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.

We made our way back up through central Oregon, and on the way we came across the most precious little lamb pastures, Christmas tree farms and quirky hole-in-the-wall roadside art galleries. Getting into the Umpqua and Silver Falls areas, we were embraced by a truly magical land of waterfalls and dense green forests, sprinkled with autumn yellow and orange. We even made a day drive out to Crater Lake, which was the most vivid cobalt blue in nature I've ever seen. Sadly and to my surprise, there are areas in these forests that have been devastated by forest fires in recent years. It is honestly so heartbreaking to see, I couldn't stand it. There was a fire near one of the inns we stayed at not long before, and they said they think the moisture from the river prevented the fire from spreading past a certain point, protecting the trees around the inn. I don't know if that's true, but that comment just stuck with me for some reason, I guess because forests are delicate but they are also huge networks always trying to balance things out.

Overall, this trip once again reinforced my desire for nature to be one of my life's north stars, and to cherish all the lessons we can learn from it. Slow down, notice, appreciate, be humbled, be curious, care for, respect, reprioritize. It's so hard to exist like that in the world we live in. And it's a terrible shame how far we have disconnected from it as a whole. But I strive to always try to make it my compass, commit it as a priority, and never stop loving it.

Highlights: Latourell Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Ecola State Park, Cannon Beach, Astoria, Depoe Bay, Thor's Well, Natural Bridges, Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, Grove of Titans Trail, Stout Grove Trail, Boy Scout Tree Trail, Crater Lake, National Creek Falls Trail, Toketee Falls, Lemolo Falls, Umpqua National Forest, Silver Falls State Park, Tree Climbing at Silver Falls

Where we stayed (and would stay again): Woodlark Hotel, Itty Bitty Inn, Steamboat Inn, Sheltered Nook on Tillamook Bay, Smith Creek Village at Silver Falls State Park

We were going to stay at Patrick Creek Historic Lodge but unfortunately a fire destroyed their water supply so they had to close down for a while. It looked like such a classic roadside inn and I'd look to stay there if ever in the area again. We ultimately had to stay in Crescent City instead but I would definitely avoid that place at all costs - was super sketch and empty feeling.