Some debates are everlasting: since the dawn of time, people have tried to establish whether paranormal activity exists in the world. This burning passion for the unexplained has been enshrined in popular culture: from the Twilight Zone to The X Files, we have seen alien and unearthly events being dissected from all sorts of angles, but we have still reached no firm conclusions about their origins. However, there are actual sites of so-called paranormal activity where evidence seems so irrefutable that even the most die-hard sceptics are tested. One of these sites is Oregon’s House of Mystery.

The House of Mystery is a roadside attraction in Gold Hill, Oregon, located to the north west of the town of Medford. The house itself was built in 1904 by the Old Grey Eagle Mining Company. First used as a gold assay office and then for tool storage, it is situated in the famous Oregon Vortex, a region so well-known for its paranormal qualities that it was featured in an episode of The X Files in 1999. The Oregon Vortex is renowned for its unnatural events: it is said that the laws of physics are temporarily abandoned in the area, which first opened to visitors in 1939. Objects are said to defy laws of gravity, brooms stand vertically unsupported, balls can roll uphill and the laws of perspective appear dramatically altered. Some visitors even claim to find relief from backache in the Vortex, and its powers are said to be strongest when the moon is full.

Yet sceptics have found natural reasons for this so-called paranormal activity. Some critics say that when the House of Mystery was a gold assay office, it slid from its foundations, settling at an odd angle, although this claim has been disputed. Visitors to the house assume that its foundations are normal, and thus the events that occur in it seem to have somehow sidestepped gravity. Yet there are fatal flaws in this argument: John Litser, a former owner of the property who died in 1959, apparently carried out detailed tests and investigations on the activities in the Oregon Vortex, and allegedly burned his findings, screaming, “The world is not ready for this.” Some of these notes survive, however, and are sold in pamphlets at the House of Mystery gift shop: in them he argues the existence of an actual vortex in the region, which affects a circular area measuring 165 feet, 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Proven vortex or not, however, the House of Mystery provides the perfect forum to demonstrate its quirks and abnormalities to a wide audience.

The Oregon Vortex is only one among a variety of mystery spots in the world. As well as the Bermuda Triangle, perhaps the most legendary example, other mystery spots include Pennsylvania’s Laurel Caverns, also known as Gravity Hill, California’s Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz, and the Mystery Vortex in Hungry Horse, Montana. These sites of paranormal activity are certainly best appreciated in comparison with one another; a tour of America’s mystery spots, for instance, would be an ideal holiday for the aspiring mystery solver. By joining a hotel honours rewards scheme with wide benefits, such as Hilton Honours, this multi-stop travel can still be value for money, and you can extend your mystery solving impulse to all corners of the country.

Oregon has one of the most fascinating landscapes in the United States. It has many faces: beautiful seacoast, impressive mountain vistas, lush greenery, inland waterways and even deserts and prairies.

The historic Columbia River Highway is a good way to view the nice vistas and waterfalls. It has several wilderness areas and national forests. Crater Lake National Park has the deepest lake in the United States and the seventh-deepest in the world. Crater Lake is a stunning and special natural treasure, evolved more than 7,700 years ago. It has unbelievably blue water, according to Scientists, the water is completely clear to a depth of 123 feet and part of its blueness is a reflection of the sky. Rim Drive encircles Crater Lake and there are some spectacular view points on the 33 mile long road. The Oregon Cascades region is also known for the highest mountain in Oregon: Mount Hood. The area is very rainy, that?s why Oregon has magnificent natural beauty and fresh, rain-scented air. The summers are quite warm, but never muggy. In wintertime there are many skiing and snowboarding activities available.

The unique beauty of the Pacific Coastline, stretching 362 miles from Astoria to the Columbia River to Brookings near the California border, is also a breathtaking feature of the state. The whole coastline is public land and offers hiking, scuba diving, surfing, fishing, cycling activities. The coast also includes sites such as the Oregon Coast Aquarium, National Scenic Area and lighthouses. Seaside is the closest major coastal city in Oregon to Portland. With three miles of sandy beach and two miles of manicured, ocean front boardwalk, it is also a popular destination for tourists and travelers. Seaside is a national landmark with rich historical past. The end of the Lewis and Clark trail is commemorated with a statue. Cannon coastline is also a very scenic place of the area.

Portland, the “City of Roses”, known for its world famous parks and vivid nightlife. The city adopted the rose as a symbol of its renewal and growth. Every year they celebrate the Portland Rose Festival. The city is Oregon?s cultural center with large collections of museums, galleries and art centers. This special city and Salem, the capital city of Oregon – is located half way between Portland and Eugene ? are both memorable places of the state.