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

That Time I had Dessert with a Dead Composer

Food & Drink

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 a haunted house on a Sunday night. A Coffeehouse Named after a Classical Composer Everyone knows someone who has an old, eclectic grandmother. Well, this is where she lives, and she loves her old-fashioned Christmas ornaments hung haphazardly from the ceiling. And she also loves her white string lights arranged in foreboding Roman numerals on the wall-papered dining room. We ascended the stairs to the 1902 Craftsman-style burgundy house to get our coffee and dessert on. Inside the dimly-lit foyer, I immediately felt like I was a guest in a cozy home. In the dining room to our right came the gentle tickling of the ivories. We were in for some live classical music. A hand-written sign instructed us to…

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10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues in Oregon

Informational

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, it seems that we get up in the morning in the dark, we go about our day, and for those of us who work inside with little to no natural lighting or windows, it can get a bit depressing. And when it’s time to go home? Guess what? It’s dark again. Too many days of that can get even the happiest of us down. Seasonal Affective Disorder, y’all. The struggle is real. You Need a Little Motivation. I Get That. So often I hear people say “There’s nothing to do in Portland in the winter.” I simply scoff and try not to express my extreme distaste at that statement. Call me a snob, but people who say that are BORING.…

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The Most Epic Road Trip to Alaska

British Columbia, Canada

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. However, driving to Alaska is becoming increasingly popular and easy to achieve. Get in on the untapped wilderness now kids, before the tourists overrun one of the last vestiges of the uncharted world. Alaska road trip itineraries have to be carefully planned – maybe not down to a tee, but you do have to make sure you have stuff on hand, as there will be mighty long stretches of lonely road. The Alaska Highway is by far the most popular way to reach the 50th state by car. The entire route is paved, most of it by a two-lane highway. The roads are generally in good condition, but this could change from year to year depending on how badly the…

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Courtesy of Oregon Truffle Oil

Hunting Truffles in Oregon: A Tale of Fancy Fungi

Guides

The Oregon forest looks like a strange mystical netherworld during a January rain. It was early morning and I was still not fully awake. In this semi-aware state my writer’s imagination kicked in and thoughts of a T. Rex rearing his terrifying head through the foggy mist invaded my brain. There was an eerie silence to the forest and the slightest sound became ominous to my ears. Where You Can Find Truffles During Oregon Truffle Season And so it was when I met my truffle hunting friends. I met them in the northern Willamette Valley near Dundee, and a couple of them had dogs with them. It seems that dogs can sniff out really good, ripe truffles. Oregon truffles most often grow right underneath Douglas Fir Trees, on their roots, not far under the soil. Fifteen to thirty-year-old Douglas Firs, to be exact! Why are those truffles so hooked on…

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2018 Wrap-Up: Where I’ve Been and Where I’m Going

Must Go

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 them? That’s what I like to do. It gives me a curious sense of accomplishment. It’s a good way of taking stock of goals you’ve met, and those you didn’t quite get to. And if your last years was total crap…when then… Here your chance to start anew. As I look back on the previous year, I think of all of the great places I’ve been and the epic experiences I’ve had. This little blog I’ve got has been a labor of love, to be sure. But it’s my baby and I’m going to help her grow even more this year. I want to go to more places in the PNW and tell you all about it! And I’m freaking…

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Courtesy of Big Freedom Tiny Homes

Tiny House Travel and Why You Should Do It

British Columbia, Canada

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 72% of us spend a full 50% of our income on our homes. That’s insane!! It’s a big reason why Americans have an unprecedented amount of debt, and many are living paycheck to paycheck. (Pssst….tiny house travel!) Whoops, I’m so excited, I’m getting ahead of myself. But it doesn’t have to be this way! We have been raised in society by the notion that when you grow up, you should get a job working for someone else. This is, of course, to pay for a ton of stuff: your house, your car, your clothes, your kids, your pets…some of this is obviously important. But true to form, we tend to overspend. It’s just the way our economy has been set…

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The Case of the Mysterious UFO at Sauvie Island

Guides

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 and lonely… And Covered in Grafitti For many years, not a soul seemed to know how this saucer-like shipwreck came to its final resting place on Collins Beach. This clothing-optional beach has seen plenty of bare bottoms, but the craft’s origins were not so revealing. That is until a new story came out on the UFO-like structure, and suddenly, the skeletons came out of the closet. Namely the designer and builder of the boat. His name? Richard Ensign, a resident of Hubbard, Oregon. Now Mr. Ensign was a bit of an eccentric, in that he believed that the impending social and financial collapse of society as we know it would drive people to live more simply. He was a bit…

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7 Pitfalls of Living in the Pacific Northwest

