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Travel Local for Less
Updated Feb 21, 2026 Oregon
from Travel Oregon Visitor Guide for 2023-2024 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 John 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://explore.publicartarchive.org/regional-arts-and-culture-council/ PDX Parent lists free/discount activities & venues https://pdxparent.com/ 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 & more, 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 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/ 
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://trimet.org/fares/hopcard.htm 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. 2025 Reciprocal Admission Program--"membership to one of the participating organizations is your key to free admission for a member and three guests of any age to a different attraction each month." Jan--Oregon Zoo (Portland) Feb--Oregon Historical Society (Portland) & Columbia River Maritime Museum (Astoria) Mar—Pittock Mansion (Portland) & Cannon Beach History Center (Cannon Beach) Apr—Deepwood Museum & Gardens (Salem) & Hallie Ford Museum of Art (Salem) May—Architectural Heritage Center (Portland) June—Oregon Jewish Museum (Portland) & Lan Su Chinese Garden (Portland) July—Museum at Warm Springs (Warm Spings, west of Madras) Aug—Five Oaks Museum (Portland) Sept—Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals (Hillsboro) Oct—Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum Nov—Oregon Coast Aquarium (Newport) & World Forestry Center (Portland) Dec—Clark County Historical Museum (Vancouver WA) Nationwide Zoos & Aquarium reciprocal memberships As of September 2024 https://www.aza.org/find-a-zoo-or-aquarium Oregon State Parks info
Universal Access Hikes (last updated 2020) https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Category:Universal_Access_Hikes METRO parks & free parking days (Portland regional) https://www.oregonmetro.gov/ click on Parks & Venues https://portlandlivingonthecheap.com/free-parking-days-portland-metro-parks/ free parking days OR Free Fishing Days for 2026 https://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/ February 14-15, June 6-7, and November 27-28 *The FINE PRINT: Area closures, bag limits and all other regulations still apply. Oregon Museum of Science & Industry--OMSI https://omsi.edu/events OMSI YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/omsimuseum?app=desktop Rose City Astronomers Star Party Page https://www.rosecityastronomers.net/star-party-page For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site. More in Oregon Link to Travel Oregon . . . https://traveloregon.com/ Oregon Coast map & mileage Oregon Rest Areas https://www.tripcheck.com/Pages/Rest-Areas?fbclid=IwAR1_WIlLcU3QGY_1Gm6qR97no9g-FLafBGLu9sgbAFlLHfzXFs12LAnNlZ4 Destinations by Region (see Destinations page)
Getting Gas
Check out
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 & 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 Smithsonian Affiliate Reciprocal Membership program Oregon Affiliates
Transit Travel—other cities Seattle https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/getting-around/transit Vancouver BC public transit https://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/visitors-guide-to-public-transit.aspx 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 |
Washington
from Washington State Visitors' Guide--2024-25 Vancouver & Southwest WA
https://www.visitvancouverusa.com/things-to-do/ FVRL Experience Pass (Fort Vancouver Regional Library) https://www.fvrl.org/experience-pass --use your library card for a free pass to:
FVRL calendar of events City of Vancouver WA—Columbia River Renaissance Trail
Water Resource Education Center, Vancouver WA Free educational activities and learning, various events Esther Short Park, downtown Vancouver WA Vancouver Farmers Markets--begins in March Special Events in Vancouver WA such as: Valentine's Ball at Pearson Air Museum Concert Series Friday Night movies in the parks Arts & Music Festival August 7-9, 2026 4 Days of Aloha (Hawaiian Festival) July 23-26, 2026 Clark College & Esther Short Park, Vancouver WA 26th annual Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival Aug 21-23, 2026 Ester Short Park Dia de los Muertos Oct 17, 2026 Ester Short Park Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting--Esther Short Park Nov 28, 2025; I didn't find an announcement for 2026 yet Community Menorah Lighting--Vancouver Waterfront Park Dec 14, 2025, I didn't find an announcement for 2026 yet Lighted Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting--Washougal WA Dec 3, 2026: 5pm band, cookies & hot cocoa, Santa, candy canes Please no pets, Santa allergic; Parade 6pm & tree lighting
Ridgefield, Steigerwald, Franz Lake, Pierce Nat Wildlife Refuges Cedar Creek Grist Mill
For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site. Washington state WA State Dept of Transportation https://wsdot.wa.gov/ roads, transit, ferries, Amtrak, etc https://wsdot.wa.gov/travel/roads-bridges/toll-roads-bridges-tunnels toll roads, bridges, & tunnels WA State Parks, searchable https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks WA State Parks free days 2025 —day use only-- https://discoverpass.wa.gov/about-pass/free-ways-visit "Washington State Parks and the Washington Departments of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) and Natural Resources (DNR) offer several 'free days' when a Discover Pass is not required to visit these lands." Following are the 2026 free days:
