The Beaver State is the 33rd state in the union. At the time it was admitted as a state, it was to be a refuge from the bitterness over slavery that was plaguing the United States. So in 1850, it was the only state to have a "whites only" clause in its constitution. The state rock is thunder egg and the state mushroom is the Pacific golden chanterelle.
The Southern Oregon area is where you will find the South Coast, The Valley, and High Country. Historic Highway 101 takes you past some of the best and most accessible beach shoreline in Oregon.You will also see forests and some of the last wild rivers remaining in America. Sunset Bay State park has a whole bunch of things to do. You can see Cape Arago Lighthouse although you can't get up close. There is a Coast Guard Fence in the way. They also have a view of sea lions. You'll find camping, spectacular sunsets, beachcombing, and tidepools to explore. Jacksonville is the place where the first gold was discovered in Oregon. It is a National Historic Landmark (yes, the whole town) with more than 100 historic buildings. There is an extensive trails system for walkers and bikers that began as a project for the Jacksonville Elementary School. Highway 138 takes you past waterfalls and nature trails. The High Country has both the Cascade Mountains and Oregon's Outback Region. Crater Lake was formed 7,700 years ago from the eruption of Mt. Mazama and is the deepest lake in the United States. In the Outback Region you can help out on a working ranch by riding among the cattle to check for newborn calves, or you can hike some of the miles of trails. There are also bike trails and in the winter snowmobiling, snowboarding, ice skating, and skiing. Picture Rock Pass is where you can see ancient Indian petroglyphs.
Central Oregon is home to scenic wonders. Volcanic calderas are the "cauldrons" formed after a volcano has erupted. Crater Lake fills one of them. There are many lesser calderas scattered throughout Central Oregon. Newberry Crater is an 18 mile caldera containing East Lake, Paulina Lake, and Paulina Falls. It also has the country's largest obsidian lava flow. The Metolius River is fed by two springs and is one of the largest spring-fed rivers in the nation. The land around it has extensive trails for hiking and horseback riding. The area around The Crooked River is ideal for bird watching and picnicking. One of the many waterfalls is Tumalo Falls where the water drops almost 100 feet. Central Oregon is full of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. You can view wildflowers and nature at its finest. Smith Rock has sheer walls and welded tuff (volcanic ash) spires and is ideal for climbers. Watersports, including whitewater rafting, is plentiful. Bubbling springs and mineral baths are available at spas so you can soak your tired body.
Mt. Hood Territory is where the pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail ended their journey. Barlow Road was the last leg of the trail, ending in Oregon City. The Willamette Valley is fertile land that is still full of farms. Across the river from Oregon City you'll find Willamette Falls Locks which is the first multi-lift navigational locks in the United States. And looking over it all is magnificent snow-covered Mt. Hood. Near Lake Oswego is George Rogers Park. Along with the things you normally find in a park stands an iron ore blast furnace. Built in 1866 to help process the pig iron that was the main industry of the town, it survived weather and early attempts to blast it out of existence. Milwaukie is known as the place Bing cherries originated. In Mt. Hood Territory you will see vineyards, fruit and vegetables of all sorts, and herbs. Ginseng is one of the herbs grown here. Forests in the territory made logging a major industry in this area too.
Again there is so much to see. Oregon has a lot of undeveloped areas that nature lovers can enjoy. I will have to spend a lot of time here. You can too. There are links below to help you find the places you'd like to go. Plan a trip for you and then go see Oregon. When you get back, let me know what you liked best. While I wait to hear from you, I'm going to explore the 20 gardens in Oregon Garden. Then I'll go over to Petersen Rock Garden. They have scaled-down versions of things like the Statue of Liberty, U.S. Capitol Building, and Independence Hall made from rocks, petrified wood, glass, and shells collected from the area.
Copas
Official Oregon State Site
Scenic Byways
State Parks
National Parks
Oregon Garden
Oregon E-Newsletter
Offbeat Tourist Attractions
Good description of my state! We live very close to the end of the Oregon Trail and Willamette Falls. You would think we'd go there more often.
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