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Orchha

Orchha is a town in Madhya Pradesh near the banks of the Betwa River. The medieval city of Orchha seems to have frozen in time, its palaces and temples still retaining their original grandeur. Orchha had the distinction of being the capital of one of the largest and most powerful kingdoms of Central India. The Bundela Rajput chieftain, Rudra Pratap, founded the city, located by the side of the beautiful Betwa River, in the 16th century.

The word Orchha means 'hidden'. When the Tughlaqs, who were ruling Delhi in the 15th century, pushed the Bundelkhand rajas out of Garkhundar, they retreated to distant Orchha.

Get in
From Agra/Delhi/Gwalior: Take a train to Jhansi station, and then you have two options. The easier but more expensive option is you can hire a car or auto-rickshaw to Orchha which is 15 km away. By auto-rickshaw, it takes about 40 minutes; by car, 20 minutes. The listed price at the pre-paid taxi stand was ₹200, however, you'll have to negotiate the price with the driver that you take. A cheaper way is to pile into one of the auto-rickshaws outside the train station which serve as a bus shuttle-- see if it's going to the bus station, which should only cost ₹10 this way. From the bus station there are other shuttle auto-rickshaws that head to Orchha for ₹20 per person, though you might have to wait a few minutes till it leaves; they only go when full.

You can reach Orchha while returning to Jhansi from Khajuraho, as a detour. While coming to Jhansi from Khajuraho, when you reach on the outskirts of Jhansi city, take left on the Orchha Tigaila(triangle). That road will lead to Orchha. There is a small railway station at Orchha in which only very few trains stop. Jhansi - Khajuraho Passenger (229A) has stoppage at Orchha. Khajuraho - Jhansi passenger (230A) reaches Orchha by 4:45PM. Orchha railway station is 5 km away from Orchha town. Hire a rickshaw and pay ₹50 max to get to Orchha.

Get around
The village is small enough that you can walk just about anywhere.

See
Orchha is a tiny farming town dotted with historical sites. Of note:

 * Jehangir Mahal: Built by Raja Bir Singh Ju Deo in the 17th century to commemorate the visit of Emperor Jehangir to Orchha. Its strong lines are counterbalanced by delicate chhatris and trellis work, the whole conveying an effect of extraordinary richness.
 * Rai Parveen Mahal: Poetess and musician, Rai Parveen was the beautiful paramour of Raja Indramani (1672–76) and was sent to Delhi on the orders of the Emperor Akbar, who was captivated by her. She so impressed the Great Mughal with the purity of her love for Indramani that he sent her back to Orchha.
 * Raj Mahal: Situated to the right of the quadrangle, this palace was built in the 17th century by Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo. The plain exteriors, crowned by chhatris, give way to interiors with exquisite murals, boldly colourful on a variety of religious themes. Get a good guide inside here to take you all over the complex, including locked rooms, for a tip.
 * Raj Mahal: Situated to the right of the quadrangle, this palace was built in the 17th century by Madhukar Shah, the deeply religious predecessor of Bir Singh Ju Deo. The plain exteriors, crowned by chhatris, give way to interiors with exquisite murals, boldly colourful on a variety of religious themes. Get a good guide inside here to take you all over the complex, including locked rooms, for a tip.

Buy
A very small market starting from the main crossroads in front of the Ram Raja temple, coming towards the temple compound, is full of small shops selling souvenirs, handicrafts, beaded chains, gemstones, and other such items. If you are good at bargaining, you can enjoy the shopping here.

Do be aware of fake coins being sold by these market sellers. They will present you with a large number of coins, many of which are genuine but some of which are relatively good fakes of old East India Company coins.

Eat
There are a number of small quaint street restaurants near the entrance to the palaces, serving inexpensive Indian, Asian and assorted "Western" cuisine.

Drink
Orchha has a booze shop in the prominent market place. Don't expect big brands here. If you stay at the pricier accommodations suggested here, you have an attached bar option. But otherwise there are no bars or private pubs.

Go next

 * Jhansi - You can get an auto rickshaw driver to take you to Jhansi for around ₹200, or tell them you want to share the rickshaw (meaning you wait for it to be filled with 8-13 more people) and pay ₹20 total. Rickshaws go to the bus stand, from where you need to take another rickshaw to the railway station.
 * Khajuraho - The only train to Khajuraho leaves Orchh train station at 7:25AM every day. It's a local train and makes many stops.  The trip takes around 5½ hours and is generally not very crowded; you can safely buy a ticket a half-hour before the train arrives and be assured of getting a seat  Reaching the Orchha train station costs between ₹10-₹20 in a shared rickshaw which can be found near the bus station. A round trip to Khajuraho by taxi can be arranged at any of the travel agencies for around ₹2000.
 * Pranpur. 60 km from Orchha. A good place to buy Chanderi silk saris directly from the weavers at affordable prices. Accommodation is provided at the Amraee Guest House, run by the village tourism committee. Weaving & craft workshops can be arranged on prior notice. Advance booking is required & can be made at +91 8527 141 626.

title: Orchha


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Orchid Island

Orchid Island or Lanyu (蘭嶼 Lán yǔ) is a beautiful island in Taitung County off the coast of Taitung.

Villages
The main area for hotels is Hongtou Village, a couple of kilometers southeast of the airport.

Understand
Its population is about 5,000, mostly indigenous Taiwanese of the Tao (formerly known as Yami) ethnic group, not Han Chinese. Most people live in one of the six villages along the coastal road that traverses the island's perimeter.

Talk
The main local language on the island is the Yami language, an Austronesian language closely related to languages spoken in northern Philippines. However, most younger locals are also able to speak Mandarin.

By ferry
You can also take a ferry from Taitung or Kenting, but the seas can be very rough. The journey time for both ferries is about 2 hours.

Get around
There are basically only two roads on the island - the loop road following the coast circumnavigating the island, and the mountain road, dissecting the island in two (east-west).

Other than walking, the only practical means of transport for tourists is hiring a scooter. These can be hired from an area next to the ferry port, which is also the location of the only petrol station on the island.

Hitch hiking is also possible, although you may have long waits between rides due to the low number of vehicles on the roads.

See
Visit churches: Christianity is pretty big here; each of the six villages on the island has exactly one Catholic and one Protestant church. (The Protestant ones are larger and in better repair.) Access and times of services vary. Ask around!

Do

 * Tour the beautiful island on a scooter.
 * Talk and dine with the local Yami people.
 * Enjoy relaxing on this quiet island

Eat
Tribe Bar is probably the most popular place for western tourists and offers a mix of Asian and Western dishes.

Go next
Getting out is not always so easy. Winds can be very strong which makes flying and boat travel impossible at times. Leave yourself at least four extra days in case the flights are cancelled.

 * Green Island
 * Taitung

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Orchid Island


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Ordino

Ordino is the northernmost parish (administrative division) and town of Andorra between Andorra La Vella and France. It has the fewest inhabitants of all Andorran parishes but covers almost the largest area.

Get in
From Andorra la Vella, take bus line L6 northwards. The last stop is in Ordino, near the local tourism office. Costs per ride.

You can also drive from Andorra la Vella northwards via CG-3 to Ordino. If you're coming from east of Canillo, take CG-2 to Canillo and go west via CS-240. CS-240 will become CS-340 at the parish boundary between Ordino and Canillo.

Get around
The entire Ordino town can be explored by walking.

Churches

 * Church of Sant Cerni: dated from the end of the 17th century. It is in Llorts town. Opening hours: Only at mass hours.
 * Church of Sant Cerni: dated from the end of the 17th century. It is in Llorts town. Opening hours: Only at mass hours.
 * Church of Sant Cerni: dated from the end of the 17th century. It is in Llorts town. Opening hours: Only at mass hours.

Other attractions

 * The Ordino Main square: attached to a wall there is an iron ring that was used to fasten offenders for public exposure. Very recommendable: a walk through the village.

Do
Because Ordino has a northeast/northwest location the quality and quantity of snow is good. A little like Arinsal, Ordino has year round residents and is not purely a ski resort like Soldeu and Pas de la Casa, so if you are going skiing for the first time this could be a good place to choose as there are alternatives to skiing close-by in case you decide you don’t like skiing or snowboarding. It is good for novice, intermediate and advanced skiers, who might be interested in the over 10 km of cross-country trails.

There is the Rose Festival (El Roser d'Ordino) in July. In August, there is a bagpipe festival in one of the weekend (usually the first weekend).

Sleep

 * Hotel Arans, (+376) 835 311.
 * Hotel Babot. Three-star hotel.
 * Hotel Casa Vella, (+376) 801 100.
 * Hotel Coma. Three-star hotel.  Beautiful hotel, unfortunate name.
 * Hotel Prats. Three-star hotel.

Connect
Free public WiFi is available in parts of the town of Ordino and at the Tourist Information Office.

Go next

 * Arcalis is a high Pyrenean ski resort that lies in the northwestern corner of the border parish (administrative division) of Ordino. The resort has several times been a stage finish in the world's most famous bicycle race, the Tour de France. It appears to be popular with French and Spanish tourists and is largely unknown amongst English-speaking tourists, except for cycling enthusiasts. SnoBus runs during the ski season from La Vella.
 * Head south to La Massana

title: Ordino


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Ordu

Ordu, ancient Kotiora, is a city in the central stretch of the Turkish Black Sea coast.

Understand
Thanks to the fierce local opposition, Ordu features the only urban waterfront along the entire Turkish coast east of Samsun that wasn't significantly altered by the ugly embankments of the coastal motorway.

Ordu has a population of about 230,000 as of 2019. In a 2014 administrative reform, the central district was renamed to Altınordu, but this is used only in official parlance.

Get in
Ordu lies on the coastal highway D010.

