Picnic

After endless days of fog, our final exit from the coast of Oregon brings us the long awaited sun along the shore. And, how spectacular it is. Fitting as we have enjoyed this state so fully even with the lack of that much needed sunshine. As beautiful as this magnificent coast has shown, with today's clear skies, another realm of heaven is revealed.

Bidding farewell to this favorite state so far is bittersweet as we relish the redwoods ahead and California beckons.

As magnficent as Oregon haunts have been, the single standout achievement is the amazing picnic spots offered at literally every venue.

We say goodbye with a view of some of the best....

You must be beginnng to see how once again Oregon wins - hiking and the perfect picnic stop - our very favorite combination.

Of all of our many glorious moments along this journey, Oregon has definitely made it's way to a strong first. We think you might have to agree. This state is a must see for all!

Crater

One must see on our journey has always been Crater Lake National Park and though it's a good detour from continuing our Oregon coast route, it is decidedly necessary. Oh, and are we right to take the extra time.

This place is nothing short of spectacular. The drive around the rim is just over a 30-mile drive and with highlighted overlooks, the guide suggests allowing several hours. We take that and more.

This is one of those places where words are not sufficient. Fortunately, we have some gorgeous photographs to give a pretty good representation.

I'm sure this just became a must for all of you, as well! Oregon just can't seem to get it wrong...

Fruit of the Vine

One highlight of Eugene Becca wants to be sure we partake is the downtown market. Every Saturday the area comes alive with vendors, musicians, street performers, and food. The organic choices are abundant and we savor all the possibilities.

Another highlight, and certainly the most important, is visiting several of the multitude of vineyards available here. The drive through this lush area is gorgeous and we plan on three stops this afternoon.

First stop is Sweet Cheeks Winery and we find a lovely pinot gris for this sunny afternoon. A provided picnic of cheese, meats, crackers, fruit and sweets accompany the wine beautifully and we sit outside on the available patio taking in the beautiful grounds and enjoying our bounty immensely. There isn't a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Next stop is Sylvan Ridge, a label I'm somewhat familiar with. The tasting does not disappoint and we mingle with other fun guests tasting a variety of very good wines. We find a couple that are must haves. A couple of Rieslings on sale and an award winning Pinot Noir make their way into our basket and, with good directions for our next spot, we head on down the road. What fun!

One of my favorite wines comes from the King Estate Winery, and what a thrill to find out it's on our list today. A perfect finale for our little tour. We've saved the best for last. What a place. Our tasting guide is adorable and obviously loves her job. She makes our last stop the highlight of our day, and the appropriate number of bottles certainly make their way home from here!

After all of these years of sampling Oregon wines, what a lovely surprise to find so many of our favorites in this region. The weather cooperates fully, a sunny, warm - not too hot - day. Great wine, good food and the girls sipping, eating and laughing quite a bit. Yes, another great reason to love Oregon!!