Governer Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Portland, Oregon

Portland marches to its own beat, a lush, beautiful city set in the north of the Willamette Valley and bisected by the Columbia and Willamette rivers. A vibrant cutting-edge urban city, Portland is known for its abundance of green spaces and an ideal balance for an urban outdoor lifestyle.

Portland, Oregon's largest city, has two seasons, rainy and summer. The good news - downpours are rare in the rainy season, which consists mostly of drizzling and misting, and summer weather is perfect. Well know for outstanding public transportation, Portland is also a terrific city for walking and cycling.

Portlanders are active and love their sports teams. The NBA Portland Trail Blazers, one of the favorites, have regular season games scheduled through mid-April. Plan a game night out now before the season ends. The Rose Quarter arena is home court for the Trail Blazers. If you are traveling in for a game or any other event, the Best Western Inn at the Meadows is conveniently located nearby.

PGE Park in downtown Portland is the home stadium for the Portland Timbers and the Beavers. Baseball season is warming up, Beavers home games start mid-April and run through the summer. Start planning your outings to the ballpark now. Professional soccer's Portland Timbers have also officially started the season. Soccer matches make a nice family outing, particularly at PGE park. Originally built in 1926, it's historic grandeur was maintained throughout a careful renovation in 2001.

NASCAR has announced it will be returning to the Portland International Raceway in 2010. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series is on the schedule for mid-July. Gearheads look for the PIR annual Auto Swap April 8th through 11th. This is held in conjunction with the Portland Auto Swap at the Expo Center.

Portland's Saturday Market, Arts & Crafts by the River, opened its 37th season early March. A highlight of the city, the market runs through December, showcasing local and regional artists. The market has grown to include live music and a variety of food booths. Bring the kids out for some fun, look for special events at the kids corner.

The Portland Rose Festival, the official Festival of the city, has been celebrated for over 100 years. One of the world's top Festivals, events celebrate Portland's heritage, culture and environment. Opening day is May 28th, however, the Waterfront Village will open this year for the Memorial Day (May 22-24), adding an additional weekend of fun to the Festival.

From the gorgeous all floral floats of the Grand Parade, the fun of the junior's parade, to the sparkle of the starlight parade, there is entertainment for everyone. The Rose Cup auto races are held June 11-13th at the Portland International Raceway. A staple of the Festival 2010 marks the 50th year of Rose Cup racing. Come out for two nights of Night Drags or your favorite amateur racing event.

Portland has two Best Western Hotels located in the city, convenient to popular sites, venues and events. For long distance travelers, Best Western Hotels near Portland in Sandy, Gresham, Oregon City and Newberg are also great locations. With affordable rates, Best Western Hotels in and around Portland make sense for your travels.

Williamette National Forest - Oregon

The Oregon Cascades, anchored in the North by Mt Hood and to the south Crater Lake, encompasses seven different national forests. Millions visit the Cascade Range each year to enjoy the excitement of the Columbia River Gorge, winter sports on Mt Bachelor, or an amazing hike.

Mt Bachelor Ski and Summer Resort, just outside Bend, will be going strong with boarding and skiing through mid-May. The 2010 Pole Pedal and Paddle event will close the season. This fun event takes participants from Mt Bachelor to Bend racing in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, bicycling, running and canoe or kayak. For individuals or teams, it is also entertaining to watch. Everyone is treated to the festival afterward featuring music, food and sponsor booths. Kick-start summer with this Bend tradition.

Bend celebrates summer in July at the Bend Summer Festival. This summer tradition features a wide array of events including performing arts, jazz, blues, rock and world music. Activities include dance and special kid's venues. The festival showcases the best local and regional artists and performers as well as food from local restaurants. A great summer event planned for all ages. Best Western Inn and Suites of Bend is conveniently located for summer travelers, and with affordable rates, Best Western is a smart choice.

La Pine, south of Bend turns 100 years old in 2010. The La Pine Frontier Days will celebrate July 2nd through 4th. The La Pine community comes together to put on Frontier Days and welcomes all visitors. This is a complete slice of Americana from the Frontier Days Queen, dutch oven cook-off, lawnmower race, to the pinewood derby. La Pine does it all. Kids and young adults participate in the youth fair, talent show, carnival and games. Everyone enjoys pit BBQ, baked goods and the parade. The enjoyable Best Western Newberry Station is centrally located, and there is no need to leave the pet at home, the Hotel is pet friendly.

