Northwest Seen

Time for a break

2008-10-16T13:49:00.001-07:00

In order to concentrate on my art, I'm taking a break from blogging here at Northwest Seen. Thanks for your support...I'll be back soon.

If you're interested in following my art blog, check it out at www.artfoundango.blogspot.com

Thanks,
Randy

Mt. Angel Oktoberfest

2008-09-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

The weather forcast for this weekend is great and will make the 2008 Mt. Angel, Oregon Oktoberfest that much more enjoyable. Plenty of people watching, food, crafts and fun will be on hand. I'll be there. Don't miss it. The festival runs from September 11 through September 14 this year.

Wallowa Lake Tramway - Eastern Oregon

2008-08-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

With the opening of the gondola in 1970, Wallowa County added one of it's most popular attractions. The 3700' vertical foot ascent to the summit of Mt. Howard is a memorable experience. The exciting trip to the top of the mountain allows one to enjoy the view as the gondola rises above the Wallowa Lake Village and the blue waters of Wallowa Lake.

During this spectacular ride, guests get a view of the Eagle Cap Wilderness area and its rugged peaks. Upon arriving at the upper terminal, guests can explore the summit area enjoying the extensive variety of alpine plants and vegetation along any of the many trails. Interpretive signs and information are provided to make the most of your walk. If you prefer, just relax and take in the breathtaking views as you enjoy a meal, snack, or your favorite beverage at the Summit Grill and Alpine Patio. Mt. Howard is a popular site for a variety of activities, including picnics, weddings, reunions, hang-gliding, model glider flying, and walking the alpine trails. Many guests choose to hike to the mountain lakes and high basins in the Eagle Cap Wilderness area.

The quiet peacefulness at the summit area and dynamic scenery is why Wallowa Lake Tramway was designated "Best View in Oregon" and is truly a place to remember.

International Pinot Noir Celebration

2008-07-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

July 25, 2008 - July 27, 2008
Linnfield College - Riley Hall
900 SE Baker Street
McMinnville, Oregon 97128

The 22nd Annual International Pinot Noir Celebration will dedicate the 2008 headline seminar to the topic of sustainability. Viewing the subject through the lens of the legendary wines of Dominique Lafon, as well as six additional world-class producers, attendees will learn how the world's top winemakers are proactively working to protect the environment as they craft wines of truly unsurpassed quality.

Mt. Angel Abbey Library - Mt. Angel, Oregon

2008-06-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

In the early 1960s, library director Fr. Barnabas Reasoner approached the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto to design a new library building for the abbey. A report of that meeting was published in the March 1966 issue of the Mount Angel Abbey Library Bulletin. Because of his love of libraries and the special qualities of the Mount Angel Abbey site, Aalto agreed to design the library for a nominal fee. The building was completely funded through the generosity of Howard and Jean Vollum, who also contributed to the library's endowment.

The architecture of the Abbey Library reflects and shapes its spirit and purpose. The building's natural light illumines the multi-color bindings of the books which are offered on open stacks against a disciplined black and white background, softened by undulating curves and light colored wood. The structure, including three stories and a mezzanine, was completed in 1970. The entire library, with the exception of the bottom floor, is awash in natural light.

The library seats 200 patrons in 30 closed and 40 open carrels. It accommodates a comfortable reading room with current issues of 600 periodicals, a music listening and group study room, large study tables on the ground floor, and sunlit study areas around the staircases. The library collection numbers over 250,000 volumes while the building could hold up to 350,000 volumes.

Old Wheeler Hotel, Wheeler, Oregon

2008-06-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

On a weekend when the traffic begins to be too much for me and the coast starts calling my name, you will more than likely find my wife and I at the Old Wheeler Inn in Wheeler, Oregon than at home.

I've stayed in many bed and breakfasts over the years and the Old Wheeler Inn is my favorite. The owners have truly created one of the top B&B's in the Pacific Northwest in my opinion.

Every detail has been paid attention to, and the payoff is big.

For more info go to www.oldwheelerhotel.com

Clear Lake Resort, Oregon

2008-05-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, it's great to be back online again with Northwest Seen. I had to take a break from the blog and decide if it was really filling a need. Apparently it is.

I just got back from a great trip to the mountains and more specifically, Clear Lake Resort in the Cascade mountain range of Oregon.

There was a little more snow on the ground than I was originally led to believe, but we had a great time nonetheless.

Clear Lake is really clear. Really clear. It's so clear that you can see the many-thousand year old trees on the bottom of the lake leftover from the volcanic eruption that created the lake, back when.

You can rent a rowboat by the hour or a full day for only $25.

There is a small diner next to the lake with decent food and a great view.

Note that the "rustic cabins" are really rustic. No bathrooms and no running water. It was a pain to trek to the shower/bathrooms down the trail from the cabin. Next time we'll be in one of the "modern" cabins.

It's a great place to get away from it all; you are surrounded by beauty. Really, what more could you want?

Don't miss Sahalie Falls just down the road. Absolutely stunning view and plenty of trails to hike.
Photo copyright 2008 Randy Hill Creative

Seattle's Underground City.

2007-12-25T21:38:00.000-08:00

By the end of 1889, Seattle had become the largest city in with 40,000 residents. That same year, the Great Seattle Fire resulted in the complete destruction of Pioneer Square.

Fortunately for the neighborhood the economy was strong at the time, so Pioneer Square was quickly rebuilt. The new buildings followed a Romanesque Revival architectural style. Because of drainage problems new development was built at a higher level literally burying the remains of old Pioneer Square. Anticipating the planned regrade, many buildings were built with two entrances, one at the old, low level, and another higher up.

Visitors can take the Seattle Underground Tour to see what remains of the old storefronts.

Waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest

2007-11-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

I found this resource on the web this morning. http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/ lists most, if not all of the waterfalls in the Pacific Northwest.

Here in Oregon there are a number of beautiful falls within a short driving distance. My favorites: Multnomah Falls, just east of Portland, Oregon. Absolutely beautiful!

Johnston Ridge Observatory - Mt. St. Helens, Washington

2007-11-24T08:21:00.000-08:00

The Johnston Ridge Observatory (JRO) is located at the terminus of the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway, on the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Southwest Washington State. This vantage point brings visitors within five miles of the north side of the volcano and offers spectacular views of the still-steaming lava dome, crater, pumice plain and landslide deposit.

JRO is located on Johnston Ridge which was named in honor of U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) volcanologist David A. Johnston who was on duty at the USGS, Coldwater II observation post during the May 18, 1980, eruption. David Johnston was one of 57 people who lost their lives in the eruption. JRO is the third visitor center to be constructed by the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and it's completion marks the end of a 12-year $100 million capital investment program.

The one-story, 16,000 square-foot concrete and glass structure is set back into the ridge and has special, non-refective glass to blend into the surrounding blast zone terrain. The building was constructed at a cost of $8.9 million with $1.65 million of interpretive exhibits for a total cost of $10.5 million. Of this amount, $5 million was contributed by the State of Washington. The observatory will house seismic, deformation, and other monitoring equipment that will be relayed to the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver for analysis.

Johnston Ridge Observatory features:

280-seat theater
10,000 square-foot exhibit hall
terminals to access volcano info on the world wide web and video disk
staffed information desk
interpretive sales area
restrooms, public phones, and administrative offices
parking for 350 cars, 50 RV's and 20 buses
viewing plaza
trailhead access to the Boundary Trail #1 leading east and west
interpretive staff will offer a variety of formal talks and guided walks.

How to get there:

From Interstate 5 -- take Exit 49 (Highway 504 Exit)
Travel east on Highway 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) to end of road, approximately 50 miles. Park where appropriate. (Elevation approximately 4,300 feet.)
The Johnston Ridge Observatory will be open daily, including holidays, during Summer. Winter hours and schedules are to be determined. Contact the National Monument (link available at bottom of this page) if you have any questions.

-- Excerpts from: U.S. Forest Service, Johnston Ridge Observatory Fact Sheet: April, 1997.

Big Hole National Battlefield - Montana

2007-11-13T20:28:00.000-08:00

On August 9, 1877 gun shots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of Nez Perce. Colonel John Gibbon and 163 men of the 7th Infantry and 34 Bitterroot Volunteers had orders to stop the non-treaty Nez Perce and return them to Idaho. The nearly 800 Nez Perce men, women, and children had fled their native lands when being forced onto a smaller reservation.

