Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 13

Photo: The Mysterious Beauty of Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Informational

Haystack rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon is probably one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the world. Well, duh! It’s just so gorgeous. Those of us lucky enough to live close by have many opportunities to photograph Cannon Beach during various times of the year, during different weather activities. During low tide in the summertime, visitors can approach very close to Haystack rock and see various forms of marine life in the shallow waters. At low tide, mysterious sea life is magically revealed. As the tide recedes, smaller boulders near the rock are exposed, revealing thick coats of barnacles, seaweed, marine moss and tiny crabs. However, Haystack rock itself is a nationally protected marine wildlife sanctuary, so visitors cannot get within a few yards of it. This gives Haystack rock a mysterious quality, as only the sea birds really know what’s on top of and on the other side…

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Ultimate, Classic New York City: My New York

Informational

It’s ironic that I’m a west coast girl…because my favorite city in the world to visit (by far) is New York. While I’ve been to New York City only a handful of times, there is a deep familiarity with this town I’ve not felt with another other city. Perhaps it’s because I’ve lusted after NYC since I was a little girl, so I’ve built up enough pictures in my mind of being there, that when I’m actually there it’s like visiting an old friend. Having said that, I need to spend MUCH more time here before I will consider myself an authority on where to go to have an ‘authentic’ New York experience. But….I have a pretty good idea. I want to share with you some of MY favorite places and things to do in the Big Apple. Some of them are hot tourist spots, for sure. But a few…

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10 Things NOT to do in Portland, Oregon

Guides

**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 town of Portland, OR, add my 2 cents to the fray? Answer: I won’t. Instead, I’ll offer an alternative view and tell you what NOT to do in the Rose City. And that’s almost as good, right? No, you say? Well, let me change your mind (if just a little.) Consider this a list that will save you time, money, frustration and offer a more well-rounded view during your visit to our beautiful Rose City. Ready? Here we Go! 1. Don’t visit the original Voodoo Doughnut, located downtown, near the Burnside bridge. You’ve no…

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Where Forest Meets Ocean on the Northern Oregon Coast

Informational

The northern Oregon coast offers up beaches unlike any other. The mostly cool tides wash up onto sandy beaches where majestic Douglas Fir and other evergreen trees are mere yards away. This photo was taken just south of the coastal town of Cannon Beach, on a cliff top overlooking the mighty Pacific Ocean below. It is possible to surf on the Oregon coast: in fact the most popular surfing spot in the state is just a few miles south of here. During most months of the year, a good thermal windbreaker is needed to spend any time on the coast. It is usually only during the months of July-August that one can freely roam the beaches with only a swimsuit, without feeling the heady chill of the Oregon Pacific waters. These are the best ways to experience the northern Oregon Coast. Highway 101 links up all of these spots, so…

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5 Hot Springs in Oregon You Must Visit

Guides

Have you ever been to a naturally occurring hot spring? How about actually soaking in one? A perfect hot tub brought to you by mother nature! Many hot springs have built-in minerals in the water that can aid in overall health. Not to mention, a good soak will really get the kinks out and totally relax you. The hot springs in Oregon are among the best in the country.

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On Why I Decided to Become a Travel Blogger

Informational

People who know exactly what they want to do in life at a very young age have always fascinated me. Even kids in college, by the time they need to declare a major, they’ve already got it all mapped out…and they stick with it through graduation, getting a job perfectly suited to their studies. Who does THAT, anymore? In this article I will attempt to explain why I decided to become travel blogger.

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Searching for the Elusive Underground Tunnels in Chinatown, Victoria, B.C.

British Columbia, Canada

Victoria, B.C. has such an inviting and picturesque waterfront, with its majestic Empress Hotel and a delightful downtown area full of wonderful shopping and restaurants. But venture north past the main tourist area, and one runs into the exotic wonder that is Victoria’s Chinatown.

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Finding Time for Travel: A Practical Guide

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We are all so busy these days…between work, kids, family/friend obligations and day-to-day projects, sometimes it seems that finding time for travel takes a back burner to everything. Leaving many of us to ask, “How do I find the time to travel?”

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Photo: How to Find Peace on the Oregon Coast

Must Go

Hazy morning sun rays break through the clouds on a crisp fall day, illuminating the glassy sheen of the beach just north of Cannon Beach, OR. A stroll early enough in the morning affords one exclusive access to this beautiful place. Where when you look out into the ocean far enough you cannot tell where the clouds end and the water begins. A gentle closing of the eyes and a deep breath – the smell of the sea wind and the far-off cries of seagulls fill the senses.

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Murder-Mystery B&B on the Oregon Coast

Oregon

Want a little murder and intrigue with your B & B stay? How about a suspenseful mystery that lasts overnight and into the next morning, in historical accommodations, with dinner AND breakfast included?

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Alberta Arts District Portland: An Artist’s Haven

Food & Drink

“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 services. True to its name, it also provides outreach programs and advocates for the cycling community.

Looking for a fun, funky fresh way to experience Portland?

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At the Hall of Mosses on the Hoh Trail. Funny, I didn't see one Yellow Jacket.

Misadventures in Olympic National Park

Guides

Here I go again, flying by the seat of my pants.

As I stood staring at the makeshift park trail information board, my heart sank a little. For the privilege of hiking this particular trail, the Elwah Trail just east of Lake Crescent, I needed the America the Beautiful Pass. But what was that?

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Who Knew Dormant Volcanoes Could be So Much Fun?

Informational

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. So what better way to celebrate these ancient hills than by making them into parks for all to play in?

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Treehouse Living in Olympia

Must Go

The text message read “You will find the key in the mailbox under the deck.” Sounds like a treasure hunt, was my first thought. Will the key hold other clues to lead me on my adventure?

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For the love of coffee.

Antique Shopping in Sellwood Portland

Food & Drink

“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.

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What to Do on Mississippi Ave in Portland

Food & Drink

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 BBQ and creole-inspired heaven.

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Finding the Inspiration to Travel

Informational

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” -Miriam Beard

As we head into the thick of summer, I feel my energy waning with the unseasonably warm temperatures here in Oregon. So naturally, finding the inspiration to travel is following suit. Where to go next? How should I plan? Do I even want to travel in the near future?

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How Did I Get Here?: Where I Caught the Travel Bug

Informational

I inherited the travel bug from my Dad.

And I’m pretty sure he inherited it from his Dad. My grandfather, up until a very late age, was known to go on days-long driving trips, often without my Grandmother in tow. He must have been the one to start the solo travel craze. Although he did not stray far from his native Midwest, he would delight

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Discover Portland’s Hawthorne Neighborhood

Food & Drink

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 20^th and 39^th Streets. Hawthorne Boulevard is home to

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

Food & Drink

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

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