As summer arrives, so do many opportunities for students to travel beyond Corvallis and explore Oregon’s other wonderful cities, such as Newport and Portland. 

“Travelers of all ages can hop on a bus starting in Portland and make their way through rolling vineyards and farm country, stopping in Corvallis to explore its charming, laid-back downtown before continuing on to the Oregon Coast,” said Lauren Demaris, a public relations representative directing those interested in exploring the Willamette Valley.

Benton Area Transit offers a route to the coast and a chance to explore Newport, home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. There are many opportunities for nature lovers to hike, swim and interact with the surrounding environment.

Downtown Newport offers various local shops and restaurants, including the Newport Farmer’s Market and the Newport Recreation Center.

For those interested in an interactive experience, Newport is also home to Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, a tourist attraction with wacky exhibits and over 35,000 oddities to observe. 

Escape Rooms Newport is available six days a week, for groups of up to six to 10 people. Their current room offerings are “Pirate’s Gold,” “Sissy’s Saloon,” “Survive the Island” and “The Hangin’ Sheriff.” 

Additionally, the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center features a rotating selection of exhibits that celebrate “the history, art, diverse culture, commerce and scientific research that is of the ocean.” The center connects with the rich history of Newport’s fishing industry.  

Flixbus has a route traveling up the Willamette Valley from Corvallis with a final destination of Portland. Aside from the ease of getting to Portland International Airport, a plethora of activities await. 

The Portland Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden and Leach Botanical Garden offer a chance for cultural exploration through nature. Each offers various events that focus on cultural art, plant care and even scavenger hunts.

Downtown Portland is also home to the world’s largest independent bookstore, Powell’s City of Books. It’s four stories take up an entire city block and hold approximately 4 million new and used books. 

“Our mission is to inspire people to read more books and incite a free-thinking, independent culture,” the Powell’s website states.

Nestled by the Willamette River is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Portland Saturday Market and the Oregon Health and Science University sky tram hanging above the waterfront.

Other attractions include the Oregon Zoo, tours of the Shanghai Tunnels — Portland’s haunted underground — and various art museums all across the city.

Bus routes and other details can be found on Flixbus and Benton Area Transit’s websites, and further information about Newport and Portland can be found on their official travel websites.