Oregon Tourist Attractions:
Vacation Ideas

Every year we plan a west coast road trip excursion. We focus on the west coast mainly because we both grew up in the urban east coast. 

Last year we were told that the Oregon Caves down in Grants Pass are great Oregon tourist attractions.

We decided to drive down and check them out not really expecting much, but just to get some fresh air. We both were looking forward to a long weekend getaway.

At the very least, we were going to explore some of southern Oregon.

The drive up the hill towards the cave was nerve racking. The road was small and winding, it seemed more a path, then a road.

The cliffs at the edge the road provided a great view from the inside of the car. When we got to the top of the hill I didn’t see any caves or much of anything at all.

I noticed this beautiful pond in the middle of the property. The water was crystal clear, with statues placed around it as if they were in prayer.

I walked closer to the pond to get a better look. At this point I realized that I had been walking towards a very large building.

The shape of the building slowly began to form, as I got closer. The siding of the building was made out of bark and was not easy seen from the parking area.

This really blew my mind; it must have taken the people a very long time to do this work. It was very quiet and peaceful up there, as if it were a sanctuary. My wife and I both sat silent just taking it all in.

We decide to search out and see if in fact there were caves. There was a guided tour ready to kick off. There were only about ten people on the tour, which was fine; we weren’t there for the people.

The cave system was huge so many stairs up and down. Again I thought of how much craftsmanship which must have gone into the building of this place. It was cool and moist; it felt so refreshing in my nostrils.

The guide was rambling on from time to time I wasn’t paying much attention, until he told us to stop. With his flashlight shining on the wall in front of him he went on to describe that the cave diggers had stopped here, thinking this was the end of the cave.

On the wall were some carvings of the diggers names and dates. The guide pointed to the left and said that one of diggers had accidentally broken through this wall. As the group walked into the next area the lights were on and had been strung to the ceiling.

The size of this part of the cave was gigantic. It was at least the same size as a basketball gymnasium or bigger. I was thinking to accidentally stumble on a place like this inside the earth, must have been breathtaking.

But then the guide reminded us that the diggers had only matches. He lit a match and shut off the lights and there wasn’t much to see at all. Before the lights went back on, he blew out the match.

The darkness was so thick that it seemed like there were white spots. I kept trying to open my eyes wider and wider thinking that maybe a little light could be seen, but there wasn’t.

The tour found the exit and strolled into the daylight. It was a delight to see that we didn’t leave the same way we came in. The warm summer air and bright light was like a rebirth into the world of the living. My wife and I stayed there all weekend hiking around the mountains remembering the huge cave system beneath our feet.

We sat by the pond in the courtyard and talked to some of the old timers. On the drive back we remarked to each other, that it seemed as if that place was stuck in history. We will be going back to one our new favorite Oregon tourist attractions.

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