The 10 Best Cultural Tours in Oregon, United States

Our small group Portland brewery bike tour takes you to the side of the river where the innovation has always been, to ride the quieter neighborhoods. On these tree-lined streets, explore the past and present of Portland's craft brewing culture. We'll start by introducing you to the city, weaving through the neighborhoods where breweries thrive and then doing a ride over the bridges into the city's center, along the river. We'll show you where the city's first big breweries began, and the fountain that once almost flowed with beer straight from the west's oldest brewery. Portland was a leader in the craft beer industry, and boasts more breweries than any city; whatever your beer love (sours? Craft barrel-aging? Belgians? IPAs? Fresh hops, dry hops, no hops?), there's certainly a brewery that made its name in that style. The tour in total is about ten miles, and we stop for beer at the end so you can choose whether to keep riding afterward or stay for a few more with your friends.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, Bottled water

Exclusions: Tips (always appreciated), We let you decide which beer to sample and how much you'd like!

We'll take you to 3 tasting rooms representing a variety of settings, wines, and personalities. Your wine industry-honed guide will introduce you to the Willamette Valley AVA while camaraderie develops among your small group. You will be wafted away to wine country while we provide you with background on the history, terroir, and character of Willamette Valley wine. Your guide will feel out the desires of your group in selecting among the 500 Willamette Valley wineries, and specific requests may be accommodated. We'll wander through the rolling hills of multiple Willamette Valley sub-AVAs, passing through charming little villages, while making stops at some of the most unique boutique wineries. You'll visit vineyards and tasting rooms that stand out, not only for the views and the character of their wine, but the intriguing personalities (both human and canine) involved. Lunch is included, tasting fees are not.

Inclusions: Lunch, Snacks, Bottled water, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities (always appreciated), Alcoholic Beverages

Explore the city by bike, as a Portlandian would! Start in the inner Eastside neighborhoods, where we will fit you for a bike and helmet, ready for a sweet 8-10 mile ride through the Ladd’s Addition residential neighborhood, across the sexy Tilikum Bridge, and onto Portland's waterfront. You'll visit a total of five of the city's quadrants, ride over two bridges, and along the Willamette River. Need a snack? We'll recommend some of the city's best doughnuts! See the city from the perspective of the every day Portland cyclist — see its glossiest and grittiest neighborhoods, its triumphs, its shames and transgressions, the stories of its native people, its merchants, sailors and immigrants. Stops for snacks and to walk through gardens, including the Lan Su Chinese Garden, and parks along the way. Bikes and helmets provided.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities -- always appreciated for your charming guides!

Portland’s famous food carts are scattered all over the city's five (now six) quadrants, over 600 in total, in over 60 pods — collections of food carts! Let us put you on one of our lightweight, beautiful bicycles and guide you on a 8-12 mile (11-17 km) culinary experience through some of our best-loved chefs and makers, sampling everything from Oregon farm-to-table delights to snacks appropriate to late-night cravings. Our focus is on locally-owned businesses with a great story; we’ll take you to our favorites, many of which were important in creating the food cart scene as it exists today. Without these unique and passionate people, we may not have even half of what Portland offers to residents and guests alike. Expect flavors and fusions that tell not only a culinary, but also a cultural, tale. Bikes, helmets and plentiful food samples provided. We keep groups very small, so you'll have an intimate experience with your passionate guides!

Inclusions: Samples at every stop that will span the gamut from coffee, to breakfast-style snacks, to lunch, to a sweet treat at the end, Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, Bottled water

Exclusions: Tips (always appreciated)

Portland's chocolate scene is overwhelming; let us navigate you through its origins, passionate makers, and diversity with this walking tour that delves into what some call "decadence" but we call "delight." And we couldn't cover chocolate without the roasted seed of our other favorite tropical berry: coffee! Portland is known as the heart of the craft coffee roasting world, with so many small roasters, coffee lovers that we are, we struggle to taste them all. Our tour hits both the well-known highlights and some of the secrets of the chocolate scene, with a few surprises we don't want to give away. The tour in total is about 2.0 miles (3.5km), mostly flat walking, with tastings of chocolate and coffee -- just the right amount so you'll have the opportunity to truly savor every sip and bite! We keep groups very small, so you'll have an intimate experience with your enthusiastic guides. (Contact us for larger groups or private experiences; we are happy to accommodate!)

