Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 11

The Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast

Informational

**This post was updated July 23rd, 2024** What better way to map out the perfect road trip than to drive along the Oregon Coast and catch all of the lighthouses? From Astoria in the north to Brookings in the south, there are a total of eleven Oregon lighthouses in existence today. A few of them are off limits to visitors, but can still be seen and appreciated from a distance. A good rule of thumb is to spend 3 to 5 days on this road trip if you want to see them all. Three days if you want to stop briefly at each site, up to five days if you really want to get the full experience of taking your time to visit them all, with perhaps other stops along the way. Each lighthouse carries its own story, representing not just nautical history but also the resilience of the coastal…

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Take a Tasty Tour through Oregon’s Wine Country

Food & Drink

When people think of wine produced in the United States, most immediately think California’s Napa Valley. But just up the road is the fertile Willamette Valley of Oregon, which produces some of the world’s best wines, most notably Pino Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. While most wineries are open year-round, the most popular time of year for visiting is Memorial Day weekend, where many wineries lower their tasting fees and offer free niblets and live music. Just a few minutes’ drive southwest of Portland will take you to any wine enthusiasts’ heaven. The thing about Oregon’s vineyards that set them apart from most in northern California is that they are “mom and pop” owned and operated. Meaning, the owners tend to have a bit more invested in getting their wines from farm to table. The wineries have a shared sense of community. Unlike Napa Valley, with its many corporate-owned vineyards,…

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The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Northwest

British Columbia, Canada

When you look at a map of the Pacific Northwest and Canada, what draws your eye when you consider a getaway to this area of the world? The lush green rainforests? The largest cities in the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, and Portland? The magnificent Pacific coastline? Or something else? I cannot think of any other area in the world that has such a diverse climate, cultural activities, and friendly hospitality than the PNW. Let me be your Pacific Northwest travel guide. You may be asking yourself, what is considered the Pacific Northwest? Where is the Pacific Northwest on a map? Easy. It is the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington, along with the whole of British Columbia, Canada. Nothing more, nothing less. But let me tell you, within this seemingly small region of the world, so many adventures lie here for you to discover and explore. Want incredible hiking/camping/skiing…

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Silver Falls State Park

Guides

There is a reason people call this the “crown jewel” of state parks. At 9,200 acres, it is Oregon’s largest and most diverse state park. To my knowledge, no other state park has a total of ten unique waterfalls, some of which you can actually walk around the back of! I’m not sure you can find many other great opportunities like this anywhere else in the world. The Perfect Day Trip from Portland or Salem A short 25-mile drive east of Salem will get you there. Plan to spend at least a full day here if you want to explore everything. The Trail of Ten Falls Loop is a moderate, 7.2-mile hike will take through all ten of the falls. The trails are very developed – you won’t be negotiating any rocky footpaths or dodging through thick brush. However, the trails can get a bit steep in places (this IS…

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Spend a Day in Salem, Oregon

Guides

Oregon’s state capital is conveniently located on Interstate 5, about 40 miles south of Portland. As most state capitals go, the city is relatively small, and the most interesting thing about it is the capital building itself. While I’m not a huge fan of this town (i.e. I’m not much into the political system, and there’s not much else to do here) Salem is nonetheless not a bad place to visit for a day. Especially in the summer! Their main farmer’s market is located directly across the street from the capital building, and you could easily spend half a day there. Dozens of vendors set up shop, selling their fresh produce, flowers, crafts, and baked goods. The Oregon State Fair is also held here every late August. State Capital Go here to browse what the capital building has to offer, and get information on their free tours. The…

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British Columbia’s Vancouver Island

British Columbia, Canada

Allow me to dispel a misconception. The city of Vancouver, British Columbia is actually NOT on Vancouver Island. Weird, huh? Yeah, I think so too. No, the city of Vancouver is actually on mainland B.C., just to the east of Vancouver Island. It’s about a six-hour drive from the southern point of Victoria up to the northern Port Hardy and Winter Harbour. With an endless array of stops in between. Take note: the main road runs up the eastern side of the island. There is no road going straight up the west coast side, so if you want to travel to, say Tofino, you will have to drive up the 19A road on the east side, then cut straight through the middle of the island to Tofino. Similarly, to get to any of the tiny towns on the west side, it’s a bit of a hassle – they are only accessible…

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Road Trip: The Columbia River Gorge

