The Lazy Person's Guide to Oregon
Celebrating Oregon’s 150th birthday party.
By: Ann Terry Hill 03/01/2009
“A lazy person should never think about going to Oregon,” wrote Elizabeth Wood, in her diary entry for August 3, 1851. Elizabeth was traveling on the Oregon Trail, which settlers looking to forge new lives out West had traversed since 1841.
Her words were prophetic and set the stage for things to come. In the last 150 years, Oregon has matured from a wild and unruly frontier to a bustling state full of citizens who have worked hard and found success, materially and personally.
Valentine’s Day was especially sweet for Oregon this year. The state began celebrating its 150th year of entering the Union on February 14. Birthday events are planned throughout the Beaver State, with all 36 of its counties taking part in remembering their heritage.
Fur trappers, loggers and fisherman were some of the first to recognize Oregon’s vast untapped wealth. Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery in 1804-06 couldn’t have dreamed of the changes their exploration would bring to the territory when President Thomas Jefferson sent this directive to Meriwether Lewis on June 20, 1803: “The object of your mission is to explore the best direct and practicable water communication across the continent for the purpose of commerce.”
Today, Oregon is reaping the rewards of the initial exploration by Lewis and Clark that helped build up the state. The sesquicentennial celebration affords a great opportunity for visitors and Oregonians alike to discover this state. Living here may require a hardy soul, but you’re on vacation! So let’s make it easier on you and give you the lazy person’s guide to the top historic attractions in Oregon. The Welcome Mat is out.
Oregon Trail, the True West Way
The main artery, I-84, for the most part follows the historic Oregon Trail. This freeway transits the state from east to west, allowing tourists great vistas and a good understanding of the geography of the country, as it follows the Columbia River—the only river to cut through the Cascades—to the Pacific Ocean.
Along the way, four interpretative centers share in-depth information about the Oregon Trail and the pioneers who settled this part of the West. Each center’s exhibits are based on their location along the Trail: Baker City, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (near Pendleton), The Dalles and Oregon City.
Many surprises await you along this route. A stay in the restored, 1889 Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City is highly recommended. Hamley Steakhouse in Pendleton, decorated in authentic 1890s frontier ambiance, can’t be beat for gourmet Western cuisine. The views of Mount Hood and the Gorge are awesome along this drive. Stop in Hood River to sample some of the fine Full Sail Ale at the brewery before continuing to the Hood River Hotel, a small town country inn with charm and character.
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