Old habits die hard, to coin a familiar phrase. What that means is, as much as I talk about taking things slowly when you are traveling, I didn’t seem to want to listen to that inner voice this time. As with my first Olympic National Forest trip, I tried to jam pack as much as…
Chances are if you are reading this blog, you have the wanderlust bug. Go on, admit it. I have it too, so let me tell you how my need to get out and explore has made me a happier person. Going on a road trip is one of my favorite things. When things get too…
There is a great shift happening in the travel sphere. The move is on for travel slower, to savor more of the outdoors, and to do it in a responsible way – but still have FUN. Getting out in nature can also be incredibly soothing and exhilarating for the soul. Spending nights out underneath the…
Have you heard the news? Of course, you have. The world of travel has changed, literally overnight. International borders have closed on a global scale, and our exploratory nature has been dashed without nary a warning. I’m not going to even get into the decimating effects this has had on every facet of the travel…
**Note: Even though the state-at-home order has been imposed pretty much everywhere, that doesn’t stop us from planning a fantastic trip around Portland when we are able to move around again. Until then, enjoy this armchair journey through downtown.** Here is a guest blog from Marc Johnston, a long-time Portland resident and personal injury attorney,…
Looking for things to do in Baker City, Oregon? Come along with me… When most people make the journey west into Oregon, they will most likely be road-trippin’ along Interstate 84. Much of this stretch of highway follows the historic Oregon Trail. And when they first hit Oregon soil, they will pass through the little…
**This post was updated on June 30, 2022** City Breaks and Micro-cations are on the rise. What do these buzzwords mean, you may ask? City breaks are for those who are looking to relax and get away from the routine of their lives for a short while and do it in a place that still…
The truth is, I love food – it’s the reason I’m a few pounds over (ahem). But I just happen to live in one of the world’s premier foodie destinations, so I have zero regrets. There is always, ALWAYS another restaurant opening up in this town. It’s a big decision…deciding where to eat in Portland….
Are you ready for some Oregon Fun Facts? Interesting or funny facts about a certain area of the world – an area where they live, or where they are traveling to? It lends a personal flair to the whole thing, and let’s face it – it’s a great icebreaker at parties. Or maybe not –…
I couldn’t end the year without waxing philosophical about why I got into this business of blogging in the first place! Yes, it’s because I love to write and even more so, love to travel and have new experiences. But it is also because I love the Pacific Northwest as a whole and because there…
Have you heard of Tillamook ice cream? How about Tillamook cheese? The newly-renovated Tillamook Cheese Factory is a great way to learn the ins and out of cheese-making, with milk straight from the dairy cows you find just outside of town. Tour the facilities and you will go on a behind-the-scenes journey into the production and…
Of all of the sections in Portland, I would argue that North Portland is the hippest, the weirdest…and the all-around coolest part of the city. And there’s definitely some weird shit going on here. Where else can you walk down a traditional residential street, only to turn into an alleyway and find this? (Click the…
You may have seen the image many times. Trillium Lake – with a perfect reflection of Mount Hood on the water with not a ripple in sight. The sunrise shots are the most dramatic and have inspired countless people to come to this lake for decades. When I finally arrived at this iconic Lake called…
I’ll admit it, it’s not all about me! I started this blog with the humble desire to shout my love of the Pacific Northwest to the world. I wanted to show people how incredibly, fantastically gorgeous my home is. To this day, I am pretty much the only one of several Portland bloggers that focuses…
Wonderfully narrow winding roads led us 2,000 feet up into the high desert, east of Ashland, Oregon. I’m so glad we came during the day because the views were incredible! As we ascended, the flora of the desert loomed above us, while the heavily forested mountains of the Siskiyou’s loomed far away. Oh, to be…
Portlanders take their biking pretty seriously. I mean, we’re certainly not Amsterdam, where you are genuinely putting your life at risk should you step out in front of a biker on the street. Those guys don’t mess around, they’re FAST and take no prisoners. But here in Portland, it’s much safer to share the road…
City rivalries are pretty silly if you ask me. I mean…WHY? It’s like two siblings fighting over who is best in mother’s eyes. Take Seattleites’ disdain for Tacoma, for example. Not a trip to Seattle goes by where I don’t hear at least one local resident rip on Tacoma. I think Tacoma is a fine…
What is the quirkiest thing you can think of where you live? I always love finding out new and interesting things about my area of the world. So I decided to go on a mission to hunt for what makes the Pacific Northwest unique. I searched Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia for those…
Southern Oregon doesn’t get much love on the blogosphere, but that should change. Why? Because it is so much a part of the state. More than the beautiful coastline – more than the city of Portland. There is much to explore in Oregon’s gorgeous landscape and small towns in the southern area of the state….
My review of Seattle’s many many neighborhoods continues. You can find my first collection of Seattle neighborhoods HERE. Dare to go beyond Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the touristy waterfront the really DIG DEEP into Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods. One thing I will say about Seattle…it is a HILLY town. You will find yourself constantly…
