Sightseeing

Driving through the Columbia River Gorge it hits you that over the course of thousands of years, the landscape was carved from the earth creating the majestic beauty.

Then you realize you need to keep your eyes on the road.

The gorge's unending beauty is only matched by the rich history and lessons it can teach people willing to learn. Lucky for us, there is the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Museum in The Dalles.

When the weather closed it, it hit like a hammer.

Without warning you find yourself in the Pacific Ocean being swallowed up by 30-foot seas - no hope of swimming to the shore you know is mere yards away.

Then, out of the blackness, comes a spotlight and a man hanging off of a boat reaching to pluck you from the ocean's grasp.

That's the first thing you see when you drive up to the Columbia River Maritime Museum - the real life 44-foot Coast Guard rescue boat in action.

The Coos Historical and Maritime Museum is a non-profit with a mission of enhancing the intellectual, civic, and cultural life of Oregon’s south coast by facilitating awareness of local history.

A family-owned business since 1997 which has in the past focused on sandwiches, catering and quality food, has expanded into agri-tourism. It’s new location on a 35-acre farm is where they grow much of the food they serve and offer agri-tourism activities like a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, slides and greenhouses.

Length: 45 miles / 72.0 km
Time to Allow: 1-2 hours minimum.
Fees: No fees known.

Driving Directions
The route starts at exit 103, 21 miles south of Roseburg. The route loops toward the west and ends when it joins I-5 at exit 80, 18 miles north of Grants Pass.

A restaurant near Silver Lake, Oregon that offers one of the best, rustic, cowboy dinners this side of the old west.  

Truly a grand northwest lodge, the historic 71-room Crater Lake Lodge originally opened in 1915 and is located on the edge of the caldera overlooking Crater Lake. The lodge was reopened after extensive renovation in 1995 and offers an atmosphere reminiscent of the 1920s and immerses visitors in its rustic charm.

Few places on earth command overwhelming awe from observers, but Crater Lake, in south central Oregon, certainly does. Even in a region of volcanic wonders, Crater Lake can only be described in superlatives. Stories of the deep blue lake can never prepare visitors for their first breathtaking look from the brink of this 6 mile wide caldera which was created by the eruption and collapse of Mt. Mazama almost 7,000 years ago.

 The Steel Visitor Center is at the Crater Lake National Park headquarters and offers a 18-minute film, free advice about how best to enjoy Crater Lake, and has a post office.