The nearest airport is, on an artificial island 18 km east, off the highway to Giresun. Although it is officially classified as an international airport, it receives flights only from Istanbul (both airports, multiple times daily) and Ankara (once daily).

An alternative is Samsun-Çarşamba Airport, 132 km west. It has somewhat more frequent domestic connections, and a daily flight from Düsseldorf, Germany.

See

 * Taşbaşı Cultural Centre (Taşbaşı Kültür Merkezi). On a terrace overlooking the sea, it is a former Greek Orthodox church and has a central dome atop.
 * Old town. The traditional houses of Ordu, some of which are extremely elaborate, cascade from the hillside around the church down to the coast.

Do
Take the cablecar up to Boztepe, with a great view of the city and the mountains backing it.

Buy
Hazelnut: Ordu is famous for hazelnuts. Turkey as a whole produces about 70 percent of the world's hazelnuts, and over 50 percent of those come from Ordu.

Connect
Ordu's telephone code is (+90) 452.

Go next

 * Cape Jason (Yason Burnu) — 15 km from the nearby town of Perşembe in the village of Çaytepe-Aziziye (28 km west of Ordu in total), this cape is named after Jason, the mythological leader of the Argonauts who set sail in pursuit of the golden fleece and went as far as Colchis (modern Georgia) at the ends of the known world to the ancient Greeks. The cape is marked by a well-preserved church built in 1869.

title: Ordu


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Orebić

Orebić is a port town of 3,700 people (2021) in Dalmatia. Tourism is one of the town's main sources of income, especially during the summer months. The town's main beach is at Trstenica. The Franciscan monastery of Our Lady of Angels is a local attraction, along with the Mount of Saint Elijah (Croatian brdo Sv. Ilija) behind the town which offers a view of the island of Korčula and the Adriatic Sea. There are many sign-posted hiking paths from Orebić and nearby villages that lead to the summit.

By car
It is 67 km from the main coastal Split-Dubrovnik road (the scenic Adriatic Highway), 227 km from Split and 113 km from Dubrovnik. Alternative from Split is A1 motorway towards Ravče and Ploče (then it is 248 km from Split to Orebić). There is ferry service from Ploče to Trpanj (on Pelješac peninsula), which can be used to shorten car driving from Split (to 136, i.e. 157 km) and enjoy 50 minutes of sailing in beautiful scenery. For timetable and prices of ferry service visit Jadrolinija.

By bus
There are regular, scheduled bus services from Dubrovnik, Split and Zagreb. For timetable and prices visit Central Bus Station Dubrovnik, Bus Station Split or Zagreb Bus Station.

By boat
Jadrolinija's (Croatia's national ferry company) Rijeka - Dubrovnik service stops in nearby Korčula (this line also serves Split, Stari Grad (island Hvar) and Mljet). There are also high-speed ferry services to Korčula from Split (stops in Hvar) and Dubrovnik. From Korčula there is a short hop over to Orebić by car ferry, passenger ferry or taxi boat (latter driving from June to September). For timetable and prices for ferry service visit Jadrolinija and for high-speed services Krilo and Gv-line. Information about taxi boats one can get on the spot in ports. Usually they drive all day long. They take only passengers (some take bicycles too) and have acceptable prices ( per person).

By plane
The nearest airports are in Dubrovnik and Split.

Get around
The easiest way to navigate this small town is by foot. The older part of the town straddles the coastline and a very pleasant walk connects the main beach at Trstenica (on the Dubrovnik side of Orebić) to the main ferry terminal.

For a faster moving, the option is to hire bicycle or scooter in one of the tourist agencies.

There are three main daily connections to Korčula: Prices for passengers are same in all three options.
 * 1) Car ferry (also takes foot passengers), which leaves you at port Dominče, approximately 3-4 km from Korčula old town - this is more suited to motorists/cyclists.
 * 2) Passenger ferry, which leaves you directly at Korčula old town.
 * 3) Taxi boat (from June to September), which also leaves you in Korčula old town.

There is a local bus service throughout the peninsula with buses to Lovište and Trpanj, and services to Dubrovnik and Zagreb.

See

 * Franciscan monastery (great panoramic view) - you can drive or hike to the monastery. To get there, follow the Viganj/Loviste road out of Orebic (at the western side of the town) and at the Hotel Villa Julija, take the small road to the right - this is clearly sign-posted. The incline the entire length of this road is steep and careful driving is advised. However, the view from the monastery really is breathtaking. If you are going this far, you should enquire about eating at Panorama (read more in "Eat" section).
 * Historic sea captains' homes line the waterfront, illustrating the town's heritage. Due to the wealth and importance of the sea captains in Dalmatia, the houses were built on a grand scale and set behind large gardens. Most of the homes in the historic district are still owned by descendants of the sea captains families, even those who returned after many years in diaspora. During the 20th century, these families donated ethnographic artifacts, for display at the Maritime museum and museum at the Franciscan monastery house.
 * Karmen
 * Mount Eliah (Sveti Ilija) 961 m
 * Gornja Nakovana
 * Donja Nakovana with Nakovana cave
 * Old captains' houses
 * Drinking fountains
 * Maritime museum at promenade.

Do

 * Boat excursions. Beside trip to Korčula city (described in section "Get around"), there are numerous different options for boat excursions. Specifically, there are prearranged trips and, on the other side, there are arrangements in which one can hire boat for a half or full day trip or even for hour or two. These arrangements can include sailing around or visiting one or more islands or islets in Korčula archipelago (has 19 of them). Then they can include swimming in the crystal blue sea around islands or in Lumbarda, village on Korčula island with beautiful sandy beaches. If one chooses prearranged excursion, it can be organized without or with food (fish picnics), and if one chooses to arrange his trip by himself, there is option to enjoy meal with nice atmosphere in restaurant on Stupe island or in one of the restaurants in Lumbarda. For more information on islands and islets of Korčula archipelago visit Škoji For more information about excursions ask in tourist agencies or go to Lučica (Little harbor) and arrange your trip directly with taxi boat drivers.
 * Wind surfing in nearby Kučište (Perna) and Viganj
 * Wine tasting
 * Biking. For information about cycling possibilities around Orebić see Cycling paths section in Tourist routes Orebić
 * Hillwalking. Hillwalkers can tackle the majestic Mount Ilija and be rewarded with stunning panoramas from its peak. There are numerous marked paths starting in Orebić, Viganj and Kučište. For more information and map see Orebić - Hiking and mountain paths section at Tourist routes Orebić
 * Watersports
 * Sailing
 * Scuba diving. For information about diving in Orebić area read Diving section in Tourist routes Orebić . In Trstenik (25 km from Orebić) there is Diving center S 57. Sites have information about center, service, locations for diving and prices.

Buy
Regional wines, spirits and olive oil.

Drink
Famous Dingač and Postup (red) wine, Travarica (traditional brandy with herbs).

Sleep
Tourism is one of the town's most important industries and there is a plethora of accommodation available. Many locals rent out rooms (sobe) in their homes or full apartments. Most of this accommodation is within a short walking distance of the town's beaches and you will see signs outside accommodation advertising rooms or apartments. Do not be afraid to bargain! There are also many well-equipped camp sites in and around the town which also cater to camper vans. Orebic is also home to a number of hotels including the

 * Apartments Helena, A.Tina Ujevića 1, comfortable, 100 m from next beach.
 * Villa Antonio is an imposing guesthouse located in Postup (famous for its red wine) a 5-minute drive from Orebic. Villa Antonio has exceptional views across the Peljesac Channel to the island of Korcula, as well as stunning views of Mount Ilija. Perched among rows of vines, it also features a large swimming pool and a full evening buffet dinner.
 * Villa Antonio is an imposing guesthouse located in Postup (famous for its red wine) a 5-minute drive from Orebic. Villa Antonio has exceptional views across the Peljesac Channel to the island of Korcula, as well as stunning views of Mount Ilija. Perched among rows of vines, it also features a large swimming pool and a full evening buffet dinner.

Go next
Day trips to Korčula (15 min), Hvar, Mljet, Dubrovnik (1.5-2 hr), Split (3 hr), Narona/Vid, Mostar or Sarajevo. If you want to find out what Napoleon searched for, or what were the words of Jacques Cousteau when he dived in these waters, you have to come and check it out.

title: Orebić


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Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It features rugged coastlines, dense forests, fun cities, mountains, canyons, steppes, and desert in the southeastern part of the state.

Regions
Oregon's regional makeup is largely defined by its impressive natural features; most importantly its mountain ranges which not only provide convenient dividing lines, but which even create a distinct climate in each of the state's regions. Travelers who cover several regions during their stay will find the differences between regions so stark that they can gain a wide variety of experiences.

Oregon is primarily in the Pacific Time Zone (UTC−8 standard time, UTC−7 daylight time). However, most of Malheur County, which has stronger economic ties to southern Idaho than to Portland, is in the Mountain Time Zone (UTC−7 standard, UTC−6 daylight). When traveling on the I-84 freeway, switch time zones at exit 353.

Cities

 * — the state's capital and third-largest city, home to Willamette University, located in the middle of the Willamette Valley, one of the finest agricultural regions.
 * — home of the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Southern Oregon University
 * — a historic fishing town at the mouth of the Columbia River, boasting many shipwrecks in the area, site of The Goonies
 * — high desert gateway with scenic vistas to several Cascade peaks
 * — home to Oregon State University on the western side of the Willamette Valley
 * — home to the University of Oregon, the state's second largest city is known for being very socially and environmentally conscious
 * — nestled in the Columbia Gorge and subject to strong winds, the town is a windsurfer's haven
 * — centrally located on the Oregon Coast, with an aquarium and marine center, attracting those curious about the coast and sea
 * — the state's largest city and cultural capital is one of the country's most livable urban centers and has many distinct neighborhoods. It offers a wide range of educational opportunities at Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, University of Portland, Portland State University (PSU), Oregon Health Sciences University (medical, nursing and dental school & teaching hospital), and Portland Community College (the state's largest community college).

