By Dan Shryock Fallen leaves scent the cool breeze and crackle underfoot. It’s time to do some leaf peeping—otherwise known as viewing colorful fall foliage. Here are five places to enjoy the view, paired with five shops to get a warm drink afterward. The change of color pairs boldly with a warm cup of coffee.…
By Matt Wastradowski When my girlfriend and I booked a vacation to see the aurora borealis in Alaska, we figured we’d enjoy dazzling displays every night. We’d booked our trip for mid-March—one of the best times of year to see the northern lights. As long as forecasts were favorable, I assumed the sky would pop…
By Katryna Vacella My husband and I arrived at Wilson Ranches Retreat, a destination ranch that sits three miles west of the small town of Fossil, Oregon, early on a spring Saturday morning. We had just enough time to find our room, introduce ourselves over a warm cup of coffee, and find cowboy boots with…
By Maggy Lehmicke Let’s face the facts–when you’re planning a long travel trip, there’s inevitably something you’re going to forget. Maybe it’s toothpaste or travel-size shampoo. Other times it’s something more substantial, such as to make boarding reservations for your dog or renew your passport or an important prescription. Whatever it may be, forgetting something…
By Teresa Ristow Pull up a chair on the deck of a weathered wooden pier in Portland, Maine, and listen to the squawks and cries of the thousands of seagulls welcoming you to their historic seaside city. Satisfy your tastebuds with a fresh lobster roll and locally made craft beer while feeling the salty breezes…
By Teresa Ristow Historic gold mining town meets wine country in Jacksonville, a cozy, charming community in the Rogue Valley of southern Oregon. Gold mining drew the first residents to Jacksonville in the early 1850s and today those same structures built during the mining boom are home to many of the town’s best restaurants, shops…
By Dan Shryock Some days it’s time to get out of the car and onto a bicycle. Even better if your bicycle doesn’t have to contend with cars at all. Enjoy a safe, peaceful ride on one of these four family-friendly car-free bike trails. Banks-Vernonia State Trail Banks to Vernonia, Oregon Escape into the woods…
By Kim Cooper Findling In 1906, a shipbuilding magnate’s son purchased a piece of land south of Coos Bay, Oregon. It was a wild and untamed acreage perched on a rocky cliff above the ocean, forested with spruce and salal, with access to a secluded alcove beach. At this site Louis J. Simpson built a…
By Suzanne Johnson Multigenerational travel adds a whole new dimension to a vacation, said Dee Dutoit of Wilsonville, Oregon. As an avid global traveler and a grandmother, Dutoit looks forward to planning an annual vacation with her daughters and their families, including her three grandchildren. For Dutoit, getting away together allows different generations to connect…
By JENNIFER BURNS BRIGHT The old saying that oysters should only be eaten in months with an ‘R’ isn’t always true. Washington and Oregon are an exception, with colder waters and oysters that taste great longer in the season. Raw oysters are not just delicious, they have been nourishing humans as long as both have…