Getting Over the Blues
submitted by Janet Dodson
La Grande, OR
visitlagrande.com
Pack up the family wagon and hit the trail for La Grande, in Oregon’s northeast corner. Pioneers traveling on the Oregon Trail raved about the beauty of the area. They rested in the shadow of the Blue Mountains and restored their strength for the most challenging part of their journey - the climb over the Blues! But they continued westward to the famous Willamette Valley.
Then gold was discovered in the surrounding Blue and Wallowa Mountains. With the mines providing a new market for their products the rich Grande Ronde Valley soil and climate predicted fortune to industrious farmers. Some pioneers realized what they had missed and came back to settle this fertile valley.
Small towns sprang up around the valley and roads connected farms with towns and mines. Later, the railroad closed the gap between rural and urban Oregon. The hum of activity never died down. The valley remains one of the most productive in Oregon, growing everything from cherries and apples to mint, grass seed and hay. La Grande became a center for commerce, services, transportation, industry, medicine, education and government.
Today’s visitors don’t feel they are stepping back in time – all modern conveniences are readily available. But they often experience a touch of nostalgia. People are friendly. Art and music are bountiful. There is pride in the heritage and a strong sense of place. This is what it feels like to have a home town.
The surrounding mountains provide outstanding outdoor recreation and scenery. The Hells Canyon All-American Road is one of the nation’s premier scenic byways. There are plenty of trails for hiking, biking and backpacking in Oregon’s largest National Forest and wilderness area. People who prefer motorized means of transport find the winding back roads and ATV trail systems inviting.
Residents of Union County love a parade and there are many opportunities to watch or participate in them. Every small town has a festival to celebrate what makes that community unique, and while beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, most visitors find much to love about the setting and character of them all. From Crossing the Blues in La Grande to the Union Grassroots Festival, North Powder Huckleberry Festival, the Cove Cherry Fair, Elgin RiverFest, and Imbler’s Fourth of July, the abundant entertainment, food and crafts make plenty to smile about.
Union county is also home to two long-running professional rodeos, a variety of other western events and an active polo club, with one of only three regulation-size fields in Oregon.
While wagons, beasts of burden and stage coaches transported whole households 150 years ago, you can get here much more quickly on Interstate 84! Plan to stay a while. You’ll discover why many people want to put down roots and never leave. Go to www.visitlagrande.com to find out all of the ways to experience the scenery, historic attractions, outdoor recreation, and events.
