Fear not readers, I have returned from my blog hiatus with a review of the vacation spot I’ve been hiding out at this whole time. I’ve never lived outside of my native Stumptown, so you would think I would know Oregon front to back. But low and behold, the ultimate Oregon outdoor destination, and I had never been. Joseph and the adjacent Wallowa Lake are a must do for anyone interested in relaxation and nature. It is definitely competing for my number one all time best vacation spot and I can’t wait to go back! We biked, hiked and kayaked. Saw big horn sheep, a bald eagle, tons of friendly deer and best of all covered ourselves in adorable vermin. The highlight of the trip was the Wallowa Lake Tram ride up to the summit of Mt. Howard. The vistas are amazing and the summit is home to a host of cuddly chipmunks and pocket gophers as well as bunches of rare and delicate wildflowers. It cost about $20 for the day — DO IT, it was worth every penny! Also, not to be missed is the Joseph Bronze Foundry tour where you see the bronze casting process from start to statue. The tour takes about an hour and is very neat. I still have a mile long list of all the things I didn’t get to do so next year is a must. For more pics be sure to check out the Vacation Gallery…