OREGON
photo by Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Playwright Tennessee Williams once wrote, “The theatre is a place where one has time for the problems of people to whom one would show the door if they came to one’s office for a job.”
Since 1935, people have been flocking to Ashland, Oregon, to watch stories concerning such characters unfold at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF). Originally, OSF plays were performed—and only Shakespeare plays—on one outdoor stage. Reputation and demand expanded the not-for-profit fest to today’s three theaters and several plays throughout a nine-month season. This year, eleven plays occupy OSF stages, only four by Shakespeare.
While attending OSF, many theatergoers see more than one play during their stay. For instance, if you’re visiting over a long weekend in mid- June, you could go on OSF’s morning backstage tour, attend a matinee of “The Taming of the Shrew,” dine at one of many restaurants (try Cucina Biazzi,
cucinabiazzi.com, or Standing Stone Brewery,
standingstonebrewing.com), and catch an evening show of “My Fair Lady.” The next day, explore Ashland’s boutiques and galleries, stroll 93-acre Lithia Park beside the OSF campus and enjoy an evening performance of Shakespeare’s “Cymbeline” at the outdoor Elizabethan Stage.
Lodging choices include the art deco Ashland Springs Hotel (
ashlandspringshotel.com), the Plaza Inn & Suites at Ashland Creek (
plazainnashland.com) and many others. Learn more about OSF and purchase tickets at
osfashland.org. To plan your Ashland visit, go to
southernoregon.org or
ashlandchamber.com
photo by Idaho Tourism
Cataclysmic geological forces formed the dramatic Snake River Canyon and the extraordinary geography of south-central Idaho. The Thousand Springs Scenic Byway traverses much of this geography through Hagerman Valley on U.S. 30, providing access to numerous natural sites and parks. Among them is Thousand Springs State Park, a series of five park units with multiple areas, all a short drive from one another.
At Thousand Springs, you can canoe, kayak, hike, bike, horseback ride, fish, view wildlife and historic areas or just picnic. Explore Malad Gorge (the location of the park’s headquarters), Kelton Trail, Crystal Springs and Niagara Springs. Equestrians can access the riding arena at Billingsley Creek. History buffs can visit settlers’ structures at Ritter Island and Bonnieview. Nature lovers can indulge in wildlife watching amid stunning scenery at Earl M. Hardy Box Canyon Springs Nature Preserve.
From the scenic byway, you can clearly see Thousand Springs with its giant natural founts pouring from the the canyon’s rim. The constant temperature of this highly oxygenated water is ideal for trout. In fact, local hatcheries produce 70 percent of the nation’s trout.
Year-round scenic, lunch and dinner cruises are available in Thousand Springs; go to 1000springs.com for reservations. For more information about the state park, visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/thousand-springs.
The park is located 99 miles east of Boise on I-84 East and U.S. 30 East. For information about visiting south-central Idaho, go to visitsouthidaho.com. 
photo by Charles Knowles
Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, on their journey west, viewed massive fields of abundant blue blooms which from a distance they mistook for a body of water. What they actually saw were camas lilies, a plant Native Americans used an important food source.
A 15-mile long field of camas, known as Camas Prairie, flanks both sides of Highway 20 near the town of Fairfield in south-central Idaho. In mid-May, the prairie explodes with color in what locals call “The Big Bloom.” More than 3,100 acres at the prairie’s west end comprise the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management Area, worth a visit for outstanding viewing of camas lily, migrating birds and even antelope. The Soldier Mountains rise nearly 5,000 feet above the valley, giving the prairie a dramatic backdrop.
The best time to visit is typically during the last ten days of May. If you arrive too late in the season to see the blooms, the Fairfield Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest has excellent trails for hiking and bicycling, or you can check out one of the area’s campgrounds.
Camas Prairie is about 2 hours from Boise on I-84 East and U.S. 20 East. You can buy recreation maps from the Fairfield Ranger Station in Fairfield during normal business hours and from the Caboose Visitor Center on weekends. For more information, visit 
photo by Don Frank, Seaside VCB
Immerse yourself in Oregon Coast scenery and charm by taking a bike ride through the historic town of Seaside. With an easy 7.81-mile route, three possible starting points and a maximum elevation of 16 feet, the Seaside Bike Tour is a ride doable for all ages and skill levels.
A stop at the estuary allows time to do some bird watching or a moment of relaxation. Steps also allow riders to go down to the sand at the water’s edge. Ride across the 12th Avenue Bridge and keep an eye out for people crabbing and fishing, and watch for the salmon mural displayed at the west end.
Pedal along the famous “Prom,” home to the Seaside Aquarium and the statue of Lewis and Clark. Here, the route brushes downtown where you can check out the local food scene.
Watch the waves roll by at the cove along Beach Drive. And, if the time of year is right, you might just spot a whale.
If you didn’t bring your own bicycle, you can rent them for the whole family at Wheel Fun Rentals, 407 S Holladay, Seaside; 503-738-8447. For more information about the Seaside Bike Tour and a map, go to 
photo by Marcus Berg, Unique Angles
Inspired by a stay in France’s Loire Valley wine region, Lea Duffy and Andy Kosusko came home with visions of transforming their property in Oregon’s wine country into a luxury inn, one that reflects the tranquil atmosphere they experienced in the Loire village of Le Puy Notre Dame. They borrowed the term Le Puy because it reminded them of the sense of tranquility and nature so important to them at their soon-to-be inn.,/p>
A stay at Le Puy, A Wine Valley Inn, overlooking a bucolic Willamette Valley scene and Chehalem Ridge, is like taking three deep breaths of fresh air; the serene setting instantly acts as a de-stressor. The inn’s offerings—well-appointed, relaxing rooms; organic cuisine; spa amenities—invite guests to unwind and embrace the spirit of the surroundings.
The inn’s public spaces include a graceful great room with a massive fireplace and views of the valley, a large balcony where guests can opt to take breakfast al fresco in warmer weather, the Loire Room with its casual pub atmosphere for small parties and gatherings and the courtyard with its stone and water sculpture, a space that’s perfect for weddings and other outdoor events. The eight wellappointed guest rooms possess their own individual personalities and carry names inspired by primal elements in nature: Earth, Water, Fire, Mountain and others.
From Le Puy, guests are within easy reach of many great wineries, mostly notable for their fine Pinot Noirs. 
photo by Tillamook.com
You and your family can learn the answers to all your cheese-related questions at the Tillamook Creamery, located about 1.5 hours west of Portland on U.S. 101. Built in 1949, the existing factory—owned by a co-op of farmers that began in 1909—plays host to nearly 1 million visitors each year.
At Tillamook Creamery you can take a self-guided tour while learning about cheese making’s past and present, including the creamery’s modern environmentally friendly practices. Watch from special viewing platforms as the cheese-making and packaging teams work to churn out the 167,000 pounds of cheese that Tillamook produces each day. Taste the cheese yourself and decide which kind you prefer with special tour samples. Interactive kiosks and viewing windows only make up part of the experience.
When you finish the tour, pay a visit to the Ice Cream Counter, the only place in the world with every flavor of Tillamook ice cream. You can also enjoy a wide-ranging selection of Tillamook-infused dishes in the Creamery Café. If you are in the mood for chocolate visit the Fudge Counter which features over 30 different fudgy flavors, including Butterfinger, Marionberry Cheesecake and Rocky Road.
Before you leave, stop at the Tillamook Cheese Shop to pick up your favorite Tillamook products to take home.