Big Hole National Battlefield is part of Nez Perce National Historical Park that has thirty-eight sites spread over four states (Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) that touch on many of the threads that make up the Nez Perce story.

Big Hole National Battlefield is located ten miles west of Wisdom, Montana on state highway 43.

From I-15 at Dillon, Montana take highway 278 northwest to Wisdom, then highway 43, ten miles west.

From I-15 at Divide, take route 43 west through Wisdom to Battlefield.

From Missoula, Montana, take state route 93 south through the Bitterroot Valley to Lost Trail Pass. Turn east on highway 43 and drive 17 miles to the battlefield.

Mount Rainier, Washington

2007-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Mount Rainier is an active Cascade volcano encased in over 35 square miles of snow and glacial ice. The 14,410’ mountain is surrounded by lush old growth forests, spectacular subalpine meadows and a National Historic Landmark District that showcases the "NPS Rustic" style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s.

Mount Rainier has five developed areas: Longmire, Paradise, Ohanapecosh, Sunrise, and Carbon/Mowich. Although the level of development in these areas ranges from basic -little more than a campground and picnic area- to extensive -hotel, restaurant, visitor center, campgrounds and picnic areas- each can serve as a base for exploring the rest of the park. Learn more about each of these areas:

Longmire
Paradise
Ohanapecosh
Sunrise
Carbon and Mowich

Be Prepared for the Weather
July and August are generally sunny and mild, with the chance of showers. The rest of the year is usually quite rainy, with heavy snowfall from November through April. Raingear is recommended year round. Trails are steep and well maintained in summer and snow covered and difficult to follow in winter. Check the weather for current conditions.

For more information about Mount Rainier, visit : http://www.nps.gov/mora/

Oregon Caves National Monument

2007-10-29T14:19:00.001-07:00

Information provided by the National Park Service and Oregon.com

Oregon Caves National Monument is small in size, 480 acres, but rich in diversity. Above ground, the monument encompasses a remnant old-growth coniferous forest including a Douglas-fir tree with the widest known girth in Oregon. Three hiking trails access this forest. Below ground is a marble cave created by natural forces over hundreds of thousands of years in one of the world's most diverse geologic realms.

Oregon Caves National Monument is a collection of chambers and passages that experts estimate are 3 to 5 million years old. This is a geologic wonderland for countless visitors between March and Thanksgiving each year.

Oregon Caves National Monument is one of five national parks or monuments in the state. The others are Crater Lake National Park, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and Fort Clatsop National Memorial.

Take the unique tour through the Oregon Caves, a trek along an asphalt trail complete with low ceilings, narrow passages and an occasional tight squeeze.

Some quick rules to keep in mind:

Visitors must be 42 inches (3 feet, 6 inches) tall to join the tour.

Flash cameras are prohibited.

No backpacks - you don't have room to wear them in tight quarters.

Visitors are cautioned to avoid contact with the cave walls whenever possible to reduce environmental damage. Oils from your skin can introduce bacteria to the walls as well as add a dirty, darkened tint to the wall color, officials say.

The tour was a captivating half-mile walk through a myriad of chambers and rooms with fascinating formations. And, of course, there are plenty of names - the Imagination Room, soda straw stalagmites, the Petrified Forest room, the Banana Grove, the River Stix, Paradise Lost, the massive Ghost Room and more.

Tour interpretor Julie Anderson says the caves are 3 million to 5 million years old. Each person who visit finds something special.

"People are fascinated by it," Julie says. "It's human interest. A cave can tell us about ecology. It brings a tells us all so much about the underground world and it's all knew to most people.".

Facts and Figures

The 480-acre Oregon Caves National Monument was created in 1909.

The caves are located in the Siskiyou Mountains at elevations from 3,800 to 5,460 feet.

Temperatures typically range from 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and from the 50 to 90 during the summer.

The cave temperature is 42 degrees Fahrenheit year round.

The caves are home to one of the largest exposures of ultramafic rock in North America and one of the largest, most pristine, and most complete segment of old oceanic crust in Western America.

It contains one of the most biologically and geologically diverse caves in the world.

Oregon Cave Chateau - It's actually called the Chateau at Oregon Caves.

There's a difference: It's "Oregon Caves National Monument." There is no Oregon Cave National Park.

The MAiZE at The Pumpkin Patch - The Corn MAiZE

2007-10-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island has been the site of Portland's original cornfield maze for the past eight years. Over 250,000 visitors have attended the annual event at
the farm.

EVENT DAY(S):
09/01/07 - 10/31/07

LOCATION:
The Maize at The Pumpkin Patch
16525 NW Gillihan Rd.
Portland, OR 97231

Japan Envisions the West: 16th-19th Century Japanese Art from Kobe City Museum

2007-09-24T15:12:00.000-07:00

Japan Envisions the West:
16th-19th Century Japanese Art from Kobe City Museum
October 11, 2007–January 6, 2008
SAM Simonyi Special Exhibition Galleries

Organized by the Seattle Art Museum in collaboration with Kobe City Museum, this international exhibition explores how the Japanese saw Westerners and how Japanese artists responded to and interpreted Western art and culture from the 16th to the 19th century. Japan Envisions the West features 140 objects from Kobe City Museum, including paintings, prints, maps, ceramics, lacquerware, metalware, glassware and textiles, along with 20 objects from SAM's collection. This exhibition commemorates the 50th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Kobe and Seattle.

Chowder, Blues and Brews!

2007-09-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 12th Annual Fall Festival with award winning chowder offered from all along the coast of Oregon, the finest blues music that Oregon has to offer and microbrews from some of the best breweries in the northwest! The festival is set for September 21, 22, & 23, a time of the year where we can expect the most beautiful weather one can imagine on the Central Oregon Coast. Each year, Chowder, Blues & Brews has drawn visitors from the south and central coastal area as well as from the Willamette Valley.

Beginning on Friday afternoon, the Florence Events Center will be rocking with "musical delights" performed by the great blues artists of the Western Oregon area.

VIP tickets are $20 good for all three days of the festival and you get a collector pint glass. Friday only is $7.00, Saturday only is $10.00 and Sunday only is $6.00.

Saturday will highlight the seventh year of the Oregon Coast Professional Chowder Cook-Off where festival goers will have a chance to taste the best chowder the Oregon Coast has to offer from communities extending from Astoria to Brookings. The event will also have delicacies from some 20 food vendors and microbrews from 5 of Oregon's best microbreweries.

The Oregon Coast Professional Chowder Cook-Off People’s Choice tasting starts at 1:00 pm on Saturday and goes until the chowder is gone. For more information contact the Florence Area Chamber at 541-997-3128 or the Event Center at 997-1994.

Mark this weekend as a must, for along with the Chowder, Blues & Brews, Florence will feature its annual Tour of Homes sponsored by the Florence Home Builders Association on Saturday and Sunday. The Habitat for Humanity's annual beach walk will also be on Saturday, September 22nd.

For more information visit the website.

A Remarkable Rock in Montana

2007-09-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

Along the entire Lewis & Clark Trail there is just one spot where you don't have to imagine the famed explorers having been there. That location is Montana's Pompeys Pillar, 28 miles east of Billings, just off of I-94. What makes this Lewis & Clark spot unique from all the others? Let's let Captain William Clark explain. Here is his journal entry from July 25, 1806.

"…arrived at a remarkable rock situated in an extensive bottom… this rock I ascended and from it's top had a most extensive view in every direction. This rock which I shall call Pompy's Tower is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumpherance and only accessible on one Side … The natives have engraved on the face of this rock the figures of animals & near which I marked my name and the day of the month & year."

Clark's signature, the day and date remain visible on the towering pillar's rock face. Protected by a see-through covering, the signature can be viewed any time of year. The federal Bureau of Land Management operates Pompeys Pillar as a year-round visitor facility with staffed services available between Memorial Day and September 30. Walk-in access and self guided tours are allowed the rest of the year.

