A Mini Moon

While our actual honeymoon will be next summer (Europe!), it was really nice to have a week long vacation after the wedding to simply let the idea of being married sink in. That and unwind from a few stressful months of planning.

Pete's parents stayed in Oregon for the next week, so we wanted to visit a few beautiful parts of Oregon they hadn't seen before. First up was Crater Lake! I had been there once before for a quick glance, but never spent any serious time there and Pete had never been. 

Sunday morning, two days after the wedding, we drove about 2 1/2 hours to Crater Lake, where you pay $10 to enter the park and then are able to drive around the entire 33 mile rim of the lake (during the summer) and stop at multiple viewing points and even hiking trails.

We stopped at several spots around the rim to take photos and simply stare. 

Pete's parents: Tom and Jane

A few interesting facts about Crater Lake:

• The lake is a volcanic caldera - a hole made by the collapse of a volcano
• It is 1,943 feet deep - the deepest lake in the United States!
• You can swim in the lake by taking a specific steep hiking trail down to the water
• The water averages 38 deg. F (brrr)
• An average of 482,000 people visit the park each year
• They hold a marathon here every year in August (as well as a 6.7 and 13 miler)

Talk about some blue water...

#nofilter

It was around 2 p.m. by the time we headed into the lodge for lunch. We all had a drink while waiting for our table and then ordered food, which was just so-so. The lodge was pretty impressive inside however.

It books up about a year in advance so if you ever want to stay there... plan ahead!

Looking like tourists...

About halfway around the rim, we decided to stop for a short hike (2-3 miles roundtrip) to Plaikni Falls. It felt good to get out of the car and stretch the legs a bit. 

Then back in the car we went for more sights.

Around 4:30 or so, it was time to get moving on to our humble abode for the evening, Jo's Motel. Because I hadn't planned a year in advance, Crater Lake Lodge was booked up by the time I started looking into it. 

Jo's was an interesting experience to say the least, but we had a place to stay and the motel has a small organic grocery store. It was about 30 minutes from the rim, which is saying something for being in the middle of pretty much nowhere. 

The next morning, we got on the road early to head toward Southern Oregon for some wine tasting and a night at a B&B in Jacksonville, OR. 

First stop was breakfast in Ashland and then on to Lithia Park for some pretty scenery (and crooked trees)! Ashland, OR is known for its Shakespeare Festival.

That afternoon we took Pete's parents to RoxyAnn Winery where we'd been a few years ago. A few glasses of wine, some cheese and salami later, we were happy campers.

The B&B we stayed at was very pretty with an impressive kitchen, but it was really hot at night, which made sleeping difficult. The next morning, I woke up pretty early and pulled on my running clothes. 

After a few days hiatus from any kind of running, I needed to pound the pavement. 

Country roads, take me home...

I ran all around the little town of Jacksonville, said hi to a family of deer and cranked out 6 or 7 miles sans Garmin. 

After breakfast on the porch of our B&B (poached pear, eggs, rosemary potatoes, peach scone w/ clotted cream) on Tuesday morning, the manfriend and I dozed in the hammock on the property. I could seriously go for one of these in our back yard. Relaxing x 10. 

And then it was back to Eugene! We met his parents for dinner and then they headed back to Bend for a few more days, while we just enjoyed not going to work. 

We even managed to go on an 8 mile hike with the dog and see a movie - two things we rarely do.  

I couldn't have imagined going right back to work after the wedding. This week was so needed for our sanity. It also showed me that "staycations" or "stay close to home vacations" aren't all that bad. 

What's the natural landmark/place you've ever visited? What did you or would you do for your honeymoon?

I highly recommend visiting Crater Lake if you come to Oregon. By far one of the most beautiful places in the state, although there are MANY!