Explorer Sue • Your Guide to the Pacific Northwest - Part 5

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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The Bicycle Culture in Portland, Oregon

Guides

Portlanders take their biking pretty seriously. I mean, we’re certainly not Amsterdam, where you are genuinely putting your life at risk should you step out in front of a biker on the street. Those guys don’t mess around, they’re FAST and take no prisoners. But here in Portland, it’s much safer to share the road with cyclists. It’s almost too easy to ditch your car and commute everywhere on a bike. Most major streets and even a few residential streets have clearly marked bike lanes. The green sections on a street? Yep, those are for bikes. Join the Revolution We love our bikes because it is in line with our independently-minded attitude. Plus, it feeds our eco-conscious ego. Heck, we even have a bike and beer tour! How’s THAT for dedication to wheels and brew? You don’t have to be a hard-core biker to be welcomed with open arms as…

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What’s So Bad About Tacoma, Washington?

Guides

City rivalries are pretty silly if you ask me. I mean…WHY? It’s like two siblings fighting over who is best in mother’s eyes. Take Seattleites’ disdain for Tacoma, for example. Not a trip to Seattle goes by where I don’t hear at least one local resident rip on Tacoma. I think Tacoma is a fine city. Just because it lives under the shadow of the great Emerald City does NOT mean it doesn’t have its fair share of cool things to do and places to go. If you’re flying into Seattle, you will land at Sea-Tac Airport. Yep, you guessed is the Tac stands for Tacoma, and the airport lies smack dab in the middle of the two cities. A popular moniker you may hear is “The Aroma of Tacoma.” Sounds kind of insulting, doesn’t it? What this refers to is the slight sulfur smell you may (or most…

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Funny Slash Interesting Things About the PNW

British Columbia, Canada

What is the quirkiest thing you can think of where you live? I always love finding out new and interesting things about my area of the world. So I decided to go on a mission to hunt for what makes the Pacific Northwest unique. I searched Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia for those shining examples of uniqueness that sparkle like a diamond in the imagination. I looked for the interesting, the strange, the funky….basically anything that made me go “hmmmm!” So here is what I came up with. Enjoy! And if you want to add anything to this list, please let me know, because this blog is a two-way street and I always LOVE to hear from my readers! OREGON What the Heck is Up with All That Beer ?!? I’m from the Midwest, so I grew up with people who only drank Milwaukie’s Best or Bud Light.…

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Courtesy of San Francisco Chronicle

What Shakespeare Festival? 9 (Other) Things to Do in Ashland, OR

Guides

Southern Oregon doesn’t get much love on the blogosphere, but that should change. Why? Because it is so much a part of the state. More than the beautiful coastline – more than the city of Portland. There is much to explore in Oregon’s gorgeous landscape and small towns in the southern area of the state. Culture and imagination flourish in Ashland. Most people who have heard of Ashland only think of the world-renowned Shakespeare festival that takes place from March through October every year. But like everything else, there is more to this laid-back town than that, as well. And it is easy to get to; it’s right off of Interstate 5, about 30 minutes north of the northern Californian border. Here are ten things to do in Ashland that don’t involve high-level theatre. Lithia Park Carve out a few hours and drive the entire loop around Lithia Park, making…

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Seattle’s Vibrant Neighborhoods – Part Deux

Guides

My review of Seattle’s many many neighborhoods continues. You can find my first collection of Seattle neighborhoods HERE. Dare to go beyond Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the touristy waterfront the really DIG DEEP into Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods. One thing I will say about Seattle…it is a HILLY town. You will find yourself constantly driving/walking/biking up and down steep hillsides…and the closer you are to the water, the steeper the hills seem to be. Just a heads up! Seattle’s vibrant neighborhoods are also the best neighborhoods in Seattle for families. Enrich your experience of the city…here’s how. Pioneer Square Just south of downtown, this is one of the oldest areas of the city, made famous by the very famous Seattle Underground Tour. I HIGHLY recommend this tour! (No, they didn’t pay me to say that.) Pioneer Square is also the place for the night owl and the party animal,…

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Courtesy of Western River Expeditions

Whitewater Rafting on the Deschutes River

Must Go

Can I just tell you how AMAZING whitewater rafting is? Why the heck did I wait so long? I went for the first time this summer (2019), a day after my 40-(ahem-ahem) birthday. It was an incredible adventure that took my breath away, and probably the best Oregon river experience I’ve had. I decided to pop my whitewater cherry by taking an easy ½ day afternoon guided trip. It was a gorgeous sunny day in central Oregon and driving into the tiny town of Maupin, my husband and I stopped by the shop of Deschutes River Adventures to check in for our trip. An Adventures Awaits There are about eight whitewater rafting companies in Maupin, all with experienced guides that will take you safely down the river for a ton of fun. A group of us piled into one of their vans and we took off for the 10-minute drive…