Other destinations

 * — deepest lake in the world above sea level, Oregon's only national park
 * — 12 park sites located on a 40-mile stretch of the Pacific coast located at the western end of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
 * — volcano that offers skiing and snowboarding (November through May)
 * — A marble cave complex that has been a tourist attraction since the late 1800s.
 * — as the harbinger of America's westward expansion, the Oregon Trail was the pathway to the Pacific for fur traders, gold seekers, missionaries and others
 * — part of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, 75 miles east of Bend, approximately 3132 acres, one of the most photographed areas in Oregon. Colors change as the sun moves in the sky, making an extended visit quite worthwhile. Brilliant yellow wildflowers bloom in rivers of color down the "valleys" of the hillsides in late April/early May.
 * — offering numerous outdoor recreation activities including hiking, sailing, and camping at Waldo Lake.
 * — one of Oregon's finest lakes. Beautiful scenery, camping, boating, fishing, hiking, eating, and lodging in the quiet town of Joseph.

Understand
In the mid-19th century, tens of thousands of settlers embarked on a months-long journey across plains, deserts, and mountains to reach the fertile farming land of the Willamette Valley at the end of the Oregon Trail. Traveling by foot with covered wagons, they braved heat, dusty conditions, disease, exhaustion, and starvation. As a modern-day traveler to Oregon, you will have a much easier time, taking only a few hours from most areas of the United States by plane, and in a few days at most by car. But once you set foot in Oregon, you'll start to understand what led the original explorers and settlers to endure such hardship to get there.

History
Humans have inhabited present-day Oregon since about 13,000 years ago, and by the time of European exploration in the 1500s there were many established Native American tribes. The earliest explorers came by sea to the west coast of North America in search of the Northwest Passage, and later by land, but they largely ignored many areas of present-day Oregon.

Although numerous sea expeditions explored the coast of Oregon, it wasn't until 1792 when American captain Robert Gray first entered what would become known as the Columbia River, followed soon afterward by British captain George Vancouver. By land, American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition across the Louisiana Purchase to the mouth of the Columbia, arriving at the Pacific Coast in 1805. An expedition financed by John Jacob Astor later established a fort at what is now Astoria.

From 1818 to 1846, the Oregon Country (which also included present-day Washington state and British Columbia) was jointly occupied by the US and the United Kingdom. At that time, most settlers were involved in fur trading. A group of early American settlers eventually established a provisional government in 1843 at Champoeg. As more American settlers followed the Oregon Trail and settled in the Oregon Country, a boundary dispute with the United Kingdom was settled in the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which drew the boundary line at the 49th parallel, the present-day boundary between the United States and Canada.

The Oregon Territory was organized in 1848, and Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859.

In the 1880s, the transcontinental railroads greatly helped bring Oregon's wheat and lumber to markets in the east, as well as further population growth in its cities. Industrial production began in the 1930s with the construction of the Bonneville Dam in the Columbia River Gorge.

Climate
The Cascade Range forms a dividing line between two climate zones in Oregon. Moisture from the Pacific Ocean meets a barrier at the Cascade Range, resulting in abundant rainfall in western Oregon during the fall, winter, and spring, and milder temperatures overall. East of the Cascades, however, the climate is semi-arid and much drier, with a wider range of temperatures during the year. Snow falls abundantly in the Cascade mountains during the winter.

Culture
Today, Oregon is a study in contrast and diversity. Oregon was one of the first states to give citizens the power to pass legislation via initiative and referendum. Ballot measures in the state run the gamut from very conservative to very liberal, displaying a wide variety of opinions. The Cascade mountain range forms both a geographical and cultural dividing line between west and east. West of the Cascades in the Willamette Valley, progressive opinions such as environmentalism prevail, while in eastern Oregon political thought tends to be rather conservative.

Oregon, however, has a reputation for innovation. Besides being the first state to allow initiative and referendum, it was the first state to establish a beverage container deposit law (also known as a bottle bill), the first to legalize physician-assisted suicide, one of the first to legalize medical marijuana. A measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana in Oregon was approved on November 4, 2014.

The name of the state is invariably pronounced "OR-uh-gun" by its residents. If you pronounce it "or-ee-GONE," most residents will reflexively correct you, as they are unable to abide this particular faux pas. Also, the Willamette River, the main river in Western Oregon that runs north from Eugene through Salem to Portland, is pronounced "wil-LAM-it" (damn it!), with the accent on the second syllable.

Holidays
Oregon observes all the federal holidays, except Columbus Day, and adds Election Day (always on a Tuesday, from November 2nd to 8th). However, there may not be an election on an odd-numbered year, and local and preliminary ("primary") elections throughout the year are not holidays. Also, some cities and towns that have a large population of federal workers or military personnel might observe Columbus Day anyway.

By plane
The vast majority of air travel into Oregon is done through, located on the north side of the city along the Columbia River. The airport has won several awards for traveler satisfaction and offers relatively quick ingress and egress due to its moderate size and lack of hub services. Quick access to ground transportation of all types is readily available. National services are provided by all major United States airlines, with direct flights available from most western airports. International service is limited with direct flights available from Vancouver, Amsterdam, and Tokyo plus seasonal flights from some resort cities in Mexico.

Flights into Oregon's other commercial airports are available from several neighboring states, but can be costly in comparison to flights into Portland. While several links are direct, many itineraries will involve a connection through Portland. Mahlon Sweet Field is the second largest commercial airport in the state and serves the Eugene–Springfield area. Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport in Medford is the primary access point for Southern Oregon, while Roberts Field  in the Bend–Redmond area serves the same role for Central and much of Eastern Oregon. For destinations in the far eastern portion of the state, it's usually better to fly to Boise Airport in Idaho. Several other Oregon cities have airports capable of handling commercial traffic, including Coos Bay, Klamath Falls, Newport, Pendleton, and Salem. Service is sometimes provided by regional airlines to these destinations, but frequencies and availability are changed frequently due to the low traffic demand for these services.

Nearly all significant cities throughout the state contain a municipal airfield for general aviation, or are within a short distance of such a field. In addition several small fields exist at premier destinations such as Sunriver, allowing general aviation pilots the ability to directly fly into their chosen location. The climate of the Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley regions can lead to rapidly changeable visibility and weather, while winter weather in mountainous areas and throughout Eastern Oregon can be severe, so while there ample times suitable for VFR flight, lack of IFR capabilities may lead to scheduling problems due to unpredictable weather patterns. Several air taxi and aviation rental services are available for those without their own aircraft who wish to fly into these smaller airports.

By train

 * Has route the following routes that stop in Oregon:
 * The Coast Starlight, regarded by many as America's most scenic train ride, runs between Los Angeles and Seattle, with the same stops as the Cascades between Eugene and Seattle except Oregon City and Tukwila. Additional stops in Chemult & Klamath Falls before crossing into California (southbound) or arriving into Eugene (northbound).
 * The Empire Builder runs between Chicago and Spokane, Washington, where it then splits, with half of the train continuing to Seattle, and the other half to Portland.
 * The Amtrak Cascades is a special service that operates between Vancouver, British Columbia and Eugene using special high-speed Talgo rolling stock. Stops include Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany and Eugene.

By car
Oregon has numerous roads into the state from its neighbors:
 * From California, the only freeway is Interstate 5, which taken north from Shasta crosses the Siskiyou Mountains and into the upper Willamette Valley and most of the state's largest cities. If traveling to the Oregon Coast, U.S. Highway 101 is a more scenic option connecting California's northern coast with Oregon's.  To the east side of the Cascades, U.S. Highways 97 and 395 offer good quality roads to access Central and Eastern Oregon.
 * From Washington, the most common entry is across the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 bridges in the Portland Metropolitan Area. There are several other crossing points along the states' shared Columbia River border for regional travelers, including the impressive causeway on U.S. Highway 101 at the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria.  Further east, if coming from Spokane or Yakima areas, Interstate 82 crosses into the state near its northeastern corner. A very scenic route also exits along the Columbia River on US Hwy 12 (north end) and US Hwy 730 (south end). This joins Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon.
 * From Idaho, Interstate 84 is the primary way into the state, crossing the Snake River at Ontario and continuing across the Blue Mountains and through the Columbia Gorge into Portland. Additionally, U.S. Highways 20 and 26, which enter the state near Nyssa, offer routes across the middle of Eastern Oregon, cross the Cascades and Willamette Valley, and terminate at the Oregon Coast. Several smaller roads cross the border for local access.
 * From Nevada, there are limited options due to the sparsely populated nature of the Great Basin region. U.S. Highway 95 is the largest road to cross the border, but is in fact primarily a route from Central Nevada into Western Idaho.  To access most of Oregon by way of Highway 95, it is necessary to use Oregon Route 78 to cut over to U.S. Highway 20 or to use Nevada and Oregon Route 140 to access Southern Oregon destinations.  From most of Nevada it is more convenient to use routes through California to get to Oregon.

By bus
Greyhound runs several bus lines into Oregon:
 * 500 - from Boise and Salt Lake City to Portland via Interstate 84
 * 502 - from Spokane to Portland via Pasco and Interstate 82
 * 509 - from Seattle to Stanfield (near Hermiston and Pendleton) via Pasco, Washington and Interstate 82
 * 600 - from Sacramento to Portland via Interstate 5
 * 601 - from Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia to Portland via Interstate 5

Pacific Crest Bus Lines Pacific Crest Bus Lines runs several bus lines in Oregon. All routes operated by Pacific Crest Bus Lines are express routes.
 * Florence to Eugene
 * Oakridge to Eugene
 * 8309/8310 Bend to Eugene
 * Bend to Salem
 * Salem to Portland
 * Bend to Klamath Falls
 * Klamath Falls to Medford
 * Medford to Brookings.

