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Oregon, a magical gem in the Western United States’ Pacific Northwest region, is recognized for its stupefying topographical promiscuity showcasing craggy coastlines along the Pacific, forested Coast Range mountains in the west, the Cascade Mountains in the north, the Klamath Mountains in the southwest, productive valleys in the northwest, the Columbia Plateau in the east, semi-arid deserts to the plateau’s south, and approximately 110,994 miles of rivers and 1,400 named lakes. Although the capital city Salem, the most populous city, Portland, and other big cities Eugene and Gresham are stellar tourist magnets, the innumerous small towns littered throughout the Beaver State’s panoramic 95,997 sq. mi. terrain allow vacationers a chance to discover some of the most stunning places in America.

Hood River

Bynamed the Windsurfing Capital of the º£½ÇÉçÇø, Hood River is an outdoor lovers’ wonderland in Hood River County of Northern Oregon, approximately 30 miles north of Mount Hood - Oregon's tallest peak. Located at the junction of the Hood and Columbia Rivers, the town, apart from providing opportunities for various outdoor activities all year long, acts as a portal to both Mount Hood Scenic Byway and Columbia River Highway.

The Downtown's plethoric art galleries like the Columbia Center for the Arts, Art On Oak - Artists Cooperative Gallery, and 301 Gallery; and museums like the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, housing one of the nation's biggest collections of still-flying vintage aeroplanes and still-driving outmoded automobiles; all help to rightfully uphold Hood River’s creative spirit.

Mosier

Home to 468 inhabitants as per the latest US Census, Mosier occupies the heart of the Columbia River Gorge in Wasco County, roughly midway between Hood River and The Dalles. Professedly most well-known for the exuberant cherry groves and the parched bluffs covered by vineyards, travelers are especially drawn here by the unique Mosier Totem Pole Plaza, cafes like Randonnee Coffee Co., bistros like Mosier Company, and the three Columbia River Gorge wineries: Analemma Wines, Garnier Vineyards, and Idiot’s Grace Winery.

Also, bike the 4.5-mile-long Mosier Twin Tunnels Trail pathway overlooking the waterfront, trek the 2.7-mile-long Mosier Plateau Trail leading to an amazing 100-foot-high waterfall, and sample sweet cherries at any of the town's many U-Pick spots like the Cherry Root Orchards and Columbia View Orchards.

Joseph

A petite alpine town in Wallowa County, Joseph, nicknamed Little Switzerland of America, is bordered in the west and south by Wallowa Mountains and the east and north by the Hells Canyon. The town, initially inhabited by the Indigenous Nez Perce people and named as a tribute to their Chief Joseph, stands out as a creative community flawlessly fusing Eastern Oregon's jaw-dropping exquisiteness and friendly atmosphere.

Excursionists can partake in abundant leisure activities at Wallowa Lake State Park, ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway during summers, take note of the epic bronze sculptures on Main Street, and survey the Nez Perce National Historic Park and Hells Canyon National Recreation Area.

Astoria

Astoria, the Clatsop County seat, is situated in the state's extreme northwestern portion by the southern shores of the Columbia River. Called as a tribute to the American entrepreneur John Jacob Astor, this delightful maritime community is the oldest town in Oregon and the primal American settlement to the west of the Rocky Mountains.

Wrapped around by woodlands and thanks to its placement close to the Pacific Ocean, Astoria is a prominent vacation hotspot for sport fishing enthusiasts and a critical trading hub of the lower Columbia Basin. When in town, climb the Astoria Column to behold grand vistas besides touring the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the antique vaudeville Liberty Theatre, Captain George Flavel House Museum, and the Astoria-Megler Bridge.

Rockaway Beach

This impressive Tillamook County town on the North Oregon coast, baptized after its namesake neighborhood in New York City's Queens Borough, is located approx. 25 miles south of Cannon Beach. Founded by the Rockaway Beach Company in 1909 as a seaside holiday resort, Rockaway Beach has a lengthy record of being a beach getaway much before the highways were built.

At present, Rockaway Beach lures visitors with its seven miles of seamless sandy beaches, the Kelly's Brighton Marina on Nehalem Bay, the majestic trees of the Cedar Wetlands Preserve, the International Police Museum, the historic Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, and the Rockaway Pronto Pup which serves loads of deep-fried foods.

Sisters

Sisters, christened for the close-by Three Sisters Mountains, is an appealing hillside community in Deschutes County, around 154 miles southeast of the state's most populous city. Cascade Avenue, an important thoroughfare through Sisters' dynamic downtown, is crammed with dessert shops like Sisters Cascade, contemporary art galleries like Makin' It Local, and family-friendly eating establishments like Sisters Saloon & Ranch Grill.

The town is in the center of the Deschutes National Forest's Sisters District and the starting point of many biking, hiking, and horse-riding trails, which culminate in the Three Sisters Wilderness area.

Cottage Grove

Wedged betwixt the Umpqua National Forest and the Pacific Ocean, this small Lane County settlement sits on the Willamette Valley’s southern extremity, directly south of the conflux of Row River and Coast Fork Willamette River. Dubbed the Covered Bridge Capital of The West, Cottage Grove is best known for its six covered bridges, all a brief car ride from Downtown.

Furthermore, enjoy live theatrical productions all year long at the Cottage Theatre and the Opal Center for Arts and Education; look at the artifacts and vintage photographs in the Cottage Grove Historical Museum; take a self-guided tour of the 21 murals in the Downtown showcasing the town's storied past; and during summers trek the 8-mile-long Brice Creek Trail in the waterfall-and-swimming hole-peppered Umpqua National Forest.

Yachats

Flanked on the east by the Central Oregon Coast range and on the west by the Pacific Ocean, Yachats, a teensy waterside town in Lincoln County, is fondly called The Gem of the Oregon Coast. In conformity with its name which means "dark water at the foot of the mountain," a significant portion of Yachats' shoreline is characterized by black basalt rock as opposed to the sandy beaches of other coastal towns.

This has resulted in the formation of distinct sea landmarks such as Thor’s Well and Devil's Churn, which the excursionists get to see aside from the 804 Trail, which connects with Amanda’s Trail culminating at Cape Perpetua, a colossal wooded headland. Addedly, browse the Downtown's funky gift shops like Village Gift Gallery, art galleries like Touchstone Gallery, seafood restaurants like Luna Sea Fish House, and eye-catching attractions such as the Little Log Church & Museum, Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, and Yachats Ocean Road State Natural Site.

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach, labeled after a nautical armament that swept up after a shipwreck, is an arresting coastal getaway in Clatsop County. The town's most conspicuous site of interest is the Haystack Rock, a 235-foot-tall sea stack located around 1.5 miles south of the Downtown and protected as a specified wilderness area under the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

When on a tour, stop by the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum, rekindle a bond with the natural º£½ÇÉçÇø at the Haystack Hill State Park, dawdle along the fine-sand beaches leading to the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, take note of the limited-edition gilded sculptures and unique paintings in the Bronze Coast Gallery, and observe varied wild faunae along with wide-ranging aquascapes at the Ecola State Park.

From Hood River, the most favored windsurfing and kiteboarding site, to the staggering covered bridges of Cottage Grove, there are plenty of stunning locales in the country's 9^th most extensive and 27^th most populous state. Whilst these closely tied settlements do lack the allurement of the conterminous cosmopolitan hubs, their mind-boggling surroundings, fabulous tourist attractions, vivacious Main Streets, marvelous outdoor entertainment, and hearty hospitality of townspeople will undoubtedly leave an everlasting impact on all Beaver State holidaygoers.