Study Abroad in Oregon: Exploring Portland, Cannon Beach and Life in Forest Grove

Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying to explore a bit more of Oregon, just to make the most of being here. Forest Grove is where I’m based for study abroad, and while it’s a small and quiet town, it’s in a good spot for getting to other places.

One of the easiest trips from here is Portland, so I’ve been going there quite a bit. It’s a completely different vibe from Forest Grove- busy, lots going on, and way more to do. On my last visit I went to the Portland Japanese Garden, which I’d heard people talk about a lot. It was really calm and nice to walk around, and the views over the trees were great. After that I spent a while just wandering around the city, getting food from a food cart and stopping in a few shops. Portland is one of those places where you don’t really need a plan; there’s always something to look at or somewhere to sit with a coffee.

I also took a trip out to Cannon Beach. It takes a bit of travelling to get there, but it’s worth it. The beach is massive and Haystack Rock looks exactly like it does in photos, just bigger. It was windy and cold, but I expected that. I walked along the beach for a while, took a few photos, and just enjoyed being somewhere so different from home.

Most days I’m still in Forest Grove following the same routine, classes, grabbing something cheap to eat in town, and going for walks in the evenings. It’s grown on me a lot since I first arrived. The town is quiet but it’s easy to settle into, and the area around campus is really pretty, especially with all the trees.

Travelling around a bit has definitely helped break things up and made my time here feel more rounded. Oregon has way more variety than I expected  a quiet town, a big city, a huge coastline  all within fairly easy reach. If anyone else studies here, I’d definitely recommend taking a few day trips when you can. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but it’s nice to see different parts of the state while you’re here.

Find out more about Study Abroad at York St John