Location:
From I-5 take Highway 58 east to Parkway Road. Follow Parkway Road north to the community of Jasper. Turn southeast on Jasper-Lowell Road for about 3 miles. Turn left (east) on Little Falls Creek Road and travel 1/4 mile to Place Road.
Background:
The Pengra Bridge contains two of the longest timbers ever cut for a bridge in Oregon. The timbers for the lower chords, 16" x 18" x 126 feet, were cut by the Booth-Kelly Lumber Company east of Springfield.
Location:
From Interstate 5 exit Highway 58 and travel east to the town of Lowell. Turn left at the Lowell Covered Bridge and continue north through Lowell on County Road 6220 (Lowell-Unity Road) for two miles to Unity.
Background:
In 1890, the first bridge across Fall Creek was constructed by Nels Roney. That 129-foot Howe structure cost Lane County $2,925.
The Bose Family farm has a massive corn maze that stretches out over ten whole acres. Each year they have a different theme for their corn mazes and provide challenges to complete for rewards. For example, in 2014 the extra challenge was to find all of the punch stations hidden throughout the maze in order to enter for a chance to win half of a hog. These rewards in addition to the simple family atmosphere make it an excellent place to bring the family to for a good days worth of fun.
Bose Farms
Your journey through the Umpqua River Basin starts with 10 waterfalls with a variety of picnic areas and hikes. There's something here for all skills and abilities.
While many attractions around Oregon bill themselves as fun for the whole family, if you are going to have fun in your name, you better deliver, and the Family Fun Center and Bullwinkle’s Restaurant does.
Sitting next to Interstate 5, it’s hard to miss it, with its miniature golf castle (which my daughters point and call the ‘princess castle every time we pass’), batting cages, go-cart race track and a rock climbing wall you can see from the highway.
The main reason you visit a glass-blowing studio on the Oregon Coast is to purchase some of the truly unique and beautiful artwork on display.
At the Fernhill Art Studio, they also give you a show.
Location:
From Interstate 5, take the Corvallis exit (228) west 38 miles through Philomath on US 20. Follow Highway 34 southwest through Alsea and continue 20 miles west to the Five Rivers-Fisher Road (Forest Service Road 141). Turn south at the fork at Siletz Road. Continue left past Buck Creek Road about one mile to the bridge. Alternately from Yachats, travel east on Forest Service Road 1560 about 20 miles. This route is not recommended because the road is extremely rough and steep. Note: Forest Service Road 141 connects to the Deadwood Bridge in Lane County.
There are some state parks where you stop, get out of the car, maybe use the public restroom, walk around a bit to stretch your legs and the leave within 20 minutes. Maybe it has an interpretive plaque or trail, maybe one of the incredible stunning views that are scattered throughout the state, but overall it’s a pretty short experience.
The original start of this lilac was brought from Maine to Oregon in 1843 by Mary Charlotte Foster, wife of Philip Foster, partner with Sam Barlow on the Barlow Road. The Fosters sailed around Cape Horn and Mary Charlotte planted the lilac immediately upon her arrival in Oregon City. She moved it five times, replanting it at each of her homes. It was planted in its current location in 1883. It now stands at the Philip Foster Farm, 29912 S.E. Highway 211, Eagle Creek, Oregon.
The original start of this lilac was brought from Maine to Oregon in 1843 by Mary Charlotte Foster, wife of Philip Foster, partner with Sam Barlow on the Barlow Road. The Fosters sailed around Cape Horn and Mary Charlotte planted the lilac immediately upon her arrival in Oregon City. She moved it five times, replanting it at each of her homes. It was planted in its current location in 1883. It now stands at the Philip Foster Farm, 29912 S.E. Highway 211, Eagle Creek, Oregon.
Water everywhere, for everyone: public fountains in downtown Portland
"We're a water city, surrounded by rivers. It's nice to be able to see it everywhere," says Margaret Smith, a lifelong resident of the area, while she watches granddaughters Dionika and Nikayla Newell splashing in one of the many fountains maintained by the Portland Water Bureau. On summer days, three generations of her family, including daughter Nicole, enjoy the cooling waters, and they are far from alone.
Location:
From Portland take Highway 99 through Newberg to Highway 18, then west 60 miles past Willamina to New Grand Ronde. Turn north on Grand Ronde Road to "A" Ackerson Road. Turn left and continue one block, keeping left at the "Y" into the yard of the white house. Be sure to request permission at the house before proceeding past the barn to the bridge.
Background:
Built in 1932 by Doc Fourtner and his wife, the bridge allowed dairy livestock to cross the South Yamhill River without danger of being swept away by high water.
This grove of western red cedars was planted in 1934, the first of hundreds of tree plantings organized by Lockyear in a life dedicated to reforestation.
Lockyear lead Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other youth organizations in making many major tree plantings throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1973 he founded the non-profit ReTree International to plant trees worldwide and involve and educate youth about the importance of trees to our planet. Re Tree International spread Lockyear's passion for reforestation to over 50 countries around the world.
Harvest Season along the Fruit Loop By Pat Snider
No, the Fruit Loop is not the name of a candy treat, a Carmen Miranda earring, or a ride at the state fair. It's a 35-mile scenic meander through the fruit orchards, small towns, and back roads of the Hood River Valley. Located about 45 minutes east of Portland by way of the Columbia Gorge, and directly south of the town of Hood River, the area is Oregon's largest fruit growing region. Over thirty percent of the nation's winter pears are harvested here, along with a variety of apples, berries, peaches, and cherries.
The majestic trees that grace the grounds of the Washington County Courthouse were planted in 1880 as three year old seedlings by pioneer nurseryman John R. Porter. The Porter family came west to Oregon, from Ohio, in 1847. John Porter developed an interest in trees and started a nursery on his farm. When word of the California Gold Strike reached Oregon, he rushed there to seek his fortune. On his way to California, he was awe struck by a Sequoia forest in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Goody's is a family run tradition of handmade chocolates, candies and ice cream. First created by Marne and Marion Palmateer in Sunriver, in 1984, Goody's Candy Store very quickly became a legendary and loved Central Oregon tradition selling assorted candies purchased for resale.
The state's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house originally occupied a scenic setting on the south side of the Willamette River, near the Charbonneau development in Wilsonville. Completed in 1964 for Conrad and Evelyn Gordon, the house was an example of Wright's efforts to design affordable housing for families earning modest incomes. He called the style Usonian, an acronym for United States of North America, and it was characterized by use of inexpensive, mass-produced, local materials and an open floor plan that encouraged social gatherings. Only 60 of them were ever built.
James Withycombe served as Oregon's governor from 1914 until his death in 1919. He was one of only two foreign-born Oregon governors. Born in Tavistock, England, he came to Oregon with his parents in 1871 at 17 years of age. He purchased a farm two years later and married Isabel Carpenter on June 5, 1875. He planted this redwood on their wedding day. Gov. Withycombe was known for his vision and commitment to making Oregon one of the country's greatest agricultural states.
Length: 80 miles / 128.0 km
Time to Allow: 4 to 5 hours
Fees: Some fees may be charged at some attractions.
Driving Directions
Start at the visitors center in downtown La Grande. From here, follow the signs to Birnie Park. The tour leaves the park and proceeds south the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Refuge overlook. After passing Hot Lake Resort, hook onto route 203 to Union. From Union, the tour goes south on 237, then east on for 15 miles. It then loops back to Union via route 203.
