Oregon: the land of polite rain, very enthusiastic yurts, and the state where one of its most dramatic political decisions was apparently settled by flipping a coin. Because nothing says “responsible government” quite like calling heads or tails.

If you like dramatic contrasts, Oregon delivers. The coast stretches for 363 miles and is famously known as the “People’s Coast,” thanks to the 1967 Beach Bill, with sea stacks, rugged beaches, and historic lighthouses everywhere you look. Inland, you can go dune-surfing on some of the largest coastal sand dunes in North America, visit Crater Lake—the deepest lake in the United States—and casually admire the fact that it sits inside the remains of a giant collapsed volcano.

Then there’s Portland. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to live inside a microbrewery that also sells gourmet donuts, used books, and artisanal everything, this is your place. Portland is home to Powell’s City of Books, one of the world’s largest independent bookstores, Mill Ends Park, famously tiny enough to make a houseplant look enormous, and the annual World Naked Bike Ride, because apparently bicycles and clothing are considered mutually exclusive in Portland.

And yes, there is beer. Lots of beer. Oregon has more breweries than almost any other state, so you’re never particularly far from someone explaining the subtle differences between six nearly identical IPAs. There are also the Shanghai Tunnels beneath Portland, which have acquired a wonderfully sinister reputation involving secret passages, kidnapping legends, and enough creepy history to make you reconsider where you park your car.

Whether you’re being gently misted by another “rain shower,” eating Tater Tots invented in Oregon, wandering through one of the state’s many ghost towns, or scanning the massive forests for a suspiciously tall, hairy creature, Oregon is independent, quirky, and ridiculously beautiful. Bring a raincoat, embrace your inner Goonie, keep some snacks handy for the llama, and always keep one eye on the trees. Sasquatch is probably watching you too.

September, 2021