The US has certainly made huge strides in producing good beers over the past few decades. I remember on my first visit to Virginia in the mid-60's, if you wanted a beer, it was Budweiser or nothing. I've been taking vacations in he US for the past 15+ years and during that time, I've been impressed by the number of micro-breweries that have popped up, and most of them producing excellent ales.
Loved Mt Bachelor, saw incredibly beautiful snow covered scenery for only the second time in my life, and very impressed by the High Desert? museum there.