Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 12

Pacific Northwest Treehouses

British Columbia, Canada

Okay, so staying in a tree house is a ‘thing’ now. And it appears I’m VERY late to the party. But I’m all about tree house living and treehouse rentals in Oregon, Washington, and B.C.! It really is like living out a childhood dream…your very own tiny house out underneath Mother Nature’s canopy. If I could live full-time in a tree house…I would. But for now I’m going to have to settle for vacationing in one….or ten….wait, who am I kidding? I’m going to stay in at least 20 tree houses before the end of this decade. Treehouse Rental Oregon There are just. So. Many. I will have to limit myself to just the Pacific Northwest–Oregon, Washington, British Columbia. Because, y’know, this is a Pacific Northwest kinda website. And let me tell you, in restricting myself to these areas, I still will not be able to cover them all if I…

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View from Queen Anne

A Tour of Seattle’s Vibrant Neighborhoods

Informational

One of the things that makes Seattle such a great city is its distinctive neighborhoods. Much like it’s feisty sister to the south (Portland), you can think of Seattle as a collection of smaller cities all stuck together. Each neighborhood has its own vibe, its own community, its own sense of purpose. All of them contributing to the whole of the Emerald City. Psst! Read about the second installment of great Seattle neighborhoods here. New visitors need not look far beyond the obvious draws such as the Space Needle, Safeco Field, and Pike Place Market to realize that beyond these tourist areas lie many other rich experiences. The quaint shops in Capitol Hill, the stately 19th-century architecture in the Queen Anne district, the laid-back flavor of West Seattle, to name just a few. Much like the different regions of a country, the diverse neighborhoods in Seattle make the entire city a…

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High Desert Country in Eastern Oregon

Must Go

When you think of a desert, what comes to mind? As a child, my idea of a desert was something like the Sahara; endless miles of nothing but sand, as far as the eye could see. Where the sandy horizon contrasted sharply with an unforgiving hot blue sky, and the occasional ‘mirage’ appeared – imaginary pools of water far away, where when you approached it, the sun’s rays shimmered the life-saving pool into nothingness. Deserts, to me, were an exotic thing with camels and pyramids, only to be found far away, overseas. It wasn’t until I was much older that I came to realize that there are deserts in the U.S., and they are not necessarily seas of sand. The deserts of the western United States are unique ecosystems. They are not stark, bare and lifeless seas of sand. Quite the opposite. Deserts here hold a vast array…

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How to Beat the Heat During an Oregon Summer

Guides

The unseasonably hot temperatures in the Willamette valley beckoned us to head for cooler environs, so on to the beach we went! This wasn’t a spur of the moment event, we had planned it weeks ago (to get overnight accommodations any weekend on the Oregon coast you most surely need a reservation). Heading west on Highway 26, the infamous “Sunset Highway”, we left on our 1 1/2 hour journey. With car windows down, tunes cranked up, the blistering heat slowly dissipated as we ascended the Oregon Coast Range.

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Bend, Oregon: Buttes, Brews and Bikes

Food & Drink

As we emerged from the Willamette National forest going south, we noticed a menacing dark cloud hanging in the air towards our destination, Bend. This wasn’t a storm cloud, this was a gigantic cloud of smoke. Too large for a simple bonfire, or a residential leaf burning. As we entered the city limits, the unmistakable heady aroma permeated our car. The fire was close by, and a palpable layer of light smog hung in the air. We later learned that the fire was not within the city limits, but just to the west in the nearby forest. And it was most likely started accidentally. Such as it is in timber country; the occasional fire is inevitable – intentional or not. Bend is a smallish city of around 100,000 and growing rapidly. For there is a lot to love about this town. An outdoor enthusiast’s dream: you have…

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A Very Fine Guide to Olympia, Washington

Food & Drink

For years, my only exposure to Olympia, Washington was to simply breeze through the middle of it on the I-5 up to Seattle from Portland. And for years, my only knowledge of Olympia was that, a) it is the capital of Washington State, and b) it is home to Olympia Beer. And I knew the latter only because of the prominent Olympia Brewing logo on a building right on the interstate. My husband grew up in this state, so he was able to entertain me with a couple of stories from his childhood about the infamous local libation. Olympia Brewing began brewing its beer in 1896 and only stopped at 2003. The building and its infamous logo remain. Come to find out, Olympia is not only the state capital but a bustling port city. Few state capitals are as beautiful as Olympia, Washington. Situated on the southeastern tip of…

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My First House Sit: A Crash Course in Multi-Species Pet Care

