December 2, 2009

Gorge earns high marks
National Geographic lauds stewardship and preservation efforts

By Adam Lapierre
for The Chronicle

     The Norwegian Fjords, the Bavarian Alps, Ancient Kyoto, Medieval Grenada and the Columbia River Gorge: What do these places have in common? Among other things, they all made it to the top of a fairly prestigious list of world destinations.
     National Geographic recently held its sixth-annual survey of destination stewardship, which appears in its November/December 2009 Traveler magazine.      The “133 Places Rated” survey took from a panel of 437 well-traveled experts in a variety of fields, ranging from travel writers, historians, ecologists, and experts in different world cultures.
     As National Geographic explains, the survey was not a popularity contest, rather “it’s an assessment of authenticity and stewardship, evaluating the qualities that make a destination unique and measuring its “integrity of place.”’
     In a points rating system that asked the 437 panelists to evaluate regions around the world based on environmental and ecological quality, social and cultural integrity, condition of historic buildings and archaeological sites, aesthetic appeal, quality of tourism management and outlook for the future, the Columbia Gorge region scored a 77, which put it in a tie for seventh best along with the Bavarian Alps in Germany, Yorkshire Dales in England, Scottish Highlands in the United Kingdom and Torres del Paine in Chile.
     Comments from panelists for the Columbia River Gorge noted scenic beauty and its preservation as the region’s best asset.
     “This is a federally recognized scenic area,” one panelist noted. “It benefits from some of the best land-preservation programs in the nation. The historic road that is the gateway to the region is one of the best-managed historic roads in the nation. Despite large numbers of visitors, the region still has pockets of authenticity, and the magnificent natural scenery is well protected.”
     Patrick Ellis, from The Dalles Chamber of Commerce, was pleasantly surprised about the survey results.
     “It’s really cool to see the gorge rank so highly on the list,” Ellis said. “I was a little surprised, but it is a very beautiful and very unique place, so it makes sense.”
     Among its other assets, the gorge was also noted as being home to a charming string of small towns, with a booming wine industry and attention to historical preservation that keeps them authentic.
     “We have about 30 wineries within a 40-mile radius,” Ellis said. “It’s definitely a growing industry, and one that draws tourist to the area. The city of The Dalles does have some charm to it, and we’ve got a lot to offer. We get 300 days of sunshine a year; that’s one of our best assets. We also have concerts, rodeos, whitewater rafting, windsurfing, the Discovery Center; there’s a lot here for the whole family.”
     For the complete list of destinations, comments about the Columbia River Gorge, and a list of some of the worst-rated places, find the survey link at:

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/

http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/2009/11/destinations-rated/north-america-text/18