Oregon

Recycling properly and reducing waste are genuinely noticed and appreciated in Oregon, part of a wider environmental consciousness that shapes daily life here. The state’s nickname, “The Beaver State,” goes back to the early 1800s fur trade, when beaver pelts drew some of the first traders into the region, and the beaver still appears on the state flag today.

Portland embraces a “Keep it Weird” attitude toward small, independent businesses over big chains, and the city leads the world in coffee roasting and craft beer making.

Crater Lake, formed inside a sleeping volcano, is the deepest lake in the country and holds deep meaning for the Klamath tribe, while Mount Hood offers outdoor adventure year-round.