The northeastern Oregon town of Joseph is known for its robust art scene and many statues and sculptures dot the downtown streets. (Zach Urness / Statesman Journal)

In the eyes of many Oregonians, Wallowa Lake offers the state’s best spot for a family vacation.

It’s not just the scenery, although the mountains are spectacular. It’s not just the nearby towns — Joseph and Enterprise — although they bustle with local food, art and flavor.

It’s the whole package, the combination of wilderness and family-friendly development, that makes it such an appealing destination.

Here are seven of my favorite adventures here:

Wallowa Lake

The centerpiece of activity is 1,508-acre Wallowa Lake, where most summer days find motorboats, jet skis, kayaks, pontoon boats and swimmers populating a lake that reaches 299 feet deep.

Surrounded by 9,000-foot mountains and filled with kokanee and trout, the lake offers great fishing and recreation but can get crowded on weekends (weekdays as well).

The swimming beach with the best views is a county park on the north side of the lake, while the south side is home to Wallowa Lake State Park. A campground with 120 full-hookup sites and 89 tent sites can be found here, along with two yurts and shower facilities.

The south end also has a swimming beach and Wallowa Lake Marina, where everything from paddle boats to a 22-foot pontoon boat can be rented, along with fishing equipment and advice on how to land ’em.

Those with restless children need not fear, either, considering the park also features bumper boats and mini golf.

Joseph and Enterprise

Food, art and culture highlight these twin towns closest to Wallowa Lake.

For art, multiple galleries line Joseph, and statues of bald eagles, Native Americans and cowboys populate the streets downtown.

For food, favorite restaurants include Joseph’s Red Horse Coffee Traders (get the breakfast burrito) and Old Town Cafe, while Enterprise’s Terminal Gravity Brew Pub is a favorite on warm evenings.

For culture, there’s the Wallowa County Museum in Joseph. There are other areas as well, including the Nez Perce Wallowa Homeland photography exhibit in downtown Joseph.

Wallowa Lake Tramway

Reaching the top of an 8,150-foot mountain shouldn’t be this easy.

But a ride on the Wallowa Lake Tramway makes it possible — and tosses in the possibility of mountaintop dining to boot.

From the staging area, the gondola, originally built in 1970, brings tourists from 4,450 to 8,150 feet in just 15 minutes.

More than 2.5 miles of trail wave atop Mount Howard and — better yet — the Summit Grill restaurant offers pulled pork sandwiches and local beer to complement your mountain-top view.

It’s the perfect metaphor for what I’ll call the mild side of the Wallowa Mountains — spectacular views with a side of berry cobbler.

Joseph Branch Railriders

Pedal specially designed contraptions on the railroads below the snow-capped mountains.

The wheeled railriders roll smoothly down the track past pastures and barns, on a track that was once used to transport lumber and cattle to La Grande and beyond.

There are multiple options for length and difficulty. Email jbrailriders@gmail.com or call 541-786-6149 for information or to purchase a ticket.

Easy hikes

There are fewer easy to moderate hikes here than you’d expect, but there are some options.

The best option is Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site, just south of Joseph. The 1.2- to 2.4-mile trek features stunning views of the mountains and a good feel for the area’s history.

Other easier options include BC Falls and Falls Creek Falls (which can be found on Hurricane Creek Trail).

Backpack or hike
Hurricane Creek

The Eagle Cap is Oregon’s largest federally designated wilderness area. It’s on the short list of the state’s best backpacking destinations — if not the best. The problem is that almost all the trails into the Eagle Cap are quite difficult.

Hurricane Creek is the exception. If you’re planning to take kids backpacking, this is probably the best option. It’s also a good spot for one of the area’s best moderate hikes.

From the trailhead, stunning mountain views arrive within just a mile, and you’ll find a collection of good camping spots along the creek. Keep going 3 miles to Slick Rock Gorge, a stunning meadow of wildflowers and waterfalls, for a moderate 6-mile hike.

Bonus: Whiskey

Not really a family-friendly activity, but something for the parents, is a visit to Stein Distillery in Joseph.

The smell of oak barrels greets those who enter the tasting room, and locally produced rye whiskey, bourbon, rye vodka, rum and specialty flavors can all be had here.

Not that you need to be intoxicated to enjoy Joseph and the Wallowa Mountains — far from it — but it’s nice to have a little something to soothe the mind after a long family vacation.