Get around
The Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck website provides up-to-date info on available transportation services in Oregon, whether it's intercity buses, trains, or local public transit. Use this handy resource to find your way around the state car-free.

Amtrak provides Thruway service to almost any destination in Oregon that is served by an intercity bus. Many trips involving a bus can be booked with Amtrak, even if your itinerary does not include a train ride. Similarly, you can book most bus trips through Greyhound, even if Greyhound doesn't operate any of the buses you ride.

By train
Amtrak offers several ways to enter and travel throughout Oregon by train:
 * The Cascades connects, twice daily between Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany and Eugene. Additional service along this route is provided by the Cascades Point bus.
 * The Coast Starlight, regarded by many as America's most scenic train ride, runs between Los Angeles and Seattle, with the same stops as the Cascades between Eugene and Seattle except Oregon City and Tukwila. Additional stops in Chemult & Klamath Falls before crossing into California (southbound) or arriving into Eugene (northbound).
 * The Empire Builder runs between Chicago and Spokane, Washington, where it then splits, with half of the train continuing to Seattle, and the other half to Portland. The train runs parallel along the Columbia River in Washington side of river with stops in Vancouver, Wa; Bingen (across river from Hood River) and Wishram (a few miles upstream from The Dalles in the Washington side.

By car
Road travel within Oregon is facilitated by a network of highways criss-crossing the state. Oregon does not have many freeways, with only Interstate 5 and Interstate 84 covering any significant distances beyond urban areas. With I-5 to the west and I-84 hugging the northern edge of the state, the majority of the rest of the state is connected by a mix of U.S. and Oregon Routes. While the network of these routes offer direct connections between most locations in the state, the state's geography does create some choke-points in mountainous areas, and inclement weather can delay or prevent travel through the many mountain passes. Almost without exception, both U.S. and Oregon routes in rural areas are two-lane highways with occasional passing lanes added to relieve buildups over long stretches. A few popular egress routes from the larger cities have been developed into divided highways for short distances, but this is far from the norm. Rural highways, particularly outside of the Willamette Valley, are typically not lit and have fewer reflectors and other driver's aids than most other states equip their roads with. More commonly traveled routes are being improved over time, and Oregon utilizes Safety Corridors over certain sections of its highways to promote safer driving and reduce accidents.

During winter months, Oregon's mountain highways can become snow-bound. Chains or other traction devices are required through many mountain passes during the winter, and certain passes are closed altogether. The Oregon Department of Transportation maintains various ways to update travelers on weather and construction conditions throughout the state, one of which is their TripCheck website. It is highly advisable that when traveling through rural Oregon to maintain an emergency kit including cold weather survival gear as several highways include long stretches between services and can be sparsely traveled at times.

Driving in Oregon offers numerous opportunities for sightseeing and a large number of highways are naturally scenic routes to travel. A wide variety of different landscapes can be found throughout the state, and roadside pullouts are provided along most for scenic viewpoints and interpretive kiosks. Full service rest areas are only found along the Interstates, but a few limited service rest areas are available on U.S. Routes.

Gasoline and electric car charging
Historically, Oregon had banned self-serve gasoline. This ban was relaxed in stages starting in 2018 and, as of August 4, 2023, has been repealed entirely. All gas stations in the state may now offer self-serve gas if they so choose. The 16 urban counties in the state (all counties along the I-5 corridor and in the Willamette Valley, plus Lincoln and Coos counties on the Coast and Deschutes County near Bend) are required to provide at least 50% attended-service pumps. The 20 other rural counties (including all counties east of Multnomah County along I-84) may offer up to 100% self-serve. However, a station anywhere in the state may continue to offer attended service on all pumps if they choose; motorists may not demand self-service if it is not offered.

Tipping your attendant at a full-service pump is appreciated, but optional. Even when self-service was outlawed, gas prices in Oregon are comparable to neighboring Washington, and about 15 percent cheaper than in California. In fact, the law repealing the ban also requires stations to charge the same price for attended or self-service.

Gas stations are located in most towns, but many stations, especially in smaller towns, will close overnight rather than staff the station 24/7. For that reason, if a nighttime road trip will take you into Oregon from the east or the south (as opposed to the north via Portland), you may want to top off your tank before crossing the border.

Charging stations for electric vehicles are in several places in the Portland and Eugene areas and along the I-5 corridor, with further expansion of this network underway. It is possible to drive your electric vehicle from Portland all the way up to Government Camp on Mt. Hood. In and around the Portland area, many public facilities, such as libraries, have EV charging stations. Retail shopping centers are also installing chargers.

Speed limits and DUI enforcement
West of the Cascades, speed limits on freeways are typically 65 miles per hour (mph) outside of urban areas, while other highways are limited to 55 mph. Interstate 84 east of The Dalles and Interstate 82 have speed limits of 70 mph, and many of the rural highways east of the Cascades have speed limits of up to 65 mph.

Oregon has a reputation for strict speed limit enforcement, especially in comparison to some other western states. Fines begin at $110 (2014) for exceeding the speed limit by 1 to 10 mph and increase very sharply from there. Fines are doubled in school zones, designated safety corridors and construction zones. This is simply not a good jurisdiction in which to be a leadfoot.

DUI checkpoints are not performed in Oregon, but driving over the legal limit of consumption is a crime. As in all of the United States, the legal blood alcohol content limit is 0.08% (0.02% for those under 21 years of age). If you are not legally intoxicated, you can still be cited under Oregon laws regarding driving while impaired. While Oregon is a state in good spirits with its spirits, please do not drive while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, prescription or otherwise.

By bus
Information on transit can be found here.

The Oregon Department of Transportation partners with other carriers to run Oregon POINT (or "Public Oregon Intercity Transit") bus routes throughout the state. They operate the following routes:

By bicycle
The Oregon Department of Transportation produces maps and guides for biking. Many Oregon State Parks have separate "Hiker-Biker" campsites available for tour bikers hauling their own gear at $5 a night, especially - but by no means exclusively - on the coast; see the Oregon State Parks website for more details.

Oregon is the only state in the United States to have designated Scenic Bikeways, all of which are spectacular. The length and ease of these routes range from a short 24-mile hop on the Metolius River to a 178-mile loop tour of Eastern Oregon. These routes are generally routed along low-traffic roads (and separated paths whenever possible) and take into consideration food and lodging opportunities.

The Oregon Coast is a premier destination for cycling, although traffic, stretches with narrow shoulders, heavy winds and rains, and windy roads make it somewhat dangerous. These factors plus stark and frequent elevation changes make a border-to-border trek a ride for experienced cyclists. Nevertheless, many people cycle the entire Oregon Coast each year, largely with no more problems than a set of sore thighs. In the summer months take Highway 101 north to south starting in Astoria through Lincoln City and onto Brookings to get breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The prevailing winds will be at your back all summer long. For the seasoned cyclist, head north in winter months as the winds are out of the SW at that time of year.

By foot
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (which runs from Canada to Mexico) passes through Oregon along the Cascade Mountains. With almost no civilization along its route and very few highway crossings (four in the northern 150 miles of the trail), it is exceptional for experiencing nature while avoiding civilization.

The Oregon Coast Trail crosses the entire state from Washington to California, a distance of about 400 miles.

The Oregon Desert Trail winds 800 miles through Eastern Oregon's remote high desert from Bend to the Idaho border. (Status unclear)

By thumb
Along with Oklahoma, Texas and Missouri, Oregon is one of the few U.S. states that allow foot traffic on all toll-free Interstate highways (except within the Portland metro area). This makes hitchhiking relatively easy.

See

 * Majestic mountains: The soaring snow-covered peaks of the Cascade Range, the lush covered mounts of the Coast Range, and the rugged ranges of Eastern Oregon all provide beautiful backdrops to outdoor activities throughout the state, and hikers and drivers both can discover incredible sights as they travel the valleys and passes through the ranges.
 * Lush forests: Nearly every region of Oregon is home to large tracts of State and National Forest land, though each region boasts a unique mix of tree species and other flora. Several areas of protected old growth forest remain in the state.
 * Wildlife: Due to the large amount of habitat remaining in the state, a large number of wildlife species are able to be spotted.  This includes hundreds of species of birds, both migratory and resident, that can be spotted in city parks, along beaches, and in wildlife refuges.  For more exotic animals, the Oregon Zoo is home to world-class selection of animals.
 * Performing arts: Portland is home to vibrant theater and music scenes, catering to a variety of tastes throughout the city's neighborhoods.  Additionally, several major performing arts events are held in other locations around the state from jazz festivals on the beach to the world-renowned Shakespeare festival in Ashland.
 * Sports: Portland hosts the state's three professional major league teams, the National Basketball Association's Portland Trail Blazers, Major League Soccer's Portland Timbers, and the National Women's Soccer League's Portland Thorns, while its minor league hockey team also draws fervent support.  Corvallis, Eugene, and Portland all offer NCAA Division I sports at their respective university campuses. Professional baseball is played by the short-season class A Northwest League in Eugene, Hillsboro, and Keizer.
 * Rivers and wetlands: With mountainous terrain and plentiful rain and snow, several rivers network across the state, from mountain streams fed by snow-melt, through raging rapids, over waterfalls and down into placid lakes and low-lying wetlands.
 * Coastal beaches and rocks: The state's beaches are all public, allowing unfettered access to the shore with beautiful views of the storm-beaten coastal rock formations, free-standing rocks out to sea, and out across the Pacific to see the sunset.
 * Gardens and parks: Portland

