Oregon is known for its evergreen forests, spectacular coastline, and towering volcanoes draped with glaciers. The state is also recognized for a robust wine industry. Large sections of the lush Willamette Valley, in particular, have over the last 25 years been planted in grapes, and the region has earned a reputation for excellent wine production, led by award-winning pinot noirs.

Warning: this spectacular loop drive is responsible for tens of thousands of visitors deciding to sell the house, quit their job and move to Oregon! Done as an overnight adventure or a long day trip, this classic 165-mile road tour takes you past many of the state's most iconic features: towering waterfalls, fir-draped basalt ramparts, abundant fruit orchards, a one-of-a-kind historic lodge, and Oregon's tallest glacier-carved mountain.

Joshua Tree National Park, about 150 miles east of Los Angeles, is a fantastic place to hike, rock climb, picnic and camp. The 794,000 acre preserve is noted for its spectacular gardens of huge monzogranite boulders mingled with sparse forests of juniper trees, pinyon pines, cholla cactus, and the ungainly Joshua trees for which the park is named.