I had the pleasure of traveling to Oregon this past week. I'll recap the destinations, complete with interesting facts and and my reaction to this experience. From natural wonders to universities (we visited them since my brother will be starting college apps soon) to the city of Portland, this state is more than just a place for a cheap vacation.

Crater Lake

Crater Lake is an incredible geological sight to behold. Fossilized steam and eruptions have formed this wonder over millennia, and the lake we know today finished being formed about 4,000 years ago. Today this uniquely shaped lake attracts millions of visitors each year. The blue waters, the isolation of Wizard Island, and the scenic landscape that surrounds Crater Lake combine for a wondrous sight that's well worth the drive. Just keep in mind in order to make it there you need to venture away from the Interstate route at the junction in Weed, California.

University of Oregon

Located in Eugene, the second largest city in the state, the University of Oregon is not only the most well known in Oregon, but also one of the most well known in the country. You know about their football and basketball teams, but the most fascinating story concerns track and field. Hayward Field has hosted the last three US Olympic Trials, and Matthew Maton, a University of Oregon runner, became the first athlete to break the four-minute mile. This proud university is home of the ducks and not just the mascot, with wild ducks being present all around campus. Speaking of which, Wild Duck was the restaurant near campus we ate at for lunch. Track town USA held an incredible looking campus in a great town.

Oregon State University

Visiting University of Oregon and Oregon State the same day felt like we were crossing a line of battle considering the rivalry between these two schools. They always play each other in the final regular season game every year known as the “Civil War," despite the fact that these schools have a lot in common besides the use of cute forest animals as their mascots. This campus was a bit spread out and favored bike traffic, so I felt at home since that's how the campus is at UC Davis.

Southern Oregon University

On the way back home to California we made this university our final stop in this “college road trip” of sorts, since my brother is going to be a senior in high school. SOU is located in Ashland, a small town of about 20,000 people. This town is most well known for its Shakespeare festivals. This was a beautiful hidden gem that flies under the radar due to the fame of the first two universities we visited. It turned out to be an interesting place that is definitely worth considering for high school students looking to go to Oregon for college.

Portland

This Northwest commercial and cultural center of the state is larger than Sacramento in population. Providence Park, Trail Blazers, Voodoo Donuts, Rose Garden, Zen Garden, Powell’s Book Store, as well as home to Nike (globally) and Adidas (nationally), it offers many unique vibes. Such vibes combine to a simple plea offered by the locals to keep Portland weird. At the hotel we stayed at we had a good view of the waterfront. The bridges that allowed for easy access across the river reminded me of the several bridges featured back home in the San Francisco Bay Area. This being my first trip to the Pacific Northwest for the first time in eight years, it confirmed my thoughts that I could definitely see myself living in this part of the United States.

This was a fun journey, one that I recommend you all take sometime in the near future. The love for the West Coast is to be deservedly shared with more than exclusively California. Oregon is more than just trees and no sales tax: It's a beautiful and fun destination.