The First Stop

If you were planning an adventure to visit all 50 states, where would you start? 

Assuming that you reside in the US and are setting off from home, your state is really the beginning, State #1 on the itinerary.  So would you proudly check it off the list while zooming down the interstate? Flying right past all the places you’ve undoubtedly seen before, aiming for the closest border to get to State #2? Or would you take time to investigate your own backyard? 

I’m going to save the logistical intricacies of planning a road trip through this massive country, many of which aren’t apparent at first blush, for another post. Stay tuned. Suffice it to say that choosing the initial direction of travel is not inconsequential. For example, you’ve got to think about traveling in weather conditions months down the road (pun intended), while attempting to coordinate ideal timing for seasonal highlights and visiting certain attractions. 

Starting in Oregon…

I’d never mentally cataloged our home state of Oregon as one of the largest, but I looked it up and learned that Oregon is the 9th largest state by total area and is larger than the 10 smallest states combined! So even though we live here, grew up here, and spend plenty of weekends exploring, there are thousands of square miles we’ve never laid eyes on. 

Of course I’m biased by exposure, but we are blessed to live in an area of extraordinary beauty! There’s the rugged Oregon coast; our quirky “Bridge City” of Portland; and more than 10 million acres of National Forest. Oregon has more National Wild and Scenic River designations than any other state; lush, skyscraping waterfalls; vast sagebrush-scented high desert country; and hundreds of stunning, glacier-fed lakes. Our memories are saturated with the muddy trails, cascading falls, sunny riverbanks, and white powdery slopes of Oregon. 

One of our most unforgettable experiences as a family though was witnessing the Total Solar Eclipse whose path sliced right through the central Oregon wilderness in 2017. We observed this surreal phenomenon from a remote meadow deep in Ochoco National Forest, our tent tucked under the trees alongside a crystal clear creek a few steps away. The entire experience was truly transformative.

Wow, now that I’m writing about it, it’s going to be tough leaving behind our beautiful Beaver State!

Let’s begin.

From here in Pacific Wonderland, we could begin our route to the north, south or east. Because of the aforementioned logistical considerations, we’re going to commence our adventure traveling east from Portland. It would be easy to speed past the familiar sights of I-84 and the Columbia River Gorge, with our sights set ahead on Washington or Idaho as our “first stop.” But I find in this a perfect opportunity to discover an Oregon destination about which I’ve heard much but have yet to experience. 

The town of Joseph, near Wallowa Lake in Eastern Oregon, is called “Little Switzerland” thanks to its setting in the midst of dramatic, snow-covered, 9,000-foot mountains. It’s a town of cowboys and bronze sculptors, with a tram up Mount Howard and a museum of the indigenous Nez Perce. From river basins to rugged mountain peaks, more than one lifetime of exploration awaits in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and nearby Hells Canyon. Personally, I can’t wait to take a sunrise run around the pristine shores of the deep blue Wallowa Lake. 

It sounds like a magical place, but at 6 hours’ drive from home, it’s never worked for a quick weekend getaway. Yet it was too close when considering a longer, “bigger” trip, and too far off the path when we’ve road-tripped beyond to places like Yellowstone or Utah.

So we are thrilled about marking our “first stop” as Renegade Winters at Wallowa Lake and Joseph, OR. Even though we call it home, Oregon deserves as much attention and exploration as the other 49 states (maybe even more than some…still searching for the can’t-miss destinations in North Dakota, help me out!).

While you may not be setting out on a cross-country adventure, what are some “must-see” destinations in your own state that you’ve wanted to visit or explore, but never made time for? Make a  plan and go see them!

And please share with us in the comments, so we can add some of your exciting local favorites to our itinerary!