Since it’s founding in the 1860’s, La Grande has also been known as the “hub” of Northeast Oregon because tens of thousands of people travel through here every year on the way to Portland, Bend and other cities in Oregon.
What most people don’t know about La Grande is that it was originally called Brownsville, named for its first settler Benjamin Brown but a French settler named Charles Dause often referred to the area as “La Grande” to describe its beauty and that name stuck.
With a population of just over 13,000, La Grande can be described as the ideal small-town city while still being close enough to the big cities that you know and love.
Things to Do In La Grande
If you want a quick weekend getaway, there’s no better place to come for a quick trip than La Grande.
Did you know that concerts, plays, and art exhibits take place throughout the year and a burgeoning art community offers studio tours and Third Thursday gallery events?
Don’t miss out on these events especially if you’re shopping for new art gifts for next Christmas!
Besides art exhibits, concerts and other events in La Grande, there’s also the Oregon Trail Interpretive Park at Blue Mountain Crossing, the Union County Museum, the Eastern Oregon Fire Museum, the Elgin Opera House and the Elgin Museum & Historical Society highlight the area’s fascinating history.
Here you can find plenty of things to do during a weekend including shopping for antiques, visiting local attractions like Hot Lake Springs or enjoy a delicious dinner at Joe & Sugars or any of the wonderful area restaurants.
Since La Grande is also a university town there are plenty of nice hotels/motels in the area for you to spend a few days and the best part is that they won’t break your bank account either.
Don’t Miss Out on Experiencing La Grande Oregon
La Grande is one of the jewels of Northeast Oregon that you don’t want to miss! If you’ve been planning on getting away for the week or weekend there’s no better place to visit than La Grande.
This Northeastern Oregon city is also close to other nearby towns that you may know and love including:
| Cove – 13 miles [20.9 km] to the East of La Grande [Map] |
| Crooks – 16 miles [25.7 km] to the Southeast [Map] |
| Hot Lake – 8 miles [12.9 km] to the Southeast [Map] |
| Island City – 2 miles [3.2 km] to the Northeast [Map] |
| Lone Tree – 4 miles [6.4 km] to the Southeast [Map] |
| Summerville – 12 miles [19.3 km] to the North [Map] |
| Union – 13 miles [20.9 km] to the Southeast [Map] |
| Union Junction – 11 miles [17.7 km] to the Southeast [Map] |
To learn more about La Grande Oregon visit the city website at www.cityoflagrande.org
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