One of the popular events here is the annual Clark Day celebration. On the Sunday nearest the July 25 anniversary date, the public is invited to canoe the Yellowstone River in a re-enactment of the Corps of Discovery's approach. Numerous interpretive stations are set up to help explain the natural and human history of the area. Buffalo burgers and other concessions are available along with blue grass music.

Leavenworth, Washinton - Bavaria of the Pacific Northwest

2007-09-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Leavenworth’s history does not begin with the alpine tradition it knows today, but with the proud heritage of the Yakima, Chinook and Wenatchi tribes. The Native American tribes lived by hunting the land for deer and elk, as well as fishing Icicle Creek for salmon. Surrounded by some of the most beautiful and bountiful lands in North America, the three tribes co-existed from Lake Wenatchee to the Icicle and beyond.

The area was eventually settled by pioneers in search of gold, furs and fertile farmland. Stakes were claimed, land was tracked, and the Leavenworth area was soon bustling with settlers. By 1890, the original town was built on the Icicle Flats.

It was the end of the century when the town began to blossom with the arrival of the rail line. The Great Northern Railway Company’s tracks through Leavenworth brought with them opportunities for work, commerce and a new economy.

A sawmill and a healthy logging industry eventually fell apart, however, when the Great Northern Railway Company pulled out of Leavenworth. The re-routing of the railroad and the subsequent closure of the sawmill, sadly converted the town from a bustling, thriving hub of commerce into a hollow, empty community. For more than thirty years, Leavenworth lived on the brink of extinction.

But in the early 1960’s, everything changed. In a last-chance effort to turn their precarious situation around, the leaders of the community decided to change Leavenworth’s appearance, hoping to bring tourism into the area. Using the beautiful backdrop of the surrounding Alpine hills to their advantage, the town agreed to remodel their hamlet in the form of a Bavarian village.

Hoping to create more than a mere facelift, the entire community rallied to create the illusion of Bavaria in the middle of Washington state. Besides the complete renovation of the downtown area, community members worked to begin a series of festivals. The Autumn Leaf Festival, Maifest and the extremely popular Christmas Lighting Ceremony were the first of many attractions Leavenworth offered to passers-by.

It worked. Since the change to a Bavarian motif, Leavenworth has become a pillar of the tourism industry in the Pacific Northwest. Today, close to two million tourists come to Leavenworth each year, each visitor finding their own individual love affair with the community.

Photo by: Peggy Daczewitz-Hamlin

The Sunshine Health Mine, Boulder Montana

2007-08-27T09:33:00.000-07:00

In my search for weird and out of the way places to visit in the Pacific Northwest, I came across The Sunshine Health Mine in Boulder, Montana. It is one of several “health mines’ in the area where you can bathe in radon rays which are claimed to cure everything from colon cancer to gout. Although doctors once thought that there were therapeutic uses for exposure to radon, it’s never been scientifically proven. Who am I to call it a bunch of baloney?

Check it out for yourself. Apparently, a small exposure at one of the radon “spas” won’t harm you, but I can’t guarantee it!

The Sunshine Health Mine is located 33 miles southwest of Helena in Boulder, Montana.

To visit the Mine, take Interstate 15, exit on 160 High Ore Road. Follow the signs leading one mile up Galena Gulch to the Sunshine Health Mine.

Alaska: Chena River State Recreation Area

2007-08-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

Chena River State Recreation Area, on the Chena Hot Springs Road, is less than an hour's drive from Fairbanks.

It offers a full range of recreation, including fishing, boating, and camping. Canoeing on the Chena River and hiking to prominent granite formations in the alpine country are popular summer activities.

Winter adds snow machining, cross-country skiing and dog sledding. Beavers, moose and bears are numerous and often spotted by visitors to the park.

Sumpter Valley Dredge - State Heritage Area

2007-08-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Sumpter Valley Dredge State Heritage Area and the town of Sumpter are about 30 miles west of the little town of Baker City in eastern Oregon.

Sumpter lies at the foot of the Elkhorn Range of the Blue Mountains and got its start as a gold mining camp in 1862. Today Sumpter has approximately 192 people who live there year round.

The Sumpter Valley Dredge is a mechanical marvel and is one of the nation's oldest surviving gold-digging types of dredges.

All photos copright 2007, Randy Hill.

Granite, Oregon...Rebirth of a ghost town

2007-08-01T20:37:00.000-07:00

On the road through eastern Oregon...

Next stop was the former ghost town of Granite. Granite was first settled on July 4, 1862. It was then only natural the settlers would name the town “Independence.” Not so said the postal authorities for there was already a town by that name in Oregon. The next choice was “Granite” for the prevailing rock in the region.

All of the buildings that were formerly empty and falling down, are being repaired and used as cabins and residences. There's even a small gift shop/cafe at the entrance to the little town.

Locals told me that the snow gets pretty deep up there in the winter. I was hoping for an honest to goodness "Gunsmoke" style ghost town, but it's a nice spot and worth finding your way there.

Pictured at top: The old Granite general store. Picture by Randy Hill, copyright 2007.

Greenhorn City - Ghost town of Eastern Oregon

2007-07-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

Next stop on our road trip into eastern Oregon: Greenhorn City. Greenhorn was a ghost town up until recent years. Upwards of 15 people now own lots in Greenville and are in the process of building cabins. A number of the cabins use existing historic [falling down] buildings and incorporate the structures into their cabin design.

It's not an easy place to get to, especially in a van like the one we made the trip in. The small, gravel roads are more suitable for a truck or four wheeler. Still, it was well worth the trip to see this little bit of Oregon history high in the mountains.

A brief history form Wikipedia:

Greenhorn was first populated in the 1860s as miners prospected for gold in the area. The mining district was composed first of placer mines, but soon many lode gold mines developed. The city was incorporated in 1903. It continued as a viable community until 1942 when gold mining was made illegal by Federal Public Law 208 during World War II.

In later years, the old Greenhorn Jail (dating to 1910) was removed to Canyon City, Oregon under suspicious circumstances. A court case ensued for its return, but because the city straddles the Blue Mountain ridge, the district attorneys of Baker County and Grant County could not even agree in which court house it should be held. The case was eventually heard by the Circuit Court for Grant County in Canyon City. The jail remains in Canyon City.

Eastern Oregon Road Trip: Next stop, Painted Hills

2007-07-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

We took off from Prairie City and made our way to the Painted Hills in the cool of the morning. The Painted Hills, is 50 miles east of Prineville on a spur road off U.S. 26. Turn left at the sign outside Mitchell and go six miles along Bridge Creek to the site.

I've been wanting to see the "Painted Hills" located in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument for some time now and when we got there, I wasn't disappointed. It is just flat out amazing. The colors are so vivid that it is almost surreal.

Photo copyright 2007, Randy Hill, All Rights Reserved

Eastern Oregon Road Trip: Next stop, Prairie City

2007-07-19T22:02:00.001-07:00

Leaving Sisters, we headed off into the central Oregon desert. Funny, most folks don't think of Oregon having a desert, but it does and it's there. And it can be hot.

We spent two nights at the Strawberry Mountain Inn bed and breakfast situated in Prairie City and positioned dead center with Strawberry Mountain itself.

Prairie City is an old west town with a population of 1,100 and built during the gold rush. It is surrounded by some really beautiful countryside and quite a bit of history. It is also within driving distance of the John Day fossil beds and painted hills as well as a number of ghost towns.

Central and Eastern Oregon Road Trip: Part 1

2007-07-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

The missus and I decided to take a road trip out to parts of Oregon yet unknown to us, namely central and eastern Oregon. Having been holed up in the Willamette Valley for the last few months, it was high time to see what lay beyond the “ring of fire.”

First stop: Sisters, Oregon. The town was hustling and bustling with the Quilt Show that was in town. It was unbelievably busy. Prettiest sight: The three Sisters mountains that were in full view. Beautiful. Nicknamed "Faith," "Hope" and "Charity," these peaks give the town of Sisters its identity.

Lunch and dinner tip: Stop at Soba Noodle and Rice restaurant at 291 East Cascade Avenue in Sisters. Delicious!

Antique farm equipment - on the road to the Oregon coast

2007-07-11T16:19:00.001-07:00

The National Bison Range - Montana

2007-07-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

The National Bison Range is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It was established in 1908 and is one of the oldest Wildlife Refuges in the nation.

