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ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PNW
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Travel Tips & Tricks

Travel Local for Less
Updated Feb 3, 2021
Oregon
The  wonders of Oregon, 3 min video,
       plus a 2 week itinerary to see the state . . . 
https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/7-wonders/2-weeks-7-wonders/ 
Portland
Astoria to Newport
Newport to Bandon
Bandon to Crater Lake
Crater Lake to Bend
Bend to John Day
ohn Day to Baker City
Baker City to Joseph & Wallowas
Joseph to Hood River
Hood River, Mt Hood
Mt Hood to Willamette Valley

Museums for All (low income)
museums listed alphabetically by state:
https://museums4all.org/participating-museums/ 
 
Portland Metro
Multnomah Co Library Discovery Pass 
https://multcolib.org/how-it-works-my-discovery-pass 
 
Access to Arts and Culture, Portland Region
https://racc.org/resources/access-arts-and-culture/ 
 
Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland OR
Temporarily closed for COVID-19; https://orhf.org/visit-orhc/
Free or donation; Thurs-Sun 1-5pm; Sat 45 min ride $5
 
Oregon Jewish Museum, Portland OR
temporarily closed physically, 1st Thurs free 5-8pm
online exhibits https://www.ojmche.org/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/
 
PDX Parent lists free/discount activities & venues
https://www.pdxparent.com/free-and-discounted-portland-area-museum-days/ 
Portland Rainy Day Fun
https://pdxparent.com/pdx-rainy-day/

Portland Living on the Cheap
https://portlandlivingonthecheap.com/events/ 

A great travel guide for Portland, including accessibility 
http://wheelchairtraveling.com/portland-oregon-wheelchair-accessible-travel-guide/ 
 
Free to look
Powells City of Books  
​   https://www.powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books/
Portland Saturday Market open online
   https://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/#close
Farmers Market PSU    https://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/our-markets/psu/
King Farmers Market, Sundays May-Nov
   https://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/our-markets/king/
Picture
Transit Travel--Portland & Vancouver WA    
 
Get a HOP pass at Safeway, Fred Meyer, and many other stores.  It's like a re-loadable phone card--you don't have to worry about having change or exact change.
https://myhopcard.com/home/
 
Tap the PASS as you board a bus, but before you get on the MAX (Portland’s Light Rail), look for a post like the one pictured at left.

Discounts for Seniors/Disabled, Low Income, Youth.

Reciprocal Admission Program for local venues
Membership to one, admits to all by turns

I don't see an update for 2021

Nationwide Zoos & Aquarium reciprocal memberships
https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2332/ReciprocityChart.pdf  updated Oct 5, 2020
https://www.aza.org/find-a-zoo-or-aquarium

Oregon State Parks info
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-articles
 
17 days of free parking in 2021 at Oxbow and Blue Lake regional parks, Broughton Beach, M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp and Chinook Landing Marine Park  https://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/free-parking-days-metro-parks-2021

Free Fishing Days 2021
https://myodfw.com/articles/2021-free-fishing-days-and-events
Feb. 13-14 (Saturday & Sunday), President’s Day Weekend
June 5-6 (Saturday & Sunday)
Nov. 26-27 (Friday & Saturday), Thanksgiving Weekend
*The FINE PRINT: Area closures, bag limits and all other regulations still apply.​
 
Info for state parks
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=visit.find  

State Park Events
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do.events
 
Oregon Museum of Science & Industry--OMSI
https://omsi.edu/events
star parties https://www.rosecityastronomers.net/star-party-page
OMSI YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/c/omsimuseum?app=desktop
 
The Cove Palisades State Park, near Bend OR
Eagle Watch postponed until further notice
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=24

For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site.

More in Oregon
Link to Travel Oregon . . . https://traveloregon.com/

​Oregon Rest Areas
https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Rest-Areas?fbclid=IwAR1_WIlLcU3QGY_1Gm6qR97no9g-FLafBGLu9sgbAFlLHfzXFs12LAnNlZ4
 
Salem
  • https://www.travelsalem.com/things-to-do
  • https://vacationidea.com/ideas/best-things-to-do-in-salem-or.html
 
Eugene
https://titancourt.com/10-free-cheap-things-eugene/ 
 
Corvallis/Albany
  • Free public transportation in Corvallis
  • http://www.tripbuzz.com/free-things-to-do/corvallis-or/
  • Peavy Arboretum, OSU
  • Avery Park & Rose Garden
  • Wildcat Park, ADA accessible equipment
  • Central Park free summer concerts
  • William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
 
Medford/Ashland/southern Oregon
https://www.travelmedford.org/things-to-do 
 
Bend & Central Oregon
  • https://visitcentraloregon.com/things-to-do/ 
  • https://tripmemos.com/things-to-do-in-bend/ 
  • High Desert Museum, Bend
  • Drake Park, Bend
  • Newberry National Monument, visitor ctr off Hwy 97
  • Rafting, tubing, swimming in  the Deschutes River
Getting Gas
Check out
  • https://www.gasbuddy.com/  Search cheap gas by state.    
  • https://www.i5exitguide.com/exit-services/oregon/i-5-gas-stations/  Amenities at OR exits along I-5.
  • https://iexitapp.com/exits/Washington/I-5/North/141?origin=by_state  WA amenities/exits on I-5.
  • https://iexitapp.com/exits/Oregon/I-84/East/214?origin=by_state&start=27899  OR amenities/exits, I-84.
 
