Oregon Authors and Books

E-mail your comments or submit a related article, please send an e-mail to cdenbow@plainandsimplebooks.com. Please edit your comments and articles prior to submission. Thank you!

Oregon has one of the most fascinating landscapes in the United States. It has many faces: beautiful seacoast, impressive mountain vistas, lush greenery, inland waterways and even deserts and prairies.

The historic Columbia River Highway is a good way to view the nice vistas and waterfalls. It has several wilderness areas and national forests. Crater Lake National Park has the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh-deepest in the world. Crater Lake is a stunning and special natural treasure, evolved more than 7,700 years ago. It has unbelievably blue water, according to Scientists, the water is completely clear to a depth of 123 feet and part of its blueness is a reflection of the sky. Rim Drive encircles Crater Lake and there are some spectacular view points on the 33 mile long road. The Oregon Cascades region is also known for the highest mountain in Oregon: Mount Hood. The area is very rainy, that’s why Oregon has magnificent natural beauty and fresh, rain-scented air. The summers are quite warm, but never muggy. In wintertime there are many skiing and snowboarding activities available.

The unique beauty of the Pacific Coastline, stretching 362 miles from Astoria to the Columbia River to Brookings near the California border, is also a breathtaking feature of the state. The whole coastline is public land and offers hiking, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, cycling activities. The coast also includes sites such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium, National Scenic Area and lighthouses. Seaside is the closest major coastal city in Oregon to Portland. With three miles of sandy beach and two miles of manicured, ocean front boardwalk, it is also a popular destination for tourists and travelers. Seaside is a national landmark with rich historical past. The end of the Lewis and Clark trail is commemorated with a statue. Cannon coastline is also a very scenic place of the area.

Portland, the "City of Roses", known for its world famous parks and vivid nightlife. The city adopted the rose as a symbol of its renewal and growth. Every year they celebrate the Portland Rose Festival. The city is Oregon’s cultural center with large collections of museums, galleries and art centers. This special city and Salem, the capital city of Oregon - is located half way between Portland and Eugene – are both memorable places of the state.

One of the greatest scenic drives in North America is California's Highway 1. It is a stretch of road that winds it's way right along the coast and right up against the mountains from Cambria (between LA and SF) and Carmel, almost at the Oregon border. It works its way through Big Sur, San Francisco, and some of the most beautiful coastline driving you'll ever see.

One word of warning though - Highway 1 is a slow, scenic drive, not one to make miles on. It's a route for drivers who want to take in the scenery and are in no hurry to get to their destination, which means it's perfect for motor home drivers.

It also has some twisty-turny spots and an occasional cruise by a sheer cliff. Take it slow and enjoy the view, but not so much that you end up driving off the side of a cliff!

Another word of warning - there aren't many places to stop. For most motor home drivers, who keep themselves stocked up on everything at all times, it may not be such a concern. But you should bring everything you'll need for at least the next 90 miles or so, and make sure you're gas tank is plenty full.

Big Sur

Big Sur alone makes the CA 1 drive worth your while. It has some of the most beautiful beaches on all of the west coast. One of the most famous beaches is Pfeiffer Beach, known for its wild rock formations and unique purple sand. The big, sandy beaches at Big Sur are great fun for families and ocean lovers.

There is also a famous lighthouse at Big Sur called Point Sur Lighthouse. It was known for being one of the loneliest spots on the coast, and now they run tours through it.

Big Sur was also a getaway for artistic and literary types. Writers like Jack Kerouac, John Steinbeck and Henry Miller made Big Sur their homes.

Where to stay in Big Sur depends on what part of it you want to enjoy with your motor home. Do you want to be overlooking the ocean, or nestled in a forest of giant trees?

There are lots of campgrounds with RV hookups, but probably the most popular are Kirk Creek and Limestone State Park. These are both regular campgrounds with motor home sites as well as tent sites. Kirk Creek is the best on the ocean side, and Limestone is the best for those who want to be deep in the woods.

