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From mouthwatering chocolates to beautiful wool blankets, many amazing products are made right here in Oregon. There are a number of local factories that invite visitors to come see how their unique products are made in person. For a fun, educational outing, take a tour of one of these wonderful Oregon factories; you’ll be blown away! (P.S. — many of these tours are 100% free!) Deschutes Brewery, Bend facebook/ Deschutes Brewery Bend Tours & Tasting Room...

Imagine a slightly breezy, summer day with sun peeking through the clouds and the smell of food calling to you from nearby. That’s what you’ll get eating at one of these eight wonderful restaurants with patio seating. From upscale restaurants to hometown diners, there are beautiful patios all over the state serving dishes of all kinds. Keep scrolling to see what you’ve been missing. Big Grove Tavern - 1 E Main Street in Champaign Facebook/Big Grove Tavern...

If you live anywhere long enough, you form a wonderful bond with all the spaces and places that have become a part of your life. Here in Southern California, there are several locations that come to mind that are just as special today as they were in the past. These old skating rinks, diners, bowling alleys, and even a record store, all hold a tender place in all of our hearts as they have been a part of our SoCal experience for many decades....

Okay, so you may not have had the epic summer you’d hoped for this year. Sure, you had plans to leave it all for a few days and head to that secret spot that no one but you knows about – then life happened. Bummer. If you’re still pouting about the summer that never was, maybe it’s time you looked at things a little differently. You may not have time to head to the mountains, so how about dining along the water’s edge?...

There are so many ways to spend a weekend in Delaware! If you’re looking for a romantic escape, try the Inn at Montchanin. If you’ve got a family vacation to plan, check out our list of great ideas in each county. If it’s a rustic getaway, you’ll be sure to love these Delaware camping ideas. And if you’re looking for the perfect weekend road trip, well, we’ve got you covered as well....

Located in southern Arizona just beyond the Santa Catalina Mountains sits a research facility that looks a little oddly placed. To some, it looks like a massive greenhouse and to others, it looks like something from a sci-fi movie about space colonization. Neither assumption would be wrong. In fact, both would be pretty close to the truth about the facility known as Biosphere 2. Paucal/Flickr Biosphere 2 was first developed in the late 1980s as a sort of science experiment, to see how and if human life could be self-sustained inside a massive biodome for an extended period of time....

These 19 Utah schools are said to be haunted, which might make some students even more afraid of Algebra class. Or, perhaps Utah’s students have imaginative minds. Whether these stories of hauntings are true or not, the most terrifying thing about Utah schools is our last-place ranking when it comes to education funding. Brigham Young University, Provo “HBLL periodicals” by Eustress - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons Students report hearing a moaning sound from the reading room in the music section of the library, which also often experiences extreme warm or cold temperatures....

Folks from either coast like to scoff about the Midwest and tout their own superiority, but those of us who live here know that being in the Midwest means friendliness, charm, affordable living and easy commutes! I’m only partly kidding. But really, to perfectly sum up the Midwest is to look at the people and the industry and find that special mix of attitude and welcoming. Our short summers make us extra appreciative and we maximize our fun and outdoor time....

Between a nationwide financial crisis, a world war, racial and social injustices, and segregation, life was very different in the early part of the 20th century. All of these changes, whether directly or indirectly, affected the educational system, making schools of the past completely different than what we’re used to today. From one-room schoolhouses to class portraits of yesteryear, these photos depict just how much Mississippi schools have changed over the years....

We hate to put a damper in your mid-week mayhem but this bone chilling weather is too crazy to ignore. Sure, us locals are used to cold weather and dark days for months on end. But when temps that drop well below the 0 degree line and down into the negatives come into our southcentral neighborhoods, we are painstakingly beside ourselves. From hoarfrost to ice fog, your chances of staying warm are slim to none....

Considering that Iowa is such a huge food producer, it’s no surprise that we take our food pretty seriously. Every state and region has its own specialties, and Iowa is no exception. From sandwiches to entrees to desserts, here are the 11 mouthwatering foods that Iowa does better than any other state. Maid-Rites Flickr/rayb777 Maid-Rites were first created in Iowa, and they are now one of Iowa’s most iconic and delicious sandwiches....

