Note from the Editor

I stepped onto the trail, my freezing hand gripping my then-fiancée’s (now husband) warm one tightly. It’s always like this—my hand sucking the warmth out of his. Despite the coldness that my hands felt, it was a sunny Oregon day . . . which is a rarity.

A gray blanket of clouds typically tucks the sun away, shielding Oregonians from the slightest risk of sunburn. But this was a bright August day, and the sun shone on us unapologetically. It was like a distant relative that had decided to pop by after a while. Its visit, of course, was quite welcome.

We wandered down the trail, our held hands swinging playfully. The first section had been road, the second gravel, and now we were finally on the thin, forested trails. I watched as my fiancée looked around in awe. His eyes shifted from one scene to the next—the soft dirt, then the small forest flowers, the trickling creek, the dancing branches, and finally the little rays of sun escaping through the leaves. He was taking it all in. I smiled to myself, thinking of how a baby looks around to see everything for the first time. He, too, was looking at things he’d never seen.

I looked at the same things. I’d walked and run along this trail a hundred times, hiking with my family or training with my cross-country team down the windy, muddy paths. It was familiar to me. But seeing him experience it for the first time made it feel like it was my first time, too.

I took him to other familiar places that were personal favorites of mine—the best donut shop around, the sightseeing spot with the most breathtaking view of the mountain and valley below, and the restaurant with the tastiest Thai curry I knew. Each visit brought big smiles to both of our faces—he got to experience the favorite spots of a local, and I got to share the places I cared about with someone new.

As you read this issue of Stowaway, you will see a wide variety of travel topics. You’ll learn about where Star Wars fans can make an unforgettable getaway, the cutest little town Idaho has to offer, locations that inspired well-known masterpieces, statues of Christ found around the globe, and even where Bigfoot fans can find some adventure. While the stories here are all different, each is written by someone sharing their favorite spots, secrets, and stories with you—just as I did last summer.

I hope you’ll find something in this issue that will aid you in your travels. You may discover that you love exploring these locations and topics just as much as our writers enjoy sharing them with you. And who knows? These may become your own favorite stories and places that you share with others, too.