Monterey

North of Big Sur, at Point Lobos, there are rocks where you can usually see sea lions sunbathing. This is a great place to stop and get pictures, and they'll let you get pretty close.

As you go further north, you will come to Monterey. This was the old capital of Spanish California, and it is also known for its scenic beaches. It's tough to convey the beauty of Monterey without seeing it first, but to give you an idea, it's been often called the most beautiful meeting of land, sea and sky in the world.

For the best motor home stay, Monterey Vacation RV Park is a good choice. It's nice and close to everything you want to do, including San Juan Bautista State Park and Muertos Canyon. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, so if you're looking for things to do, you can park your motor home there and use them as your one-stop tour guides.

The Forests Up North

After Monterey, you start to get into pretty, forested country. Here you can stop and take short hikes and admire the sea from the top of a small mountain peak. Up here, you aren't far from the California redwoods. These forests are known for their pretty array of colors, especially during the summer and fall months.

The drive along the coast of northern California is also full of small towns like Carmel-by-the-Sea, that make nice stops for sightseeing. These little towns are quaint and full of interesting history.

For those who love to drive, the trip along California Highway 1 can't be beat. You've got the ocean on one side and the mountains on the other. Some hardier drivers like to go up and then down again, so they get to enjoy both sides of it. Whichever way you choose to go, it's a wonderful drive for motor homes. It is a great way to see all that both southern and northern California have to offer.

On a dark night, far from the shores of North Carolina, ships may be guided safely to their respective ports by the beams of lighthouses and stations bordering the Outer Banks. Just as the lighthouses represent a means of security for sailors finding their way through difficult weather at sea, they also symbolize the romanticism of the nautical life. Each year, thousands of visitors come to the Outer Banks to see these impressive monuments, if only to briefly live vicariously through the light keepers of old and enjoy the stories they have to tell.

Before modern technologies like radar and other navigational systems allows sailors to negotiate the waters with ease, lighthouses stood, literally, as the one of the main devices to help ocean travel. Situated along coastlines around the world, light keepers kept large flames alive to alert passing ships to dangerous areas like rocky shores, or to guide cargo into ports. It is estimated now that only fifteen hundred lighthouses remain, though not all are operational. Many on the east coast of the United States, including those in the Outer Banks, have been preserved as national or state landmarks, and visitors are welcomed to climb their arduous circular stairs for a bird's eye view.

For tourists with an interest in pharology, the study of lighthouses (derived from the island of Pharos in Greece, home of the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria), the Outer Banks lighthouses will definitely keep you busy, and in shape! Here are just a few of the sights you can expect to enjoy when visiting the shores:

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse - Perhaps the most famous lighthouse in the state, the Cape Hatteras station is also the tallest and one of the oldest in the nation. An easily recognizable black-striped obelisk, over two hundred and fifty stairs takes visitors to the top, which is the equivalent of twelve stories. The lighthouse is open to visitors normally from March through October, where all can learn the colorful history of this national treasure.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse - Standing tall in Corolla, one of the northernmost points in the Outer Banks, Currituck Beach Lighthouse is unique in that it is one of the few unpainted beacons in existence. Once illuminated by oil lamps, this light station has since been upgraded with the latest technology, and its light can be seen for nearly twenty nautical miles. Visitors are welcome to explore between Easter and Thanksgiving.

Ocracoke Lighthouse - While Hatteras boasts the oldest lighthouse on the shore, Ocracoke has the distinction of being home to the oldest operating station. Ocracoke Lighthouse is also the shortest freestanding one in the Outer Banks, standing at seventy-five feet. As it is still operational, the actual lighthouse is closed to visitors, though pharology enthusiasts are welcomed to tour the grounds.

For a taste of nautical history and breathtaking views of the Outer Banks, include a visit to an area lighthouse. Let the light guide you.