Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 4

Where do We Go from Here?

Beyond the PNW

Have you heard the news? Of course, you have. The world of travel has changed, literally overnight. International borders have closed on a global scale, and our exploratory nature has been dashed without nary a warning. I’m not going to even get into the decimating effects this has had on every facet of the travel industry. Thankfully, people still like to at least READ about travel. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced during the COVID-19 pandemic? I am what they call a ‘digital nomad.’ Meaning, I have an “official” home address, but I don’t really consider that my home. I am much more comfortable bouncing from place to place. Being a travel blogger is good for that! Whether I’m on assignment somewhere, reviewing a hotel, or house/pet sitting in a new area where I can both take care of a fur baby and explore my new surroundings. I thrive on…

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Downtown Portland

Exploring Downtown Portland: 1st Ave and Main Street

Food & Drink

**Note: Even though the state-at-home order has been imposed pretty much everywhere, that doesn’t stop us from planning a fantastic trip around Portland when we are able to move around again. Until then, enjoy this armchair journey through downtown.** Here is a guest blog from Marc Johnston, a long-time Portland resident and personal injury attorney, whose law firm office is located on Main Street and 1st Avenue. His neighborhood offers enough to keep even the most experienced of travelers exploring for days. All opinions expressed here are his own. -Sue Compact, walkable, and loaded with green space, there are few places better to explore Portland than the Downtown area. The Rose City is known for its diverse dining, eclectic shops, and one-of-kind cultural sites. When you are wondering what to do in downtown Portland, look no further! Scenic Attractions in Portland Starting at SW Main St. and SW 1st…

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7 of the Best Travel Books to Read While You’re Holed Up

Beyond the PNW

I think more of us will be slowing down and reading this summer…and who doesn’t love a good book? Especially when you are stuck at home and cannot travel. At least it is comforting to know that when you are able to travel again, the world will still be waiting for you! No matter the reason, a break from your job, a broken leg, or even a bleeping pandemic, when we travelers are forced to hunker down, we tend not to take it well. Fortunately, there is an endless supply of legendary travel writers who will take you on a journey, without you having to leave the comforts of home. Come with me as I walk you through 7 of the best adventure travel books ever. These are books about travel and self-discovery while traveling. I have read each and every one of these and all I can say is,…

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When Life Throws You a Crap Ton of Lemons: How to Deal

Personal Musings

I’m gonna have to throw my standard, evergreen content out the window for this post, folks. Because we are smack dab in the middle of Coronavirus; this grand stinking pandemic of the unprecedented variety. Sure, I could ignore the warnings and keep on traveling to bring you great Pacific Northwest stories. But what purpose would that serve? What message would that send to my readers? First and foremost, I have a responsibility to be a good citizen. How that plays out in the realm of my travel blog is very important to me. And then there’s my personal life. Yeah, not going to get into that here! Let’s just say…it’s complicated. You may be surprised to learn that I’m actually a very introverted person. And so this whole “social distancing” business is, in a strange way, slightly soothing to me. I have no problem with it. Well, at least not…

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7 Reasons You Need to Visit Baker City, Oregon

Guides

Looking for things to do in Baker City, Oregon? Come along with me… When most people make the journey west into Oregon, they will most likely be road-trippin’ along Interstate 84. Much of this stretch of highway follows the historic Oregon Trail. And when they first hit Oregon soil, they will pass through the little town of Baker City. Those two words, “pass through” are key. Because they don’t think to stop here for a while. And that’s a shame. What most people don’t know is that Baker City is a gem of a destination. To pass it by is to miss some pretty cool things. Here are just a few of the epic things to do in Baker City, Oregon. To get a well-rounded trip, go in summer when everything is open and the weather will not be an issue. Since the town sits over 3,000 feet in elevation,…

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The Best Spots On the Columbia River

Guides

When most people think about what to see along the Columbia River, the Gorge area immediately springs to mind. Probably because it is the most scenic! But there is so much more to this magnificent stretch of river, which guided our original explorers, Lewis & Clark to this great land. Interstate Highway 84, which runs on the Oregon side will guide you to Multnomah Falls, Hood River, and some of the best hiking in the Pacific Northwest. It has some of the best viewpoints in the Columbia River Gorge and make excellent road trips from Portland. But did you know?? There is plenty to do along or near the Columbia River on the Washington State side! Yep, what most people don’t realize is there are these little pockets of greatness to discover on the Washington side. Don’t miss these opportunities to truly enjoy all the Columbia River and the surrounding…

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Opulence in the Wild West: The Geiser Grand Hotel