Inclusions: Chocolate tastings, Locally roasted cappuccino or espresso

Exclusions: Tips (always appreciated)

Our tour provides the best of its category -- best bicycles, best guides, best vehicles, best stories! We transport our guests and bikes in Mercedes Sprinters, and our guides ride with our very small groups. You'll get the safest and most comfortable experience we can provide. Like no other active tour of the gorge, we tell the stories that are just beginning to awaken from this place. Beyond the 180 years of pioneers and loggers, before the century-old highway, this was the land of people with a rich mythology. We tell the stories that have been told to us by the indigenous people as best we can. But what's most important, we remember the long long history this place holds. You'll visit waterfalls you will not see on other tours, with engaged hiking and a leisurely approach to the tour itinerary. We want you to enjoy yourself -- whether you are traveling alone or with a big group. (We can accomodate much bigger groups traveling together, please reach out!)

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, We'll bring reusable bottles if you've left your own at home!, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: Gratuities (always appreciated by our passionate guides!)

The 80 miles of the Columbia River Gorge’s steep rocky sides offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the world: pounding waterfalls, eagles, century-old trees, ferns, flowers, ancient rocks. This half-day of exploring and meditating on wonders with very short hikes and visits to overlooks and vistas will have you gasping in awe. We'll visit waterfalls and overlooks, selected by our guides to include both the most iconic, like the unmissable Latourell Falls, a stunning plunge-style falls that is one of the most iconic in Oregon, and the special. Depending on weather conditions, this could include a few small hidden waterfalls and another spectacular plunge-style falls with columnar basalt. We'll also tell you stories, not just of the geology and botany and the oft-repeated tales of pioneers and road-builders, but also the old stories we've learned, of gods and animal spirits and the Beaver princess tragically turned into a waterfall.

Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, We'll bring reusable bottles if you've left your own at home!, Snacks

Exclusions: Gratuities (always appreciated by our passionate guides!)

It's all about the bike ride! We like to spend more time riding in small groups, but always stopping to smell the roses. Start in the inner Eastside neighborhoods, where we will safely fit you for a bike and helmet, ready for a sweet 9-11 mile ride through a pretty residential neighborhood, to our favorite rose garden, into an art-heavy industrial district, across the sexy Tilikum Bridge, and onto Portland's waterfront. From there, it's a visit to Old Town, and tell the story of Voodoo, before we head back over another bridge back to our shop! You'll visit a total of 5 of the city's quadrants, ride over two bridges, and along the Willamette River. We'll visit almost-secret beaches, read poetry written in sidewalks and rocks, see public art of every shape, color and texture. And have you tried some of the city's best doughnuts? Learn our favorites! All along the way, we'll tell the stories of the city we love. Bikes, helmets and water provided. Please wear masks for bike sizing.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle, Use of helmet, Bottled water

Exclusions: Gratuities -- always appreciated for your charming guides!

Discover the beauty, culture and history of Portland on a guided bike tour -- the ideal way to experience the city! Pedal through downtown, Chinatown and the Pearl District, and ride along the waterfront for great views. Pass 19th-century brick buildings, art galleries, classic food carts and a 140-year-old brewery. Your guide will offer interesting commentary on your easy ride, suitable for all riding skill levels.

Inclusions: Use of bicycle and helmet, Local guide

Exclusions: Food and drinks, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Gratuities

A unique way to see and feel the Normandy coast Gold Beach Company offers a unique jeep tour in an authentic World War II Willy’s Jeep! The tour stops at the Arromanches Mullberry Harbor, where British engineers built a deep-water port to unload the logistics that brought Victory to Normandy. The Longues sur Mer German battery is the best-preserved site of the Atlantic wall. Discover how British and French naval vessels silenced the guns on D-Day. Finally come to visit a poignant cemetery at Ryes Bazenville which helps one reflects the enormous sacrifice. An experience not to be missed!

Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only), Jeep

Exclusions: Lunch