Have you ever been to Oregon? The Beauty of the Pacific Northwest is encompassed in the Willamette Valley.

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With vast forest expanses as far as the eye can see, snow topped mountains with ski resorts available almost year round, and the purest of lakes and rivers you can swim, float, or boat in; the temperate rainforests of Oregon have many amazing features that few have sought after. While people plan their trips to Las Vegas, Nevada; Miami, FL; or various locations throughout Southern California, you could be missing out on a piece of American history and wilderness beauty that has similarities only found in several locations around the world all encompassed in a single valley.

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Portland, Oregon:

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This city previously well known, but recently popularized by the television series Portlandia, has great restaurants, shopping and theater options, but just outside the city are vast waterfalls, hiking trails, and outdoors activities that would make any world traveler happy they stopped by to visit.

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Eugene, Oregon:

This town is in the middle of a forest. From the hilltops, you could see trees for miles. Rivers are running through this city that are great for swimming, floating and even fishing, right in the middle of town. There are clothing optional hot springs within an hour drive as well as hiking trails that lead to some of the most beautiful views in the world.

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The McKenzie River is one of the most impressive in Oregon. It includes the Tamolitch Pool seen below, just a two mile hike from the highway.

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There are many other great locations, from Florence, OR on the coast, to Bend, OR for skiing and snowboarding. Those are outside the Willamette Valley, but easy to access but worth the trip.