As its name implies, the Refuge was established to support a population of American bison. It is home to about 350-500 of these animals. Other large wildlife found on the Range include elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep and black bear. Because of its open grasslands, the Bison Range is a place for the public to enjoy some excellent wildlife observation and photography.

A Visitor Center provides interpretive displays and orientation videos as well as a bookstore and restrooms. Staff is on hand to answer questions and dispense maps and brochures. This is a good place to start any visit.

Fees are charged during the summer (mid-May to late October). The Range is part of the U.S. Fee System and accepts Golden Passes and Federal Waterfowl Stamps. Pay fees at the Visitor Center.

Refuge Manager
132 Bison Range Road
Moiese, MT 59824
(406) 644-2211

More resources

Gallon House Bridge - Silverton, Oregon

2007-07-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Gallon House Bridge, the last of Marion County's original covered bridges, is located over Abiqua Creek a little more than a mile northwest of Silverton.

The name Gallon House was due to the bridge's use as a "pigeon drop" for liquor at the north entrance. Operators at a liquor dispensary nearby sold "white lightening" whiskey by the gallon to Silverton residents. At the time, Silverton was "dry," not allowing liquor to be sold in town, while Mt. Angel was "wet."

The Gallon House along Abiqua Creek was in Mt. Angel territory. During the Christmas Flood of 1964, the bridge suffered considerable damage. The County Board of Commissioners, however, decided the bridge should be repaired and maintained as an historical landmark, as it was the only covered bridge in the county at the time.

In 1985, the old wooden structure was closed to all traffic when a damaged chord rendered it useless. County road crews repaired the bridge to accept traffic up to a 10-ton limit by reinforcing a lower chord, as well as making repairs to the beams and flooring.

Also included in the renovation was a change in the size and shape of the portals. The revamped portals were hinged to allow them to be opened for taller loads when necessary.

In 1990, because of poor structural condition, the bridge was rehabilitated to mint condition and the hinged portals were removed.

Since its construction in 1916, the bridge has been repaired numerous times. Historian Ben Maxwell describes a prior bridge repair in 1960: "Marion County recently reconstructed the old Gallon House bridge near Mt. Angel just for the sake of preserving a landmark. It still looks like an overgrown doghouse - at least they could have painted it red for the sake of conformity."

How To Get There

From Salem travel north on Highway 213 (Silverton Road NE) about 14 miles to Silverton. At Silverton travel north on Highway 214 to Hobart Road. Turn west on Hobart to Gallon House Road (0.5 mi.). Turn north on Gallon House Road

Photo by Randy Hill. Text courtesy of www.oregon.com

Ace Hotel: How You Want to Travel - Simple, Stylish and Not Too Expensive

2007-07-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

When Seattle friends Alex Calderwood, Wade Weigel and Doug Herrick initially dreamed of opening a hotel, they had a very specific idea of what they wanted– and it didn’t fit with the standard hotel business plan. Their idea was to create a place their friends and acquaintances would want to stay – DJs, artists, magazine creators, graphic designers, musicians – the creative types who have been behind the evolving cultural renaissance of the Pacific Northwest of the last decade, and who aren’t, generally speaking, awash with cash.
The recipe involved taking a characterful old building in an emerging location, a small budget requiring lateral thinking and some clever industrial salvage, a design aesthetic that mixes uncluttered comfort with a bohemian vibe, and the experience that comes from being a seasoned traveler and knowing what you do and don’t need when it comes to resting your weary head. Pay-per-view TV? No thank-you. Free Wi-Fi internet access? Of course. They also wanted their hotel to be linked to the local culture, a living part of the community – like the experience of staying with friends who are plugged into the local scene.
The Ace team are a curious hybrid – romantics with an unswerving business savvy, easy-going yet ultra-professional. They’re not interested in cooler-than-thou design statements, but in creating a hotel with soul. In doing so, they’ve tapped into what a growing market of cultural influencers and opinion leaders want, and inadvertently created their own marketing machine. Any new hotel can make bold statements and win PR hype when it launches– but it takes word of mouth recommendations to make a business flourish. It wasn’t long before Time Magazine nominated the Ace team as “the next wave” of hoteliers in a list of 100 innovators.
In March 2007, Ace Hotel opened its second hotel in Portland. With its 79 rooms (compared to Seattle’s 28), its restaurant, coffee shop, exhibition and event space, the Portland hotel is both bigger and heralds greater ambitions. Consolidating the team’s design ethos and business values, Ace Hotel Portland will become the flagship hotel for the group–an illustration of what happens when you get a bunch of talented individuals together who approach their task with passion and commitment.

Oregon Caves National Monument

2007-06-26T22:48:00.000-07:00

Caves have always held a special fascination for me, especially as I was growing up in central Texas.

In Texas we had the Longhorn Caverns and a deluxe tourist trap called "Wonder Cave" in San Marcos, Texas. We always joked that they called it that because you wondered why you paid the admission in the first place.

Not so with Oregon Caves National Monument. In 1874, while a local man named Elijah Davidson was hunting, his dog Bruno chased a bear into a cave. This discovery became an attraction, and in the 1890s developers opened the caves as a commercial enterprise. In 1909, at the urging of Joaquin Miller and other influential men, President William Howard Taft declared the caves a U.S. National Monument. The Monument was managed by the U.S. Forest Service until August 10, 1933 when jurisdiction was transferred to the National Park Service.

While you're there, you might want to consider staying here.

The Great Oregon Steam Up

2007-06-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Great Oregon Steam Up near Salem, Oregon is a great place to take your family for the day. Besides the totally interesting old steam tractors that are the main focus of the event, there's great food, flea markets and a variety of interesting and very cool exhibits.

You wouldn't think that a festival centered on old steam driven tractors would be much fun or very popular, but you would be wrong on both accounts.

This year's schedule is as follows: July 28-29 and August 4th and 5th. Visit the organizations website for more info.

Yellowstone National Park

2007-06-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is a great photo taken at Yellowstone of a coyote and antelope. Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.
Photo courtesy of www.pdphoto.org

Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge - Oregon

2007-06-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

Giant Sitka Spruce and Western Hemlock trees accent the sheer cliffs of the coastline at Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge. Read more...

Send me info on your favorite place to visit!

2007-06-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'd love to hear from any readers...what's your favorite place in the Pacific Northwest? Let me know and I'll post the results.

Sandpoint, Idaho

2007-06-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

The community of Sandpoint at an elevation just over 2,000 feet serves as the county seat of Bonner County (population 35,226 in 1999) whose economy, for more than a century, depended in large part on the lumber industry. But beginning in the late 1980s, summer and winter tourism began to grow rapidly in response to a growing awareness of the region's pleasant four-season climate which is markedly more moderate than weather typically found to the east of the Rocky Mountains. With an annual average rainfall of 33.5 inches and annual snowfall of 71.7 inches, residents and tourists experience few sub-zero days each winter while summer days rarely exceed 90-degree temperatures. The average year-round temperature is 47 degrees and there are some 125 frost-free days each year. Humidity is comparatively low, nights generally cool and summertime typically offers weeks of consecutive clear and sunny days much to the delight of boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing and hiking enthusiasts

Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area

2007-06-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is located adjacent to the southwest corner of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This 102,673-acre area is northwest of Stevens Pass on Highway 2 and northeast of the town of Skykomish. The terrain is rugged, with steep slopes, and finger ridges dissected by small intermittent or permanent drainages. Streams in the northern portion of this area drain into the Sauk River, while the southern portion drains into the Skykomish River. Main features of this area include Cady Creek Ridge and Cady Creek. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the southern portion of the Wilderness. The area is rich in mining history with several acres of patented mining claims within its borders.

This area contains approximately 30 lakes which receive moderate fishing. Cross-Cascade Indian trails paralleled the Little Wenatchee River and provided routes for later exploring parties such as the 1860 E. F. Cady party for whom Cady Pass and Cady Creek were named.

Mt. Ranier Scenic Railroad - Mineral, Washington

2007-06-13T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is a great way to view the extraordinary beauty of the Pacific Northwest - from the window of an antique train. No speeding here; you'll just chug along and drink in the scenery. Now, that's what I call living!