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Newhalem and Diablo Lake, Washington

Guides

The North Cascades is a wilderness paradise. My previous trip to the Northern Cascade Loop took us on a couple of epic hikes, with some of the best backpacking Washington State has to offer, but little did I know there is so much to the area of northern Washington State than meets the eye. I was about to find out. As you are driving along the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway on the northern part, you will no doubt pass through the tiny little town of Newhalem. There is a nifty train engine and some unassuming white houses. Nothing special, right? Don’t be fooled. You’re gonna want to stop here, at least for an hour or two. I made the mistake of driving straight through the first time we came to the upper Cascades. This is where J.D. Ross began his empire. Well, who the heck is that and why should…

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Nightlife in Portland

Guides

Portland, Oregon is a unique charmer of an American city. Yes, I am biased, because it’s been my home for two decades. But honestly, there are so many things that make Portland unique, and the nightlife is one of them. Not only does Portland rival Seattle in the local music scene (think Everclear, the Decemberists, and Pink Martini, to name a few) but there is art, unique shopping, and the world-class foodie scene – something for everyone! Best Nightlight in Portland Here is where you should go after the sun goes down in Portland, Oregon. PDX Night Market The night market happens only a few times a year, so if you are able, do not miss it. Not only is there unique shopping provided to you by local vendors, but there is food and music, as well. Powell’s City of Books Feed your inner nerd. The world’s largest independent bookstore…

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The lobby from the third floor atrium.

Skamania Lodge – the Perfect Gorge Experience

Must Go

High up on a hill in the forests of the Columbia River Gorge is Skamania Lodge, a destination resort unlike anything I’ve experienced. I have traversed the Oregon side of the Gorge countless times, but exploring the Washington side? Little did I know what treasures awaited me. Turns out there is so much to do and explore on the Washington side of the Gorge. Because most travelers drive I-84 on the Oregon side, they have no idea the bounty of things to do on the Washington side. I am ashamed to admit I was one of those people! But no more. An Oasis in the Heart of the Gorge I arrived at Skamania Lodge with dark clouds overhead and rain threatening. But the sprawling property looked very cozy and inviting. Past the reception area is a large seating area with floor to ceiling windows, a piano in the corner…

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Day Trips from Portland for Every Season

Informational

When you need to take a break from the city, away from the great coffee shops, the incredible food scene or just the bustle of downtown Portland, there is a myriad of places you can get away to for a day. Portland is smack dab in the middle of what seems like everything. You could think of it as the center of the universe (or at least of the Pacific Northwest.) To the south is wine country. To the north is Washington State and Seattle. To the east is the pristine Cascade Mountain range. And to the west is the Pacific Ocean – literally the edge of the Earth. The Willamette Valley itself does not see the full range of seasons, but you can be sure that some of the surrounding areas do. And so there are certain places that are better to hit at certain times of the year…

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Why Does the PNW have So Many #$@&%*! Islands?

British Columbia, Canada

So what IS up with all of those islands? So many of them off the coast of Washington State (I’m talking about you, Puget Sound) and even more off the coast of British Columbia. Not to mention, the granddaddy of them all, Vancouver Island. As an explorer, I get frustrated with this. There are so many that some are uninhabited, and some don’t even get visitors. That’s crazy! And like the over-privileged glutton I am, I feel like everything should be accessible to me. But news flash kids, that’s not how the world works. Sometimes mother nature doesn’t want you tramping your grubby paws all over her. And I have to respect that. So I’m forced to consider why these islands came to be. How did they get formed? For starters, let’s hone in on the San Juan Islands north of Puget Sound. The San Juan’s are comprised of roughly…

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Astoria Seafood and Wine Festival

Food & Drink

I’ve been meaning to do this for years. I love seafood and I love wine. So why it took me this long to attend this yearly event, now in this 37th year, I’ll never know. But this year, I made it. It was a gorgeous spring day and we arrived an hour early to find a line of cars already waiting to get into the adjacent parking lot. The entire event is run by friendly and helpful volunteers, and the parking attendants were especially friendly. We got a map of the event to study as we were waiting. So Many (Wine) Choices As soon as we walked in, the event’s sponsor, Fred Meyer (a regional grocery and retail store) had a large booth set up with fresh seafood for sale. The main convention hall was filled with mostly winery booths and locally produced merchandise, such as apparel and glassware.…

