessed both business acumen and compassion. He made money for the Hudson's Bay Company, but also assisted exhausted, starving American emigrants arriving into the region via the Oregon Trail.
Heritage Station MuseumPendleton
Heritage Station Museum provides something for all ages and interests. Stop by and experience the region's fascinating story. Explore a wide variety of interesting topics through the Museum's special events. Enjoy publications which inform and entertain.
Point Orford Heads State ParkPort Orford
The Port Orford Lifeboat Station was constructed in 1934 by the Coast Guard to provide lifesaving service to the southern portion of the Oregon Coast until 1970. A museum, operated by the Point Orford Heritage Society, is now housed in the station. The museum is free (donations accepted, of course), and is open April-October, Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. A 36-foot motor lifeboat used at this station is on the premises and waiting to be restored.
Cape Blanco State ParkPort Orford
Use our extra-large, private, sheltered campsites as your base of operations while you enjoy the lighthouse and historic Hughes House tours. Cape Blanco is the most southern of Oregon's lights, and is the westernmost point in Oregon. Proposed in 1864, it was the first lighthouse in the state outfitted with a first-order Fresnel lens in 1870.
Experiment PDXPortland
Explore the wacky, whimsical world of science at this hands-on museum where all ages are encouraged to play, create, and enjoy interactive exhibits. This venue hosts a range of child and family-friendly events, as well as summer camps, classes, and more. Visit their website to find a complete list of events. Drop-in hours are also available every day of the week. This would make a wonderful field trip for those curious about physics, coding, biology, nature, and the art of science.
Tryon Creek State ParkPortland
Tryon Creek hosts educational programs and guided hikes throughout the year. Contact the park to schedule a school field trip. Visitors can obtain park information, purchase gifts and enjoy interpretive exhibits and programs at the Nature Center and nearby Glenn Jackson Shelter. The park hosts educational programs and guided hikes throughout the year. Check the event calendar for a schedule.
Willamette Stone State Heritage SitePortland
With the exception of portions of the eastern United States and Texas, the United States is divided into a grid of six-mile squares called Townships and Ranges, commonly known as the rectangular survey system. The Willamette Meridian is one of 37 Principal Meridians in the United States, each of which is named, that define the rectangular survey system. The Willamette Stone is the "Initial Point" or Point of Beginning of the Willamette Meridian. All land surveys and property descriptions in Oregon and Washington are referenced to this point. Established in 1851 under the direction of John B. Preston, the first Surveyor General of the Oregon Territory, the surveys completed from this location promoted settlement of the Northwest and began the transfer of land from government ownership to private ownership. After a short walk down a hill in the park, you can see, touch and read about this important marker.
Portland Art MuseumPortland
Founded in late 1892, the Portland Art Museum is the seventh oldest museum in the United States and the oldest in the Pacific Northwest. The Museum is internationally recognized for its permanent collection and ambitious special exhibitions, drawn from the Museum's holdings and the world's finest public and private collections. The Museum's collection of more than 42,000 objects, displayed in 112,000 square feet of galleries, reflects the history of art from ancient times to today. The collection is distinguished for its holdings of art of the native peoples of North America, English silver, and the graphic arts
The Freshwater TrustPortland, Corvallis, Bend
The Freshwater Trust is a not-for-profit organization that actively works to preserve and restore our freshwater ecosystems.
Plumper Pumpkin Patch & Tree FarmPortland, Hillsboro
At our farm, where memories are made, your group will gain a deeper appreciation for agriculture and create unforgettable experiences together. Explore the excitement of planting pumpkins in the spring, where students can get their hands dirty and discover the basics of farming. In the fall, we offer a farm talk and self-guided exploration so visitors can see all there is to do, including farm fun activities, animals, hay rides, and so much more.
Prineville Reservoir State ParkPrineville
The stars truly shine brighter here, earning the park a rare designation as a certified International Dark Sky Park. The certification recognizes the exceptional quality of the park's night skies as well as the park's efforts to install responsible lighting that minimizes light pollution. If you're staying the night, check the park calendar on site for scheduled night sky programs. Are you coming in for the evening only? Please print, complete and place the Stargazing Permit on your vehicle dash when you're viewing the stars after hours in the designated day-use area.
