Location: Wimer, Oregon (Can’t find it on a map? It’s a small unincorporated community 8 miles north of Rogue River in Southern Oregon, off the I-5.)

Length:  85 feet. Virtually everyone can do this!

Foot Traffic

I was surprised at how many people were milling around the Wimer Covered Bridge. They all seemed to be locals though, more interested in congregating at the nearby market than looking at this bridge they see every day. Several people drove through the Covered Bridge while I was taking pictures, but as it is part of a normal road, it just might have been on their way home from work.

The child in the backseat of my car fell asleep during our calming country rise there and refused to wake up, so I had to say within a line of sight from my car. We also took this little adventure just to kill an hour, so we wouldn’t have had time to walk nearby paths even if he was awake. But there were plenty of nature stops on our way there and back that sure looked interesting!

Foot Feelings

The Wimer Covered Bridge isn’t the actual Wimer Covered Bridge. While it may look like an old fashioned structure, it’s actually less than a decade old! This bridge is a stronger replica of the one that collapsed in 2003. That one had been around since the early 1900s.

While it’s no longer on the National Register of Historic Places, the Wimer Covered Bridge is interesting in the fact that the community felt the need to rebuild. It’s also pretty exhilarating to cross. Traffic  comes from both directions, yet the bridge is only wide enough for one car!

Travel Tips

-This is really just a side stop for people traveling the I-5 area of Southern Oregon. To fill the rest of the day, check out things to do in Grants Pass, Rogue River, Gold Hill, or Medford.

-There are three other covered bridges in Jackson County . I’ve been to McKee and Antelope Creek. I guess that means I only have one left to go!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been dreaming up how to bring this site into 2017. I felt that it needed more structure and more focus. I’ve finally come up with a plan, and it starts with a name change. Jessica Lippe Uncommon Adventures will soon be…

Jessica Lippe On Foot

This name change will reflect the new focus of walks and hikes. And with this name comes a schedule.

Fridays will now be called “On Foot Friday”, with a new post about a different hiking trail or walking path each week.

Occasionally, you can also enjoy Sunday Specials, Throwback Thursdays, and the fan favorite, Money Mondays.

Here’s everything you need to know (and some that you don’t!) about this new development.

Will the web address change?
Nope! You can still find me at JessicaLippe.com

So are you no longer writing about gear, attractions, accommodations?
Actually, I hope to write more about them! While my goal is to make every post walking-related, there will be a focus on what I see and do on each of these walks. The starting point might be a unique lodging, or the walk itself might be within an attraction. I have plans later this month to go for a walk inside a famous attraction. (Hint: It’s not Disneyland, although that would be a fun walk to write about!)

Will you delete the old posts?
I don’t plan to at this time. I still think you can glean a lot of ideas by looking into the archives. In fact, some of them are already walking-themed!

Will this only interest hikers?
I hope not! I’ll certainly be writing about mountain hikes, but they will be balanced out with city strolls and other kinds of walks. Maybe I’ll even write about indoor walks. I’m not that into hardcore adventures that only the most physically fit can endure, so I will take more travels that more people can enjoy. The point is, when you use your own two feet, you open up a world of possible adventures.

Where will you be walking?
Wherever my feet take me! But in seriousness, whenever I take a trip, whether Spain or San Francisco, I fit in a few interesting walks. Now I’ll have the opportunity to write about them. When I’m not on the road, I’ll still write about the plethora of interesting hikes I’m taking near my home in Southern Oregon.

Can I still get travel tips from you?
Of course! I hope to weave in travel tips in my explanation of each walk.

What else will be in these Foot Features?
Each walk is different, but here is some consistency you can expect: Length (either official or my own estimate, depending on resources available), Foot Traffic (what the culture and people are like there), Foot Feelings (my personal thoughts on the sights, scenery, and difficulty), the name and location.

When will this start?
The first On Foot Friday Feature will be February 17, 2017.

If you have never taken a proper ski holiday, it’s still time to experiment, and hopefully not break a leg! The heart of Europe – France, Italy, Austria and much more – has a tradition of amazing, snow-covered ski stations in which most of the population will spend at least a week every year. As the Brexit deal is not packed yet, it is still time to fly across and enjoy a proper snow holiday in the centre of one of Europe’s touristic ski stations. Don’t worry, if you are a beginner. There is definitely something for everyone, and that’s exactly why ski breaks are a favourite for many.