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Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley

Guides

April is Tulip time in northwestern Washington, and even though it’s too late to go now for 2019 because your friendly neighborhood blogger didn’t tell you about it until now… There’s always next year. Put it this way, it’s never too early to start planning, because Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley, Washington is a big deal. Hundreds of thousands come from all over the world to see the many tulip fields in bloom. The only other place in the world that rivals this much tulip production is the Netherlands. Fun Fact If you go to Amsterdam to shop for tulip bulbs, chances are you find some that actually came from Washington. Yep. And Skagit Valley doesn’t just have gorgeous and expansive tulip fields. They have a month-long celebration that encompasses several towns around the area. Anacortes (the gateway to the San Juan Islands) has the Spring Wine Festival, vintage…

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Fort Townsend Street Art

5 Reasons Why the Pacific Northwest Should be on Your Bucket List

British Columbia, Canada

Are you tired of seeing travel bucket lists? No? Oh good, because here’s another one. I have an entire board on Pinterest devoted to my own personal bucket list. Places like Patagonia, Mongolia, Venice before it sinks into oblivion. The list goes on. Until I came to the realization… I am living in a bucket list destination. The Pacific Northwest territories of British Columbia, Canada, Washington state and Oregon have some of the most scenic spots anywhere. And I am privileged to live here, where all of this beauty is literally in my back yard. Almost makes one not want to leave home. Ha, ha! That’s a good one. Not me, I’m too much of an explorer. I will continue to travel the world as long as I have breath in me. Having said that, there is plenty near where I live to which I have not yet wandered.…

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The Best Lil’ Cabin on Lake Washington

Guides

Tucked away in the heart of Bellevue, WA, lies a lovely cabin, mere steps from the Meydenbauer Bay, Lake Washington. About ten miles from the heart of Seattle, this is the perfect place to get away from a hectic day of sightseeing in the city. I arrived much too late for my taste, around nine pm as I made the drive from Portland. It was dark, but my host gave me detailed instructions and had no problems finding the property, about one mile from the heart of Bellevue. I parked my car and walked the fifty-some well-lit steps down to the waterfront. A Delight After a Long Drive I could not have been happier. As soon as I walked in the front door, an inviting living area, complete with full kitchen and gas fireplace welcomed me. The bed, in its own little alcove, looked even more inviting. I was home…

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Charming Small Towns Around Puget Sound

Guides

There’s just something about coastal towns in Washington State that fascinate me. Unlike small communities of the land-locked variety, a tiny city on Puget Sound exudes an air of mysterious wonder all their own. Because people tend to flock toward the water when on vacation, these best small towns near Seattle are used to a lot of visitors and reciprocate by providing great places to eat and shop. The best small towns in Washington State make for wonderful short road trips from Seattle, as well. Such as it is all along the western side of Puget Sound. In this article, I will cover Gig Harbor, Port Ludlow and Port Townsend – three utterly charming small communities that each have their own brand of seaside goodness, and are among the best small towns in Washington State. **This post contains contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I…

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Epic Guide to Bainbridge Island, WA

Guides

Updated June, 2022. Bainbridge Island is a large, gorgeous island due west of Seattle across Elliott Bay and Puget Sound, which makes is among the best day trips from Seattle. With the historic and quaint town of Winslow just off the ferry landing, this is the perfect day-trip from Seattle. And its history is quite unique. Hop on the Bainbridge Island ferry and look back at the Seattle skyline beginning to slowly shrink from view. You are truly on island time here, as the residents are laid-back and friendly. The moment you step off the ferry, the intoxicating scent of ocean air mixed in with the earthy scent of pine trees engulf you. Here you can truly relax, and get away from the hustle and bustle of Seattle. Things to Do on Bainbridge Island Spend some time simply walking the marina. Bobbing boats and resident seagulls welcome you to the…

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How to Fill Your Gut In Seattle

Food & Drink

Yes, this post is about the best food in Seattle, and I tried to make the title stand out a bit. I mean, just how many blogs have you read so far of “The Best Places to Eat in Seattle”? I’m guessing a lot. Or, “Best Places to Eat in Seattle on a Budget,” or, “Best Places to East on the Cheap in Seattle”… As a Portland resident, I’ve been to Seattle more than my fair share of times, and it’s a second city to me. So I feel like I’ve got the foodie culture here down pat. Required reading for any Seattle travel guide is where to eat! As I’ve said so many times before, when you visit an epic place like Seattle, it is imperative that you do not, under any circumstances, go to a chain restaurant. No TGIF’s, no Olive Garden, no Applebees. Seriously, just don’t. I’m…

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