Summer is not complete without the Deschutes County Fair and Rodeo. Five days of fun, food and entertainment. You may have watched dancing with the stars all winter, now it's time to watch the cowboys dance with the steers! July 28th through August 1st, the performers include Neal McCoy, Styx and Weird Al Yankovic.

The fairgrounds are located in Redmond, and the fair will showcase the best livestock and agriculture, along with clothing, textiles, canning and preserves among a lot more. Kids find unlimited fun on the midway and carnival rides, and there will be plenty to eat to keep everyone going.

The fairgrounds, within a half hour or less of Bend, Prineville, Sisters and Madras, gives travelers five Best Western Hotels to choose from in those cities. Extend your stay in the area and treat the family to your favorite outdoor sites and activities as well.

University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

Interstate 5, Oregon's most traveled highway, runs over 300 miles north to south through the state. Best Western Hotel locations along the I-5 corridor, are convenient for travelers passing through or on getaways to Oregon's beaches, mountains and rivers. From Portland to Ashland in southwestern Oregon, I-5 connects major cities and small towns, stop for a good nights rest at one of over 15 Best Western Hotels along the route and make it a safe trip.

Eugene, the second largest city in Oregon, sits on I-5, convenient for travelers to the University of Oregon. Eugene is a nice mix of urban, college and small town, and serves as the cutural and commercial hub for central-west Oregon. Always worth the trip, Eugene's Saturday Market resumes for 2010 on April 3rd. A showcase for the best of Eugene, the Market is held every Saturday through mid-November.

Eugene draws outdoor enthusiasts and the active. The 2010 Eugene Marathon is an early season running event, held April 30th through May 2nd. The schedule includes a half marathon, 5K, and the culmination of the cumulative kids marathon with a 1 mile fun run. Participants of all ages and abilities are welcome and spectators can enjoy the live entertainment along the course and a health and safety expo. Come test your winter workout regime, there are preview runs February, March and April.

Ladies take note: New for 2010, there is a Women's half marathon in the works for Labor Day. Ducks fans can enjoy spring sports through May. The schedule includes baseball, softball, track and field, lacross and golf. The University of Oregon will host the Oregon Relays invitational the end of April. This is a two day event where the state top high school, collegiate and professional athletes will compete. The 2010 OSAA Track and Field Finals will also be hosted on campus the end of May. Come on out and cheer on your favorite athletes.

Grants Pass to the south is dreamland for outdoor adventure. On the banks of the Rogue River, Grants Pass is well know for it's world class white water, fly fishing and nearby hiking and camping. Spring and Summer markets and fairs are a staple on the weekends, featuring growers, artisans and crafters. Memorial Day weekend Grants Pass hosts Boatnik. In its 51st year, Boatnik features a parade, the highly anticipated white water hydroplane races, food, arts and crafts. Kids will love the carnival, adults can participate in a golf shoot-out, softball and even a pizza eating contest. The focal point of the weekend are the boats races which include sprint, drag, and the hydroplanes. Get the family off to a great summer at Boatnik in Grants Pass.

When the day is done, come home to the Best Western Grants Pass Inn or the Best Western Inn at the Rogue. Both hotels have heated outdoor pools the kids will enjoy, while the adults look on with a cool cocktail from the lounge. Stay an additional day or two and enjoy the local sites and scenery nearby.

Oregon Coast

Astoria to Brookings, Oregon's coastal cities are magical places to visit. Dotted with charming towns, the coastline varies from rugged cliffs and forests to stark dunes. Stretched over more than 360 miles of coastline, an abundance of sandy beaches beckon visitors. Oregon law grants fee access to beaches for everyone, leading to the moniker “the peoples coast”.

Coos Bay is the largest coastal city and offers visitors a nice variety of activities along with the beach. The Coos Bay Speedway 2010 schedule include drag races, mud drags and dirt oval competitions. The schedule begins in March and April, with events running through the fall. The Best Western Holiday Motel in Coos Bay is the perfect location for lodging. Across the street from the waterfront, there are standard rooms to two room suites, to accommodate individuals, families or groups. With a full breakfast buffet, it is a great place to start your day.

