We ended up where we spent the first night of this journey, in Pendleton, Oregon, at Wildhorse Casino RV Park. This is a great RV park and for $26.75 per night (after the Good Sam discount) we have a 50 amp site, good free wifi, good satellite signal with local channels, and good Verizon cell signal. The park has a shuttle to the casino or we can walk and get a little exercise. This park offers us each a $2 coupon off the breakfast menu, or a continental breakfast of a bottle of juice and a Danish. What a deal! Did I mention that there is also a championship 18-hole golf course here?
We are planning on eating dinner at the casino's buffet restaurant tonight--our last dinner out to celebrate the end of a successful, fun, safe trip. Of course we are looking forward to getting home, but it's sad to have to end our time on the road.
It's breezy here at the park, and we had a lot of wind during the drive today, as well as rain and (gasp!) snow. Yes, that's snow on our windshield and along the side of the road. Welcome to Oregon! This was when we were crossing the Blue Mountains on I-84 west between Baker City and La Grande, OR.
We planned today's leg of the journey so that we could stop in Baker City, OR, at the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. This is a fabulous place, and yes, it was open today and is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Even better, we got in free by using our Federal Interagency Passes, which saved us $16. Click here to read more about the interpretive center.
As the brochure says, this interpretive center presents America's frontier heritage as told through the lives of pioneers, mountain men, exploreres, miners, and Native Americans. The natural history and geology of eastern Oregon are also displayed. The Center includes 500 acres of indoor and outdoor facilities and exhibits. You can hike to the Oregen Trail ruts carved by pioneer wagons, or view them through the picture windows.
We last visited this museum 15 years ago and we loved it then, too. We hoped it hadn't gone downhill since then, and we were happy that it was still the wonderful museum that we remembered. It's a great place to take children as there are many interactive parts of the museum. But it's very interesting for adults, also. Tableaus of each phase of the Oregon Trail experience are presented, with audio an audio story of each scene. It's very well done. I could have stayed at the museum all day!
One of the most touching scenes shows a mother lamenting the death of her child along the trail.
Carol,
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredile museum.. it brings to life the experiences of the journey on the trail. It is really remarkable what the pioneers lived and died thru on that trail. Several years ago when we were in Wyoming, we did walk on the ruts of the trail. So many parts of the trail you look around and realize the determination the pioneers had in their journey west.
Thanks for the pics and info about the museum.
The Oregon Trail was a very important part of this nation's history, and we have followed parts of it also, including walking the ruts in Wyoming. We have missed this interpretive center, though, so hope to visit it on a future trip to Oregon. Thanks for sharing your story!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol
ReplyDeleteWe stopped there two summers ago with our grandson, Max. We spent about six hours there. Max went on a hunt for a bucket of gold and found it. He was rewarded with a water bottle, a pioneer kids game and a pin. He really enjoyed. He also climbed all over the covered wagons out front. We then stopped and walked along the ruts. It was definitely a high point of our trip to Idaho that year.
Thanks for the pictures and the memories.
Great pictures and blog! Ugh ~ I think I want to stay away from that snow in the windshield thing... :)
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