Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 6

A jellyfish washed ashore.

Your Complete Guide to Tillamook, Oregon

Food & Drink

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 packaging process of the best cheese in all of Oregon. A viewing gallery overlooks the production floor as placards explain each step of the cheese-making process. On this level you can also sample a variety of cheeses. The lower level is the really good stuff. A large eating area is flanked by a cafe and ice cream shop. And what visitor’s center would be complete without a gift shop? Not only can you buy ice cream and cheese to take home, but there is a small grocery store, and all manner of Tillamook and Oregon-inspired…

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Diablo Lake Courtesy of Visit Bellingham

The 6 Most Scenic Places in the Pacific Northwest

British Columbia, Canada

Photo courtesy of Visit Bellingham **This article was updated July 1, 2022** Looking for things to do in the Pacific Northwest? How about a scenic Pacific Northwest road trip? I struggled with this one. I really did. Simply because ALL of the Pacific Northwest is scenic and there are plenty of places to go in the northwest. I had to put some downright gorgeous places had to inevitably be put to the chopping block. Damn. However, I must swallow some sort of guilt about not writing a ‘100 Most Scenic Places in the Pacific Northwest’ and move on. Because really, ain’t no one got that kind of time! For this list, I mostly chose incredible expansive vistas, because at least for me, these are what takes my breath away the most (other than a beautifully-presented plate of delicious food). But I digress… So, without further ado, here are the best…

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Back Alley Star Wars

Finding the Truly Weird (and Very Cool) in North Portland

Informational

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 link below.) Back Alley Star Wars The owner is quite obviously a Star Wars fan (as am I!) There is even a little cutout in the fence below, with a plastic covering, where the family dog can peek out at you (thankfully the pooch is not a barker). And further down the next street is this… Throughout the neighborhood, you will find tiny surprises like this. It seems each and every house has a distinct personality, where the residents are hell-bent on expressing their individuality in so many varied ways. It’s a beautiful thing, and…

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Procrastination is a Saucy So-and-So

Personal Musings

Why DO we procrastinate? This is a deep, deep subject. It is something that has been heavily studied by top research scientists. Why? Because we all do it. Whether we are the most practical of planners or the most irresponsible of slackers, there is some level of procrastination that inevitably goes on in our lives. Here’s a really great Ted Talk on the subject. Procrastination Station Take blogging for instance. Here I am, a Pacific Northwest travel blogger. My website hasn’t been around all that long, and yet so far, I have written about so many great things. Things that have inspired people to come visit my area of the planet. And I haven’t even begun to cover all there is…there is so much more to write. And yet I find myself at a loss of what to write next. The PNW is a vast, beautiful playground. There are…

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Portland’s 2nd Annual Mac & Cheese Fest: A Review

Food & Drink

Who doesn’t absolutely adore the iconic American comfort food – macaroni and cheese?? As a kid, my Mom would cook it up for us, with fish sticks, almost every Friday. We’d gorge ourselves on it, then go out and play. You could do that when you’re a kid and not throw up. I also consider myself a foodie. So when I caught wind that there was actually a Mac & Cheese FESTIVAL in my hometown, of course, I jumped on it. But… …I was short on cash. Boo. So what did I do? I got on the Portland Mac & Cheese Fest website and clicked on ‘volunteer.’ Now I’m no stranger to volunteering – I’ve done my share of it with Habitat for Humanity and volunteering at my local hospital. But I’ve never volunteered for an event – certainly not one like this. I filled out the form and gave…

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The Awesomeness of Trillium Lake

Guides

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 Trillium, I was surprised by just how small it was. There is a trail that goes completely around the lake and the average person can walk around it in under an hour, even having time for a couple of stops to gawk at the magnificent scenery. A Peaceful Oasis There are picnic spots and places to fish. Since there is no spawning in the lake, the fish are stocked and consist of different types of trout, such as rainbow, cutthroat and brook trout. The trail consists of dirt and boardwalk, as there are some parts…

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Travel photographer equipment on rocky mountain with beautiful landscape on the background

Top Pacific Northwest Bloggers You Need to Follow

Beyond the PNW

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 strictly on Pacific Northwest travel. I started this blog write about my travels all around Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia. To tell people where to go to plan that perfect vacation in my neck of the woods. But also…I want to tell you… Keeping up a blog is HARD. It’s a huge time sucker-upper. Even though I LOVE it, it’s a LOT of work. Not only do I strive to keep cranking out new, fresh content, I have to make sure that my old content is still relevant. (Hint: Most everything about the Pacific…

