Our 48 hours enjoying Tracktown USA and the Oregon Country Fair
Knowing that our next stop was in Eugene, Oregon, softened the heartache of driving away from the Pacific Coast after a beautiful and relaxing two-day stay in Cannon Beach. When I said in the Cannon Beach post that Mike and I honeymooned in Cannon Beach, I should have clarified that only a small part of our honeymoon was spent there. The real honeymoon destination was the Prefontaine Classic at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene. Yes – we planned out honeymoon to a track and field meet. And yes, we would do it again!
Like our trip from Port Angeles, WA to Cannon Beach, we were equally distressed about what route to take from Cannon Beach to Eugene. We definitely wanted to head down the coast, stopping for a Tillamook cheese and ice cream tour followed by a visit to the sea lions and finally a dune buggy tour ride in Florence.
But…that route would be 5 1/2 hours of driving to Eugene (and our ambitious side adventures would mean a very full, very long day). The more direct inland route from Cannon Beach to Eugene, on the other hand, was only 3 1/2 hours…though it didn’t offer much (anything?) in the way of attractions. Two hours is significant. With deep sighs and a wisp of what could have been, we headed inland.
Taking the shorter route allowed us to slow play our morning in Cannon Beach and still get to the Eugene Premier RV Resort in time to set up, go for an afternoon swim, visit historic Hayward Field with the boys, and go for a run/bike on Pre’s trail. These activities may not rank as equals to sea lions and dune buggy tours for all families, but our first night in Eugene was a big hit for our crew.
For our second and only full day in Eugene (second and only full days becoming a trend that we were looking forward to ending in western Wyoming!) we attended the event that framed it all. The big one. That very event I recommend planning RV road trips around. It was Oregon Country Fair day.
Don’t get me wrong, our trip was definitely planned around National Park touring. But in the early stages of planning this trip a year ago, we realized that the Oregon Country Fair could fit into our itinerary. Making it back to Venetta in mid-July became the sun that all of the rest of our travel revolved around.
Mike and I first heard about the fair on our honeymoon to Oregon – the owners of the bed and breakfast where we stayed regaled us with entertaining fair stories. On a return trip to Oregon in 2016 to watch the Olympic track and field trials, the Oregon Country Fair just happened to fall during our trip, and even more fortuitously included a day that the track and field competition was on break.
The Oregon Country Fair is difficult to describe. The first words that come to my mind are wooded, free, colorful, creative, and kind. Mike describes it as cheerful. And he must not be alone, as greetings of “Happy Fair” are shouted around the fairgrounds throughout the event.
I realize our short list of adjectives don’t exactly help describe the fair to someone who has never attended, but maybe that’s okay. Maybe anyone to whom those adjectives resonate should give the fair a try. Happy Fair!
