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ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL PNW
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Travel Tips & Tricks

Travel Local for Less
Updated Jan 20, 2023
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
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://racc.org/resources/access-arts-and-culture/ 
 
Oregon Rail Heritage Center, Portland OR
Thursday - Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00pm
Free Admission, Free Parking
https://orhf.org/

Oregon Jewish Museum, Portland OR
Hours:  Wednesday – Sunday: 11am – 4pm
https://www.ojmche.org/exhibit-type/core-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 & 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/
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.

2023 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."
January: Oregon Zoo (oregonzoo.org/visit)
February: Columbia River Maritime Museum (crmm.org)
March: Deepwood Museum & Gardens (deepwoodmuseum.org)
     and, Hallie Ford Museum of Art
     (https://www.willamette.edu/arts/hfma/index.html )
April: World Forestry Center (worldforestry.org)
May: Architectural Heritage Center (visitahc.org)
June: Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (ojmche.org)
July: Oregon Historical Society (ohs.org/visit)
August: Five Oaks Museum (https://fiveoaksmuseum.org/ )
September: Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals (ricenorthwestmuseum.org)
October: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum (evergreenmuseum.org)
November: Oregon Coast Aquarium (aquarium.org)
December: Lan Su Chinese Garden (lansugarden.org)
     and, Clark County Historical Museum (cchmuseum.org)

Nationwide Zoos & Aquarium reciprocal memberships
As of September 2022
https://www.aza.org/find-a-zoo-or-aquarium

Oregon State Parks info
  • https://stateparks.oregon.gov/
  • https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=v.feature-articles
  • https://stateparks.oregon.gov/?do=v.page&id=19
  • https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=visit.find  ​
  • https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=things-to-do.events

Free Parking Days at METRO parks
“Enjoy free parking at Oxbow and Blue Lake regional parks, Broughton Beach, Chinook Landing Marine Park, and M. James Gleason Memorial Boat ramp "
Jan 1, 16, & 19
Feb 16 & 20
Mar 16
April 20
May 18
June 15 & 19
July 20
Aug 17
Sept 21
Oct 9 & 19
Nov 16 & 24
Dec 15
Parking at the above parks is typically $5; all other Metro parks and boat ramps is free year-round.
https://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/free-parking-days-metro-parks-2022

OR Free Fishing Days for 2023
https://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/
February 18-19, June 3-4, and November 24-25
*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

The Cove Palisades State Park, near Madrus & Redmond OR
brochure
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_siteFiles%2Fpublications%2F%2FCove_Palisades_LOW_RES083631.pdf

For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site.

More in Oregon
Link to Travel Oregon . . . https://traveloregon.com/
Oregon Coast map & mileage
  • https://www.beachconnection.net/200609_oregoncoastmap_miles.htm
​
​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
https://www.fvrl.org/experience-pass
--use your library card for a free pass to:
  • Bickleton Carousel Museum, Bickleton WA, 37mi/52min NE of Goldendale WA (nearly 3 hours NE of Portland OR)
  • Cascade Locks Historical Museum, east of Portland on I-84
  • Clark County Historical Museum, Vancouver WA
  • Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles OR
  • Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, Stevenson WA
  • Genealogical Forum of OR, Portland OR
  • Lan Su Chinese Garden, Portland OR
  • Maryhill Museum of Art, Hwy 14 near Goldendale WA
  • Presby Museum, Goldendale WA
  • Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals, Hillsboro OR
  • Wonderworks Children's Museum, The Dalles OR
 
FVRL calendar of events
  • https://fvrl.librarymarket.com/events/upcoming  
WA State Parks free days 2023
—day use only--

https://discoverpass.wa.gov/ "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 2023 free days:
Jan. 1 — First Day Hikes; New Year’s Day
Jan. 16 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
March 9 -- Billy Frank Junior's Birthday
March 19 — State Parks’ 110th Birthday
April 22  — Earth Day
June 10 — National Get Outdoors Day
June 11 — Free Fishing Day
June 19 — Juneteenth
Sept. 23 — National Public Lands Day
Oct. 10 -- World Mental Health Day
Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Nov. 25 — Autumn Day
"Free days apply only to day use (not overnight stays or rented facilities). Free days are valid at state parks and Washington State Departments of Natural Resources and Fish & Wildlife lands. Sno-Park permits are still required on free days at designated Sno-Parks during the winter season."
  
​Fort Vancouver & Pearson Field/Air Museum
  • https://www.nps.gov/fova/index.htm 
 
Waterfront Renaissance Trail
  • https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrecculture/page/columbia-river-renaissance-trail-5-miles

Esther Short Park events, past, present, maybe future?
  • https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrecculture/page/esther-short-park (playground temp closed since fire)
Vancouver Farmers Market--begins in March, partly updated:
  • https://www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com/
Recycled Arts Festival--returns 2024
  •      https://recycledartsfestival.com/
Summer Concert series, free—now at Waterfront Park, see
     Special Events link below
Science in the Park, free kid activities--not sure when updated:
  • https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrecculture/page/summer-stem-fun-vancouver
Fire in the Park (Fire Dept. event) free family friendly to-do; may still be on hold due to a fire in the Park in 2022
  • https://www.facebook.com/fireinthepark/
Hawaiian Festival, free—July 20-23, 2023
  • https://4daysofaloha.com/
​Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival Aug 25-27, 2023
  • https://www.vancouverwinejazz.com/
Día de los Muertos
Hanukkah Celebration
Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

Special Events, Vancouver WA (looks like 2022-2023)
  • https://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksrecculture/page/special-events-vancouver

Water Resource Education Center
Free educational activities and learning, various events
  • https://www.cityofvancouver.us/publicworks/page/water-resources-education-center

Pendleton Woolen Mills Tour (Washougal WA) 11 min video
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGN4_FDx1YE&ab_channel=ThePendletonPride
You can sign up for a tour at either Washougal WA or Pendleton OR at 
  • https://www.pendleton-usa.com/mill-tours.html

Ridgefield, Steigerwald, Franz Lake, Pierce Nat Wildlife Refuges
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ridgefield/about-us

Cedar Creek Grist Mill
  • https://www.cedarcreekgristmill.org/
  • https://www.facebook.com/cedarcreekgristmill/?ref=page_internal more frequent updates
​
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 WA (see post, under Destinations)

For more ideas check the Destinations page of this site.
National Parks & Lands--2022 free days
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm
Jan 16:  MLK Jr Day
Apr 22:  first day of National Park Week
Aug 4:  Great American Outdoors day
Sept 23:  National Public Lands Day
Nov 11:  Veterans Day​

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

US Forest Service, and fees & passes
  • https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/passes-permits/recreation-fees-passes
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 
Smithsonian  Magazine Free Museum Day   Sept 17, 2023
according to 
  • https://nationaltoday.com/smithsonian-day/
I didn't see reference to it at 
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/

​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, including events
https://www.greaterseattleonthecheap.com/ 
 
Wheelchair Travel in Seattle, including accessible taxis
https://wheelchairtravel.org/seattle/

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
     
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 Rewards Credit Cards, if you want to know more about them:  https://money.com/best-travel-credit-card/ 
 New for 2021--checked 1/20/2023
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 2020)
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Category:Universal_Access_Hikes

Historical Highway Markers—WA State
https://wsdot.wa.gov/engineering-standards/design-topics/environment/environmental-disciplines/cultural-resources/history-archaeology-culture/historic-highways/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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