Hailing from Cottage Grove, Oregon: if you happen to be cruising down interstate 5, pull off at the Cottage Grove exit (south of Eugene, north of Ashland) and head into the old part of town, where Main Street has a mural commemorating "The General," and many of the 19th century/early 20th century buildings are still intact, housing local businesses. Cottage Grove is an old mining town that has survived the diminishing timber economy (yes, folks, forests are still being logged every day out here, but not as heavily, unless Bush gets his way with a proposed update).

Other great movies filmed in/around the Grove: Animal House (parade down Main Street scene shows off our cool historical locale); and Stand By Me, a classic coming of age movie with the long lost River Phoenix as a struggling teen. If you do come by, stop in for a drink and some excellent pub grub at the Axe and Fiddle, my husband's pub/music club, 7th and Main, in the (historic, I'm just sayin) Burkholder Woods building. Cottage Grove lives! And loves our history!