Do

 * Take to the slopes: Mt. Hood offers year-round snow sports and some of the most extensive night-skiing facilities in the country, so there is never a bad time to take to the slopes.  Arrayed on the mountain (as well as other mountains in the state) are ample opportunities for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and snow-shoeing, as well as motorized fun on snowmobiles.
 * Go whitewater rafting: The Rogue River in Southern Oregon has amazing rapids and several services are available for all skill levels.  Echo Trips offers trips for four days on the Class III rapids.  Other rivers in Southern and Eastern Oregon offer a variety of rafting experiences as well.
 * Go camping: Oregon is dotted with campsites, catering to different types of camping experiences.  Several are on the grounds of numerous state parks, and the most popular sites can be booked up well in advance (especially those offering more services) so it is best to book ahead.  Camping offers a great way to experience the unique natural feel of each region.
 * Drive a dune buggy: The Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area between Florence and Coos Bay offers areas for ATV and dune buggy activities, a fast-paced way to experience one of the more unique features of the Oregon Coast.  Several other places offer the chance to ride an off-road vehicle throughout the state.
 * Walk the beach: Since all of Oregon's beaches are public, you can walk the entire coast if so inclined.  The regular storms of the Pacific Ocean deposit treasure along the Oregon shore, rewarding beach-combers with all nature of man-made and natural finds.
 * Rock climbing: Smith Rock is internationally recognized as a rock-climber's destination, but Oregon's terrain has several other rock-climbing locations to find.
 * Play at a casino: Oregon has nine Native American casinos, including Chinook Winds, Kah-Nee-Ta, Kla-Mo-Ya, and Spirit Mountain.  Most contain lodging and restaurants as well.
 * Bike riding: The Spring Water Trail and downtown Portland are both scenic bike rides. Take advantage of the state's spectacular Scenic Bikeways.
 * Relax in the hot springs: Bagby Hot Springs and Breitenbush Resort are natural hot springs where you can soak.

Buy
Unlike most US states, Oregon has no sales tax. There is no tax included in posted prices and no tax is added at the till. This is worth bearing in mind if you're planning on making any large purchases during an interstate trip. Many large chain stores are located in Portland along the Columbia River. These stores attract shoppers from neighboring Washington, which has some of the nation's higher sales taxes.

Portland has several neighborhoods with unique shops, as well as a Saturday Market for local arts and crafts as well as food and music. Powell's Books is the largest new and used bookstore in the state, but there are many smaller book sellers throughout Oregon. For souvenirs, the Made in Oregon chain of shops carries a variety of products from around Oregon in locations in several shopping centers as well as the Portland International Airport. The Oregon Coast is sprinkled with antique shops and purveyors of beach finds. In April, a gigantic garage sale is held in Lincoln City with over a hundred sellers participating.

Eat

 * Four star dining in hiking boots and jeans? This is perfectly acceptable (as are suits and tuxedos) at Timberline Lodge's Cascade Dining Room, which offers seasonal Northwest cuisine year round.  Excellent breakfast, lunch and dinner selections. Dinner reservations are helpful most evenings, but a necessity on holidays and nice summer weekends.
 * Visit one of 30 microbreweries within Portland city limits.
 * Smoked salmon is a typically Oregonian dish that has been eaten here since pre-Columbian times.
 * Food carts have become a popular alternative to restaurants in Oregon cities.
 * Oregon is known for its berries, especially cranberries and marionberries (first bred in Oregon). The Oregon grape is the state flower but, while edible, it is not commonly eaten.
 * Hazelnuts (a.k.a. filberts) are also a popular specialty.

Drink
From the coastal hamlets to the valley cities to the remote towns of the high desert, Oregonians drink, and proudly. Because of the growing wine and microbrewery industries in the state which produce drink of world-class quality, having a tipple and touring beverage facilities is a popular pastime for Oregon residents and tourists alike. It is occasionally joked that one cannot throw a cat in the city of Portland without hitting a bar, while most other towns of any appreciable size have at least two places in which one can imbibe. Yes, the drinking culture here is strong, and if you like to pickle your giblets then you'll be in heaven.

Oregon is an Alcoholic Beverage Control State and as such requires all distilled spirits to be sold by state-approved outlets. Because the liquor stores purchase their wares from the state at an inflated and heavily-taxed cost, liquor by the bottle or by the shot can run your booze bill up pretty quickly. Fortunately, Oregon has no shot size regulation (such as, say, Utah has) and many bars - especially in the Portland area - pour their drinks quite liberally; in fact, a literal three fingers of whiskey is not uncommon if you know the barkeep.

There are no so-called "blue laws" concerning time of alcohol sales other than a daily 2:30-7AM restriction, so if you like kegs and eggs for your Sunday breakfast, Oregon's your kind of place. Also, Oregon's alcohol laws are unitary within the state and are wholly overseen by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC), so there's no need to worry about dry towns or dry counties.

Finally, bartenders in Oregon seem to be a bit more strict about checking ID than those in many other states. This likely due to the aforementioned OLCC, which is known to be nothing short of draconian when it comes to the enforcement of laws regarding the furnishing of alcohol to minors by service workers and punishment under the same. If you look under 30 (or even 40!), hand them your ID card or passport before you order because they will ask for it. There is also a total indoor smoking ban in all places but cigar and hookah bars.

Beer
Oregon has a large number of regionally- and nationally-known craft microbreweries, many of which distribute outside the state. Most are happy to host guests for tastings, and many are accompanied by restaurants and gift shops.

Wine
Oregon has become renowned as an outstanding wine producing region in its own right, with a range of temperate climates that allow the production of vintages significantly different from vineyards and wineries in neighboring California. The Willamette Valley, just south of Portland, is particularly well known for its distinguished Pinot Noirs, and is well-suited to grow other Burgundian and Alsacian varietals: Gamay Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and Gewürztraminer among others. A diverse arrangement of climates, though, fosters a range of other grapes throughout the state.

Oregon boasts more than 400 wineries in the state. Some of the larger, more well-known wineries and vineyards are:

Due to strict policing for DUI's and meandering country roads, and out of respect for your own and other drivers' safety, it is strongly suggested to hire a tour guide when visiting local wineries and participating in wine tasting.

Liquor
Liquor in Oregon is sold in specifically-licensed stores (though supermarkets may still sell wine and beer).

There are several well-known distilleries:
 * Hood River Distillery, Hood River, specializing in traditional strong liquors such as gin, vodka, rum, and whiskey. (Their Pendleton blended whiskey is strongly recommended)
 * Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, specializing in liquors distilled from regional fruit produce.
 * Rogue Brewery has a fledgling - and tasty - distilling operation producing specialty liquors.

Sleep
The Oregon State Parks are among the best in the United States, being very well maintained and in beautiful locations. Accommodations range from hiker-biker tent sites to standard car camping/RV lots to cabins and yurts. While some parks have an allotment of "first-come, first serve" camping spots, booking ahead is a necessity during the summer months.

Crime
Oregonians are known for being exceptionally kind and welcoming people; accordingly, violent crime in Oregon is quite low and visitors are not likely to have any harm come to them during their stay.

Property crime is infrequent, but does occur. In urban areas and rural alike, mind your valuable items as you would anywhere else. Car prowling is a pervasive problem in the Willamette Valley cities (Portland, Eugene, and Salem) and forest trailheads; pay special attention in these areas.

If you are in need of emergency assistance, dial 911 on your phone.

Drugs
Recreational use of marijuana is legal in Oregon. Adults 21 years and older can legally carry one ounce of marijuana on their person and purchase it from licensed marijuana dispensaries. However, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal; you cannot carry marijuana across state lines (even to neighboring Washington and California, where recreational marijuana is also legal), nor is use of marijuana in public places allowed. It's still a federal crime to possess or use marijuana, despite state law; do not leave cannabis products out in the open on federal grounds.

That said, legal marijuana is widely available and tolerated statewide, perhaps more so than in any other U.S. state. This is particularly true in the Portland area. Even otherwise conservative towns like Burns and Ontario have multiple marijuana shops.

Oregon's relatively lax attitude toward drugs nowadays is surprising given the huge wave of methamphetamine that rolled over the state in the 1980s, '90s and 2000s, causing much death and suffering. One unusual holdover from that era, which is still in effect today, is the state law requiring a prescription for any medication containing pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in medications that are sold over-the-counter in other states. This law applies equally to visitors from out of state as native Oregonians, so your best bet is to leave your Sudafed at home.

As one might expect, sale of drugs, including marijuana outside of licensed dispensaries, is not tolerated. Offenders can expect unpleasant ramifications in the form of a felony conviction, especially if the offense takes place within 1,000 feet (305 meters) of a school.

Natural hazards
Natural hazards are also few, but include mountaineering fatalities (Mt. Hood in particular). Tsunamis on the coast are very rare, but have occurred; make note of the "Evacuation Route" signs. For information on the state's hazard assessment, visit the NOAA Center for Tsunami Research site. Sudden snowstorms in the Cascade Mountains from October to May occur and could lead to increased avalanche danger. The usual perils of desert travel in the Southeastern part of the state could be eminent if you are unprepared, so always follow desert survival guidelines ; and rattlesnakes, bears and other wildlife (particularly east of the Cascade range).

Travel hazards
If you venture out of the Willamette Valley during your stay, be sure that your automobile is well fueled and in suitable condition: while Portland is modern and well-populated, Eastern Oregon includes some of the most sparsely populated areas in the United States. Harney County in the Southeast region of the state, for example, is slightly smaller than Massachusetts but is the home to only about 7,000 people. Breaking down out there will, in best case scenarios, make for a very long and annoying day; at worst, the consequences can be tragic. In rural areas, be aware that many seemingly passable roads are truly impassable for large portions of fall, winter and spring. Apparent routes or shortcuts across mountainous areas and deserts should be validated with locals before attempting - deep snow has captured the vehicle of many a tourist or day tripper who ventured into unknown territory and pushed when they should have exercised better judgment.