For more information visit www.mrsr.com

Silver Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

2007-06-11T23:41:00.000-07:00

Grays Harbor Conty - Washington

2007-06-08T16:03:00.000-07:00

Grays Harbor County has the best of both worlds . . . breathtaking space and all the amenities of an urban area along with a bountiful natural environment, a growing economy, and managed population growth! The stunning beauty of the Olympic Peninsula affects people in ways unlike any other place on earth. People who live here are within comfortable range of the northern Cascades and Olympics, Pacific beaches, awe-inspiring rain forests and pristine waterways. Sheltered by the mountains, Grays Harbor enjoys moderate marine temperatures throughout the year, including warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

It's a good time to visit Willamette Valley vineyards

2007-06-04T08:28:00.001-07:00

It's summertime in Oregon's Willamette Valley and it's a perfect time to visit the area's vineyards. With more than 200 wineries that call the valley home, there's something for everyone. Here's a sampling for you to consider:

www.adeawine.com
A boutique winery focusing on limited production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Pinot gris. Sourcing the fruit from varying soils, elevations, microclimates, and clones is essential to creating wines that express what the Willamette Valley has to offer.

www.barkingfrogwinery.com
Barking Frog Winery produces small lots of handcrafted wines with complexity and elegance. Our grapes are sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards in the Willamette Valley, Oregon and Yakima Valley in Washington that express the “somewhereness” of the sites. Production includes Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon.

www.coopermountainwine.com
In 1987, Cooper Mountain Vineyards began a quest that has brought us to more than 100 acres, a commitment to affordable wines, and an expanded tasting room. Today Cooper Mountain offers certified organic and biodynamic Pinot noir, Pinot gris, and Chardonnay wines. We invite you to come and be a part of our story.

Exploring Ice Caves - Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest

2007-01-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

Two hikers explore the "ice caves" at the end of a trail on the Mountain Loop Road. The ice caves are actually tunnels in a perennial snowfield that were created by melting snow.

Heceta Head Lighthouse - Oregon

2007-01-24T22:10:00.000-08:00

Deep blue ocean and misty tree-covered coastline provide a backdrop to Heceta Head Lighthouse, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. Also on this property is a beautifully restored lighthouse keeper's home that is open for interpretive tours.

Melba, Idaho - Reineke Barn

2007-01-10T10:38:00.000-08:00

Reineke Barn–Near Melba, one of the few remaining “Gothic Arch” barns can be seen on the Henry Reineke property. In 1916, The Idaho Farmer magazine predicted that the Gothic arch barn would become the most prevalent construction type for dairy barns. Nearly a century later, there are few remaining in the area.

Mt. Jefferson from Mt. Hood

2007-01-03T22:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry about the delay in posting. The holidays were rough and I was sick for most of them. Onward through the fog! I thought I'd share this photo that I recently took on Mt. Hood at Timberline Lodge. This vantage point is just down the road from Timberline Lodge and is a photo of Mt. Jefferson as seen from this site. I love the way the ski lift and the tree line both point down the side of Mt. Hood.

Fossil, Oregon

2006-12-18T09:05:00.000-08:00

Located near the John Day Fossil Beds in eastern Oregon, the town of Fossil is primarily known for the having the only public fossil field in the U.S. The field is located behind Wheeler High School and anyone who pays the small fee can hunt for fossils and keep anything found. A highly trained interpreter will help you find fossil-bearing rock and provide you tools for digging and help identify anything you find.

Fossil also hosts a museum and an interpretive center. There is an airport located nearby.

Wilson Ranches Retreat Bed and Breakfast is nearby and can provide you with a comfortable base to visit the town of Fossil and the John Day Fossil Beds.

Ghost Town: Antelope, Oregon

2006-12-14T15:18:00.000-08:00

I’ve always been fascinated by ghost towns. I grew up about 4 miles from the little ghost town of Goforth in central Texas. I remember as a kid, riding my bike on the little country road that passed through what was left of the town. There was an old bank safe that lay on its side across the fence that bordered the road and just a little further from that, an old shack.

The Pacific Northwest has its share of ghost towns too. Just east of Portland in Wasco county lies the town of Antelope, Oregon. It was named for the many antelope that grazed in the area in the mid-1800s. The first post office opened in 1871 and the majority of the town was destroyed by fire in 1898 save for one building. The town was rebuilt but soon became a ghost town when a new town called Shaniko became the terminus of a railroad.

The Snake River Canyon

2006-12-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

The Snake River likely got its name from the first white explorers who misinterpreted the sign made by the Shoshone people -- who identified themselves in sign language by moving the hand in a swimming motion -- which appeared to these explorers to be a "snake"; it actually signified that they lived near the river with many fish. In the 1950's the name "Hells Canyon" was borrowed from Hells Canyon Creek, which enters the river near what is now Hells Canyon Dam. In the old days, Hells Canyon was known as Snake River Canyon or Box Canyon, though a few locals called it the "Grand Canyon of the Snake."

The Hells Canyon area was once home to Shoshone and Nez Perce tribes. According to the Nez Perce tribe, Coyote dug the Snake River Canyon in a day to protect the people on the west side of the river from the Seven Devils, a band of evil spirits living in the mountain range to the east. In the late nineteenth century, the military drove the Native Americans out and settlers began ranching and mining in the canyon. Today, boaters can explore archaeological sites and old homesteads, all part of the canyon's rich, colorful history.

Hells Canyon is one of the most imposing river gorges in the West. Until a million years ago, the Owyhee Mountains acted as a dam between the Snake River and its current confluence with the Columbia River, creating a vast lake in what is now southwestern Idaho. When the mountains were finally breached, the Snake roared northward, cutting a giant chasm through the volcanic rock. The resulting canyon, roughly ten miles across, is not as dramatic as the Grand Canyon. However, when the surrounding peaks are visible from the river, the sense of depth is tremendous. The adjacent ridges average 5,500' above the river. He Devil Mountain, tallest of the Seven Devils (9,393') towers almost 8,000' above the river, creating the deepest gorge in the United States.

The river is as big as the landscape. Below Hells Canyon Dam, the Snake usually carries more water than the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Below the confluence with the Salmon River, flows average 35,000 cfs and often peak over 100,000 when the Salmon is high. Further downstream, the Clearwater and other rivers dump their flows into the Snake River, creating the Columbia River's largest tributary. (The total drainage area is approximately the size of Oregon.)

The Canyon: The Canyon is mostly public land, much of which is designated wilderness. The Canyon is massive, arid, and provides extremely stark, spectacular scenery. Solitude can be hard to find at peak use times; there are numerous jet boats, especially below Rush Creek. The lower river is often crowded on summer weekends. Few roads enter the Canyon, and those that do exist usually require 4-wheel drive.

Leavenworth, Washington State's authentic Bavarian Village

2006-11-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

Enjoy Leavenworth, Washington State's authentic Bavarian Village, in January and celebrate the best of winter. The holidays may be over, but winter is a wonderful time for families to visit Leavenworth. Bavarian Ice Fest, January 13 and 14, 2007, an annual play day hosted by the Leavenworth Chamber, is full of activities and events for all ages. Best of all, the village remains dressed in its holiday lights through the event.

Jeff Renner, King-5 News is the guest emcee for this weekend of grab bag invigorating outdoor events including, snow sculpture, tug 'o war, ice cube scramble for kids six and under, the great Frisbee sweep, and Leavenworth's famous Smooshing Contest, a unique race peculiar to the Great Bavarian Ice Fest, which began over the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in 1987. The Smooshing contest is held on Front Street with teams of four having their toes strapped to 8' long boards trying to maneuver and glide down the street tandem style. The best thing about Ice Fest, you can cheer from the sidelines or jump right in and compete for prizes.

During the weekend visitors can also enjoy the Northwest Dog Sled Pulling Competition, a sanctioned event of the International Weight Pull Association. The IWPA is a non-profit corporation that promotes the sport of dog pulling and the working heritage of all dogs. The IWPA also promotes a program to keep dogs in good physical condition with a constructive outlet for canine competition.

The Leavenworth Winter Sports Club presents the Snow Fun Fest 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Sunday. Play in the snow at the Leavenworth Ski Hill. They will have all types of activities to try! Enjoy snowshoes, a snowshoe trail, obstacle course, games and more and admission is free for the event.