Historical Highway Markers—WA State https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/protecting-environment/historic-highways/historical-highway-markers 12 Free activities in WA pub Nov 2016 https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/fun-free-things-wa/ 12 Best Places to visit in WA State 2026 (Lots of ads for Washington DC, but, persevere) https://vacationidea.com/ideas/best-places-to-visit-in-washington-state.html#slide12 Juneteenth, June 19, 2026 Tacoma WA Greater Seattle on the Cheap, including events (2025) https://www.greaterseattleonthecheap.com/ Wheelchair Travel in Seattle, including accessible taxis https://wheelchairtravel.org/seattle/ Destinations by Region (see Destinations page)
(categories relate to those on the Regions map above)
Several Posts included several places . . . "Quilt Shop Hop": Portland, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Lake Oswego, in OR; and Vancouver WA "Celebrating Chinese Style": Portland OR, Tigard OR, Vancouver WA, Seattle WA, Tacoma WA, Lewiston ID, link to Victoria BC "Traveling Light": Portland OR & Vancouver WA "Black History": Portland OR, Oregon City OR, Fort Clatsop & Astoria OR, Brownsville OR, Coos Bay OR, Sacajawea State Park (Pasco WA), Cape Disappointment WA, Tacoma WA, Olympia WA, Boise ID "Hanukkah & Holocaust":Portland & Gresham OR, Vancouver WA "Japanese-American Journeys": Portland OR, Gresham OR, Tigard OR, Coos Bay OR, Ontario OR, Vancouver WA, Olympia WA, Tacoma WA, Seattle WA, Sequim WA "Buddha & Connected Cultures": Portland OR, Hillsboro OR, Gresham OR, Salem OR, The Dalles OR, Seaside OR, Vancouver WA, Trout Lake WA, Seattle WA, Olympia WA, Lewiston ID "Savor the Latin Flavors": Portland OR, Springfield OR, Ontario OR, Joseph OR, Vancouver WA, Tacoma WA, Sunnyside WA, Richland Y Pasco WA, Boise ID "Islamic Excurions": Portland OR, Tigard OR, Beaverton OR, Hillsboro OR, Gresham OR, Vancouver WA, Olympia WA "Great Scot! Scottish Festivals": Enumclaw WA, Kelso WA, Eugene OR, Canby OR, Gresham OR "Saturday in the Park"--Northwest OR and SW Washington "May Days--Public Gardens to Delight": Portland & Salem OR areas, SW Washington, Shore Acres Park on the Oregon Coast "Hawaii in the PNW": Portland OR, Sandy OR & I-84, Vancouver WA, Tacoma WA, Mukilteo WA "PNW Capitals": Salem OR, Olympia WA, Boise ID, Victoria BC "Snake River Gorge": Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington "Sacajawea Trail" in 2 parts, from Idaho to the Pacific Ocean "Oregon Trail" in 3 parts, Idaho, Oregon (eastern, western, and southern), Washington (from Vancouver to Olympia) 22 posts along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, N. California "Mtns of the PNW": Idaho, Washington, Oregon, N. California 'Trees to See in the PNW": Oregon & Washington "Redwoods California" and "Return to the Redwoods": Smith River to Eureka CA "Return to Roseburg [OR]" travels Hwy 138 along the Umpqua River (the west end of the Umpqua River empties into the Pacific Ocean, see Reedsport OR posts), up over the Cascades to Hwy 97, then down to Klamath Falls OR "O Canada!": travels from Vancouver Island eastward to the Continental Divide of the Rockies |
Here's a good article on the Benefits of Camping, though it doesn't directly discuss accessibility.
https://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/benefits-of-camping.html
https://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/benefits-of-camping.html
National Parks & Lands--2026 free days
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm
Free & reduced passes--
Military
4th Grade
Seniors
Disabled
Volunteers
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Accessibility in the National Parks
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/index.htm
US Forest Service, and fees & passes Fee Free Days
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm
- February 16: Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday)
- May 25: Memorial Day
- June 14: Flag Day/President Trump's birthday
- July 3–5: Independence Day weekend
- August 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service
- September 17: Constitution Day
- October 27: Theodore Roosevelt's birthday
- November 11: Veterans Day
Free & reduced passes--
Military
4th Grade
Seniors
Disabled
Volunteers
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm
Accessibility in the National Parks
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/index.htm
US Forest Service, and fees & passes Fee Free Days
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 19, 2026
- Presidents’ Day: February 16, 2026
- Memorial Day: May 25. 2026
- National Get Outdoors Day: June 13, 2026
- Independence Day: July 4. 2026
- Constitution Day: September 17, 2026
- National Public Lands Day: September 26, 2026
- Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday: October 27, 2026
- Veterans Day: November 11, 2026
Travel your Local Planet
Link to:
https://happytowander.com/resources/
Pretty comprehensive 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 Rewards Credit Cards, if you want to know more about them: https://money.com/best-travel-credit-card/