OTE - Oregon Travel Experience

The Oregon Heritage Tree Program awarded 2017 Maynard C. Drawson Memorial Award to educator and arborist Paul Ries. Ries will receive a plaque recognizing his contributions to preserving Oregon’s notable trees.
Ries was a founding member of the Oregon Heritage Tree Program and personal friend to Maynard Drawson. Drawson is considered to be the founding father of the program; the award was created in 2015 as a way to honor his …

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Last year, a motivated group of volunteers showed up to push wheelbarrows, swing shovels, and plant 20 replacement trees at the Grove of the States (located at French Prairie Rest Area southbound). Among the many volunteers were two members of the Oregon Travel Information Council (Chair Gwenn Baldwin and Mike Marsh) and OTE Executive Director Nancy DeSouza.
[Make sure to visit the image gallery at the bottom of this page, it …

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What is this project about?

Oregon’s Grove of the States is located at the French Prairie Rest Area (southbound I-5 at Milepost 281), near Wilsonville. The Grove is believed to be the oldest arboretum of state trees in the US and was originally a collection of trees from 53 US states and territories. The concept for the Grove was conceived and implemented by former Oregon Attorney General Robert Thornton in the mid-1960s as a way …

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Oregon’s Grove of the States enters active restoration phase

On November 11, 2016, a team of two dozen highly skilled volunteer arborists from four local companies sponsored a work day in Oregon’s Grove of the States to prepare the site for the next phase of its restoration.
Located at the southbound I-5 French Prairie Rest Area (at Milepost 281 near Wilsonville) the Grove is believed to be the oldest public arboretum of state …

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Learn what’s possible and what’s not

Oregon’s public rest area system has a lengthy history of welcoming travelers and providing safe clean facilities for motorists to refresh. At OTE managed rest areas, dedicated employees provide a range of services. From helping families find lost keys and pets to ensuring that the grounds are free from obstructions and hazards, our specialists are present during peak travel hours, seven days per week and …

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As the weather improves, Oregonians turn their thoughts towards outdoor activities. Many of these prospective vacationers will plan road trips far in advance—performing online research and outlining the perfect route to their chosen destinations. They’ll schedule stopping points for meals and driving breaks, and collect travel brochures and other tourism publications that invite them to explore nearby points of interest.
Many Americans  will take to the open highway this season during …

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Gear up for fun on Oregon roadways

We thought it might be easier to plan your Oregon road-trip if you know what our most common rest area amenities are and what to look for when you stop. You’ll find all that information and more, including traffic updates, below.

Amenities

Among some of the more unusual features at Oregon rest areas to be found are:

Horse corrals On your way to Idaho in search of  famous …

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The Lee Oak Heritage Tree in Canby, Oregon, was celebrated on April 8, 2016. A crowd of about 60 people attended, including four generations descended from Philander and Anna Lee, who planted the tree some 146 years ago.
Canby Mayor Brian Hodson, OTIC/OTE Executive Director Nancy DeSouza, Chair Carol Palmer of the Canby Historic Review Board, and members of the Oregon Heritage Tree Committee gave presentations.
As the 68th tree to be …

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