Must Go

My first trip to Baker City was smack dab in the middle of winter, but this historic gold mining town managed to charm the pants off of me anyway. Located right along Interstate Highway 84, it follows the Oregon Trail and is steeped in history. But nothing compares to the incredible history and Wild West beauty of The Geiser Grand Hotel. In its heyday, which lasted through the 1920s, Baker City was known as the Queen City of the Mines; they were at the geographic center of the region’s rich gold, copper and silver fields, and became the center of trade and commerce as well. Townspeople enjoyed an affluent lifestyle; women ordered fine gowns from “back east” and men were attired in frock coats topped off with derbies or top hats. Baker City boasted not one but two Opera Houses, where world-famous artists performed, including the Russian Symphony. Geiser Grand…

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Why Portland Should Be Your Next City Break and a Brand Spanking New Podcast!

Informational

**This post was updated on June 30, 2022** City Breaks and Micro-cations are on the rise. What do these buzzwords mean, you may ask? City breaks are for those who are looking to relax and get away from the routine of their lives for a short while and do it in a place that still has some culture and plenty of things to do. Micro-cations are just what it implies – a delightful mini vacation. This can be anywhere from 2 to 5 days, depending on your schedule and destination. Portland is the perfect city for BOTH a City Break and a Micro-cation, for so many reasons. Here are just a few: It’s walkable, bikeable, busable… (yeah, busable is a word I just made up) Seriously, do you need a car in Portland? NO! There are so many other transportation options to get you around with ease. At $2.50 per…

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What Great Hospitality Looks Like: The SCP Redmond

Must Go

Tucked into the bustling Main Street of downtown Redmond is a new Redmond hotel that is revolutionizing the hotel industry. The SCP Hotel Redmond. Soul. Community. Planet. That’s what the SCP stands for, and these three simple words are redefining what it means to have the perfect holistic hotel experience. Their entire philosophy is based on taking care of the planet, the community, and YOU. SOUL Get rejuvenated with healthy options, quiet rooms and workout facilities, As soon as I walked in the door, the open concept area with a large brick fireplace and classic wood-beamed ceilings invited me in. Comfy sofas in front of the fire invite small gatherings and a chance to just relax. First of all, I was treated insanely well. The minute I stepped up to the check-in desk before I even gave my name, I was treated to a complimentary Pilsner or caffeinated beverage, from a…

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A Foodie Tour of Portland

Food & Drink

The truth is, I love food – it’s the reason I’m a few pounds over (ahem). But I just happen to live in one of the world’s premier foodie destinations, so I have zero regrets. There is always, ALWAYS another restaurant opening up in this town. It’s a big decision…deciding where to eat in Portland. I grapple with this decision every day. Best Food in Portland When I first sat down to write this post, it was difficult to know where to start. When it comes to a great meal, Portland is truly multi-national, multi-cultural and all-encompassing. The food carts here alone reflect this. You will literally find cuisine from most any country in the world in this town. And so, I am forced to be terribly selective on the food choices I make. I have my clear favorites, to be sure. And like every other creature of habit, I…

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Photo courtesy of OPB

Fun Facts about Oregon

Informational

Everyone loves these kinds of things, right? Interesting or funny facts about a certain area of the world – an area where they live, or where they are traveling to? It lends a personal flair to the whole thing, and let’s face it – it’s a great icebreaker at parties. Or maybe not – I really have no idea what people talk about at parties anymore. I’m too busy trying to write y’all some tasty blog posts. Nevertheless, I’ve compiled some pretty fun facts about Oregon. I hope you enjoy. And for goodness sake, if you have a funny or interesting fact that I’ve left out, I expect you to share! Let’s Get Started… Beer, Beer and more Beer, Baby! I know that Oregon has its fair share of micro-breweries, but I was surprised to learn that Portland has more breweries within its city limits than any other in the…

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Pacific Northwest Travel Tips Roundup!

British Columbia, Canada

I couldn’t end the year without waxing philosophical about why I got into this business of blogging in the first place! Yes, it’s because I love to write and even more so, love to travel and have new experiences. But it is also because I love the Pacific Northwest as a whole and because there are SO MANY of you out there who love it as well. So many of you ask me for the best Pacific Northwest travel tips, or how to plan a trip to the Pacific Northwest. My blog is a continuous work in progress to bring you just that! And so it seemed only fitting that I devote a blog post to those who are helping me on my quest to show the world how wonderful the Pacific Northwest is. So, I have put together a round-up of some great bloggers and other articles that give…

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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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