Pacific Northwest Holiday
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Quiz: How Should you Plan your Pacific Northwest Vacation?

BySusan Stephens

Oregon, Washington and British Columbia encompass such a large area, with so many breathtaking sights, cultural experiences and outdoor activities, it can be overwhelming. If you have been here before, you have some idea of what I’m talking about. And you probably have a pretty good idea of what you want to do the next…

Widmer Brothers Brewing
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Brewery Tour: Widmer Brothers Brewing

BySusan Stephens

  As a state, Oregon ranks 3rd in the U.S. for the number of craft breweries per capita. When I moved to this area of the country I was most definitely NOT a beer drinker. I didn’t like the taste of beer and I couldn’t quite understand what the appeal was, other than the obvious…

hollywoodIt should come as no surprise that the state of Oregon is the setting of a plethora of films. After all, it is just north of California, the center of the universe when it comes to the art of moving pictures. Every so often Hollywood extends it arms to the north and takes advantage of the pristine forest land, beaches and mountains to help it tell a magnificent story. Television shows such as Portlandia, Grimm, and Axe Men are all primarily filmed in Oregon. As for the movies, directors have been filming in Oregon since the 1920’s. Listing all of the movies here would take ages… but these are the most well-known of the bunch. The River Wild One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest 8 Seconds Homeward Bound The Shining Stand By Me Dead Men Wild Goonies Kindergarden Cop Filmed in 1990 at Astor Elementary School in Astoria. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Short Circuit Filmed in 1986 mostly in Astoria, with a few scenes shot in points along the Columbia River Gorge. Gus Van Zandt – Mala Noche and Drugstore Cowboy Point Break My Own Private Idaho A 1991 film starring Keanu Reeves and the late great River Phoenix. Filmed in Portland. Free Willy Pay It Forward Filmed in 1999-2000, and starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and a young Haley Joel Osment. I’m cheating a little bit here, since only one scene, the bridge scene, was filmed in Portland. The rest was filmed in Las Vegas and L.A. But it’s a great movie, with great actors. Bring your tissues! What the Bleep do we Know? This is more of a documentary, but it’s got a wonderful message, and will leave you contemplating your own existence in the world. The outside shots were filmed entirely in Portland. Into the Wild This 2007 film had shooting locations all over the U.S. but many of them were in several locations in Oregon: Astoria, Beaverton, Mt. Hood, and Washington State. Twilight. Well, I couldn’t leave this movie out, could I? Stephanie Meyers’ well-written saga of books is actually set in the tiny town of Forks, Washington, but many scenes were actually filmed in St. Helens (Bella and Charlie’s house), Portland and Damascus.
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Hollywood Films Shot in Oregon

BySusan Stephens

It should come as no surprise that the state of Oregon is the setting of a plethora of films. After all, it is just north of California, the center of the universe when it comes to the art of moving pictures. Every so often Hollywood extends it arms to the north and takes advantage of…

Springtime in Portland
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Springtime in Portland

BySusan Stephens

With all of the rainy dreary weather that we experience during Portland winters, it’s incredibly wonderful to start to see the first spring blossoms on the trees. The sun comes out just a little more, the temperatures begin to slowly climb, and most everyone seems to be just a little happier. But isn’t it kind…

Portland Saturday Market
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The Mystique of Portland’s Saturday Market

BySusan Stephens

A murky fog blankets The Old Town section of Portland, and as the first hint of light begins to overtake the cloudy sky, the vendors appear with their moving trucks and vans. It is a Sunday morning in early December, one of the last big weekends where many of the vendors make more money in…

Cascade Mountains
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Photography to Inspire You to Visit the Pacific Northwest

BySusan Stephens

Lately, I have been seeing some pretty incredible images of the Pacific Northwest. So much so that it has inspired me to work even harder to bring you all things PNW with this website.  I try my best to capture with my words and photos how much I love this area of the world. However,…

Great Travel Bloggers
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Great Travel Bloggers Touring the Pacific Northwest: Their Tips