The Winter Sports Club at Ski Hill in Leavenworth also offers Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing and Tubing! For more information visit their website at www.skileavenworth.com.

Sunday evening enjoy live musical entertainment in the Gazebo in Front Street Park ending with a fabulous aerial fireworks display over downtown Leavenworth at 6 p.m. World-renowned pyrotechnics expert, Marty Schmoker, stages the 20-minute show with fireworks from France, Austria, China, Taiwan and the United States.

Leavenworth is an easy 118-mile drive east from downtown Seattle or 188 miles west of Spokane, and only 35 miles from either Mission Ridge or Stevens Pass for fantastic downhill skiing. Also on tap for the weekend are winter activities including sleigh rides, snowmobiling and snowshoeing. For more information, phone 509-548-5807, or visit www.leavenworth.org.

Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia

2006-11-20T22:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, there really are hot springs at Harrison Hot Springs, and you can soak in the “Spa of Canada” all year round.

Local Indians called the springs Kwals, which means “boiling water." Early settlers discovered the springs in 1858.

There are two miles of sand beaches, perfect for sunbathing and swimming.

Read more about Harrison Hot Springs online here: www.britishcolumbia.com

Photo courtesy of B. Mann Consulting

Fall Color In The Pacific Northwest

2006-11-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

There Certainly IS Fall Color in the Pacific Northwest!

Overview: The western side of the Cascades mountain range offers the best foliage display in the Pacific Northwest. One of the most beautiful of areas is the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, just east of Portland, Oregon. In November 1986, Congress recognized the unique beauty of the Gorge by making it the nation's first National Scenic Area. Read more...

Vista House - Crown Point, Columbia Gorge

2006-11-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

High above the Columbia River in northern Oregon’s awe-inspiring Columbia Gorge sits Vista House, the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Constructed in 1918 at the cost of about $100,000, Vista House was designed to be, according to its architect, “an observatory from which the view both up and down the Columbia could be viewed in silent communion with the infinite.”

In 1915, Edgar M. Lazarus, Portland architect and brother of Statue of Liberty poet Emma Lazarus, was selected to design Vista House. The art nouveau style house is approximately 44 feet wide and 55 feet high. Italian craftsmen built the foundations using a dry masonry (without cement or mortar) technique. Glazed green tiles cover the roof and the windows are made of amber-green opalescent art glass.

On November 14, 1915, The Oregonian stated that the “Vista House is intended to be the finishing achievement for the greatest highway in America and will grace the highest spot on that wonder way." A few thrifty and less-than-enthusiastic Oregonians derided the project, calling it “the $100,000 Outhouse.”

After restoration, Vista House was opened to visitors in the summer of 2005. The octagonal building is home to a museum, a gift shop and an interpretive display of points of interest in the Gorge. An interior stairway and an elevator lead visitors to the outdoor observation walkway around the top floor of the building. It's a favorite spot for photographers around the world.

For more information about the Vista House and the Columbia Gorge, visit the center’s website.

Silver Falls State Park - Oregon

2006-11-05T21:34:00.000-08:00

I remember the first time I visited Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon. My wife and I and our two children were living in Texas at the time. We took a family vacation and drove up to Oregon to visit my wife’s relatives who lived in the little town of Silverton. Soon after our arrival, my sister and brother-in-law planned a “welcome to Oregon” picnic for our family at Silver Falls State Park, about a 20 minute drive up the mountain that the town of Silverton sits near the foot of.

I had never seen a "real" waterfall (Texas has a few short ones) before our trip to Oregon and Silver Falls State Park has 10 of them. South Falls, which is pictured above is a favorite of most visitors to the park. If you've got the stamina, there's a trail near the spillway that leads to the bottom of the falls and then snakes around a little alcove behind the falls. The park has plenty of places to picnic and even has a pooled up section of the river that you can swim in. There are also both cabins and tent sites available for rent. Any time of the year is a good time to visit the park. Right now, autumn leaves are displaying a blazing array of color and the accompanying rainy weather lends it own special kind of romantic atmosphere to the area. You’ll also enjoy the drive up the mountain where you’ll pass through some beautiful scenery that includes a number of Christmas tree farms.

San Juan Islands - Part 2

2006-10-30T22:14:00.000-08:00

The San Juan Islands are located in Puget Sound, approximately 80 miles north of Seattle, Washington. They are increasingly at the top of the list of great places to live.

The four largest islands out of a group of approximately 172 islands - San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw islands - are accessible by Washington State Ferries based in Anacortes.

Discovered in the 18th century by British and Spanish explorers, the earliest inhabitants were Indians, primarily of the Lummi nation.

Today the island draws artists, writers and others who have the freedom to choose where they want to live. The islands are also increasingly popular with retired people.

Timberline Lodge - Mt. Hood, Oregon

2006-10-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

High on the slopes of Mount Hood in northern Oregon is the crown jewel of the Federal Works Progress Administration’s effort to employ craftspeople at the height of the Great Depression. On June 14, 1936, ground was broken for Timberline Lodge, a classic heavy-timber mountain lodge located at an elevation of 6,000 feet in the Mt. Hood National Forest Ski Area. The area features one of the few year-round skiing areas in the country.

The interior of the lodge features comfortable lodging and dining. A floor to ceiling fireplace in the center of the lodge is a welcome respite from the cold and snow, and has the classic ambience of the 1930s.

Timberline Lodge has also been used in a number of films over the years, the most well known being The Shining, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, which used aerial shots of the lodge as part of its opening scene.

Craters of the Moon National Park - Idaho

2006-10-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Located on the north border of the Snake River Plain in Idaho, Craters of the Moon national park is an enormous lava field that looks like it belongs on another planet. The park covers over 1,100 square miles and is roughly the size of Rhode Island. Hiking, photography, backpacking and caving are all activities the entire family can enjoy. The park was declared a national monument by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. Some of the diverse features of the monument include volcanic rifts, cinder cones, spatter cones and lava tubes. For hours and directions, visit the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/crmo/

Out ‘n’About Treesort - Cave Junction, Oregon

2006-10-15T22:21:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, I saw the Disney movie, “Swiss Family Robinson” and I immediately became enamored with the family’s treehouse in the movie. I even tried to build one, but it ended up being two rickety, splinter laden boards nailed to a couple of tree limbs. It hardly resembled the Robinson's amazing creation. So much for my junior carpentry skills!

I was surfing the web one day and came across the Out ‘n’About Treesort located near Cave Junction, Oregon and all those childhood memories of trying to a build treehouse came flooding back. These guys had built proper treehouses and then turned them into a collection of aerial bed and breakfasts. If you are looking for a unique way to spend your next long weekend, this might just fit the bill. Imagine sleeping in your very own private treehouse suite in the beautiful countryside of southern Oregon. Be sure to book early; the owners are already taking bookings for 2007. There are also treehouse building classes available and a long list of other fun things to do.

The San Juan Islands

2006-10-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

[Editor’s note: This will be the first of a series about the San Juan Islands]

Who needs a trip to the Caribbean when we have an island paradise located right in our own back yard? Located approximately 80 miles north of Seattle, Washington in the northern most reaches of Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands are a popular stop for vacationers in the Pacific Northwest. There are a total of 172 islands, with the four largest islands, San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw, being the most popular destinations. Several of the other large islands are accessible only by small boats or airplane.

The average temperature of the islands is 70 degrees during the summer, while the average low during the winter is in the high thirties and low forties. Rainfall is less than Seattle due the neighboring U.S. and Canadian mountain ranges.

Canby Giant Pumpkin Festival - Seen

2006-10-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

A crowd gathers around the remains of a car smashed to smithereens by a giant pumpkin that was dropped from a crane at the Canby Giant Pumpkin Festival. The weather was great and the festival attracted a huge crowd this year. In fact, there were so many people wanting to attend the festival that the roads leading to the festival entrance were packed.

The pumpkin drop was scheduled for 10 a.m. I left early that morning so I would be certain to make it to the festival grounds in time to watch the drop. Instead, I got to sit in traffic and watch the clock strike 10:00 a.m. Needless to say, I missed the drop, but I saw the remains of the car as soon as we arrived [pictured above]. Oh well, there's always next year.

