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…
Bend, Oregon: Buttes, Brews and Bikes
As we emerged from the Willamette National forest going south, we noticed a menacing dark cloud hanging in the air towards our destination, Bend. This wasn’t a storm cloud, this…
Photography to Inspire You to Visit the Pacific Northwest
Lately, I have been seeing some pretty incredible images of the Pacific Northwest. So much so that it has inspired me to work even harder to bring you all things…
Unique Pacific Northwest Hotels and Pubs: McMenamins
When you think of a chain of hotels or a chain of restaurants, your eyes tend to immediately gloss over and the first thing you think of is BORING…right? You…
Best Food Carts in Portland
Updated May 10, 2024. In all of my travels, I have not been in (or heard of) any other city in the world that has as many diverse food carts…
10 Things NOT to do in Seattle, Washington
In response to my previous article about what NOT to do in Portland, I was strongly advised to do a follow up one about Seattle. The Emerald City is so…
The Unbridled Beauty of Deception Pass and the Olympic Peninsula
One of the things I really love about northwest Washington state is that there are a multitude of attractions within a very small geographic area. The best of several worlds…
The Portland Street Art Scene: Portland Murals
Portland is one of the few cities in America with a vibrant and active street art scene, thanks to the Portland Art Alliance. The benefits of street art are two-fold: not…
Dry Falls and Soap Lake, WA: A Gift from the Last Ice Age
The last Ice Age left us some pretty cool stuff. In the deserts of Central Washington State, there are so many phenomenal geological wonders to explore. Among these is Dry…
9 Best Portland Cocktail Bars (from a Local)
Weather you’ve been exploring Portland all day, working hard for ‘THE MAN’, or hell, even cooped up in your home office working working on your novel (instead of actually working),…
5 Hot Springs in Oregon You Must Visit
Have you ever been to a naturally occurring hot spring? How about actually soaking in one? A perfect hot tub brought to you by mother nature! Many hot springs…
Searching for the Elusive Underground Tunnels in Chinatown, Victoria, B.C.
Victoria, B.C. has such an inviting and picturesque waterfront, with its majestic Empress Hotel and a delightful downtown area full of wonderful shopping and restaurants. But venture north past…
Photo: How to Find Peace on the Oregon Coast
Hazy morning sun rays break through the clouds on a crisp fall day, illuminating the glassy sheen of the beach just north of Cannon Beach, OR. A stroll early enough…
Misadventures in Olympic National Park
Here I go again, flying by the seat of my pants. As I stood staring at the makeshift park trail information board, my heart sank a little. For the privilege…
Treehouse Living in Olympia
The text message read “You will find the key in the mailbox under the deck.” Sounds like a treasure hunt, was my first thought. Will the key hold other clues…
What to Do on Mississippi Ave in Portland
Mississippi Avenue is one of Portland’s most vibrant districts. I hopped off of the Number 4 bus to meet my friend at one of our favorite restaurants there, Miss Delta.…