Various guides to all things Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
When you look at a map of the Pacific Northwest and Canada, what draws your eye when you consider a getaway to this area of the world? The lush green rainforests? The largest cities in the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, and Portland? The magnificent Pacific coastline? Or something else? I cannot think of any…
There is a reason people call this the “crown jewel” of state parks. At 9,200 acres, it is Oregon’s largest and most diverse state park. To my knowledge, no other state park has a total of ten unique waterfalls, some of which you can actually walk around the back of! I’m not sure you can…
Oregon’s state capital is conveniently located on Interstate 5, about 40 miles south of Portland. As most state capitals go, the city is relatively small, and the most interesting thing about it is the capital building itself. While I’m not a huge fan of this town (i.e. I’m not much into the political…
Nothing is more gorgeously majestic than the Columbia River Gorge. This is the ultimate Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary. Whether you’re driving west from the Oregon desert, or east from Portland, as soon as you come upon the forested cliffs of the gorge on Interstate 84, you feel very tiny indeed. In a good way,…
As a state, Oregon ranks 3rd in the U.S. for the number of craft breweries per capita. When I moved to this area of the country I was most definitely NOT a beer drinker. I didn’t like the taste of beer and I couldn’t quite understand what the appeal was, other than the obvious…
As you step off the San Juan Island ferry into Friday Harbor, the quintessential charm of the place hits you square on. It is all at once a seaside port town and a throwback to 1940’s resort glamour. Not to say that everything isn’t up-to-date – San Juan Island has modern hotels and contemporary, chef-run restaurants. It’s just…
Orcas Island is slow-paced perfection, like much of life in the rural Pacific Northwest. Where the locals wave to you as you walk down the street. You can forget about the conveniences of city life: McDonald’s? Some people that live in the San Juans haven’t been to one in decades, if ever. It’s 10 pm…
Every summer, Oregon fully embraces the spirit of the wild west by celebrating the art of the rodeo. The Pendleton Round Up Sure, just about every state has their version of a rodeo, but in Oregon, the Pendleton Round Up rodeo is kind of a big deal. Attracting over 50,000 spectators from all over the…