2006 Canby Giant Pumpkin Festival

2006-10-05T21:49:00.000-07:00

I remember watching a television show back in the 1960s called "Land of the Giants." It was about a group of astronauts who got caught in some kind of reality warp and they ended up on a planet similar to earth, but the people were 70 feet tall. All sorts of wackiness ensued, with giant pencils, pets, and other household objects featured in each episode. As a kid I tried to imitate the show by building my own giant mockups. The only problem was that I didn't have the budget the TV show producers had and my "giant" objects looked more like big cardboard boxes with some crude artwork decorating them. Oh well.

Imagine my delight, when I found out that in nearby Canby, Oregon, the folks there hold something they call the Canby Giant Pumpkin Festival each year. We're talking big pumpkins. 1,400 pound pumpkins! Land of the Giants pumpkins! The organizers start off the festival at 10am Saturday, October 7th with a giant pumpkin drop onto a waiting car below. There's hayrides, hay slides, corn mazes, pumpkin slingshots...this will be fun.
Fir Point Farms

Multnomah Falls - Columbia Gorge, Oregon

2006-10-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

Just a short 30 minute drive from Portland, Oregon, Multnomah Falls has been a source of wonder for as many years as mankind has lived in the area. The falls and accompanying lodge (built in 1925) are within minutes of walking distance from the parking lot just off 1-84. Multnomah Falls towers above the landscape at 611 feet from top to bottom. Although the best time to visit the falls is between spring and summer, wintertime in the Columbia Gorge adds a special touch all its own, when the temperature gets cold enough to freeze portions of the falls. There are hiking trails available with varying degrees of difficulty.

There is a gift store at the base of the lodge, as well as a refreshment stand and restrooms. The area can get a little crowded on weekends with good weather, so if you can visit it on a weekday, do so.

You can find out more about Multnomah Falls on their website: www.multnomahfallslodge.com

The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

2006-10-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

Next time you are in the Portland, Oregon area, make a point of making the short drive east to the Columbia River Gorge. It’s an unbelievably beautiful place and one that our family returns to as often as we can. You can visit many of the more outstanding sites in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area in an afternoon as two of the most prominent attractions, Multnomah Falls and Crownpoint are mere miles from each other. I’ll touch on both of these attractions in future postings. For now I’ve included a photo that I took from Crownpoint overlooking the Columbia River with views of both Washington and Oregon. Enjoy!

Pike Place Market - Seattle, Washington

2006-09-29T10:10:00.000-07:00

A visit to Seattle, Washington without a stop at the “soul of Seattle,” Pike Place Market, might just rank up there with some of the worst sins you can think of. Created over 100 years ago on August 17, 1907, the market sits on 9 acres and includes a menagerie of stores that feature local food, jewelry, music and antiques. The prime time to visit the market is between the months of May and October. Most stores during the peak season open at 8am. A number of the market stores close early during the day, so start your visit in the morning. On Sundays the shops are open on a volunteer basis, making Saturday the busiest day of the week. Don’t miss the French bakery Le Panier or Kosher Delight. And don’t forget your camera! You don’t want to miss taking shots of fish flying through the air, the huge neon clock and the “Public Market” sign. www.pikeplacemarket.org

Ernest Hemingway's Home Opens to the Public

2006-09-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

September 28-October 1

Fans of writer Ernest Hemingway will be offered a rare opportunity this September when his home in Ketchum, Idaho will be opened to the public for one evening.

The home is frozen in time since the 1960s and is filled with Hemingway memorabilia. Magazines from 1961 still sit by the sofa, a drawing from Picasso hangs on the wall, along with hunting trophies from his African safaris, his travel trunk sits at the foot of his bed, complete with tags and stickers from his last journeys, and his typewriter sits where he left it, on a standing desk overlooking the magnificent Sun Valley scenery.

The Ernest Hemingway Festival™ will be a well-rounded celebration of Hemingway’s life in the Wood River Valley and his interactions with the Hollywood set of his day. Plans include: lectures and panel discussions by national scholars, a short story contest, a tour of Hemingway Hangouts, the Sun Valley Indian Summer Shoot-out (a trap shooting contest), an art gallery tour with special presenters, a "Hemingway In Idaho" slide presentation, films and special functions at a few selected Hemingway historical sites.

5th Annual Camp Logan Days - Prairie City, Oregon

2006-09-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

The Civil War has always interested me. As a little boy, my grandfather would tell me stories about his grandfather who fought for the south at Vicksburg. I attended my first Civil War reenactment this past summer and came away fascinated with the people who are passionate about portraying this particular time in America’s history.

Coming during the third weekend of May, 2007 is the 5^th Annual Camp Logan Days. Camp Logan was a military post established in 1865 by the First Oregon Volunteers and was located approximately 5 miles south of present day Prairie City.

The reenactors will be portraying Camp Logan, Dixie Town and Grant County in the year 1867. You can find out more about this event on the Prairie City website.

Gold Dredge Number 8 – Fairbanks, Alaska

2006-09-21T16:38:00.000-07:00

I’ve been telling my wife for ages that I want to go panning for gold somewhere up in the Pacific Northwest and it looks like I found just the place. Down in the Goldstream Valley back in 1928, old Number 8 dredged 7.5 million ounces of gold before it was shut down in the 1950s. Holland America Line bought the dredge in 1996, slapped some paint on it (well maybe more than paint; the total renovation cost $700,000) and opened it to the public. If your fingers are just itching at the thought of all that gold you’re going to find, bring along $29.50 and along with all that gold, you’ll also get a “Miner’s Buffet” and a tour of the operations. Check out Number 8’s website at http://www.golddredgeno8.com/

Portland Art Museum: The Quest For Immortality – Treasures of Ancient Egypt

2006-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

Running from Sunday, November 5, 2006 through Sunday, March 4, 2007, The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt is one exhibit you won’t want to miss. If you grew up in the 1960s like me, you watched old movies like “The Mummy” with Boris Karloff on TV. I wonder how many archaeologists around today watched The Mummy when they were kids? Hmmm. But I digress.

This particular exhibit features the largest selection of antiquities that have ever been loaned by Egypt for exhibition in North America. The reconstructed burial chamber of pharaoh Thutmose III will be number one on my list of things to see.

For more information on The Quest for Immortality: Treasures of Ancient Egypt, visit the museum’s website at http://web.pam.org.

The Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit- Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington

2006-09-17T22:34:00.000-07:00

You’ve probably heard the story…a shepherd boy was searching for a lost sheep in the area of Qumran. He threw a rock in the direction of a cave and heard the sound of pottery breaking. What he found when he went to look at what he hit was one of history’s greatest discoveries – the Dead Sea Scrolls. The scrolls date from the mid-third century B.C. and consist of both biblical and sectarian manuscripts

Now you can get a personal look at the scrolls themselves on view at Seattle, Washington’s Pacific Science Center. . “Discovering The Dead Sea Scrolls” will run from September 23, 2006 through January 2007. For more information visit the center’s website at www.pacsci.org

Pacific Science Center (Seattle)
200 Second Ave. N.
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: 206.443.2001

Pacific Science Center is located under the five white arches near the Space Needle in Seattle.

Mt. Angel, Oregon - Oktoberfest 2006

2006-09-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

Mt. Angel is a small community located about 15 miles from Salem, Oregon. Each year, September 14 - 17, the town is host to the Oktoberfest...O.K., I’ll stop there. I know what you are thinking. Why is Oktoberfest held in September? It all began with a wedding in October 1810. Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen and threw a big party near Munich, Germany. The party was a huge hit and developed into the world famous celebration that it is today. That’s the origin in a very small nutshell.

Okay, back to Mt. Angel. It’s a quaint little town with lots of German-looking architecture. It reminds me a little of New Braunfels in Texas but not on the same grand scale. Still, it’s a lot of fun. There’s plenty of beer, fried foods that will make you feel guilty for eating it until next year’s fest, and some “oom-pah” music to round out the experience. Be prepared to walk the soles off your shoes and come prepared for any weather surprises. It’s been different every time I’ve gone. Last year was warm and sunny, the year before I about froze and it was wet to boot.

The Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel is just another piece of Americana that I think everyone should experience at least once. Well, maybe two or three times. Those onion rings were pretty durn good.

