The central coast of Oregon is a magical place, with deep woods, towering cliffs, pristine beaches, and charming villages. And the part just south of the little town of Yachats is particularly stunning, including an area where the mountains truly do meet the sea. The photo shown here, which was taken in June of 2000, gives a view of Cape Perpetua, which we drove through on our way south from Yachats to the town of Port Orford.For a larger version of this photo, go to the Cape Perpetua, OR photo on the Travel Guide of America site.
The panhandle of Idaho is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful spots in the entire United States, and after visiting this area in the early 1990s, I find it hard to disagree with that assessment. This photo, which was taken a little south of Coeur d'Alene on a warm spring day during that visit, shows the contrast between the relatively flat fields and meadows of the valleys near the lake and town, and the towering mountains a short distance away.