Mission Mill MuseumSalem
Mission Mill Museum Association is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation established to educate and to interpret and preserve the history of the Willamette Valley and Oregon's textile industry.
State Capital State ParkSalem
The park features not only cherry trees and other plants favored by Oregonians, but tells a little history as well. Stone plaques set in the mall sidewalks list the county seat and establishment date for each of Oregon's counties. On the Willson Park side of the street, flags from every state in the union sit in a circle near the Moon Tree, a state heritage tree. The young Douglas-fir, just north of the flags along Court Street, was grown from a seed carried to the moon by Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa in 1971.
Maud Williamson State Recreation SiteSalem
The original 20 acres was given in 1937 by Maud Williamson in memory of her mother. On the tract is an historic farmhouse once occupied by the original donor and her brother. Historically, the area is part of the Adam Matheny Donation Land Claim. Matheny came to Oregon in the migration of 1843. A relative, Daniel Matheny, operated the first wagon and team ferry on the Willamette River (1844) at the nearby town of Wheatland. A ferry still operates at this point.
Willamette Mission State ParkSalem
The park commemorates the site of Willamette Mission, which served as the first Methodist mission on the west coast and as a boarding school for Native American youth from 1834 until 1841. Established by Québec-born Rev. Jason Lee, the mission marked one of the first Euro-American communities in the Willamette Valley. Frequent floods at Mission Bottom pushed Lee to move the headquarters in 1841 to Chemeketa Plain. He reopened the boarding school and named it the Indian Manual Training School, which would become Willamette University. Families traveling the Applegate and Oregon Trail continued to use the abandoned mission buildings until a catastrophic flood in 1861 washed them away. Though the mission itself was transient, Lee’s legacy endured — both as a catalyst that helped to put Salem on the map as the state’s political capital, and as a reminder of the upheaval in the lives of the Native Americans who first called this area home.
Wy'East Mountain AcademySandy
Wy'East Academy offers a 28-acre private campus that is covered in skateboard park, trampolines, mountain bike trails, weight room, airbags & dryslope facilities for skiing & snowboarding. With over 30 years of experience providing life improvement through movement, we would love to extend these opportunities to the homeschooling community.
Thompson's Mills State Heritage SiteShedd
Thompson's Mills is a unique reminder of times past, chronicling the past 150 years of Oregon rural life. It is the oldest water-powered grain mill in the state: its system of waterways, dams, control gates, ditches and dikes has moved water from the Calapooia River to the mill head gates since 1858. A water right that predates statehood produced the water flow that ran the milling machines. Pioneer families came with their grain crops and left with the flour that would keep them through the coming year. Visitors to the mill today will see antique milling machinery, hand-hewn timbers and mortise and tenon construction.
Erratic Rock State Natural SiteSheridan
This 40-ton rock was deposited during a prehistoric flood. Other than this specimen, rocks of this type are only found in Canada. It was carried here on an iceberg during an Ice Age some 20,000 years ago, probably by way of the Columbia River. The rock was deposited when the ice melted. This is the largest glacial erratic found in the Willamette Valley. The trail to the rock provides an excellent view of Yamhill Valley Vineyards.
White River Falls State ParkThe Dalles
One of Oregon's secret hideaways is located just east of Tygh Valley along Highway 216. The White River plunges 90? over a basalt shelf. The park offers excellent viewpoints of the White River falls. A rugged quarter-mile trail takes hikers down deep within the canyon to the historic hydroelectric power plant at the base of the raw, churning power of the falls. The power plant supplied electricity to Wasco and Sherman Counties from 1910 until the completion of The Dalles Dam in 1960.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center/Wasco County Historical MuseumThe Dalles
The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center is the official interpretive center for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This 26,100 square-foot exhibit wing holds interactive displays which bring to life the tremendous volcanic upheavals and raging floods that created the Gorge, theories of why the Ice Age occured, and a closer look at the mighty river which sculpted patterns for a unique and spectacular diversity of vegetation, wildlife, and ancient ways of life. The Wasco County Historical Museum is a 17,200 square-foot exhibit wing which tells the stories of the people of Wasco County past and present. Once the largest county in the nation, Wasco County began in what is now western Montana and was the home, place of work, and gateway to the interior of western North America.
