Beautiful, Snowy Oregon Visit

Being a born and raised South Carolinian, snow was not a regular part of any meteorologist's forecast while I was growing up. I remember working as a cashier at Kroger and seeing countless customers grab milk, water and bread anytime snow was in the forecast. The anticipation of school being canceled grew stronger and stronger as neighboring districts made announcements with 1-2 inches of snow on the way. I'm sure folks who live in colder climates would laugh uncontrollably at the frenzy.

Visiting Oregon in late December 2021 was absolutely beautiful! There was snow on the ground when I landed Christmas Day. I booked a room at Tru by Hilton in Portland to rest up after the 7.5 hour travel day. I'm a pretty loyal Hilton customer. I've been impressed by the bright colors and decor in the Tru hotels. The minimalistic approach to their suites works, especially for those who don't need to do much after they are in for the evening.

The next morning, I woke up to snow falling from the sky. Wide-eyed doesn't properly describe just how intently I watched huge, fluffy flakes dance across the window. I grabbed the keys of my rental car and set out on my adventure. Over the next seven days, I reflected on the year and observed the principles of Kwanzaa while experiencing the winter wonders of Oregon. It was cold, very cold - but it was beautiful.

Would I go back to Oregon? Yes.

Would I go back to Oregon during winter? Yes, with better boots.

Would I ever live in Oregon? Maybe. While it wouldn't be my first choice because of the cold, I'm one of those "never say never" kind of people and would make it work.

Thanks for the adventure, Oregon!