With its cattle drives down Main Street, the Timber Truckers Light Parade and border collies and horse trailers, the small community of John Day wears its heart and heritage on its sleeve.

Dramatic scenery, the beautiful, meandering John Day River and the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument all testify to the area’s remarkable geologic past. Outdoor recreation is a huge draw for visitors, though historic sites are also popular. The Kam Wah Chung & Co. Museum offers a fascinating look at the lives of Chinese residents here during the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.