Don’t miss these bizarre attractions and their incredible photo opportunities! Dinosaur World Flickr/Benny Mazur Walk trails dotted with more than 200 life-size dinosaur replicas and take part in other dino-themed activities like a fossil dig. You (and your little ones) will be spellbound by these spectacular beasts. Airstream Ranch Flickr/Carlyle Ellis Photography/Human Quotient This roadside attraction takes us back in time to the heyday of tin can tourism. There’s not much here but a photo opportunity, but if you’re headed down I-4 in Dover, you should definitely keep an eye out....

Now a popular restaurant with locations scattered throughout the south, Doe’s Eat Place has garnered a reputation for serving up some of the best steak in the nation, and it all began in Greenville, Mississippi. doeseatplace.com Head to 502 Nelson Street in Greenville and you’ll come across Doe’s Eat Place. The unassuming building may not look like much on the outside, but inside you’ll find delicious food and more southern hospitality than you can handle....

One of the best parts of the community that we are building at the Only in Illinois Facebook page is that it is a place that people from across the state can share photos of our great state. Many people are not professional photographers but just saw a great shot and took it. But boy, these photos came out awesomely. Here are 20 of our very favorites. Chad took this great photo of an old Illinois barn....

The night time is the right time if you’re a photographer looking to get a magical shot of Arkansas! Sure, dusk and sunrise are great times for getting a wonderful photograph, but don’t forget you’ve got plenty of nighttime available to take some interesting and beautiful pictures of the Natural State! Check out what cool and strange things been photographed at night so far! Hot Springs Mystique Flickr/Jeremy Sternberg There’s a certain mystique to the lovely old homes of Hot Springs, and on particular nights under just the right light, the mystique of thes houses - at least the exterior magic - can be caught on film!...

Texas might not compare to the bright lights of Hollywood, but many a big-name movie has actually been filmed right here in the Lone Star State. Surprised? So was I..but then again, Texas seems to be the home of many awesome things, so why shouldn’t movies be included in that list? Here’s some of the most notable movies filmed right here in Texas: Dazed and Confused (1993) imgbuddy.com When you think of a coming-of-age classic that perfectly defines the slacker generation, this movie should come to mind....

There’s something to be said for modern RV parks and campgrounds where you can stay in your own space and watch your favorite DVDs after the sun goes down. But for the real nature-loving camper, there’s nothing like a tent, a campfire, the outdoors, and basically nothing else. These campgrounds offer some of the best primitive camping sites in the state. Victoria Springs State Recreation Area, near Anselmo, Custer County flickr/John Lillis As the third-oldest location in the state park system, Victoria Springs has been providing a place for fun and recreation since 1925....

Spring is unofficially “wine season” in Washington, when events like the Yakima Valley’s Spring Barrel Tasting and Walla Walla’s Spring Release Weekend reminds us that Washington wine is truly amazing and we should all be drinking it. But what is also amazing is the beauty of the wineries themselves – many of them make gorgeous destinations for their architecture and landscaping, with delicious vino being an added bonus. You’ll find visually stunning wineries all around the state, and these 10 happen to be especially beautiful....

If you’re feeling adventurous then you’re sure in the right state. Vermont is loaded with places that will get your heart pumping and lead you to some pretty phenomenal places if you’re looking for a reward. We’ve gathered some of our favorite destinations for people of all abilities and these epic adventures in VT are not to be missed. Paddle a kayak through the granite quarries in Barre. Flickr/Ano Lobb Barre is known for its beautiful quarries and gliding on the water and soaking in the reflections will give you a whole new appreciation for the magnificent places....

Kansas has received a reputation as being a “boring flyover state” and do you know what? I can see why… but hear me out! If you have only seen the great Sunflower State via I-70, there is a good chance that you were in too big of a hurry to take in the beautiful scenery and to see what our state is REALLY about. Whether you live in Kansas or are an out-of-towner, the following 11 hidden gems are ones that you need to see to understand how special our state truly is:...