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center/Wasco County Historical Museum website
Tillamook County Pioneer MuseumTillamook
The history of Tillamook County serves as a reminder of the diverse people who have called it home. From the Tillamook Indians to Captain Gray's 1788 voyage into Tillamook Bay, this stretch of the north Oregon coast is a living memorial to those who came before. Tillamook County's rich history is preserved for all to enjoy at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.
Cape Meares State Scenic ViewpointTillamook
A must-see when driving the Three Capes Scenic route, Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint is situated on a headland 200 feet above the ocean. Cape Lookout and Cape Kiwanda are the other two capes on this route. Cape Meares provides an excellent view of the largest colony of nesting common murres (the site is one of the most populous colonies of nesting sea birds on the continent). Bald eagles and a peregrine falcon have also been known to nest near here.
Crown Point State Scenic CorridorTroutdale
Just as the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, the Vista House serves as the symbol of the Columbia River Gorge. In fact, the architect of the Vista House -- Edgar Lazarus -- and Emma Lazarus (who wrote the poem of the Statue of Liberty), were brother and sister. The Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point). The building was designed to be a place of refreshment and enjoyment of the Columbia Gorge. The popular clifftop viewpoint recently underwent a $3.2 million restoration to repair and rejuvenate the building's key historic features.
Guy W. Talbot State ParkTroutdale
Guy Webster Talbot and his family used this property as a summer estate until 1929 when they donated it to the state. Today, it's a beautiful picnic park. A modern picnic shelter is available for rent (and is reservable).While the park is terrific for a group or family picnic, the park is often uncrowded even on the best days because of its seclusion. A gently sloping grassy hill dotted with Port Orford cedars, Douglas firs, alders and maples invites frisbee tossing and quiet relaxation.
Portland Women's Forum State Scenic ViewpointTroutdale
The view is absolutely breathtaking and it's one of the best spots to soak in a view of one of the most beautiful places on earth: the magnificent, awesome Columbia River Gorge. Any visit to the Gorge would be nearly perfect with Women's Forum as the starting place to a fun-filled day of adventure and discovery. With the scenic Vista House and the wide expanse of the Columbia Gorge in the background, more photographs of the Columbia Gorge are probably taken from this point than anywhere else (but don't let that stop you ... go ahead and take a few shots of your own).
Shepperd Dell State Natural AreaTroutdale
In 1915, a local dairy farmer named George Shepperd gave all that he had (this tract of land) to the City of Portland as a memorial to his wife. Today, thousands of visitors along the Historic Columbia River Highway visit this beautiful spot, with its roaring waterfall cascading down steep cliffs into Youngs Creek and out to the Columbia River far below. One of the most beautiful and historic highway bridges crosses the canyon here, but you can't see or appreciated it unless you leave your car and take the short trail to the falls.
Fort Yamhill State Heritage AreaValley Junction.
Built in the mid-1800s, Fort Yamhill represented a time of transition for the people of the Northwest. The fort served to ease tension between settlers and natives, protect both populations and control traffic between them. Visiting Fort Yamhill today offers an insight into the physical and emotional hardships endured by all the people involved, as well as the emotional tone of the state from 1856-1866. Exhibits and cultural restoration are provided in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
Alsea Bay Historic Interpretive CenterWaldport
The Historic Alsea Bay Bridge Interpretive Center in Waldport was constructed by the Oregon Department of Transportation as part of the bridge replacement project. It's operated by the Oregon park and Recreation Department with help from the Waldport Chamber of Commerce. There are daily bridge tours during the summer (at 2 p.m.) led by a park naturalist. The tours cover the story of the bridge replacement.