Informational

Have you ever been in a situation where you were really looking forward to a new experience, but when the time came, and you were deep in the thick of it, you realized you were in WAY over your head? In an attempt to expand my travel horizons, while at the same time saving money, I decided to sign up with trustedhousesitters.com as a pet/house sitter. If you haven’t heard of this awesome service, you should look into it! Pet owners worldwide are looking for verified pet/house sitters who will watch their fur babies while they are on holiday. Meanwhile, you as the pet sitter get free accommodation while you explore a new part of the world. I love animals, but I’m new to the pet sitting business. So I decided to give it a try on my home turf, first. I took care to make my profile top-notch, and…

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Photography to Inspire You to Visit the Pacific Northwest

British Columbia, Canada

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, the following photos put my feeble mutterings and camera clicks to shame. While I will continue to try to engage you, dear reader, with my prose of Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, in the meantime I will offer up this awe-inspiring eye candy. Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Oregon Ecola State Park, Oregon Coast The Cascades, British Columbia Arches National Park Seattle, Washington Painted Hills, Oregon Multnomah Falls, Oregon The Empress Hotel, Victoria, B.C. Crater Lake, Oregon The Columbia River Gorge Mount Rainier, Washington Hoh Rainforest,…

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Great Travel Bloggers Touring the Pacific Northwest: Their Tips

Informational

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 you will. A general website that offered personal essays about all things Oregon and Washington (and maybe even British Columbia, too!). A place I could go for not only information about what was out there, but articles about personal experiences of all things Pacific Northwest. So, I searched for such a website. And searched…and searched. What did I find? Not Much What I found was a gaping hole in the interwebs. Sure, I found dozens of entertaining travel blogs that had one or two articles about my two favorite states, but nothing comprehensive. Nothing I…

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Shop Local: Seattle’s Pike Place Market

Food & Drink

The first time you visit Pike Place Market can be a bit overwhelming…especially if you come at a peak time, such as on the weekend or during the summer months. The crowds can get so thick you can barely navigate past the merchant boots. Be prepared to move quite slowly, especially at the main street level. Nevertheless, the first time at this iconic market is a super-sensory extravaganza. The Best Market in Seattle But this is okay, since you’ll most certainly want to take your time, and savor all of the sights and smells. After all, the Market has over a 100 years’ worth of history to experience. You can see it in the faces of the friendly merchants that make a living from the Market. They know this place is special. Some of them have been selling their wares here for generations. Take the time to walk by every…

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photo by Deb Rousseau

Vancouver, B.C.: A Nature Lover’s Guide

British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver is a popular Pacific Northwest destination, to be sure, but why? Because it’s the largest Canadian City on the west coast? Because lots of films and TV shows are filmed here? Because it’s a cosmopolitan city rich in diversity and culture? No. Vancouver is a popular Pacific Northwest destination because of its natural beauty. Not to be confused with Vancouver Island, I can think of no other city in the world (not even Seattle!) that offers so much in the way of stunning natural scenery and outdoorsy activities. (However, I’m always open to being proven wrong, so tell me if you can think of another one!) Allow me to give you some examples: Did you know? I have a comprehensive 3-day itinerary to Vancouver that highlights not only the natural spaces, but the best cultural places to visit, where to eat, and where to day. Read it here. Nature in…

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McMenamins Anderson School

Unique Pacific Northwest Hotels and Pubs: McMenamins

Food & Drink

When you think of a chain of hotels or a chain of restaurants, your eyes tend to immediately gloss over and the first thing you think of is BORING…right? You think of sterile, cookie-cutter establishments, such as Marriott, Hilton, Best Western….or IHOP, Applebees….blah, blah BLAH. But try to imagine a chain of hotels AND pubs/restaurants where they all have a similar décor throughout, but each and every location has its own unique artwork and history. Where the hotels’ rooms are unique and inspiring…and most don’t have televisions! Trust me, you won’t need them here. Every McMenamins hotel room has a name, proudly painted on the door, and gives a hint on what you’ll find inside. Lodging a Cut Above the Rest Walk into a McMenamins hotel and it’s like you’re visiting eccentric ol’ Aunt Mabel’s mansion. She’s not really your aunt, but you visited her home numerous times as a kid…

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Best Food Carts in Portland

Food & Drink

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 called food carts. Why? Because they are established eateries that tend to stay in one place. With well over 600 (and counting) food carts, they are usually found in clusters throughout the city, called pods. Every food cart pod contains an incredibly delicious mish-mash of different flavors. Culinary dishes from just about every corner of the world are represented. From good ol’ fashioned burgers ‘n fries, to soul food/bbq, to savory thai noodles, to Chinese and Ethiopian dishes, to….well, you get the idea. Many food carts become so popular that they are able to transition…

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10 Things NOT to do in Seattle, Washington

Guides

In response to my previous article about what NOT to do in Portland, I was strongly advised to do a follow up one about Seattle. The Emerald City is so different from the Rose City, so it is unfair to raise the question about Seattle vs Portland. Yet, there are things in Seattle that you should take into account when visiting. Read on for my little pearls of wisdom! By the way, our friends at Redfin have put together a great bucket list of items that you must do while visiting the Emerald City (read my contribution towards the bottom of the post.) And while the following list is fun to read, but by no means comprehensive, I offer you this kick-ass guide to Seattle, fresh from the press. Now, without further ado, here is what NOT to do in Seattle> Don’t assume it rains all the time. In fact, there…

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Views straight out of the Sound of Music!

