All United States Oregon

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Oregon

206 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Oregon

Updated November 18, 2024

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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. Ashland
  2. Astoria
  3. Baker City
  4. Bend
  5. Cannon Beach
  6. Cave Junction
  7. Corbett
  8. Corvallis
  9. Crater Lake
  10. Eugene
  11. Florence
  12. Government Camp
  13. Klamath Falls
  14. La Pine
  15. Mc Kenzie Bridge
  16. Mc Minnville
  17. Mitchell
  18. Oregon City
  19. Pendleton
  20. Portland
  21. Redmond
  22. Rockaway Beach
  23. Salem
  24. Seaside
  25. Silver Lake
  26. Sisters
  27. The Dalles
  28. Tillamook
  29. Valley Falls
  30. Yachats

Unusual Attractions in Oregon

See All 206 Things To Do in Oregon

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Oregon

See all 16 Places to Eat in Oregon
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

A Feminist Road Trip Across the U.S.

Atlas Obscura has a tradition of exploring the stories of women who changed the world, from wildlife biologists and mountain climbers to Civil War spies and tattoo artists. To celebrate these daring women who struck out on their own, we’ve put together a cross-country road trip. Over 12 stops and more than 3,000 miles, this route will give you a front-row seat to women’s history in America.

View Itinerary

Explore Oregon

Geology 25
Water 21
Nature 21
Museums 20
Natural Wonders 18
Collections 18
Plants 17
Ecosystems 13

Oregon Leaderboard

Recent Oregon Activity

Stories About Oregon

Meet the Giant Salmon With a Weaponized Mustache

Spike-toothed salmon grew nearly nine feet long and sported tusk-like teeth.
by Roxanne Hoorn
Scio kolaches often come with apricot or sweet poppy-seed fillings.

Saving the Scio Kolache

A local take on a Czech pastry is fading along with the community that birthed it.
by Sarah Lohman

Podcast: Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum

This former general store and medicine shop in Oregon is a perfectly preserved time capsule.
by The Podcast Team
Scientists estimate there are some 4,000 bees native to the United States alone—but many of them are struggling to survive in our warming, pesticide-ridden world.

To Save America's Native Bees, the Oregon Bee Project Is Mapping Every Single One

The project aims to make a complete 'bee atlas,' detailing every single local pollinator.
by Kate Raphael
A sea lamprey that's clearly ready for its close-up—and for a new appreciation of its role in its native ecosystems.

Sea Lampreys, Long Reviled, Are Finally Getting Some Respect

Once dismissed as "ugly," this sucker-mouthed fish plays an important role in its native ecosystem.
by Ted Williams
The top tier of Shizuo and Frances’s wedding cake, which has miraculously survived since they were married in 1943.

Found: An 80-Year-Old Wedding Cake With a Tragic Past

Frances Nishimura preserved this sweet keepsake for generations.
by Natasha Varner
The Large Wave Flume at Oregon's O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory hosts an experiment in innovative coastal protection.

The Oregon Lab Where Scientists Are Riding the Waves to a Brighter Future

At the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Lab in Corvallis, massive simulators allow researchers to test innovative ideas about sustainable energy, saving coastlines, and more.
by Annalee Newitz
A baled Christmas tree is loaded at the Omni Farm in West Jefferson, North Carolina.

What’s the Real Christmas Tree Capital of the World?

At least a half dozen communities in North America have claimed the title. 
by Justin Franz

Lists Featuring Oregon

Darlingtonia State Natural Site.
An aerial view of the rose garden.
The H-4 Hercules, aka "Spruce Goose."
Pete French Round Barn.

7 of Oregon's Most Magical Places

Sponsored by Travel Oregon
7

Including Darlingtonia State Natural Site, International Rose Test Garden, and The Spruce Goose

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
The Bigfoot Trap
Outside Hippo Hardware in Portland.
Antler chandelier plus interior of restaurant

7 Destinations for a Different Kind of Oregon Trail

Sponsored by Travel Oregon
7

Including Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, The Bigfoot Trap, and Hippo Hardware

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