We typically don’t travel much in August because of the heat, but we made an exception this year. We have family in central Oregon and were long overdue for a visit. They have lived in the Bend area for over 30 years and we haven’t seen them nearly enough.

Oregon is a beautiful state, particularly for those that love the outdoors. The mountains, lakes, and parks are pretty amazing. And if you’re not outdoorsy, there are plenty of good restaurants, bookstores, museums, and tax-free shopping.

We flew into Portland and then drove three hours to Bend. We considered taking Howie (our RV), but since it was going to be a short visit, air travel made the most sense.  On our way, we stopped at Multnomah Falls which is near Troutdale. It’s the state’s tallest waterfall at 620 feet and flows year-round. There are two tiers and there’s a charming historic bridge that crosses the falls. We decided to hike to the top which included 11 switchbacks (it seems we are always on the incline these days). But the payoff was a scenic platform at the top.

Once we made it to Bend, we caught up with family and enjoyed downtown and the river walk. If you have never been to Bend, I highly recommend a trip. It’s quite popular during the ski season but is lovely year-round. The pace is slower than in San Diego, yet there is still plenty to see and do. The air is clear, the tap water delicious, and the trees are towering everywhere.

One of our outdoor adventures was a trip to Obsidian Flow Park. This was such a learning experience as I had never seen anything like it before.  The site is the youngest of the volcanic eruptions in Oregon- and it’s over 1300 years. The rocks formed by the lava contained a high silica content, which created these beautiful black glassy stones called obsidian. As I walked along the trail, it was fascinating to see the various geographic formations.

Our next stop was Smith Rock State Park. Although it was 92 degrees outside, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to explore and hike. The park features over 650 acres and has towering rock spires. It’s a popular place for rock climbers and we stopped to watch a few beginners give it their best effort. We opted for the river trail which winds along the water and is a fairly easy trek. The other option was “Misery Loop” which says it all (no thanks). It was a lovely park and definitely worth the stop.

And of course, no matter where we go, the ocean always calls to my husband. So, we spent our last day in Oregon driving to the coast to visit Cannon Beach and Haystack Rock. The morning tide was pretty low which made observing the marine garden (tidepools) pretty special. The area is also a refuge for seabirds and marine mammals so there were plenty of volunteers on site to talk with visitors and keep the area protected. It was the perfect way to end our trip.

One final stop was to Tillamook Creamery (in Tillamook) where we took the cheese-making tour. Sounds corny but it was fun and interesting. Watching the effort that goes into creating one package of cheese provides an appreciation for all the employees who contribute to the product. And, it wasn’t just cheese. The ice cream was equally yummy!

The week flew by pretty quickly which is often the case when traveling. It’s always great seeing family and visiting new places. We’ll definitely be back.