BySusan Stephens

When I began to plan a summer vacation road trip through Oregon and Washington a couple of years ago, I wanted first-hand accounts (i.e. blogs) about the areas I’d be visiting. I wanted personal stories, not uninspiring factoids about what to see and do. And I wanted them all on one website. A one-stop-shop, if…

Portland Food Carts
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Best Food Carts in Portland

BySusan Stephens

Updated May 10, 2024. In all of my travels, I have not been in (or heard of) any other city in the world that has as many diverse food carts as Portland, Oregon. These are some of the best places to eat in Portland on a budget.  Food trucks in Oregon, in particular Portland, are…

portland street art
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The Portland Street Art Scene: Portland Murals

BySusan Stephens

Portland is one of the few cities in America with a vibrant and active street art scene, thanks to the Portland Art Alliance. The benefits of street art are two-fold: not only does it bring together a community (businesses and artists can come to an agreement on where and what gets put on display), but the…

beat the winter blues in oregon
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9 Best Portland Cocktail Bars (from a Local)

BySusan Stephens

Weather you’ve been exploring Portland all day, working hard for ‘THE MAN’, or hell, even cooped up in your home office working working on your novel (instead of actually working), it sure is nice to go down to one of the local cocktail bars and let out some steam. Right? Portland is a city bursting…

Portland skyline
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10 Things NOT to do in Portland, Oregon

BySusan Stephens

**This post was updated on June 30, 2022** It’s easy to find things to do in Portland. Just a quick Google search will turn up a vast array of “Top” attractions. Everyone from the NY Times to your grandmother-who-has-a-blog can give you a list. So why should I, being a self-proclaimed authority of the great…

Alberta Arts District Portland: An Artist’s Haven
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Alberta Arts District Portland: An Artist’s Haven

BySusan Stephens

“Two hundred, sixty dollars for an almost-new commuter bike? Wow!” As I stood in front of the Community Cycling Center, a handful of cycling enthusiasts were happily outside, tuning up their rides for the day. The Center provides refurbished bicycles for sale, as well as new and used parts and accessories. They even provide repair…

Who Knew Dormant Volcanoes Could be So Much Fun?
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Who Knew Dormant Volcanoes Could be So Much Fun?

BySusan Stephens

  Portland is home to several dormant volcanoes and cinder cones, which are part of a series comprising the Boring Lava Field of Washington and Oregon. Did they name it Boring since they aren’t erupting? Well, no, the lava field is actually named after the tiny town of Boring, a few miles southeast of Portland….

kahveology coffee
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Antique Shopping in Sellwood Portland

BySusan Stephens

“How much for this gramophone?” I asked. The elderly gentleman behind the counter in Stars Antique Mall smiled at me, then peered expertly at the item I had had my eye on since I walked in 40 minutes ago. Antique shopping in Portland’s Sellwood never disappoints in the treasure-hunting realm. 

What to Do on Mississippi Ave in Portland
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What to Do on Mississippi Ave in Portland

BySusan Stephens

Mississippi Avenue is one of Portland’s most vibrant districts. I hopped off of the Number 4 bus to meet my friend at one of our favorite restaurants there, Miss Delta. My mouth began watering as I envisioned pulled pork, shrimp with cheesy grits, and homemade corn bread in my near future. Miss Delta is southern…

portland-hawthorne
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Discover Portland’s Hawthorne Neighborhood

BySusan Stephens

  Continuing my series on Portland’s neighborhoods, this week’s focus is on the Hawthorne neighborhood. Despite some mild gentrification over the past several years, Hawthorne has managed quite successfully to retain its friendly hippy vibe, particularly between SE 20th and 39th Streets. Hawthorne Boulevard is home to

23rd St & The Alphabet District, Portland: An Outdoor Shopping Gem
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23rd St & The Alphabet District, Portland: An Outdoor Shopping Gem

BySusan Stephens

Sitting on a park bench, the cool spring breeze gently combs my hair as I bite into my carne asada burrito from a local taqueria down the street. It’s my favorite place to people-watch in this neighborhood: within the span of a half-hour I see