Corvallis, Oregon
Welcoming and safe
The Oregon State University (OSU) main campus is in Corvallis, a friendly, culturally vibrant college town of about 53,000 in the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Corvallis embraces Oregon’s pioneering practices in environmental stewardship, sustainable use of natural resources, high quality of life and mindful civic planning. As a result, Corvallis is consistently rated by independent surveys as one of the best cities to live in the U.S., as well as among the most environmentally responsible and safest cities in the U.S.. Corvallis also ranks in the top five U.S. cities by the percentage of adult residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher and in 2008 Forbes online magazine ranked Corvallis in the top 5 of America’s smartest cities.
Easy to explore
Miles of bike lanes and a free city bus service make it easy for students to get around town. Within the town center, there are plenty of places to eat and socialize with friends. There is a selection of restaurants offering traditional American food, as well as a choice of international restaurants offering Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Korean, Thai and even Lebanese cuisine. In addition, the Saturday Farmers Market, along with taverns and pubs provide opportunities to sample local produce, including Oregon’s famous wines and microbrew beers.
Oregon has no sales tax, and is home to many factory outlets for leading companies such as Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Banana Republic and many more.
Within a short drive of Corvallis you can reach the Pacific Ocean, the mountains of the Cascade Range and the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. Portland, Oregon’s largest city and cultural center, is just 90 minutes away from Corvallis. By car, plane, bus or train, you can easily visit other cities along the U.S. West Coast, including Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Endless outdoor recreation
Corvallis and Oregon also offer a mild, temperate climate and virtually endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. There is something for everyone, including skiing and snowboarding, hiking and cycling, rafting and kayaking, surfing and fishing in the nearby Cascade Range, the Pacific Ocean or in acres of parks and forests.
In Oregon, there’s always something to do. You can play world-class golf, cycle along hundreds of miles of designated bike lanes, take road-trips to wine country, hunt for fossils or get lost in the moment of a brilliantly crafted scene of a play at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
There’s also plenty to see. In addition to pristine public beaches, high-desert country, painted hills and wine-producing valleys, Oregon is home to North America’s deepest river gorge (Hells Canyon), the country’s deepest lake (Crater Lake) and the world’s second-most-climbed mountain (Mt. Hood), offering the only year-round ski season.