Guides

Nothing is more gorgeously majestic than the Columbia River Gorge. This is the ultimate Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary. Whether you’re driving west from the Oregon desert, or east from Portland, as soon as you come upon the forested cliffs of the gorge on Interstate 84, you feel very tiny indeed. In a good way, of course! Driving straight through the Gorge takes about an hour, but to truly savor the experience, there are many stops along way: hiking, fishing, picnicking….and epic waterfalls! This makes the Columbia River Gorge the perfect day trip from Portland. A Small Fish in a Big River To your north is the mighty Columbia River. As you drive down the highway and survey its large expanse of shimmering water, you can imagine the thousands of salmon swimming below. Visit Bonneville Dam and their visitor’s center to get interesting and detailed information about the history of…

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Brewery Tour: Widmer Brothers Brewing

Food & Drink

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 alcohol content. But then again, I came from the Midwest, the land of Bud Light and Milwaukie’s finest. Yeah, no thanks. And then in Oregon I was introduced to microbrews. Over the years I slowly became a fan, to the point where I am as picky about my beer as I am about my wine. My wine = a good Australian Cabernet By beer = just about any IPA as long as it’s not too hoppy So if you are even remotely a beer drinker, and you’re in Portland, you have no excuse but to…

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Courtesy of Latincouver

British Columbia – In Broad Strokes

British Columbia, Canada

British Columbia… Where the whale-inhabited waters of Puget Sound bleed into the international waters of the great Canadian province of British Columbia. This 944,735 km2 acre western section of Canada rises up to meet the untouched wilderness of Alaska. So it should come as no surprise that this entire stretch of land is a paradise for the outdoor lover. Luckily, it’s not too hard to wax lyrical about the mighty mountains, deep forests and dramatic coastlines here that instantly lower heart rates to tranquil levels. It takes a full 24 hours (without sleeping) to drive from Vancouver, B.C all the way up to the northern-most point in B.C. If it were a straight shoot, it’d be a lot less, but the quickest road is also windy. Along the way, you will feel like you are the only one on the planet, as you traverse deep wilderness and endless plains. As…

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San Juan Islands

Why I Fell In Love with San Juan Island, Washington

Guides

As you step off the San Juan Island ferry into Friday Harbor, the quintessential charm of the place hits you square on. It is all at once a seaside port town and a throwback to 1940’s resort glamour. Not to say that everything isn’t up-to-date – San Juan Island has modern hotels and contemporary, chef-run restaurants. It’s just that the overall feel of the place, to me, is reminiscent of a laid-back, simplistic life dictated by the charm of island waters. The best time of year to visit the San Juan Islands are the shoulder seasons of late Spring and Fall. Friday Harbor Friday Harbor whale watching is the most popular activity in the San Juan Islands and San Juan Island is by far the busiest of the islands. But look beyond the savory seafood restaurants, family-run bookstores, trendy art galleries, and lavender shops of Friday Harbor – there is a myriad of other…

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Slow-paced Perfection on Orcas Island, Washington

Guides

Orcas Island is slow-paced perfection, like much of life in the rural Pacific Northwest. Where the locals wave to you as you walk down the street. You can forget about the conveniences of city life: McDonald’s? Some people that live in the San Juans haven’t been to one in decades, if ever. It’s 10 pm and you want a burger — anywhere? Well, I hope you have some in the freezer because everything on the island is closed, my friend. No actually, there is one place, but you’ll still be taking your chances that it’s open. How to Get to Orcas Island The ferry lands on the southwestern tip of the horseshoe island, from Anacortes, Washington. Once you’ve landed takes about 45 minutes to traverse the main road to the other side of the island by car. But why hurry? This island is for slow exploring. I’m of the opinion…

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Oregon’s Pendleton Round Up

Guides

Every summer, Oregon fully embraces the spirit of the wild west by celebrating the art of the rodeo. The Pendleton Round Up Sure, just about every state has their version of a rodeo, but in Oregon, the Pendleton Round Up rodeo is kind of a big deal. Attracting over 50,000 spectators from all over the globe (more than double the population of Pendleton!), it is a week-long celebration, with a couple of town parades (don’t miss the Westward Ho! Parade) and dozens of different events throughout the week. Held the second week September, the Pendleton Round Up has been entertaining rodeo lovers from all walks of life since 1910. Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla have a significant presence in the rodeo’s festivities, and their flag is flown during the beginning ceremonies (along with the U.S., Oregon and Canadian flags). Pendleton Woolen Mills (a company I used to work…

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24 Hours on Lopez Island, WA