There Is Snow Everywhere And The Shops Are Still Open

Ski stations have one advantage over the British towns: They are not only used to snow, but they are also designed exactly for it. So, even though there may be a metre of lovely, white powder snow all over the mountain and in front of your charming wooden chalet, the roads are clear, and you can walk without risking to break a leg on the pavement. It goes even better: All the shops are open! You won’t need to survive on two packs of dried noodles. In ski stations, the snow doesn’t stop anything from working, and that is a real change. People are hyper-relaxed about it. In short, spending a week in a station will reconcile you with snow and all the logistic troubles that you might be used to associate with it.    

Snow Makes People Happy

The world is full of universal truths that help us in a day-to-day life, such as a warm cup of tea solves everything, it won’t rain if you take an umbrella with you, and snow makes everyone happy. It’s human: As soon as there is snow, people become more playful. Whether it’s a giant snowman, or a day out on skis, there is always a way to enjoy a good snow holiday, depending on what you feel more confident doing. One thing is for sure, though; the entire family will end up with the broadest grin ever on their faces. So, book a little piece of happiness for you and your family next year, with family snow holidays in Sweden, for example, or a rustic chalet in the Alps!

Picture source

There Is Always Plenty To Do For Everyone

You may be a born skier, and in that case you will consider ski stations as a giant playground. But you don’t need to love skiing to have fun in the snow! There are plenty of snow-based activities that don’t require a pair of skis, such as ice-skating, snow racket hiking (or snowshoeing for the experts), snow bike exploration, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk outside before a warm hot chocolate at the local café! You will always find something to do, so there’s no need to ditch the snow holiday with the excuse that you can’t ski. Besides, you will find sufficient ski classes for beginners to give it a good start anyway!

It’s funny we spend all our childhoods with our mothers telling us don’t talk to strangers and now we’re advocating that you travel with a bunch of them! We know it sounds a little strange that a fully grown adult, with plenty of holidays under their belts, would want to tie themselves to people they’ve never met in a country they’ve never been to before. However, hear us out because we think you’ll change your mind!

You Can Never Make Too Many Friends

There are the standard ways of making friends, such as at school, college and at work and then there are more unique meetings such as through social media, work away days and even on planes! Human beings are very social creatures, and we love sharing our experiences with our friends, getting advice and just hanging out chatting about nothing. On a group holiday, you get the chance to make a whole bunch of brand new friends! You’ll share funny stories, visit unique places together and learn from each other’s experiences. One of the best things about group holidays is when you’re back home again, and you get together, it’s only a matter of minutes before one of your tour mates brings up something that’ll have you all reminiscing for hours!

First Times Feel More Magical

One of the reasons we travel in the first place is to share our adventures with other people, get out of our comfort zone and immerse ourselves in a country’s culture. Trying something new, overcoming a fear or fulfilling a lifelong dream is fantastic, but discovering these things as a group instantly bonds you together with the way very few other experiences can. Once you’ve all tried exotic new foods, gone dancing at a local bar or survived a trek through a creepy crawly filled rainforest there’s very little you’ll feel unable to share with the group.

Your Leader Has All The Responsibilities

Where to go? What to see? How to get there? On a group holiday, none of that is your problem as a carefully planned, yet incredibly exciting itinerary has already been mapped out. Your only job is to make sure you don’t lose everyone, easily done when inside a large temple, get back to coach on time and have the best tour possible! If you find you want to do something last minute or have seen something not on the list but that you think the group could enjoy then your leader can make these things possible, if there’s time. Many leaders of hosted travel tours have spent considerable periods of time in that country; they know the cool places to go as well as the main sites and can communicate with the locals for you.

See The World Through Someone Else’s Eyes

Not everyone shares the same opinions, and it can be refreshing to meet someone who’s viewpoint challenges your own. Learning from others gives us the chance to expand our knowledge and broaden our horizons. It’s much better to have an animated, interesting discussion over cocktails than reading alone at your hotel.