Smith Rock in Eastern Oregon is popular among hikers and rock climbers. Photo courtesy of Oregon Field Guide Travel News & Notes ... a weekly feature focusing on travel news and events throughout Oregon. See the Travel News & Notes Archive Crater Lake National Park is one of Oregon's post popular destinations.

April 15, 2005

Oregon's most popular 'Field Guide' picks his favorite spots

By DAN SHRYOCK
Oregon.com

Steve Amen Oregon Public Broadcasting photo

Steve Amen was preaching to the choir and still the "oohs" and "aws" were evident.

Steve, host and executive producer of the popular public television program "Oregon Field Guide," looked to a huge projection screen where video clips showed some of his favorite spots in Oregon, all gleaned from more than 16 years of Field Guide shows.

His audience, tourism professionals from throughout the state gathered this week for an annual conference, was entranced. More than others, this group knows the natural beauty Oregon offers. Still, these images kept them spellbound.

Steve narrated as the 13-plus minute video played. "Oregonians love Oregon. They love everything about it," he said. "But we sometimes forget what's out there. This is all happening within the borders of one state. A lot of people haven't really traveled to see what we've got."

And with that, Steve took more than 400 people on a tour of the Wallowa Mountains, the Grande Ronde River and Smith Rock in Eastern Oregon; the Deschutes Forest, Broken Top mountain and the caves of Central Oregon, Crater Lake, the Rogue River and the Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge in Southern Oregon, the beaches and Munson Creek Falls of the Oregon Coastal region and much more.

He highlighted snow geese, trumpeter swans and osprey, Rocky Mountain goats, big horn sheep and elk.

Then there was the cross country skiing, caving, hiking, rafting, the whitewater kayaking, the kiteboarding and even kayak surfing on the Pacific Ocean.

And as the video came to end, there was an audible "wow" among the attendees. Yes, even the most knowledgeable in Oregon tourism still feel the "wow."

I caught up with Steve after the presentation, curious if he could identify some best-of-the-best sports around the state. Keeping in mind that Steve is known to make four-day hikes to reach his true favorites, I added a qualifier: "What are your favorite easy-to-get-to places?"

For a man who has spent the better part of nearly two decades exploring the state, the question posed a challenge. There are too many places from which to choose.

"The diversity of the land itself makes this difficult," he said. "I love the coastline, especially in Southern Oregon. There are so many areas to see, so much beautiful scenery."

Then Steve started to make his list. Here are just a few:

The Wallowa Mountains - "It's as easy or rugged as you want to make it. You can hike or you can take a tram," he said. "The trail is easy to navigate. They call it the 'Swiss Alps' of the United States."

Ecola State Park and the Gold Beach area along the South Coast - "The entire region is beautiful. It's difficult to pick one spot along the coast."

Steens Mountain in Southeast Oregon - "There are a lot of great roads there so you can drive around and see it."

Honeyman State Park on the Central Coast - "Our family goes there every year. We never get tired of it. There are so many things to do there and the kids keep changing their activities as they get older."

And, as Steve advised the tourism professionals moments earlier, he extended this advice to anyone planning a trip.

"Get off the beaten path," he said. "There's so much to be seen and so many places to go. Just give yourself enough time to enjoy what's there.

"It's a beautiful place and there's no sales tax."

Well said.

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