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Green Springs Inn & Cabins, Ashland, OR

Informational

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 a bird, and just take off for those mountains, with the ground hundreds of feet below you. Getting closer to our destination, thick forests enveloped us, and we saw several deer calmly hanging out near the side of the road, casually looking at us, as if to say “cool, you’re here!” We were headed for a modern-day slice of heaven in the woods. The Green Springs Inn and Cabins. The Inn comes up on your right side and the first thing you notice is the cabin-type restaurant. This is where we also checked…

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The Bicycle Culture in Portland, Oregon

Guides

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 with cyclists. It’s almost too easy to ditch your car and commute everywhere on a bike. Most major streets and even a few residential streets have clearly marked bike lanes. The green sections on a street? Yep, those are for bikes. Join the Revolution We love our bikes because it is in line with our independently-minded attitude. Plus, it feeds our eco-conscious ego. Heck, we even have a bike and beer tour! How’s THAT for dedication to wheels and brew? You don’t have to be a hard-core biker to be welcomed with open arms as…

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What’s So Bad About Tacoma, Washington?

Guides

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 city. Just because it lives under the shadow of the great Emerald City does NOT mean it doesn’t have its fair share of cool things to do and places to go. If you’re flying into Seattle, you will land at Sea-Tac Airport. Yep, you guessed is the Tac stands for Tacoma, and the airport lies smack dab in the middle of the two cities. A popular moniker you may hear is “The Aroma of Tacoma.” Sounds kind of insulting, doesn’t it? What this refers to is the slight sulfur smell you may (or most…

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Funny Slash Interesting Things About the PNW

British Columbia, Canada

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 shining examples of uniqueness that sparkle like a diamond in the imagination. I looked for the interesting, the strange, the funky….basically anything that made me go “hmmmm!” So here is what I came up with. Enjoy! And if you want to add anything to this list, please let me know, because this blog is a two-way street and I always LOVE to hear from my readers! OREGON What the Heck is Up with All That Beer ?!? I’m from the Midwest, so I grew up with people who only drank Milwaukie’s Best or Bud Light.…

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Courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle

What Shakespeare Festival? 9 (Other) Things to Do in Ashland, OR

Guides

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. Culture and imagination flourish in Ashland. Most people who have heard of Ashland only think of the world-renowned Shakespeare festival that takes place from March through October every year. But like everything else, there is more to this laid-back town than that, as well. And it is easy to get to; it’s right off of Interstate 5, about 30 minutes north of the northern Californian border. Here are ten things to do in Ashland that don’t involve high-level theatre. Lithia Park Carve out a few hours and drive the entire loop around Lithia Park, making…

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Seattle’s Vibrant Neighborhoods – Part Deux

Guides

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 driving/walking/biking up and down steep hillsides…and the closer you are to the water, the steeper the hills seem to be. Just a heads up! Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods are also the best neighborhoods in Seattle for families. Enrich your experience of the city…here’s how. Pioneer Square Just south of downtown, this is one of the oldest areas of the city, made famous by the very famous Seattle Underground Tour. I HIGHLY recommend this tour! (No, they didn’t pay me to say that.) Pioneer Square is also the place for the night owl and the party animal,…

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Courtesy of Western River Expeditions

Whitewater Rafting on the Deschutes River

Must Go

Can I just tell you how AMAZING whitewater rafting is? Why the heck did I wait so long? I went for the first time this summer (2019), a day after my 40-(ahem-ahem) birthday. It was an incredible adventure that took my breath away, and probably the best Oregon river experience I’ve had. I decided to pop my whitewater cherry by taking an easy ½ day afternoon guided trip. It was a gorgeous sunny day in central Oregon and driving into the tiny town of Maupin, my husband and I stopped by the shop of Deschutes River Adventures to check in for our trip. An Adventures Awaits There are about eight whitewater rafting companies in Maupin, all with experienced guides that will take you safely down the river for a ton of fun. A group of us piled into one of their vans and we took off for the 10-minute drive…

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Newhalem and Diablo Lake, Washington

