本日から、Online Speaking Lessons講師が
お勧めする旅行スポットのシリーズを開始致します。
第１回の今回はTyler講師お勧めのOregonです。
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Vacations Part.1- Oregon (Crater Lake):
Not your first choice, but it should be at least your seventh.
Many visitors to the United States often think of travelling to New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. or Seattle before they ever think of Oregon (mainly because we only have one major city; and honestly, Seattle, Washington, would be a better choice). Even Yellowstone and Yosemite Parks have more visitors annually than the whole of Oregon.
Though I’m saddened that not so many people feel inclined to visit my home-state, I would actually encourage you not to come to Oregon on your first visit to the U.S. New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco are much better experiences for people who are only planning on coming to the U.S. once or twice. For those of you, however, who have been to the U.S. so many times that you feel it is losing its appeal, I would recommend going to see ‘real’ America (American cities that don’t have much contact with foreigners). There are hundreds of places that you could go to see this ‘real’ America; however, since I’m from Oregon, I’ll encourage you to come here.
Even among Americans, Oregon is not the most famous state. I read an article in the Yomiuri Newspaper by a writer from New Jersey (one of the most made-fun-of states in the U.S.). In the article, she called Oregon the ‘armpit of Canada.’ Though I was a bit perturbed about her not-so-funny joke, at least she didn’t make some crack about French-Canadians and B.O. (body odor).
(http://www.latimes.com/sns-safe-for-work-humor-hotel-new-jersey,0,1941238.story
)
Getting back on topic, I’d like to introduce Oregon’s only National Park- Crater Lake. This park is about a 90 minute drive northeast of Medford, Oregon (the largest city in southern Oregon). It is the ninth deepest lake in the world (it’s the deepest in the U.S.) that formed in the bowl of an extinct volcano. Because of its depth and its lack of inlets, the water is extremely pure. Swimming is not allowed and boating is limited to a small, eco-friendly ferry that travels back and forth between the shoreline and Wizard Island.
Though it isn’t a destination for swimmers, it’s a beautiful sight to see. You can take a ferry to Wizard Island in the middle of the lake or you can go horseback riding around the caldera. As well, there are falls, hiking trails, and during the winter there are snowmobiling areas - all within a 20 minute drive from the lake.
Crater Lake is a great day trip, but if you would like to fully experience all the area has to offer, you can stay at Crater Lake Lodge. Room rates are a little expensive- ranging from $157 to $283 per night. However, as hotels don’t usually charge per person-rates, you can have as many people as you want in one room (with a $25 charge per person after 2). In the end, it costs about the same as a respectable hotel in Japan.
One thing to keep in mind is that though the park is only open when the weather isn’t bad, the lodge itself is only open from May to October. So, if you want to stay for longer than one day, it might be best to go during the warmer months. As for the park being open, the weather is usually pretty bad from late December to mid February since there are usually 3 meters of snow then. If you’re unsure of the conditions, it’s best to call the park service in advance. I recommend coming to Crater Lake (on a day trip) in March just after the snowy season and before Spring has had a chance to melt the snow. The view is the best during this season, I think.
To get to Crater Lake, it is best to fly into the United States through either San Francisco or Seattle and connect to a flight heading to Medford, Oregon. From there, you can rent a car. That way, you can have the freedom of mobility on your trip.
Crater Lake Lodge Homepage:
http://www.craterlakelodges.com/crater-lake-lodge-1842.html
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