Welcome to Oregon where astronomy is a regular part of life!  Any state with the motto “we welcome dreamers” has to be inspired!  There are astronomy clubs throughout the state, planetariums in several locations and great clear, dark skies in Bend and Sunriver. 

Even though star dates are the main events within this trip, you’ll also want to experience Oregon’s spectacular, well known scenery. The natural beauty of the state is fiercely protected by the most environmentally conscious people in the United States, a priority passed down by settlers who braved the Oregon Trail to live in a natural paradise.

Day 1 Portland

When you touch down in Oregon, collect your rental car and now you can instantly start your visit with a star date at Kendall Planetarium, part of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry that is the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Pacific Northwest.  Exhibits feature Cosmic Collisions, Extreme Planets and Pacific Northwest Skies, along with regularly schedule Full-Dome Experience and Starry Nights Live!  Don’t miss Portland’s culturally rich downtown Pearl District which is surrounded by small, intriguing neighborhoods, each with its own unique flavor and heritage.

Day 2 Portland

In addition to exploring more of historically rich Portland, plan to take a side trip to Oregon City, home of the Haggert Astronomical Observatory at the John Inskeep Environmental Learning Center.  Get a new perspective on stars and deep-sky objects, nebulae, open clusters, global clusters and galaxies.

Day 3 Astoria

When you’re ready to leave Portland, it’s a short drive to Astoria on the Oregon Coast that will put you well positioned to begin your drive south on the Oregon Coast National Scenic Byway tomorrow.  Lewis and Clark’s Expedition of Discovery reached the Pacific Ocean in Astoria in 1806.  You can take the riverfront trolley to learn more of the story.   The Columbia River Maritime Museum features the relationship between the region and the sea.  The beauty and serenity of the Pacific strand on 3½ mile Cannon Beach is regularly voted one of America’s Best Beaches.

Day 4 Florence

When you reach Newport on the Oregon coast, plan to visit the Oregon Coast Aquarium, the fifth largest aquarium in America.  A wonderful shark exhibit allows you to walk under their habitat and special Animal Encounters programs are designed to bring you up close and personal with playful sea otters, the powerful sea lions, and the often misunderstood sharks.  Just north of Florence, Sea Lion Caves, the world’s largest sea caves are home to magnificent sea lions which can be observed in their native environment.  After that, as two glorious days gently unfold as you drive south on the Oregon Coast National Scenic Byway, your trip can be as as active or relaxing as you like. Impressive sand dunes, vast sandy beaches and rugged cliffs welcome you to robust activity.  Yet, you can also enjoy picturesque coastal scenery, lush evergreen forests and quaint coastal towns where the loudest sound you hear are the waves lapping on the shoreline.  You’ll be delighted to know that during “second summer” in September when conditions are sunny and warm during the day, the skies are at their clearest at night.

Day 5 Eugene

Today we suggest traveling south on more of the Oregon National Scenic Byway to the  Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area where you’ll discover great beaches and all kind of other adventures just south of Florence.  Enjoy a one hour dune buggy tour of the dunes and the Pacific ocean beach and then try your hand at some of the other activities available.  Plan to arrive in Eugene in time to visit Lane Planetarium at the Science Factory where you can have a private showing in the Planetarium and the opportunity to talk with the professional astronomers on staff. 

Day 6 Bend

After exploring a bit more of Eugene and a drive on the Cascades Lakes National Scenic Byway, you can spend time at one of a kind Sunriver Observatory.  Strict light pollution controls around Sunriver make deep sky objects visible that can’t be seen from the city. 

Day 7 Bend

Today features the Pine Mountain Observatory located 26 miles southeast of Bend at an  elevation of 6500 feet.  This University of Oregon facility has telescopes with apertures of 15, 24 and 32-inches.  The Prime Focus of the 32-inch telescope now has a research grade 1024x1024 thinned rear illuminated, blue-sensitive CCD camera which has a field size of approximately 36x36 arcminutes.

Day 8 The Dalles

After another Oregon scenic Drive, you can visit the Goldendale Observatory State Park located on a hilltop north of Goldendale, Washington.  Telescopes here include a 24.5 inch that is used Wednesday through Sunday evenings for public viewing sessions.  Resident astronomer Steve Stout gives an interesting talk before each session to keep everyone updated on the latest happenings in the cosmos.

Day 9 The Dalles

No visit The Dalles area would be complete without experiencing the Columbia River Gorge Discovery Center with 50,000 square feet of exhibits, art, Native American and immigrant crafts, plus narrated presentations. Free guided tours of The Dalles historic area take you past the stunning 1897 St. Peter Landmark, the Baldwin Saloon, old Ft. Dalles and Pulpit Rock.  The Hood River area is also particularly well known for its great wineries and noted for some of the best windsurfing in America.

Day 10 Portland

Today, on the road less traveled, you’ll be driving the Columbia River Historic and Scenic Highway on the old road with the most spectacular scenery, the highest waterfalls and the best views of the Gorge.  620 foot Multnomah Falls is only one of dozens of waterfalls that dot the roadway.  In between, you can have an elegant lunch at a National Historic Landmark resort at the edge of the Gorge and savor the wines of area wineries, also with wonderful views.  Some consider the natural beauty of this road the best in the US.  It’s a great way to wrap up your inspiring trip through Oregon.  If you are spending your last night here on a Wednesday through Sunday, consider a side trip to Sean’s Astronomy shop, located just over the border in Battleground, Washington. Sean is well known throughout the Northwest for this store, which is open from 4 pm until midnight – Astronomer’s hours!

Day 11

We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home today, taking with you memories of great star gazing in Oregon. Drop the car off at the airport.