Personal Musings

Living in the Pacific Northwest is a blessing and a curse. It’s hard to pin down what you should do with your free time. I mean, good gravy on a stick, the options are endless! Do I check out that new coffee roaster that just opened up? Or how about a ski weekend? But my friend asked me to brunch on Saturday, and I won’t be able to hit the slopes in time if I do brunch….but man, I really want that gourmet eggs benedict with the quail egg and crème fraise hollandaise sauce! As a Portlander, these are the thoughts that run through my head always. My ‘living in Oregon pros and cons’ list just keeps getting longer, where the pros (so far) far outweigh the cons. But I digress… Here are seven other aspects of the PNW that make it (somewhat) challenging to live here. The Seattle Freeze…

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What Makes Portland So Weird?

Informational

What does “being weird” mean to you? It could mean different things for different people. And surely it takes on a different connotation when you are talking about an entire city as opposed to a person or group of people. The general meaning of weird means out of the ordinary, or peculiar. Just something that the status quo is not used to. I never actually have considered Portland to be weird, and yet this moniker has stuck to the city for decades. Weird things to do in Portland? Let’s break it down… Portland is liberal, it has great coffee, and a ton of hipsters on bikes. But that doesn’t make Portland weird. No, the Rose City has a culmination of other features that gave it her weird status. It’s got the smallest park in the world….right in the middle of a busy street. Established in 1976, tiny Mills End Park resides…

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Great Pacific Northwest Products I Use on My Adventures

Shopping

Are you looking for some outdoor gear for your next travel adventure? Here are some awesome outdoor travel products coming from the Pacific Northwest that will outfit the explorer in you. Without mentioning the obvious (ahem, *cough *Nike* don’t-get-me-wrong-I-like-Nike *cough*). Sorry Nike, you get an honorable mention here, but you are too big for your britches. I will always go for the little guy, each and every time. I am proud to say I have had the pleasure of using every one of the products below, and my recommendations are included with each paragraph. I invite you to find out for yourself how awesome these all are! Keen. Headquartered in Portland, my Keen sandals got me safely through hiking the Narrows in Utah. In water, no less. They are designed with the airiness of a sandal, with lots of traction and the toe protection of a shoe. They look pretty…

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Why Portland is the Best Foodie City in America

Food & Drink

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 here, and I shudder like a bikini girl in Alaska when I think of all of the incredible places to eat where I haven’t yet been! To do so would require careful, military-precision-like planning, and I just don’t have that kind of time! The website Wallet Hub compared more than 180 cities across the U.S. and ranked them based on affordability not only on restaurants but on grocery prices, accessibility of high-quality restaurants and food festivals per capita. To be more specific, out of the 180 cities, Portland ranked #5 for diversity, accessibility, and quality (with New York City at #1). And came in #17 for affordability (San Antonio came in #1 for that). Read the article here. But enough…

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A Unique Pacific Northwest Experience

Guides

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) where shellfishing is a regular activity for the locals. It is also the perfect family activity, as kids get a kick out of digging in the sand anyway, right? It doesn’t take a lot of skill either, making this the perfect way to spend a day if you are just visiting. There are, however, a few preparations to make and licenses to purchase before you head out to the beach for your catch of the day. There are certain beaches to hit (which are listed below). Here you can easily find oysters, clams, and even the infamous Pacific Northwest geoduck! What to Do to Prepare Firstly, check out the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for regulations and the…

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Which City is Better: Seattle or Portland?

Informational

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 of this blog post, I’m just going to tell you what the answer is RIGHT NOW. Are you ready???? Wait for it….. It all depends! That is to say, it depends on your taste and desires when visiting a cosmopolitan city! It’s true. The long and short of it is you really cannot compare Portland to Seattle. Both are equally awesome, engaging destinations in their own right! And just because I live in Portland does NOT mean I am partial to that city. Well, I sort of am, I’m not going to lie to you. But honestly, I would just as well live in Seattle if I had the means to! So let’s examine the reasons…

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5 Things to Pack for the Pacific Northwest (Any Time of Year)

British Columbia, Canada

First of all….CONGRATULATIONS on your upcoming PNW adventure. You are going to have so much FUN. But now it’s time to start thinking about getting to the nitty-gritty of things and figure out what to pack for Oregon, Washington, or British Columbia…the cities, the country, the mountains, the coast, you’ll want to pack thoughtfully. ***This post was updated on April 9th, 2023. There are affiliate links on this site, however, all opinions here are my OWN.*** Careful thought should go into what you will pack! As with any destination, it is wise to check the weather report ahead of time for where you will be going and for what day. The Pacific Northwest can be temperamental weather-wise: even in winter, we can get some very mild days, filled with sunshine and (slightly) warmer weather. Even though our summers have been hot and dry recently, you should be prepared for the…