This also applies to routes between the Oregon coast (US Hwy 101) and the I-5 freeway. Always plan in advance, with one alternative in case of closure. In no case should this be left to chance or your GPS. There are many potentially dangerous roads through the Coastal Mountain Ranges, especially in severe weather and for those traveling with a RV or trailer.

Finally, as the subject of the vast emptiness of Oregon has been broached, remember to always have an adequate map (Benchmark Maps makes an exceptionally good one), especially if traveling into the wilderness on foot: each year many hikers go missing and, sadly, some never return. Know where you are going, and make sure someone else does too.

 * Oregon State Police:
 * Oregon State University offers a Saferide Program throughout the week.

Respect
Oregonians are fanatically proud of the natural beauty of their state; littering or otherwise causing harm to the scenic beauty — including wildlife — found here is bound to draw attention to you that you probably do not want, up to and including that special type which only an officer of the law can give.

While Portland and the rest of the Willamette Valley are very cosmopolitan and culturally similar to San Francisco and Seattle, Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon are more akin to Idaho and Nevada; that is to say, quite conservative. Contrary to popular belief, not all Oregonians are liberal, a fact which will become abundantly clear to you on a trip to a place such as Burns, La Grande, or Prineville.

State issues in general tend to be divided along Willamette / non-Willamette lines (that is, large cities within the valley such as Eugene, Portland and smaller cities along the coast, around the mountains, and in the high desert), and some resentment between these groups may be uncovered. The State of Jefferson, a region of southern Oregon and northern California marked by a period of attempted secession during the first half of the 20th century, retains a very independent mindset: Jefferson Public Radio and the State of Jefferson Chamber of Commerce are two indicators of a retained degree of autonomy from this period.

Connect
Oregon has four telephone area codes. The northwestern corner of the state, including Portland and Salem, uses 503 and the overlay 971. The rest of the state, from the Corvallis/Albany area south and from the Cascades east, uses 541 and the overlay 458. Ten-digit dialing is mandatory statewide—all calls, even local calls dialed on landline phones, must be dialed using the area code (503-xxx-xxxx).

Although it's rare now, especially so in the Portland/Salem area, you might see an old sign with a seven-digit phone number, without the area code. You still must dial the area code if you want to call that number. You can very safely assume the area code is 503 if you see it in northwestern Oregon, or 541 if you're elsewhere.

Go next

 * Washington State - Oregon's northern neighbor offers amazing natural scenery, from the imposing Mount Rainier to the rainforest of Olympic National Park, as well as the quirky culture of cities like Seattle.
 * Idaho - Oregon's eastern neighbor is a rugged state, with snow-capped mountains, whitewater rivers, forests, high desert, and plenty of wilderness.
 * Nevada - The Silver State borders Oregon to the southeast and is home to the adult playgrounds of Las Vegas and Reno as well as remote desert and mountain landscapes.
 * California - Located south of Oregon, America's most populous state is home to Hollywood, the free spirits of San Francisco, and diverse natural wonders such as Yosemite National Park, Death Valley National Park, and the rugged Central Coast.

title: Oregon


text:
Oregon City

Oregon City is a city of 37,000 people (2019) in the Portland Metropolitan Area. The seat of suburban Clackamas County, it is best known as being the end of the Oregon Trail. Several tourist attractions in the city commemorate this history.

Understand
Although Portland is the main attraction in modern-day Oregon, those making the trek from the Midwest to Oregon along the Oregon Trail in the 1840s and 1850s came to their journey's end in Oregon City, near a camp called Abernethy Green. It was here that newly arrived settlers would camp while filing their land claims.

 * Dr. John McLoughlin founded Oregon City in 1829 as an outpost of the Hudson's Bay Company to take advantage of the power provided by nearby Willamette Falls. It became the capital of the Oregon Territory for its early years (1848 to 1851), and at the time competed with nearby Portland for influence.

Today, its downtown area retains the historic character thanks to preservation of the historic houses and buildings.

By bus
TriMet has buses connecting Portland's city center to Oregon City. Bus 33 goes along the east side of the Willamette River (while it does cross the Hawthorne Bridge, it mostly has views of car dealerships) and bus 35 goes along the west side (lots of trees).

By car
I-205 runs through Oregon City. From PDX airport, take 205 south to Oregon City. 205 also branches off of I-5.
 * OR 43.svg SW Macadam connects Oregon City into SW Portland through West Linn and Lake Oswego. It begins as SE 7th and crosses over the Willamette River from Oregon City on the Oregon City Bridge to West Linn and becomes SW Macadam on the other side.
 * OR 99E.svg SE McCloughlin goes from Oregon City into SE Portland through Gladstone and Milwaukie. In Portland SE McCloughlin becomes Grand Ave going north and Martin Luther King Blvd for the southbound traffic (a block west) from Grand Ave.
 * OR 213.svg Cascade Highway

By train

 * Route stopping in Oregon City:
 * Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), and Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany.  There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene.  No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.
 * Amtrak Cascades operates between Vancouver, BC and Eugene via Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Lacey (Olympia), Centralia, Kelso (Longview), and Vancouver, WA, Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany.  There are two round trips daily along the portion between Vancouver and Seattle, four round trips daily along the portion between Seattle and Portland, and two round trips daily along the portion between Portland and Eugene.  No train departures travel the whole length of the route. Additional service between Vancouver and Seattle, and between Portland to Eugene are provided on the Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.

title: Oregon City


text:
Oregon Coast

The Oregon Coast is the region in Oregon located along the Pacific Ocean. Due to its scenery, wildlife, and history, the Oregon Coast is a popular travel destination. Hiking, sport fishing, cycling, kite flying, scuba diving, surfing, sandboarding, and boating are common activities for visitors to the region. Historic areas, such as Fort Clatsop, Battle Rock, and Oregon's lighthouses are all popular sites for visitors. The Oregon Coast is also known for its scenic areas, such as Cape Perpetua, Cape Blanco and Cape Arago.

Regions
The Oregon Coast is typically split into three distinct regions, north to south.

Cities
The Oregon Coast is fairly remote, especially as the decline of the logging industry has caused many of the small cities to re-orient themselves almost exclusively toward tourism. The Coast is dotted with small oceanside villages with a couple dozen towns and cities in between. The largest city, Coos Bay, only has a total population of 13,000 people.
 * - Situated on the Columbia River just around the corner from the coast, Astoria is one of the oldest cities in Oregon. A great jumping off point to explore sights on both the Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington coasts, as well as sights around town.
 * - Located right at the end of U.S. Highway 26, Seaside is just a 90 minute drive from Portland, making it the most popular destination along the coast for people who are based in the Portland Metropolitan Area.
 * - Not too far from Seaside, this scenic beach city is close to Ecola State Park and has known for the giant sea stack just off shore.
 * - A dairy town famous for being the origin of Tillamook Cheese. Grabbing some free samples at the factory is a highlight of an Oregon Coast road trip.
 * - Home to the twice-annual kite festival.
 * - Check out Oregon's largest aquarium and two historic lighthouses
 * - Access to the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area from the north, and the birthplace of sandboarding.
 * - The largest city on the Oregon coast, adjacent to the Oregon Dunes NRA from the south.
 * - The southernmost city on the Oregon Coast, you can see more and more giant redwood trees as you approach the California border on your way to Crescent City.

Other destinations

 * - made up of several state and national park sites located on a stretch of the Pacific coast from Long Beach, WA to Cannon Beach, OR. The sites can be visited in any order. Fort Clatsop or the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment make good starting points, and Astoria is centrally located making it a good "home base" to explore from.
 * - Formed by the ancient forces of wind, water and time, these dunes are like no others in the world. This is the largest expanse of coastal sand dunes in North America, spanning over 40 miles down the coast. Florence at the northern end of the dunes is the most accessible city in the area, but Coos Bay at the southern end is able to accommodate travelers as well.

Understand
The Oregon Coast appears to be pristine, but the impact of the timber industry on the coastal ecology is enormous.

This has caused some contention in state politics, as some counties that were heavily dependent on the logging industry (particularly along the Southern Coast) are experiencing more economic hardship, especially in areas that aren't directly adjacent to the coastline.

Due to the Oregon Beach Bill of 1967, all "wet sand" that is within 16 vertical feet of the low tide line is public property, and gives the public the right to "free and uninterrupted use" of the beach. The bill was a result of Oregon governor Oswald West's efforts to keep the beach public by declaring the entire length of the ocean shore a state highway in the 1910's. West also directed the construction of U.S. highway 101 and the development of 36 state parks. This development shot coastal tourism through the roof, which has been commemorated with the naming of Oswald West State Park near Manzanita after the influential governor.

Oregonians are incredibly proud of their public coastal lands, exemplified by the annual SOLVE Oregon Beach Cleanup which drew 4,200 participants in 2021.

By car
For most people, the only way to access the Oregon Coast will be by car.

U.S. Highway 101 runs along the Oregon Coast from Astoria in the north (on the border with Washington) to Brookings in the south (on the California border). The highway offers views of Pacific Ocean, making it one of the most scenic drives in the country, and runs through the heart of many coastal cities. However, it does run inland in some sections due to geography (such as alongside the Oregon Dunes).

The highway is connected to Interstate 5 by many highways that run along rivers, such as the Umpqua (Highway 38). Typically it takes one to two hours to reach I-5 from the coast. Most major cities in the Willamette Valley have a highway that runs directly west to the coast, but keep in mind that these highways can be dangerous if not impassible in winter weather conditions since they are passing through the Coast Range.