Highway 101 Harley Davidson in Coos Bay is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Lighthouse Run, which has been moved to June for 2010. Towns up and down the Oregon coast from Newport to Brandon are featured stops for the poker run event. Make your reservations now as spots are limited. Remember Best Western Hotels are biker-friendly and are located in Newport, Florence, Reedsport, and Bandon, all stops on the run. Extend your weekend, spend a night before or after the Lighthouse run at one of these Best Western Hotels.

Historic Astoria on the far north coast, is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains and is the western end of the Lewis and Clark trail. In more current history Astoria was the site for the filming of the movie Goonies, and the town has never forgotten it. 2010 is the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Goonies. Scheduled for June, events include a concert, multiple screenings of the film and a premier of a Goonies documentary. Original cast members will attend the VIP dinner and daily meet and greets. This is the ultimate for Goonies fans, don't miss it.

Seaside, just south of Astoria, is a popular beach destination and will be jammin' for spring break. Early June the city hosts the Seaside Beach Soccer Tournament – one of Oregon's premier beach soccer events. The tournament include both adult and youth divisions and teams can be coed. Register your team now, or hop in the car in June to watch the tournament and enjoy some beach time.

Best Western Hotels in Astoria and Seaside are ready for your visit. The Best Western Ocean View Resort in Seaside is on the beach and all rooms feature a refrigerator and microwave. The daily million dollar sunsets are free.

Eastern Oregon

Eastern Oregon captivates travelers with its eclectic beauty, from John Day's color rich painted hills to the depths of Hell's Canyon. Ontario, an eastern gateway to Oregon sits close to the Idaho state line off interstate 84, and is appropriately tagged the city where Oregon begins.

Ontario, quite appropriately celebrates the diversity of Oregon's heritage and the famous Oregon Trail in June, hosting America's Global Village Festival. Featuring a parade and main stage, the festival showcases cultural villages with native foods, arts and crafts. Each village will hold a kid's activity, making this a terrific family festival, featuring fun in the context of Oregon's history.

Enterprise in the northeast corner of Oregon is surrounded by the natural beauty of pine forest, the Wallowa Mountains and Wallowa Lake. An outdoor enthusiasts wonderland, residents take full advantage of their surroundings, and welcome visitors to do likewise. The Best Western Rama Inn and Suites in Enterprise is a perfect home base to discover northwestern Oregon.

The 28th Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts, in June, is held in Joseph less than 10 miles from Enterprise. With a vibrant arts community and loyal following, the festival showcases works from local to national artists. This is an excellent opportunity to find high quality, one of a kind pieces at great values. Enterprise Arts and Crafts Fair Celebrate Enterprise, an equally entertaining festival is held in July.

Pendleton to the north, famous as the original home for Pendleton Woolen Mills, is proud of its western heritage. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Pendleton Round-Up, a showcase for western and cowboy culture. Held in September, the round-up features a world-class rodeo, parades, concerts and shows. This is the event to show the family what a real rodeo is like.

Need something to do before the kids go back to school? The Umatilla County Fair is held in August. The fair is held in Hermiston at the fairgrounds, and is a classic event for family fun and entertainment. Complete with 4-H exhibits and judging, local livestock and agriculture, carnival and top notch performers, everyone will be happy.

Travelers to Pendleton and Hermiston have several Best Western Hotels to choose from. The Best Western Pendleton Inn, the Best Western Hermiston Inn and the Best Western Rama Inn and Suites in La Grande are convenient to the region and I-84. Whether you are traveling through or visiting one of the exciting sites or events in the area, make sure to rest-up and rejuvenate at Best Western Hotels.

Columbia River Gorge

Oregon's Columbia River basin is a spectacular lifeline for the region, Carved by the Columbia, the Northwest's largest river, the area is an awe inspiring outdoor recreation area. Historically a key transportation route and food and economic source, today its beauty and recreational opportunities draw throngs of visitors.

The Columbia River is the only one to completely breach the Cascade Mountain range forming the Columbia River Gorge. Interstate 84 runs parallel to the river through the gorge - one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the world. Travelers are treated to vistas of the mighty river flowing through dramatic cliffs, past quaint, idyllic towns.