Advice from a frequent traveler 
(stations below just off the highway)

I-5 Oregon
1. Flying J at Donald/Aurora, OR;  exit  278
2. Pilot at Brooks, OR; exit 263
3. AM/PM at Lebanon/Corvallis, OR; exit 228
4. Arco at Creswell, OR (used to be competitive); exit 182
 
Hwy 101 at the Coast
1. Union 76 at Bandon, OR
2. Coos Bay 76  (one going north, one going south)
3. Fred Meyer at Warrenton, OR
4. Fred Meyer at Tillamook, OR
 
I-5 Washington
1. Exxon at Burlington (George Hopper Rd); exit 229
     Compare Arco same exit, across street (one or other might be better)
     And Costco gasoline close
2.  AM/PM  Slater Rd, Bellingham, WA; exit 260
3.  Pilot at Ferndale, WA, east side of I-5; exit 262

I-84
1.  Arco exit 16 before Troutdale
2.  Space Age gas station about 200 mi east of Portland,
     exit 182 near Hermiston
3.  Pilot station exit 188 not too bad


Note:  if you have Safeway rewards, you can use them at
​                           Chevron and Texaco.

Washington
Vancouver and Southwest Washington
​

FVRL Experience Pass
--use your library card for a free pass to:
Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles, OR
(as of this date only one opportunity)
 
FVRL calendar of events
https://fvrl.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming  
 
State Parks free days 2021
—day use only--

https://discoverpass.wa.gov/ 
  • Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
  • Jan. 18 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • March 19 — State Parks’ 108th Birthday
  • April 3 — Springtime free day
  • June 5 — National Trails Day
  • June 12 — National Get Outdoors Day
  • June 13 — Free Fishing Day
  • Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday
  • Sept. 25 — National Public Lands Day
  • Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
  • Nov. 26 — Autumn free day
  
​Fort Vancouver & Pearson Field/Air Museum
https://www.nps.gov/fova/index.htm 
 
Waterfront Renaissance Trail
https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrec/page/columbia-river-renaissance-trail-5-miles
 
Esther Short Park events, most years--unsure about 2021
Vancouver Farmers Market
Summer Concert series, free
Science in the Park, free kid activities
Fire in the Park (Fire Dept. event) free & family friendly   
   activities
Hawaiian Festival, free
 
Water Resource Center
Free kid activities 2nd Sat, in usual years
Online learning during COVID   https://www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/online-community-learning
 
Pendleton Woolen Mills tours suspended for now. 4 min video:
https://www.pendleton-usa.com/mill-tours.html
 
Ridgefield, Steigerwald, Franz Lake, Pierce Nat Wildlife Refuges
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Ridgefield/about.html
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield/cosa/about_complex.html    

Cedar Creek Grist Mill, closed til further notice
https://www.cedarcreekgristmill.org/
 
To-Do Vancouver, WA
https://www.visitvancouverusa.com/things-to-do/
 
More places of interest in
   SW Washington

Long Beach, WA
Fort Borst Park, Centralia
Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery
Loggers’ Jubilee , Morton

For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site.
National Parks & Lands--2021 free days              
January 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 17: First day of National Park Week
August 4: One year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
August 25: National Park Service Birthday
September 25: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day

Free & reduced passes--
Military
4th Grade
Seniors
Disabled
Volunteers
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm 

US Forest Service fees & passes
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/passes-permits/recreation-fees-passes
Smithsonian  Magazine Free Museum Day   9-18-2021
www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday  

​More in Washington
12 Free activities in WA
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/fun-free-things-wa/
 
25 Best to do WA State
https://vacationidea.com/washington/best-things-to-do-in-washington-state.html 
 
Greater Seattle on the Cheap
https://www.greaterseattleonthecheap.com/ 
 
Wheelchair Travel in Seattle
https://wheelchairtravel.org/seattle/
Transit Travel—other cities
Seattle  https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/getting-around/transit
 
Vancouver BC public transit   https://new.translink.ca/
Victoria BC public transit     www.bctransit.com/victoria 

Volcano Row
https://pnsn.org/volcanoes 
Lassen Peak, CA
Mt. Shasta, CA
Medicine Lake, CA
Crater Lake, OR
Newberry Volcano, OR
Three Sisters, OR
Mt. Jefferson, OR
Mt. Hood, OR
Mt. Adams, WA
Mt. St. Helens, WA
Mt. Rainier, WA
Glacier Peak, WA
Mt. Baker, WA
     
Travel your Local Planet
Link to:
https://happytowander.com/resources/ 

Pretty encompassing website for worldwide wheelchair travel and issues by a man who lives & travels in a wheelchair:
https://wheelchairtravel.org/destinations/

Wheelchair Jimmy has a special rating system, videos, etc.
https://wheelchairjimmy.com/

Mobility International USA--resources, helps, tips for Disabled travel  https://www.miusa.org/plan/americans-abroad 

A travel company that arranges for disabled travel adventures:  https://gowheeltheworld.com/ 

Disabled travel & adventures in Utah (you'll be amazed)
https://www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/accessible-utah/

Here's an article about Travel Credit Cards, if you want to know more about them:  https://money.com/best-travel-credit-card/ 
 New for 2021
Washington & Oregon compared, 6 min video posted 2018
https://youtu.be/j7oxBYGW1Kw

Access Recreation—helpful reviews of local trails and parks in the Portland/Vancouver WA area
https://www.accesstrails.org/overview/home/index.html

Universal Access Hikes (last update 2007)
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Category:Universal_Access_Hikes

Historic markers along WA highways
https://wsdot.wa.gov/environment/protecting-environment/history-archaeology-and-culture/historical-highway-markers

​ADA recreation | Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
https://parks.state.wa.us/156/ADA-Recreation

Accessibility in the National Parks
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/index.htm



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