Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest, is a land of natural wonders, bustling cities, and friendly small towns. The city of Portland, in particular, is known for its unique character, and that same independent and eccentric spirit is shared by many of Oregon’s towns. From unique natural beauty to attractions that can only be found here, these seven cities are truly unique destinations. So when planning your first (or next) trip to Oregon, take the time to look beyond big cities like Portland and discover all the great things the small towns of the Beaver State have to offer. please.
Yachats
The coastal town of Yachats offers stunning views along its rocky coastline, but its biggest attraction is a gaping hole in the rocks known as Thor’s Well. Although it’s actually only about 6 feet deep and water flows out at low tide, Thor’s Well looks like a giant swirling bathtub drain that slowly empties out to sea at high tide. It’s a great photo spot, but you need to be careful as you walk on the surrounding rocks. In addition to Thor’s Well, which is busy year-round, Yachats hosts several fun fall festivals, including Oktoberfest in late September, the Mushroom Festival in October, and the Celtic Music Festival in November.
McMinnville
The community of McMinnville in northwestern Oregon is home to the largest wooden aircraft in history, the Spruce Goose. Invented by eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes during World War II, this giant plane was designed to take off and land on water, but it only made one short flight. Admire spruce geese and other wonders at the Evergreen Air and Space Museum, then go rain or shine at the Wings and Waves Indoor Water Park adjacent to the Museum of Flight. McMinnville also hosts the Oregon International Air Show in late September, the McMinnville Scottish Festival in October, and the annual McMenamins UFO Festival each May.
mitchell
When you think of Oregon, you think of forests and rocky coastlines, but the state’s central and eastern regions also feature high desert landscapes. For the most colorful views of this landscape, head to the Painted Hills section of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, about 14 miles northwest of the town of Mitchell. As the name suggests, the Painted Hills feature brightly colored mounds and hillsides along ancient floodplains that have long been dry. During your stay, you may come across rhino and dinosaur fossils. Then you might think you’re in Utah or Arizona instead of Oregon. Visit over Labor Day weekend to enjoy Mitchell’s Painted Hills Festival.
turner
With many small, mom-and-pop amusement parks closing or being acquired by entertainment conglomerates, Enchanted Forest in Turner is a breath of fresh air. The brainchild of local resident Roger Tofti, who opened it in 1971, the park is surrounded by trees and has an appealingly haphazard, do-it-yourself feel. Many of the rides and fairy tale-inspired sculptures are handmade by Tofti, but the park also features an impressive 350-foot-tall fountain light show. Turner, on the other hand, is a cute little town of about 2,500 people located just about 16 miles south of Oregon’s capital city of Salem.
port orford
Oregon is the perfect place to enjoy quirky attractions in the woods. Like Turner’s Enchanted Forest, Port Orford’s Prehistoric Gardens are nestled among tall trees. Established in 1955 as a roadside attraction along Highway 101, the park features concrete sculptures of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, some over 40 feet tall. Some of the paint is chipped or faded, but that only adds to the rustic charm of the prehistoric garden. Port Orford, on the other hand, is a beautiful coastal town with the distinction of being the westernmost community in the lower 48 states. Port Orford is also home to Battle Rock, a picturesque stone promontory with a horrifying history of early Oregon settlement.
culver
The 2002 wildfires revealed long-hidden secrets in the forests of Cove Palisades State Park. It’s Metolius Balancing Rocks. A series of boulders perches precariously on top of a long, slender, cylindrical stone tower. A seemingly impossible natural phenomenon, it is actually the result of ancient volcanic activity and thousands of years of erosion. But even with this knowledge, it can be hard to believe what you’re seeing. This state park is located near the Deschutes National Forest and is a great place for hiking, camping, and sightseeing. Culver, a small town of about 1,500 residents, draws crowds each August for the Crawdad Festival, which celebrates the tiny freshwater crustaceans.
tillamook
Cheese lovers should visit Tillamook on Oregon’s northwest coast. This small town is home to the surprisingly large Tillamook Creamery, which produces approximately 150,000 pounds of cheese per day. Check out the visitor center, tour the factory, and be sure to sample the cheese. Then, visit Cape Meares State Scenic Area and its Octopus Tree (a spruce tree with many tentacle-like trunks), and finish with a cheese tasting. Or check out the airplane collection at the Tillamook Air Museum, housed in a World War II airship hangar, thought to be the largest wooden structure in the world.
Oregon’s big cities are home to many unique attractions, from the Witch’s Castle in Portland to the world’s last Blockbuster video store in Bend. But the Beaver State is also home to hundreds of small towns with unique charms. Natural features like Thor’s Well and Metolius Balancing Rock emphasize the beauty of Oregon’s environment, while man-made attractions like the Enchanted Forest make Oregon’s small towns great places to visit. It speaks of an eccentric spirit. Go ahead and book your trip now!