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Skiing in the Pacific Northwest – The Complete Guide

British Columbia, Canada

For people who love the outdoors, there is no greater destination than the Pacific Northwest. And for skiers? Whew-eee! You simply cannot call yourself a skier if you haven’t been to one of our gorgeous ski resorts. Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh. But if you haven’t yet been, then what are you waiting for? I am not one to talk since I’ve lived here for twenty years and only just had my first ski trip last year. And I’m raring to go on my next one this year. Wondering which resort(s) to visit? I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of each ski resort in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. So get your ski boots on and have a great winter! Skiing in Oregon Travel Oregon Oregon Ski Resorts Skiing in Washington Ski Washington Washington Ski Resorts The Biggest Ski Resorts in Washington State Skiing in B.C. On…

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My First Travel Blogging Conference (and it was Awesome)

Beyond the PNW

I am a solo female adventure traveler (who wears a size 12) and blogs about the Pacific Northwest. That was my ‘elevator pitch’ when I went to Austin, Texas for TravelCon 2018 and It Was Awesome!!! It was my first travel blogger/media conference and my first time in Austin. Yes, I hit two birds with one stone. How was Austin? Hot. Sticky. I heard cicadas and I love cicadas – I miss them as they’re not in the Pacific Northwest. I went rafting on the river. I waited in line for three hours for BBQ (it was worth it!) Austin is also really fun. The waterfront. The street art. Sixth street and all of the music. Here is a great city guide with vacation rentals in Austin. For vacation rentals in several cities throughout the U.S. Domio is a great resource. I learned a lot of stuff about the current state…

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I Can’t Do It All (But I Wish I Could!)

Personal Musings

As we age, you would think that we’d start to slow things down, wouldn’t you? Not so with me. If anything, I’m ramping things up. Big time. For decades I was asleep at the wheel. Doing what society has told me to do. To be a good girl, have a full-time job, have kids (I love kids but I was able to skirt that last one). And while I was busy fulfilling the status quo, I let my true passions fall by the wayside. Up until about two years ago. When I decided to throw caution to the wind and start this blog. I love writing and being the sole owner of a work in progress, but the love has been one of labor, no doubt. Some weeks I struggle to come up with a suitable blog topic (and some weeks I don’t get a post up, at all!) I still…

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Cannon Beach, Oregon – The Ultimate Guide

Guides

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 a large beach with plenty of places to relax the afternoon away. It is one of the MANY great day trips from Portland. Venture beyond the main shopping and dining areas where you will find weathered, cedar-shingle residences and vacation homes, just steps from the beach. Wispy bushes dot the sand dunes as you approach the ocean, inviting you to come to explore what might be around next corner. What better way to experience quintessential Oregon than a visit to Cannon Beach? Things to Do in Cannon Beach Haystack Rock. At low tide, you are able to walk around this behemoth of beauty and explore the tide pools. However, it is a state-protected marine area, so you are not allowed…

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5 Reasons Why Every Female Should Travel Solo (at least once!)

Beyond the PNW

I’m going to jump on the bandwagon here because I rarely do that. I’m writing this week’s blog post as a list. The ever-popular “5 reasons why (insert subject here)”. Because 1) it’s fun, and 2) everyone loves a list of something. It’s click-bait and I’m not ashamed to flaunt it. And I’ll say it now – every female should travel solo! So why am I writing a post that seems to have nothing to do with the Pacific Northwest? Oh, contrare! The PNW is a playground for solo travel! Female solo travel, in particular. Solo travel in Washington and Oregon is so – much – FUN!!! In many parts of the world, it is still considered unusual or even bad form for a woman to be traveling completely alone. But that is slowly changing. Oregon, Washington, and yes, British Columbia are very progressive states/provinces and it’s normal to see…

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5 Myths About the Pacific Northwest

Personal Musings

It’s funny how different people have their own ideas about an area of the world in which they don’t live, or have never been. For example, there are those in New York City who have never ventured out of their hometown and think that Iowa is full of nothing but corn and cows. And that chocolate milk is made out of brown cows. I kid you not. (I hope you’re not one of those people!) Bottom line is, legend and here-say is pretty powerful if you’ve heard or experienced nothing else to contradict it. Here are a few myths that I will do my best to debunk. Most People in Oregon are Tree-Hugging Hippies Marijuana is legal here, it’s true. And we do have our share of dreadlock-wearing, plaid-loving wanderers. But the vast majority of us are hard-working artists and professionals trying to live respectable lives just like the rest…

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