Modern mapping applications are much better about using established routes than they used to be, but do not use unpaved roads as a shortcut. These rough roads may appear shorter on a map, but are often rugged and you may be at risk of getting stuck if your vehicle is not up to the task.

By plane
The only commercial airport on the coast lies in North Bend. The airport is serviced with daily flights to and from Portland International Airport via Horizon Air. You can drive from the airport in Portland to the coast via Highway 26 and Highway 6 in about 2 hours. Flying into Portland is usually more economical than flying into North Bend. There are several general aviation airports along the coast, but be sure to arrange transportation from the airport in advance, since options will be limited.

By bus
Many of the larger cities have a rudimentary transit system that you can use to get into town. There is usually one route that connects the city to the Willamette Valley, but it is far from optimal to travel this way. See the region and city articles for more information.

Greyhound serves Astoria, Cannon Beach, Coos Bay, and Brookings.

Get around
A car is the best way to get around the Oregon Coast. U.S. Highway 101 often serves as the main drag in most of the coastal cities. Many businesses have built along 101 in an effort to attract tourists passing by. During the summer season, make sure you are not in a big hurry. It was once named No. 1 for tourist congestion, beating out the popular Cape Cod.

Greyhound no longer serves along the coast, but many towns are serviced by local bus lines such as Porter Stage Coach.

See
Here are just a few attractions that you need to check out on your visit to the Oregon Coast, check the region and city pages for more details:
 * Watch baby loaves of cheddar get made and get free samples at the Tillamook Cheese Factory in Tillamook
 * The Tillamook Aviation Museum is based in a gigantic WWII era blimp hangar, one of the world's largest wooden buildings. Most of the collection has been moved to the air museum in Madras.
 * The dory fleet and adjacent Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City.
 * Cummins Creek Wilderness Area in Yachats
 * Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport
 * Sea Lion Caves (Between Yachats and Florence on Hwy 101)
 * Sand Dunes in Florence
 * Chinook Winds Casino Lincoln City
 * Newport Bayfront Newport
 * Bandon Safari Zoo Bandon

Lighthouses
The historic lighthouses of the Oregon Coast make great waypoints for planning an adventure. Some are located right in town, while others may encourage you to explore an area that you wouldn't have planned to visit otherwise. Some lighthouses are still operational today, but most of them have been decommissioned.

 * Lightship Columbia in Astoria is open for tours with admission from the Columbia River Maritime Museum.
 * Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
 * Cape Meares Lighthouse
 * Yaquina Head Light in Newport
 * Yaquina Bay Light in Newport
 * Cleft of the Rock Light
 * Heceta Head Light
 * Umpqua River Light
 * Cape Arago Light
 * Coquille River Light
 * Cape Blanco Light

Do

 * Rent a crab boat and try to bring home the day's catch at any of the bays along the Northern Oregon Coast.
 * Go deep sea fishing, charters available at many of the coastal cities.
 * Kayak the estuaries and bays of the coast.
 * Rent an ATV and explore the Oregon Dunes or Sand Lake (near Pacific City).
 * Charter a whale watching expedition from Depoe Bay.
 * Rent a sandboard in Florence and ride the slopes of the dunes.
 * Explore the rugged Rogue River gorge on a jetboat in Gold Beach.
 * Many hikes in along the coast are incredibly scenic. See the region articles for more information.

Sleep
As the economy of the Oregon Coast is largely driven by tourism, most small communities have at least one hotel, while popular destinations (Seaside, Lincoln City, Newport) have dozens from which one can choose. When summer heat waves strike the Willamette Valley, however, it is entirely possible for hotels on the US Highway 101 corridor to be filled to capacity. Make sure you have a place to stay before setting out if temperatures exceed 90°F (32°C) in the Portland, Salem or Eugene areas.

Rental cabins are also widely available whether traveling with a party of one or two, or if you need accommodations for 12 or more companions. Cabins are available both in the larger cities or the smaller villages depending on your preferences for peace and quiet (not that the coastal cities are known for raucous partying).

Oregon State Parks operates numerous parks with camping options, as do the parks departments of many counties located on the Oregon Coast. Note that these campsites are likely to be filled to capacity in the summertime months; this is especially true for all sites within easy access of the Willamette Valley. As with hotels, always rely on a reservation and never on luck.

Eat
Dungeness crab, salmon, clams and oysters are widely available along the coast, and most restaurants source local ingredients. Each town should have at least one option for seafood including Mo's (an Oregon Coast regional chain).

Stay safe
Oregon is in a seismically active area. Earthquakes and tsunamis are highly uncommon, but possible along the coast. There is an excellent tsunami warning network along the Oregon Coast, but due to the close proximity where earthquakes can occur, scientists may be unable to provide much warning for a tsunami. If you feel an earthquake and/or notice that the tide is suddenly very far out to sea, seek higher ground immediately. Tsunami evacuation routes are usually well signed, so take note as you pass by.

Far from the warm, calm beaches of Southern California or Florida, the Pacific Coast in Oregon is cold and turbulent - even in the summer. Take necessary thermal precautions and be sure of your skills and abilities before entering the water.

Go next
Most visits to the Oregon Coast are going to be round trips from Portland or elsewhere in the Willamette Valley. If you are on a West Coast road trip you'll end up on the Southwest Washington coast or California's North Coast next.

title: Oregon Coast


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Orem

Orem is a city in Utah's Wasatch Range.

By car
Orem is accessible by freeway. Take I-15 south from Salt Lake City and take the 800 North exit, Center Street exit, or University Parkway exit.

By plane
The nearest airport is Salt Lake City International Airport.

By train
Commuter rail service FrontRunner links Orem to Ogden and Salt Lake City to the north and Provo to the south.

By bus

 * Salt Lake Express
 * UTA bus service is also available.

Get around
Bus service is available but access to a car is recommended.

Learn
Orem is home to (formerly Utah Valley State College). In addition, a number of Orem's residents attend Brigham Young University in neighboring Provo.

Go next

 * Provo — Orem's neighbor to the west and south and home to Brigham Young University.
 * Salt Lake City — approximately 45 minutes to the north of Orem, Utah's state capital includes such destinations as Temple Square and the This Is The Place Monument.
 * Timpanogos Cave National Monument — along Highway 92 in American Fork Canyon, this national monument offers a strenuous but scenic hike to an impressive cave featuring myriad formations. Entrance to the cave is possible only on a ranger-led walk, with two options available: an off-trail spelunking tour and an on-trail tour through the cave's most scenic rooms.

title: Orem


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Orenburg

Orenburg (Russian: Оренб'ург, Uh-rehn-BOORK) is the capital of Orenburg Oblast. Every citizen will point you the sign at the bridge across the Ural river, supposedly landmarking the geographical border between Europe and Asia (the actual boundary is further east). Orenburg has a sizable Turkic population, which gives to the city a bit of a Central Asian colour.

Understand
The bestowing of a German name ("eastern walled town") on a brand new Russian fortress city would not sound unusual in 1743, when German-born nobles played a significant role in the Russian Empire. The chosen place, where the Or and the Ural rivers join, was the Empire's eastern border at the time.

Orenburg played a major role in Pugachev's Rebellion (1773–1774), the largest peasant revolt in Russian history. It was then a capital of a vast district, the seat of a Governor. Yemelyan Pugachev besieged the city and its fortress from nearby Berda from October 1773 to March 26, 1774. The defense was organized by Governor Lieutenant-General Reinsdorf. Most of the city was left in ruins, and thousands of inhabitants died in the siege. Imperial forces crushed the revolt towards the end of 1774.

Orenburg was the base for General Perovsky's expeditions against the Khanate of Khiva in the 1830s through 1850s. As Central Asia was absorbed into the Russian Empire, Orenburg became a trading station and, since the completion of the Trans-Aral Railway, a prominent railway junction en route to the new Central Asian possessions and to Siberia.

Alexander Pushkin visited Orenburg in 1833, during a research trip for "The History of Pugachev" and his novel "The Captain's Daughter", whose themes famously overlap. Here he met his friend Vladimir Dal, who would later write the first serious dictionary of the Russian language.

Orenburg functioned as the capital of the Kirghiz Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (in present-day Kazakhstan) within Russia from 1920–1925. When that republic was renamed Kazak Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in 1925, Orenburg joined Russia.

From 1938 to 1957, the city bore the name Chkalov (Чка́лов), after the prominent test pilot Valery Chkalov. The city's distance from the German invasion during World War II led many Soviet enterprises to relocate here, helping to spur the city's economic growth.

Climate
Orenburg has a relatively dry humid continental climate with quite long and hot summers and long and cold winters. April and October are transition months, with the rest of the months being either summer or winter.

By train
The Orenburg station is a part of South-Ural Railway and its network is connected by direct trains to Moscow, Samara, Ufa, Yekaterinburg, Kyiv and southern capitals of the CIS republics.

Get around
City public transport includes bus, trolleybus and also marshrutkas (fixed-route cabs).

See
The remnants of the old fort and its gate constructed in 1743 should be seen first.

Museums

 * Museum of city's history. The gothic building with tower and clock.
 * Museum of regional studies.
 * Museum of Rostropovich family.
 * Museum-flat of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and his family.
 * Museum "Memory House".
 * Museum "Memory House".

Temples

 * St. Nikolai Cathedral.
 * Mosque "Karavan Sarai". Built in 1836-42 by the project of Alexander Brullov.
 * Orthodox Church of Sergius of Radonezh.