The Unbridled Beauty of Deception Pass and the Olympic Peninsula

Informational

One of the things I really love about northwest Washington state is that there are a multitude of attractions within a very small geographic area. The best of several worlds collide in that you get to experience the culture of a large metropolitan area (Seattle), as well as mountains, rainforests, islands and ocean. All of which offer unparalleled natural beauty. A Flurry of Islands Skagit Valley is nestled between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. The I-5 corridor runs through it, making it easily accessible from the north or south. Take Highway 20 west from I-5 to Anacortes, WA and the whole of the San Juan Islands await you. Anacortes is the main ferry point to all 4 of the major islands (San Juan, Lopez, Orcas and Shaw Islands), where you can load your car right onto the ferry to get where you’re going. The town of Anacortes is actually itself located…

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The Best of Nehalem Bay, Oregon

Informational

Imagine a coastal sanctuary where the world seems just a little less frantic and a little more peaceful. Imagine a gentle respite that seems a bit other-worldly, yet comfortably familiar. Imagine a place where those around you will let you be who you truly are, and you can let your guard down without judgement. Visiting Nehalem Bay, Oregon The original residents here are the Salish tribe, and in their language, Nehalem means “place where people live”. It’s true, people do really live here. And I mean, they really “live”. The way people are meant to live. Apart from busy-ness. Apart from conflict. Here at the edge of the world, Nehalem Bay’s residents live life more slowly…a life of authenticity, of serenity. Where people you pass can look you in the eye and greet you warmly, whether they know you or not. Nehalem Bay State Park – A world of activities…

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The Portland Street Art Scene: Portland Murals

Guides

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 art itself makes Portland even more beautiful than it already is! And it’s FREE to the public. A Brief History of Portland Street Art During the 1980’s and 90’s, when the rise of random and illegal graffiti art infiltrated every large city, Portland was no different. But because of the high concentration of artists in Portland, with no solid creative outlet, people like Gage Hamilton recognized the need for artists to showcase their work in a safe and legitimate environment. He founded Forest For the Trees in 2013, a non-profit organization where street artists do…

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Dry Falls and Soap Lake, WA: A Gift from the Last Ice Age

Informational

The last Ice Age left us some pretty cool stuff. In the deserts of Central Washington State, there are so many phenomenal geological wonders to explore. Among these is Dry Falls and Soap Lake. I’ll attempt to show you the beauty of these lands: my feeble photographs do not adequately capture what I experienced. You’ll just have to come explore for yourself. Dry Falls About 2 hours’ drive east of Leavenworth, WA on Highway 2 and just south of Coulee City, is Dry Falls. A dramatic, scalloped precipice that was once the site of the largest waterfall in the world (about five times the width of Niagara Falls, according to estimates.) As the glaciers of the last ice age melted, they carved out a giant, 3.5-mile swath of the high country, creating cliffs with 400-foot drops. The biggest waterfall in history was born. It is hard to imagine that water alone…

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9 Best Portland Cocktail Bars (from a Local)

Food & Drink

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 with culinary (nay, gastonomical!) experiences, and it’s mixology scene is no different. I’ve compiled my “Best Of” list of cocktail bars sure to loosen up even the stiffest of patrons. I have tried my best to give you a broad range of establishments which sooth the taste buds, loosen the tongue, and have atmosphere up the yin-yang. Cocktail Bars in Portland Portland is renowned not just for its vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes but also for its exceptional cocktail bars that dot the cityscape. Each bar brings a unique twist to the cocktail scene, offering…

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Yurt Camping in Oregon: A Different Way to Camp

Guides

Let’s face it, camping in the Pacific Northwest offers the ultimate choice of ocean, forest, and mountains. Oregon Coast yurt rentals can be frond in some of the finest campgrounds. With magnificent forest land, majestic mountains, and beaches as a backdrop to your camping experience, the landscape is perfect for spending the night under the stars. Oregon coast yurt camping, in particular, offers secluded forests mixed with magnificent ocean views. Many campgrounds are available year ‘round, and a few close during the winter months. Oregon cabins are nice, but one aspect of why our campgrounds are so good is that many of them have the option for you to rent a yurt. What is a yurt, you say? Well! Read on! Here’s where to find Free Camping in Washington State Yurt Camping Oregon – Yurt Rentals Yurts on the Oregon Coast are awesome. You get to ‘go camping’ without the…

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