I’m astonished at how much beauty one state can hold. Oregon is an emerald gem of our beautiful country, one that’s sweetly unpretentious and welcoming. We took a road trip down the entire coast and back up through central Oregon, making a full loop. The rocky coast is softened by a blanket of moss, evergreens and quaint towns that are in no hurry. The coast is home to some of the biggest trees in the world and to silly barking sea lions that play in caves and pools along the shorelines. We enjoyed oysters by the water, witnessed whales roaming free in their natural waters, and explored the nostalgia of where Mikey and the other Goonies started their adventures. We were humbled to be able to stand small at the base of the giant old-growth redwoods, marveling at their magnificence, in an isolated area far away from crowds, hearing nothing except the pure sounds of forest life. See more…