View of Columbia River and Vista House from Chanticleer Point near Portland, Oregon

One of the most dramatic vistas we saw occurred at Chanticleer Point on Oregon’s Historic Highway 30.  The vantage point frames where land meets water beautifully even though the haze of hot summer days clouded the view a bit.  If you look closely on the right, you’ll see Vista House perched atop the bluff.  Completed in 1918 and deemed a National Historic Landmark, this observatory sits 733 feet above the Columbia River offering a superb vantage point with a uniquely different perspective from the one at Chanticleer Point.  Just standing and looking made us both aware that this is America the Beautiful at its best.

For more photos from Travel Theme: Land meets water at Ailsa’s blog Where’s My Backpack,  click here.