The long hot summer is fast approaching, so it’s time to think about where to spend an exciting summer vacation. Sometimes your budget just won’t stand an expensive vacation.

If your budget is strapped, why not visit some of the interesting places in Oregon?

When I retired in 1993, Nancy Brown gave me a book which has become a favorite with me, titled “The Best Free Historic Attractions in Oregon & Washington,” by Kiki Canniff.

This little book is filled with interesting places to visit on a shoestring.

The book describes 91 places to visit as well as points of interest. It is small enough to carry with you when you travel and highlights exciting stops along the route you take.

There is a map at the front of the book that shows you where each place of interest is located.

One place of historical interest is the 1863 Civil War Fort at Fort Stevens Historical Area, near Astoria. It was the base of military operations in 1865, when Union soldiers protected the Columbia River from Confederate invasion.

Take a walking tour from the visitor’s center through the remains of buildings and batteries that were once alive with action. Visit the torpedo loading room, eight concrete gun batteries and the mine loading building.

The kids will love to talk about it when they return to school, sparking a renewed interest in the Civil War.

Books, magazines, and newspapers have always interested me, especially how they are printed.

Have you ever wondered how they set the type on newspapers? I have seen the large newspapers being printed on huge presses, (on television, of course) but how did they set the type before there were computers to do the job for them?

If you are curious about this process you should visit the Marshfield Sun Printing Museum in Coos Bay.

You can watch them demonstrate the art of hand-set printing and rediscover this disappearing art that was once so much a part of the printed word.

Maybe your interest lies in ghost towns.

My favorite ghost town is located on state Highway 97, about 40 south of Biggs Junction in Shaniko.

It was once a thriving city, with people shipping wool, sheep, cattle and gold on the Columbia Southern Railroad. When it was in full swing, it had 13 busy saloons.

Still standing is the Shaniko Hotel, where you can get a family-style meal served around a long, old plank table. The food is very good; just like Grandma used to make.

The kids will enjoy checking out the firehouse, livery, marshal’s office and a large wagon yard.

When my father-in-law was a mechanic for Midland Construction, he had his shop in Shaniko, so I know it well.

It is a wonderful place to revisit the past.

If traveling isn’t your thing, you can stay close to home and enjoy fishing, boating, waterskiing and sailing on the Columbia River. The fishing is fantastic.

And camping in the mountains is a good way to get back to nature.

Oregon has a lot to offer the vacationer.

Don’t miss any of the great out-of-the-way places in our beautiful state. Step back into the past for a glimpse of Oregon’s history and it won’t cost you anything but time.

“The Best Free Historic Attractions in Oregon and Washington” may help you experience the best vacation ever.

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Betty Kuhn lives in Boardman. She is available via e-mail at bkuhn_1@msn.com