Guides

The North Cascades is a wilderness paradise. My previous trip to the Northern Cascade Loop took us on a couple of epic hikes, with some of the best backpacking Washington State has to offer, but little did I know there is so much to the area of northern Washington State than meets the eye. I was about to find out. As you are driving along the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway on the northern part, you will no doubt pass through the tiny little town of Newhalem. There is a nifty train engine and some unassuming white houses. Nothing special, right? Don’t be fooled. You’re gonna want to stop here, at least for an hour or two. I made the mistake of driving straight through the first time we came to the upper Cascades. This is where J.D. Ross began his empire. Well, who the heck is that and why should…

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Nightlife in Portland

Guides

Portland, Oregon is a unique charmer of an American city. Yes, I am biased, because it’s been my home for two decades. But honestly, there are so many things that make Portland unique, and the nightlife is one of them. Not only does Portland rival Seattle in the local music scene (think Everclear, the Decemberists, and Pink Martini, to name a few) but there is art, unique shopping, and the world-class foodie scene – something for everyone! Best Nightlight in Portland Here is where you should go after the sun goes down in Portland, Oregon. PDX Night Market The night market happens only a few times a year, so if you are able, do not miss it. Not only is there unique shopping provided to you by local vendors, but there is food and music, as well. Powell’s City of Books Feed your inner nerd. The world’s largest independent bookstore…

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The lobby from the third floor atrium.

Skamania Lodge – the Perfect Gorge Experience

Must Go

High up on a hill in the forests of the Columbia River Gorge is Skamania Lodge, a destination resort unlike anything I’ve experienced. I have traversed the Oregon side of the Gorge countless times, but exploring the Washington side? Little did I know what treasures awaited me. Turns out there is so much to do and explore on the Washington side of the Gorge. Because most travelers drive I-84 on the Oregon side, they have no idea the bounty of things to do on the Washington side. I am ashamed to admit I was one of those people! But no more. An Oasis in the Heart of the Gorge I arrived at Skamania Lodge with dark clouds overhead and rain threatening. But the sprawling property looked very cozy and inviting. Past the reception area is a large seating area with floor to ceiling windows, a piano in the corner…

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Day Trips from Portland for Every Season

Informational

When you need to take a break from the city, away from the great coffee shops, the incredible food scene or just the bustle of downtown Portland, there is a myriad of places you can get away to for a day. Portland is smack dab in the middle of what seems like everything. You could think of it as the center of the universe (or at least of the Pacific Northwest.) To the south is wine country. To the north is Washington State and Seattle. To the east is the pristine Cascade Mountain range. And to the west is the Pacific Ocean – literally the edge of the Earth. The Willamette Valley itself does not see the full range of seasons, but you can be sure that some of the surrounding areas do. And so there are certain places that are better to hit at certain times of the year…

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Why Does the PNW have So Many #$@&%*! Islands?

British Columbia, Canada

So what IS up with all of those islands? So many of them off the coast of Washington State (I’m talking about you, Puget Sound) and even more off the coast of British Columbia. Not to mention, the granddaddy of them all, Vancouver Island. As an explorer, I get frustrated with this. There are so many that some are uninhabited, and some don’t even get visitors. That’s crazy! And like the over-privileged glutton I am, I feel like everything should be accessible to me. But news flash kids, that’s not how the world works. Sometimes mother nature doesn’t want you tramping your grubby paws all over her. And I have to respect that. So I’m forced to consider why these islands came to be. How did they get formed? For starters, let’s hone in on the San Juan Islands north of Puget Sound. The San Juan’s are comprised of roughly…

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Astoria Seafood and Wine Festival

Food & Drink

I’ve been meaning to do this for years. I love seafood and I love wine. So why it took me this long to attend this yearly event, now in this 37th year, I’ll never know. But this year, I made it. It was a gorgeous spring day and we arrived an hour early to find a line of cars already waiting to get into the adjacent parking lot. The entire event is run by friendly and helpful volunteers, and the parking attendants were especially friendly. We got a map of the event to study as we were waiting. So Many (Wine) Choices As soon as we walked in, the event’s sponsor, Fred Meyer (a regional grocery and retail store) had a large booth set up with fresh seafood for sale. The main convention hall was filled with mostly winery booths and locally produced merchandise, such as apparel and glassware.…

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