Other

 * National village - collection of traditional houses in styles of local peoples: Russian, Tatar, German, Kazakh, Bashkir, Ukrainian,Chuvash, Azerbaijani and Belarusian.
 * Central exposition hall of the Union of Artists.
 * Zauralnaya roscha. (Ural woods)- the forest-park in the city limits.
 * Memorials to Peter the Great and pioneer aviator Valery Chkalov. Both feature nice views of the Ural river.
 * Memorials to Peter the Great and pioneer aviator Valery Chkalov. Both feature nice views of the Ural river.

Buy
Orenburg is famous for its shawls, known as Orenburg shawls/scarves or wedding ring shawls.

Drink

 * Local beer and kvas Gofman

title: Orenburg


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Orenburg Oblast

Orenburg Oblast (Russian: Оренбу́ргская о́бласть uhr-yeen-BOORK-skuh-yuh OH-blust') is a region in the foothills of the Ural Mountains, on the border with Kazakhstan. In addition the region borders Samara Oblast to the west, Tatarstan to the northwest, Bashkortostan to the north, and Chelyabinsk Oblast to the northeast.

Cities

 * (Оренбург) — the capital and principal city is famous for its down shawls
 * (Гай) — a small industrial city in the region's Gaysky District, perhaps of interest to a novelty seeker due to its name
 * (Новотро́ицк) — a mid-sized industrial city
 * (Орск) — the region's second largest city, which straddles the Urals River, placing it in both Europe and Asia; notable for its Orsk Jasper and many Bronze Age grave sites

Understand
Orenburg Oblast is a big industrial and agricultural producer famous for it watermelons in Russia, covered with steppes and hills having its fair share of historical and natural sights. It is a home to Orenburg Cossacks and former nomade peoples. The Ural River, considered the boundary between Europe and Asia, cuts through its territory.

Get in
Orenburg's main airport services flights to/from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Dushanbe

There are two trains from Moscow to Orenburg. One of them departs every odd day around 19:00 and takes 26 hours. And the second one departs every day per week around 15:00 and takes 30 hours.

Trains goes through Ryazan, Samara.

There is one train goes every day from and to Samara.

Go next
Trains head south to Kazakhstan (train "Moscow — Astana" and others), and on to Uzbekistan (train "Moscow — Tashkent", "Moscow — Andijan"), Kyrgyzstan (train "Moscow — Bishkek") and Tajikistan (train "Moscow — Dushanbe") from Orenburg and Orsk.

title: Orenburg Oblast


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Orford

Orford is a village on the Suffolk coast. It has a fine mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore, and a Grade I listed parish church, St Bartholomew's.

Understand
Orford is a small coastal town within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The town is separated from the sea by a 10-mile-long shingle spit known as Orford Ness, the town being mid-way along the spit. The spit is connected to the mainland ay Aldeburgh and the River Alde flows along the coastline between the mainland and the shingle spit. The town is the only means of access to the Orford Ness nature reserve.

By road
The town is 9 miles E of the main A12 road running Ipswich to Lowestoft, connected via quiet B roads.

By train
The town is not on the rail network. The nearest station is

By ferry
Butley ferry is an ancient foot ferry to the south of Orford. It runs on weekends and bank holidays from end of April to end of September 11AM-4PM. Call ahead to check it is running, or book for parties travelling on week days: 07913 672499

 * Adults £2.00
 * Children £1.50
 * Bicycle £1.50

By bicycle
The town in on Regional Cycle Route 41 which connects to National Cycle Route 51 (Colchester to Oxford) at Felixstowe (and then the National Cycle Network) and to National Cycle Route 1 (Shetland Islands to Dover) at Bruisyard 15 miles NW of the town.

Get around
The town is small enough to see on foot.

Do

 * Walk along the sea walls
 * Take the ferry to the bird reserve (depending on weather)
 * Visit the church
 * Try and spot where the ancient harbour used to be

Buy

 * Smoked fish

Eat
Orford is famous for its smoked fish, and there is a small smoke house selling it.

Drink
It has a few pubs.

Connect
As of Sept 2022, Orford and its main approach road have 4G from EE but no signal from other carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Woodbridge and Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon archaeological site
 * Aldeburgh
 * Felixstowe
 * Ipswich

title: Orford


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Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a national monument and a UNESCO biosphere reserve in the Western region of Arizona, bordering Mexico.

Understand
More untouched and lush (for a desert that is) than more easily accessed American southwest desert parks, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was created to protect its namesake, the organ pipe cactus, the monument being the largest concentration of the plant in the United States. It is in the extreme southern portion of Arizona and borders along Sonora, Mexico. The visitor's center is less than 10 miles (16 km) from the Mexican border. The nearest large population centers are Tucson and Yuma, both over 150 miles (240 km) from the monument, though several small towns with gas stations, hotels, and groceries are near the NORTHERN borders of the park, and other towns near the southern edge, if you want to drive across the Mexican border (the single US highway into the park continues directly into Mexico).

The monument is a through-route between Arizona and Puerto Peñasco (also known as Rocky Point) in Sonora, Mexico. Just 5 miles (8 km) south of the visitor center is the US Port of Entry in the town of Lukeville and the Mexican Border Customs in Sonoyta (Aduana Fronteriza de Sonoyta).

Flora and fauna
Though named for the Organ Pipe Cactus - the park has far more saguaro cactus than those of the organ pipe variety - in far higher concentrations than say - Saguaro Cactus National Park, also of Arizona. In essence, the park is a relatively lush and untouched American southwest desert environment, with a far higher concentration of cacti and other desert plants than perhaps anywhere else in the American southwest - with a decent and best in US, but not exactly overwhelming (this is the northern end of its range), number of organ pipe cacti interspersed.

Climate
Summer months are hot, with temperatures exceeding 100F. Winter months are milder, with temperatures in the 70s, with overnight lows in the 40s.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
The only viable method to reach the park is via car. Arizona Highway 85 (AZ 85) leads from south into the monument from Interestate 8. There is no public transit into the monument.

The nearest major airports are in Phoenix and Tucson, with some service in Yuma.

There us a US Port of Entry at Lukeville, along AZ 85 at the US-Mexico border.

Fees and permits
Entrance fees to the monument can be paid at the visitor center or at one of the self-registration stations on the scenic drives. Fees are valid for seven days, and as of 2022 were:

 * Vehicles: $25 (this fee includes all occupants of a vehicle).
 * Motorcycle: $20.
 * Individuals: $15 (this fee applies to bicycles and walk-ins).

Get around
There is no public transit in the monument. Private vehicles or hiking are the only options for getting around.

Do

 * Alamo Canyon Trail
 * Arch Canyon Trail (Ajo Mountain area)
 * Bull Pasture Trail (Ajo Mountain area)
 * Campground perimeter trail (pet friendly)
 * Desert View Trail
 * Estes Canyon Trail (Ajo Mountain area)
 * Palo Verde Trail (pet friendly)
 * Victoria Mine Trail, please stay on the trail
 * Visitor Center Nature Trail
 * Campground perimeter trail (pet friendly)
 * Desert View Trail
 * Estes Canyon Trail (Ajo Mountain area)
 * Palo Verde Trail (pet friendly)
 * Victoria Mine Trail, please stay on the trail
 * Visitor Center Nature Trail

Lodging
There is no lodging in the monument. Ajo and other smaller towns are within 30 minutes of the park.

Camping

Backcountry
Due to border security concerns, the backcountry is closed indefinitely.

Deserts
The monument is a remote, desert wilderness. Be sure to carry plenty of water both in your car and while hiking and drink regularly, even if not thirsty. If your car breaks down, stay with your car rather than attempting to find help on foot. It is much easier to find a vehicle in the desert than a person.

For more information, see: Arizona : Stay Safe > Deserts

Arizona / Mexico border
As mentioned above, the monument is on the U.S.-Mexico border. Due to the remoteness of the monument, it is used for illegal border crossings. Most of the persons illegally crossing present no threat to park visitors. However, there are some who use the monument for smuggling who are armed and dangerous. In 2002, a park ranger was shot and killed by a drug smuggler. The Kris Eggle Visitor Center has been named in his honor.

Visitors should be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activities to park rangers or border patrol officers.

For more information, see: Arizona: Stay Safe > Arizona / Mexico border

Go next

 * North:
 * Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge – bordering on the north and west, provides a habitat for the Sonoran Desert wildlife.

 * South, in Sonora, Mexico:
 * El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar – sister park to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

title: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument


text:
Orgnac l'Aven

Orgnac l'Aven is village in the Ardèche département, in south of France. It is inhabited by approx. 380 people in winter, which grows about ten times in summer.

Buy

 * Local wine

Go next

 * Vallon Pont d'Arc
 * Montélimar

title: Orgnac l'Aven


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Oria

Oria is a city in the province of Brindisi in the region of Apulia (Puglia), Italy.

By Plane
From Brindisi Airport

There are more than ten airlines companies operating in Brindisi airport. Ryanair have more frequent flights from major European cities compared to other airlines.

By Train
Oria station is served by Italian national railway. Practically Oria is well connected by local train with two major cities in Puglia, Brindisi and Taranto. From Rome There is a direct night train from Roma Termini Station everyday. It costs €32.60, and takes 7 hours 45 minutes. From Taranto

The train from Taranto departs to oria frequently. It cost €2.60 for 37 minutes travel.

From Brindisi

Brindisi train station has daily schedule for the train departing to oria. Train costs €2.30.

From other big cities in Italy

Intercity and Fast train connect Brindisi and northern big cities.

By Car
From Brindisi and Taranto

Italian motorway doesn't go through in oria city, but the travellers should follow E90/SS7 motorway instead. E90/SS7 is the motorway which connects Brindisi and Taranto. The travellers should take the exit of oria, the distance from the exit to oria is roughly around 5km.

See

 * Gate of the Jews
 * Castle
 * Churches

title: Oria