Since we were in Oregon and one of the biggest running schools in the country is the University of Oregon, we took a prospective student tour.

We gathered in the Ford Alumni Center, a relatively new and modern building for the admissions overview. What I particularly loved was that Oregon was doable (grade-wise) for one of my teens.

Located in Eugene, students can drive 2 1/2 hours to Crater Lake and less than 2 hours drive to Portland. Easy to navigate, the 295-acre campus featured dark, red-brick buildings among many green spaces.

While my husband (DH) and Thing 2 went on the walking tour, Thing 1 and I walked to the ERB Memorial Union for lunch. We ended up at an area with floor-to-ceiling, rounded glass windows, commonly known as the fishbowl. From here, we could watch students walking outside.

Because Oregon is on the quarter system, students were still in school during this second week in June. Many of them transitioned between classes on bicycles and we could get a good vibe of the campus.

About this time, we met up with the rest of the family and walked to the college bookstore on the edge of campus.  One of the things I learned on the tour is that Oregon has one of the best colleges of education. Many groundbreaking studies originate from the college.

I fell in love with the University of Oregon. The friendly students and staff looked happy to be there. Had it not been on the quarter system and on the other side of the country, my daughter might have considered it.

For more information about the university, click here.