Guides

At a coffee shop in Lopez Village, the friendly barista was very patient with an elderly Australian man who was having trouble paying with his credit card. Internet service is spotty on the very best of days on Lopez Island. When it was my turn to place my order, in comes a local who was working at a shop a couple of doors down, to order his daily joe for him and a co-worker. As he took a seat to wait his turn, he joked to the barista. “Can I sing for my coffee today?” The barista was amused. “Only if it’s a Disney tune.” He promptly dove in with “A Whole New World” from the movie, Aladdin. I decided to chime in (since I’m a Disney fanatic) and soon we were singing a somewhat muddled acapella. The barista flashed a wide grin, and two strangers instantly became my friends.…

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via WDOT website

Why I Love the Washington State Ferries

Guides

There is something very gratifying about having the privilege of traveling easily over the water for long distances. Even though we as a species have been traveling over water for thousands of years, being able to safely and easily (and quickly) get from one island to another is still a marvelous thing. Magical Encounter I grew up in the landlocked Midwest, and didn’t see my first ocean until I was 20 years old. So when I took my first ferry ride in the Pacific Northwest, to Orcas Island for a camping trip, it was magical. The San Juan Islands consist of four main islands (Orcas, Lopez, Shaw and San Juan), which are all serviced by the Washington State Ferry System. There are other islands in this area, but they are either private, or unpopulated, and you can only get to them via your own private boat (if you’re allowed…

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Mount Hood Meadows: My First Ski Trip

Informational

Would you believe, I’ve lived in Oregon for over 20 years, and I’ve never put on a pair of skis….until now. Growing up in the Midwest I was not exposed to the sport of skiing AT ALL. My only foray to anything resembling gliding on the snow was a neighborhood hill, where my friends and I would take our Dad’s old plastic garbage pail lids and use them as a toboggan to slide precariously down it. Ever since we moved to Portland (MANY years ago), my husband and I talked about going to Mt. Hood and taking a ski and/or snowboarding lesson. Mind you, we’ve been to Mt. Hood several times, but just to walk around and soak up the atmosphere, and experience the novelty of being on one of the world’s most beautiful and well-known mountains. As each winter went by, we’d either be too busy or too broke…

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The Big Pacific Northwest Earthquake: Not If, When

Informational

Most of us know that the Pacific Northwest rests on one of the Earth’s major fault lines, the Cascadia subduction zone. This fault line runs offshore the length of the west coast, from west of Vancouver, B.C down through northern California. And most of us also know that we here in Oregon and Washington have had our fair share of smaller, barely register-able tremors over the last century or so. But what many of us don’t know (or DO know and are choosing to conveniently ignore) is that the BIG ONE is overdue in our part of the world. This is a prime instance where we should be paying very close attention to what our scientists are saying (ahem, Trump Administration) and heed their warnings. Findings don’t merely suggest…they are PROVING that the average time between a major earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone over the last few millennia has…

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Hollywood Films Shot in Oregon

Informational

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 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 Featuring the great Meryl Streep, the entire movie was filmed along several rivers in the west, mostly in Montana. However, a few scenes were shot on the Rogue River in Southern…

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10 Facts About the Pacific Northwest Coastline

Informational

The wild, rugged and sandy coastline of the Pacific Northwest is chock full of interesting factoids, history, legend and natural beauty. One can spend a good chunk of their lifetime exploring the endless miles of shoreline, and the communities that have made their home here. The Washington coast with its Puget Sound, the Oregon coast with its rugged shores; the northwest states truly inspire. The Pacific Northwest beach towns alone are worth exploring. When looking at a map of the Pacific Northwest coastline, it quickly becomes obvious that there is a ton of exploring to do! Below are ten facts that many people (even locals) may not know about this fascinating coastal area. The Shortest River in the World? This is a bone of contention for some people, who are adamant that the D River in Lincoln City, OR is the shortest river in the world, as opposed to the…

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Springtime in Portland

Must Go

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 of like that everywhere when spring comes around? Well sure — but in Portland, when Springtime comes, it’s just a little sweeter! You see, during the winter, the city does not see much snow, and the temps are not bitterly cold…but in exchange for more temperate weather, we see very few sunny days during the late Fall and Winter months. Rain is your (almost) constant companion. It can get even the most enthusiastic person down sometimes. Spring is like going from this…. To This !! To me, the coming of spring is much…

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The Mystique of Portland’s Saturday Market

Informational

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 a month selling to Christmas shoppers than they do the rest of the year combined. Thriving Local Artisans Over 300 vendors gather here every weekend to sell their wares. Called “Portland’s Saturday Market”, it actually takes place every Saturday and Sunday, from March through Christmas Eve. They are even open the entire week before Christmas. What began in 1973 as a handful of local arts and crafts people, has blossomed into over three square blocks of epic shopping. Here you will find everything from homemade taffy, to one-of-a-kind board games, to hand-knit sweaters, to…

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