It was a dark and stormy night…. No, wait. It was dark, yes, but stormy…no. Just cold. Winter in Portland tends to make you do crazy things…like have coffee in…

We’ve all been there…it is the thick of winter. There are grey skies…all the time. Okay, not really ALL the time, but it sure as hell feels that way! Nevertheless,…

For the longest time, I thought that the road north from the U.S. northern border up through Canada to Alaska was a vast wasteland. Almost unpassable. Much like outer Mongolia.…

Don’cha just love a clean slate? Where you can reminisce on all of the last years’ events with fondness, or if not, to take the not-so-great moments and learn from…

Don’t you sometimes just want to simplify your life? Travel more? The vast majority of us (at least in America) are bogged down by the roof over our heads. About…

On the banks of the Columbia River, tucked into the trees on a nude beach on Sauvie Island just north of Portland, sits a strange craft. It is UFO-looking, landlocked…

I am so proud of my city. And finally, Portland has been officially recognized as the best foodie city in the U.S. Because you know something? It’s true! I live…

One of the most uniquely Pacific Northwest activities you can do is to spend an afternoon shellfishing. There are dozens of great beaches along Oregon and Washington (especially Puget Sound)…

Ah….the age-old Pacific Northwest question! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked that one! Okay, so without making you scroll all the way down to the end…

To get the true essence of the Oregon coast, nothing is better than Cannon Beach. The iconic Haystack rock is mere steps away from the main drag of town on…

There is a section of Portland where the Willamette River and the mighty Columbia River meet. At this confluence resides the historic neighborhood of St. Johns. A section of Portland…

I’m going to forego the usual boring introduction (that no one reads anyway) and just get right to it. These are ten things (out of thousands) that make Portland great.…

Astoria is Oregon’s northernmost coastal city. Perched at the top of her many hills, you’ll be offered a sweeping view of the very long Astoria-Megler bridge into Washington state, and…

Can you think of a place that is so untouched by human hands, and yet so traversed that it’s difficult to imagine why it remains so beautiful? Vancouver Island is…

Continuing my exploration of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, I was excited to finally break through the stronghold of Victoria. With its Empress Hotel, Butchart Gardens and so many places…

This is the first in a series of stories about my exploration of Vancouver Island, Canada. Makes for a great road trip in British Columbia. Read about parts two and…

It’s not unusual to walk down a street in Portland and find a line out the door to an eating establishment. There are so many incredible restaurants in the city;…

**This article was updated in June 2022.** I have always been a rebel. If the crowd is going one way, I’m likely to go the opposite direction. That is unless…

Okay, I’ll admit it. That headline was a cheesy attention grabber. I actually despise cigarettes. And I’m fairly certain you can’t smoke in most diners anymore. But I had to…

The Pacific Northwest has some pretty epic national parks. It’s safe to say that as far as outdoor scenery goes, these parks are among the best Planet Earth has to…