On the Oregon trail

igger than the United Kingdom and with a population of just four million, Oregon is truly a land where nature and people come together. The lack of crowds and traffic make getting around a pleasure, and within surprisingly easy reach is a spectacularly rugged, pristine coastline; millions of acres of jaw-droppingly beautiful national forest and bountiful fruit farms; the epic Cascade Mountains; hundreds of wineries; and eerie ghost towns in the deserts of the east. And the best way to explore the state is on a fly-drive holiday with British Airways Holidays.

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And dotted throughout are the city’s 70 breweries, as well as year-round farmers’ markets with hot food carts, one-of-a-kind urban wineries and small, decadent restaurants where getting a table doesn’t mean booking months in advance. There’s unique, good value shopping with no sales tax on things like hand-crafted goods from local artisan makers, vintage shops and Oregon-based brands like Columbia Sportswear and Nike. And don’t miss the legendary Powell’s City of Books. Unlike many other cities, Portland’s relaxed pace means that local artisans, coffee roasters, tea purveyors and organic cafe owners all have time to stop and chat: sharing the fascinating provenance behind everything they offer. Restaurants focus on local, seasonal ingredients, and vegan and gluten-free diners will be in heaven. Everyday highlights include standout coffee and beer (Portland is also known as Beervana), wonderful ramen, pizza and tacos. From the hippy haven of Hawthorne with its kombucha taprooms and magic shops to the smart houses, bars and boutiques of Nob Hill, graze Portland to suit your style, or take a themed tour with companies such as Lost Plate, sampling several food carts, a food hall and brewery in a two and a half hour walking tour of the cool Industrial Eastside district.

Miles away

British Airways Holidays offers accommodation for every price point and interest, from family and budget-friendly to hip boltholes and luxury havens. Each has been checked for quality, safety and service. Portland highlights include: BUDGET The hip Hotel Zags occupies a mid-century-modern-style building in a great location for Portland’s downtown theatre area and waterfront. Rooms have large picture windows and the interior showcases hundreds of pieces of regional art. MID-RANGE The Dossier is on a smart block in a prime location in downtown Portland. This 20-storey, 205-room modern tower offers a stylish boutique-style option with comfortable, well-equipped rooms and an elegant lobby and restaurant with a free kombucha and beer happy hour. SPLURGE The Nines is Portland’s defining five-star luxury hotel and occupies the upper floors of the historic Meier & Frank building in a commanding downtown location. The rooftop bar and restaurant is beloved by guests and locals alike as a place to be seen.

Stay pretty

Reflections: Oregon's wild landscapes give pause for thought

With British Airways Holidays and its preferred car-hire partner Avis, you can book your perfect fly-drive holiday and discover the true character of Oregon for yourself. OREGON COAST More than 360 miles long from north to south with free public access, the Oregon coast is a dream road trip. Do a loop from Portland to Astoria down to Newport and back to explore hidden coves, charming fishing towns and secret beaches where you’ll feel like the dinosaurs are just round the next corner. MT HOOD AND COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE INFINITY LOOP Drive east from Portland through the Mt Hood National Forest, driving up to Timberline Lodge for a view over millions of acres of forest. Loop round through the hipster town of Hood River, stopping for lunch at a brewery before taking in the breathtaking gorge and waterfalls on your way back to Portland. CENTRAL OREGON Head south-east from Portland to Bend for some high desert sunshine, stopping at Smith Rock State Park for wonderfully scenic hiking and climbing. Head east to the Painted Hills, part of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, before stopping in the eerie ghost town of Shaniko. Head back to Portland via the Tygh Valley.

Also very close to Portland is the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, where the towering 620ft-high Multnomah Falls is just one of many natural attractions and hikes in the area. Wildwood Adventures offers an array of tours including a Portland City Tour and Gorge Waterfalls Tour. There’s also a day trip to the rugged, pine-scented coast, stopping at Highway 101 highlights including Ecola State Park, where Point Break was filmed, Cannon Beach and Oswald West State Park, a locals’ secret surf spot and a treat for all the senses. For those who want to focus on the southern coast of Oregon between Coos Bay and Brookings, South Coast Tours offers activities from kayaking and surfing to fishing, cycling and whale watching. For white-water addicts, rafting season begins in March, and expert-led companies such as River Drifters offer thrilling group and bespoke rafting trips along Oregon’s many wild and scenic rivers, including the Clackamas and Sandy near Portland, the John Day and Owyhee in eastern Oregon, the Deschutes near Bend and the Rogue in southern Oregon.

A visit has to start in the sophisticated gateway of Portland, known for the vibrancy and unique character of its many neighborhoods. With British Airways, take advantage of great trips to Portland, whether you’re after a hotel stay or a fly-drive. To make the most of your time in Oregon, take advantage of local guides who can show you anything from outdoor adventures to urban coffee hotspots. A compact, Victorian-era downtown with period skyscrapers, historic bridges and atmospheric old bars, the “City of Roses” is easy to explore – on foot, bike or public transport. Its residential neighbourhoods boast handsome wooden American Craftsman houses. One example of Portland’s distinctive city design, architecture and atmosphere: an appealing network of 94 different neighbourhoods straddling the Willamette River.

savour the city of roses

portland’s relaxed pace means localS have time to stop and chat

enthusiasts can ski or snowboard in the Mt hood wilderness

for white-water addicts, rafting season begins in march

Stand and deliver: you're guaranteed a warm welcome from the friendly locals

Wild swimming: take the plunge at Crater Lake in south-central Oregon

All in good taste: many Willamette Valley wineries offer the chance to sample local products

Blankets of snow: the view of Mt Hood from East Timberline

Desert canyon: Smith Rock State Park is a rock climber's delight

Vertical drop: Multnomah Falls thunders down 620 feet

Shifting sands: Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach on the Pacific coast

Good times: there are wineries aplenty in the state

Counting contours: follow part of the Pacific Crest Trail

oregon is truly a land where nature and people come together

Serenity calls: stand-up paddleboarding gives you all the time in the world to take in nature

on the Oregon trail

However you decide to explore Portland and Oregon, the flexibility of British Airways Holidays means low deposits – starting from £60 per person – the chance to pay in instalments that suit you and 23kg of hold luggage included as standard. Bookings with British Airways Holidays are Atol-protected, with a 24-hour holiday helpline on hand during your trip.

Book with confidence

Your connection to the great outdoors is never far away, because as well as being close to some of the United States’ finest landscapes – Mt Hood, Oregon’s highest mountain, lies just 70 miles to the east and the Oregon coast is 90 minutes’ drive west – Portland also offers some of the country’s biggest and best urban parks. The 5,000-acre Forest Park offers both thick forest and views across the city, and in the 600-acre Mount Tabor Park on the eastern side, towering evergreens grow over the remains of an extinct volcano. Moving just outside the city to the south, wine lovers will be spoilt for choice with over 700 wineries in the nearby Willamette Valley alone. Operating all year round, America’s Hub World Tours takes the work out of navigating a trip and offers everything from a day’s wine tasting with a group to a bespoke personal tour. Winter sports enthusiasts can ski or snowboard in the Mt Hood wilderness just one and a half hours’ drive from Portland at the Mt Hood Skibowl, Timberline and Mt Hood Meadows ski resorts, or take an organised snowshoe, snowmobile or cross-country ski tour, or even a sleigh ride with Mt Hood Outfitters.

Out in the open

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With its hipster havens, river rapids, jaw-dropping geography and staggering choice of beer, wine and food, the state has retained its independent spirit

Book your 2023 holiday to Oregon now at

Suspended reality: the city's Willamette River is home to 94 neighbourhoods

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