Northwest Seen on YouTube

2006-09-06T13:57:00.000-07:00

Do you have a great video of the Pacific Northwest that you would like to share? Join the new Northwest Seen member site at http://www.youtube.com/group/northwestseen and share it witht the whole world!

We're especially looking for videos that are music and travel related to the Pacific Northwest.

Oregon State Fair

2006-08-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Something about a state fair just brings out the romantic in me. This has got to be Americana at its best! The Oregon State Fair is no exception. Fair organizers have returned big name draws to the concert lineup and the rest of the fair just gets bigger and better with each passing year.

Started in the late nineteenth century, the State Fair has become an Oregon family tradition. Families come from all over the state to take in great shows, rides, culinary delights, and animal and agricultural exhibits. Fair attendees will be able to see over 26,000 exhibits in livestock, home arts and hobbies, show horses, fine art, photography, professional wine, homebrew beer, small animals, including poultry, rabbits, doves, pigeons and guinea pigs, plus 4-H and FFA animals and events.

The photo below shows an exhibit of fresh vegetables and home preserved good on tables and shleves at the fair in the 1940s. [Photo courtesy of the Oregon State Archives].

For more information call 503-947-3247 or toll free in Oregon, 1-800-833-0011 or visit the OregonState Fair website at www.oregonstatefair.org

Lava Butte Vicinity, Oregon

2006-08-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

Mars doesn’t have anything on this place. Lave Butte, which is just south of Bend, Oregon, is a massive 500 foot high cinder cone that formed around 7,000 years ago. Be sure to take the time to walk the trail that has been provided. Once at the top, you get a spectacular view of the rocky volcanic landscape that is spread out in front of you. You’ll feel like you’re on another planet.

From there visit the Lava Cast Forest. You’ll have to take a nine-mile dirt road to reach the one-mile, self guided “living museum of volcanic landscapes,” but it’s worth the effort.

It was a little on the warm side on the day we visited the Lava River Cave - a welcome respite. The cave is a constant 42 degrees and it was weird seeing our breath in the middle of August! You can rent lanterns if you don’t bring a flashlight, but you will need your driver’s license and a deposit.

UFO Festival in McMinnville, Oregon

2006-08-08T22:14:00.000-07:00

On May 11, 1950, Evelyn Trent was in the backyard of her family farm in Dayton, Oregon (approximately 11 miles from McMinnville) and saw a metallic, saucer shaped object in the sky. She yelled towards the house to her husband Paul, who grabbed a camera and ran outside to get a picture. The result was a photo of one of the most famous UFO sightings in history. 50 plus years later, it has also given birth to the now world famous “UFO Festival” hosted by McMenamins Hotel each May in McMinnville.

Whether you are a serious student of UFO’s or you just like to party with people dressed in alien costumes and tin foil hats, this festival has it all. I listened to UFO experts head up discussions and witnessed alien marching bands parade down the main drag in McMinnville’s historic district. Unfortunately I missed Willamette Radio Workshop's free performance of "The War of the Worlds," recreated at the Mack Theater across from McMennamin’s Hotel.

The 8^th Annual UFO Festival is already in the planning stages and will be held on May 18 on 19, 2007. For more information call (503) 472-8427 or visit www.ufofest.com.

Great Oregon Steam-Up

2006-08-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

One day while driving down I-5 between Salem, Oregon and nearby Woodburn, I spied an antique tractor in a field that bordered the interstate. I asked my brother-in-law Larry, who was along for the ride about it and he mentioned that the Antique Powerland Museum in Brooks held an exhibit of antique steam and gas powered farm equipment each year during the last part of July and early August. Being the connoisseur of culture that I am(!), I knew that I had to be there, so we made plans to attend.

I had no idea what to expect and if you've never seen an antique steam powered tractor, you're in for a treat. The first steam tractors were manufactured in 1868 and resembled small locomotives complete with smoke stack. These behemoths weighed thousands of pounds and lumbered along at speeds of up to 3 m.p.h. The tractors exhibited at the Great Oregon Steam-Up are all lovingly restored by their owners from around the country and brought to the outdoor museum to share their history with the public.

Tickets to the festival were $8 and children 12 and under got in for free. What an incredible value in my opinion, for a lifetime of memories that the entire family can share.

In addition to the exhibit and parade of tractors, other activities include tractor pulls, street car rides, wheat field threshing, baling and binding demonstrations and a huge flea market.

For more information, go to www.antiquepowerland.com

Civil War Reenactment - July 1-4, 2006

2006-07-27T22:14:00.000-07:00

The Civil War might have ended in 1865 but don't tell that to the men and women that make up the nation's civil war reenactors. Weekend soldiers dressed in blue and gray still battle it out in reenactments around the USA every year. Over the 4th of July weekend I joined hundreds of spectators at Willamette Mission Park in Brooks, Oregon to get a feel of what life was like for a soldier during the Civil War. The event was sponsored by the Northwest Civil War Council (NCWC), a non-profit living history organization dedicated to educating the public about the American Civil War. In addition to watching the battle renenactments, I was free to walk around the various military camps and watch as soldiers staged drills, doctors treated the wounded and craftsmen demonstrated their various talents.

Civil War reenactment is a potentially expensive hobby. A new reenactor may spend upwards of $1,200 or more to be properly outfitted and you can be reasonably certain that the romance aspect of the hobby soon wears off after a hot summer afternoon of fighting in a wool uniform. Still, there is something extremely appealing in going back to a simpler time - even if it's just make believe.

For more information about Civil War reenactment in Oregon, visit www.nwcwc.org

Daytrip to Newport and Depoe Bay, Oregon

2006-06-29T21:13:00.000-07:00

It takes almost an entire day to thoroughly explore Oregon’s seaside towns Newport and Depoe Bay, but it’s worth the time and effort. This was one of the first places our Oregon relatives took us when my wife and I first began visiting Oregon. You can experience it all in this area, from quaint fishing villages and whale watching, to lighthouses and unbelievable views of the Oregon coast.

Start your trip by taking Interstate 5 to Albany, exiting at the Albany/City center/Covalis ramp, and following the signs for Highway 20 west to Newport. It can be a little confusing (for me anyway) so watch carefully for the signs. This road is very scenic…and winding. You may want to take a couple of motion sickness pills before you leave if you are prone to getting car sick. You’ll enjoy spectacular views as you pass through little country towns such as Philomath (pronounced “fill-low-muth”) and Ellmaker State Park.

Begin your day in Newport with a boat ride to look for whales. We lucked out and made the choice to go with Marine Discovery Tours (www.marinediscovery.com>. For a reasonable price, $30 per person, we enjoyed a two hour ride aboard “The Discovery,” a deluxe 65 foot boat with seating for 49 landlubbers. Even though it wasn’t officially whale watching season, we saw a number of whale spouts, cresting backs, and tails. Our on-board naturalist Kevin not only entertained us with plenty of jokes, but educated us about the ocean. Once again, don’t forget the travel sickness pills; the ocean can be a little bumpy at times. For lunch, you can’t beat stopping in at the original Mo’s restaurant on Bay Boulevard or the Mo’s annex right across the street. We’re partial to the Mo’s annex because it sits on the bay side of the street. Through its huge windows, you can watch the seals play while you’re downing a bowl of their famous clam chowder.

Next stop is Yaquina Head Lighthouse on highway 101 between Newport and Depoe Bay. Having never seen a lighthouse (except in magazines), this one fit the picture in my head perfectly. It recently underwent an extensive restoration, so now is a good time to visit. While you’re there, visit the interpretive center at the entrance to the state park and the Quarry Cove, a man-made system of tide pools. The day we went, we had fun watching some of the local seal population sunbathe on the rocks.

Finally, head on over to Depoe Bay. The beautiful bay that fronts the main street is probably one of the top whale watching spots in Oregon. If nothing else, sit on the sea wall, drink in the view of the massive Pacific Ocean, and watch the water spouts that shoot up from the rocks as the waves come in. Don’t leave without getting some saltwater taffy at any one of the numerous shops on the main drag. www.depoebaychamber.org.

With little daylight left, we had to skip Lincoln City and head back to our base in Salem. We’ll have to check it out on another trip. In Lincoln City, follow the signs to Salem (highway 18) then take highway 22 all the way to downtown Salem.