As we left Montana, we made our way through Idaho, Washington, and into our home state of Oregon. Though my wife and I are originally East Coasters, there is a reason we have built our lives in Oregon. It is an incredibly diverse state, where each microclimate is as beautiful as the next.

On this trip, we started by spending a few days in Central Oregon, which always has amazing things to see. The snow had melted off the mountain roads allowing us to drive up to some of the alpine lakes. The pristine waters and lightly traveled area are amazing to explore.

We got to spend the Fourth of July in Portland. It was great seeing friends and eating at our favorite restaurants. Portland is a truly wonderful city, especially in the spring and summer. Though we all make the best of the rainy, dark, winter months, the city comes alive in the summer.

Luckily for us, the day it was going to hit 100 degrees in Portland, it was time for us to head to the Oregon Coast. It was literally 30 degrees colder on the coast. Once you get south of the big coastal towns like Astoria and Cannon Beach, the Oregon Coast is littered with cute little towns in between some amazing rocky outcroppings.

We spent about a week making our way down the coastal highway. Since we’ve moved to Oregon, we’ve been trying to see the Sealion Cave and the Ghost Forest, so it was nice to finally see those locations. We were treated to fog, well maintained camp grounds, and too many fish and chips.

Not that we needed it, but it was a nice reminder of why we live in this gorgeous state.