The city of Cascade Locks in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge, takes its name from a series of locks built to facilitate transportation along the river. Cascade Locks celebrates its history and heritage in June at the Sternwheeler Days Festival. Just 40 miles east of Portland, the festival features steamboat rides, join or watch the sailing regatta, and feast on baked salmon along with other local delicacies.

Bring the entire family, kids will love the parade, games and will be fascinated by the mountain men encampment. The Best Western Columbia River Inn is an ideal place to stay in Cascade Locks. Convenient to all the festival activities, it overlooks the river and the guest rooms have been recently renovated. Make sure to visit the Bridge of the Gods and see the Oregon Pony (Oregon's first steam engine) nearby.

Hood River, just 20 miles east of Cascade Locks is well-known for the combination of the river and steady breezes. A mecca for sailing sports, Hood River, is known as the windsurfing and kiteboarding capital of the world. Visit in April for the 57th annual Blossom Festival and Craft Show. Timed for the blossoms marking the beginning of fruit growing season, this is a gorgeous time to be in Hood River. Drive the 47 mile scenic loop through the Hood River Valley and enjoy offerings from the farms, orchards and wineries along the route.

The Hood River Saturday Market is held every Saturday from May through September. The Market showcases local arts, crafts, food and agriculture. Special performers and music has also become a tradition to make for a terrific weekly event. The Best Western Hood River Inn is centrally located for the Saturday Market as well as all the local sites. With an outdoor pool, this is a perfect place for a summer weekend away with the kids.

The Columbia River Gorge region of Oregon is beautiful beyond imagination. Ideal for outdoor activities from easy hikes to sailing, there is something for all ages and abilities. Plan a stay, and enjoy this spectacular piece of Oregon.

Crater Lake
Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon is gifted with North America's deepest lake and Oregon's only National Park, Crater Lake. A mecca for outdoor visitors, southern Oregon is filled with recreational opportunities. From Brookings on the coast, a popular beach vacation and retirement area to the stark beauty of Lakeview, the highest town in Oregon.

Ashland is a well know southern Oregon town. Convenient to I-5, Ashland is easy to get to, and a favorite American small town. Ashland hosts Oregon's Shakespeare Festival from mid-February through October. Look for Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice June through October. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will play through the fourth of July. A spring or summer visit to Ashland is a delightful experience for theater lovers.

The Oregon Chocolate Festival, in its 6th year, is quickly growing in popularity. The March event in Ashland, is a week long chocoholics fantasy. Visitors can stick around for the TNT Tar'n Trail run later in the month, this six mile run will burn some of those chocolate calories. Serious runners, return to Ashland in May for the Pompadour Half Marathon, to run off the rest and more. With a diversity of events and interesting activities

Medford, just 10 miles north of Ashland, celebrates spring and salutes all moms, at the 2010 Art in Bloom. Held over Mother's Day weekend, this is the 10th year for the celebration. Art in Bloom showcases fine arts and floral arts from the best local and regional artists. The show is juried, with cash prizes, as well as exhibits with works for sale. Live entertainment, workshops and special children's activities add to the event. Bring mom, or at least make a visit to purchase a special Mother's Day gift.

Best Western Hotels feature three lodging options in Ashland and Medford. All convenient to the events and sites around the area. Whether you choose to be downtown or close to the freeway, there is a Best Western Hotel to meet your needs.

East, the Klamath Falls area features a diverse geography, making the region a draw for a wide variety of outdoor activities. Mountains, desert, lakes, wetlands and forests are filled with birds and wildlife, regularly spotted throughout the area. Travelers with pets remember the Best Western Klamath Inn is pet friendly as well as convenient to all the regions sites and activities. For a couple of special treats, evening cookies and soup and bread in the afternoon, choose to stay at the Best Western Olympic Inn in Klamath Falls.

The Best of the Basin is Klamath Falls high school honors recital. Held in April at the Ross Ragland Theater, the event honors the cities finest young classical performers, demonstrating the community commitment to excellence and its youth. Bring your budding musicians and enjoy the local talent. Support local children again the end of May at the Klamath County Run for Kids. This race benefits mentoring programs for kids in the area. Events include a half marathon and 5K run.

Discover the diversity of places and adventures in southern Oregon this spring and summer. Best Western Hotels are conveniently located to take advantage of the regions offerings. Take advantage of the affordable rates for a nice family vacation.