There’s nothing…I mean nothing more spiritually fulfilling than getting up at the crack of dawn on a summer’s day, getting in your car with a full tank of gas, and…
City Guide to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the cuter-than-a-button, picturesque darling of British Columbia. I really love this little city – with its super-easy and affordable ferry trip from Seattle, and its walkable fun-filled streets,…
Road Trip: The Lighthouses of Oregon
What better way to map out the perfect road trip than to drive along the Oregon Coast and catch all of the lighthouses? From Astoria in the north to Brookings…
Take a Tasty Tour through Oregon’s Wine Country
When people think of wine produced in the United States, most immediately think California’s Napa Valley. But just up the road is the fertile Willamette Valley of Oregon, which produces…
The Ultimate Guide to the Pacific Northwest
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…
Silver Falls State Park
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…
Road Trip: The Columbia River Gorge
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…
British Columbia – In Broad Strokes
British Columbia… Where the whale-inhabited waters of Puget Sound bleed into the international waters of the great Canadian province of British Columbia. This 944,735 km2 acre western section of Canada…
Why I Fell In Love with San Juan Island, Washington
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…
Slow-paced Perfection on Orcas Island, Washington
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…
Oregon’s Pendleton Round Up
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…
24 Hours on Lopez Island, WA
At a coffee shop in Lopez Village, the friendly barista was very patient with an elderly Australian man who was having trouble paying with his credit card. Internet service is…
Why I Love the Washington State Ferries
There is something very gratifying about having the privilege of traveling easily over the water for long distances. Even though we as a species have been traveling over water for…
Mount Hood Meadows: My First Ski Trip
Would you believe, I’ve lived in Oregon for over 20 years, and I’ve never put on a pair of skis….until now. Growing up in the Midwest I was not exposed…
10 Facts About the Pacific Northwest Coastline
The wild, rugged and sandy coastline of the Pacific Northwest is chock full of interesting factoids, history, legend and natural beauty. One can spend a good chunk of their lifetime…
Springtime in Portland
With all of the rainy dreary weather that we experience during Portland winters, it’s incredibly wonderful to start to see the first spring blossoms on the trees. The sun comes…
The Mystique of Portland’s Saturday Market
A murky fog blankets The Old Town section of Portland, and as the first hint of light begins to overtake the cloudy sky, the vendors appear with their moving trucks…
Pacific Northwest Treehouses
Okay, so staying in a tree house is a ‘thing’ now. And it appears I’m VERY late to the party. But I’m all about tree house living and treehouse rentals in…
A Tour of Seattle’s Vibrant Neighborhoods
One of the things that makes Seattle such a great city is its distinctive neighborhoods. Much like it’s feisty sister to the south (Portland), you can think of Seattle as…
High Desert Country in Eastern Oregon
When you think of a desert, what comes to mind? As a child, my idea of a desert was something like the Sahara; endless miles of nothing but sand, as…