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No!!! the Fruit Loop is not named after the cereal by Kellogg's. It's a 35-mile scenic trip through the fruit orchards, small towns, and back roads of the Hood River Valley. Located about 45 minutes east of Portland by way of the Columbia Gorge, and directly south of the town of Hood River, the area is Oregon's largest fruit growing region. Over thirty percent of the nation's winter pears are harvested here, along with a variety of apples, berries, peaches, cherries, and wine

Come and check out the covered bridges in Oregon. This is a two-part post because of the number of covered bridges in Oregon. It's impossible to do this in a day, and a long three-day weekend is needed because you have some on the Oregon coast and one on the eastern side of the Cascades.

Pacific Northwest Trolls done by Thomas Dambo. The project was called “Way of the Bird King,” and includes six sites in the Pacific Northwest.

The Eagle Creek Trail. Here is the information on the Eagle Creek Hike if you're interested. The Eagle Creek Trail includes Metlako Falls, Sorenson Falls, Punchbowl Falls, Loowit Falls, Skoonichuk Falls, Tunnel Falls, Grand Union Falls, Twister Falls, and if you add on an additional quarter of a mile to your hike, you can see Seven Mile Falls. There are cable-railed cliff faces on this trail, and if you suffer from Vertigo, I would not recommend doing this hike. This is not a

The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon Has More Waterfalls Than Anywhere Else in the Country. The Gorge is undeniably one of the most beautiful places in Oregon, perfect for hikers, bikers, and explorers of all types. But there is one feature that makes this beautiful natural area truly unique: the impressive waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge!

At its height, Latourell was a working timber town and had five saloons and a well-known brass band. Large scale commercial logging did not arrive until the 1880s. Before that, many Columbia River Gorge residents cut and delivered cordwood to Columbia River steamships. Today, the former vibrant community of Latourell is quiet; there are no business establishments, and there are fewer than fifty residents compared to its earlier years.

Bodie, California, is a town frozen in time and preserved by California State Parks in a state of “arrested decay.” Bodie became a State Historic Park in 1962and maintains the buildings just as they were found when the State took over the town. They do not restore the buildings; instead, they choose to preserve them in their aged and weathered 1880s appearance.

At its peak, Virginia City was a thriving, vibrant metropolis of 25,000 residents. Located about 35 miles southeast of Reno, Nevada. Silver and gold were buried deep beneath the streets, and men and women traveled from around the world to live and work. Miners pulled millions of dollars from shafts and tunnels 3,000 feet beneath the thriving town.

In the town of Boring, Oregon, there is a museum called the North American Bigfoot Center. The museum features a gift store and free information center, as well as an admission area featuring dozens of exhibits. The Gift Store sells hundreds of bigfoot/crypto-themed items, including books, clothing, footprint casts, stickers, housewares, toys, and more. The Information Center showcases free exhibits, artifacts, and art for your enjoyment and learning.

Pacific Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King features six giant hand-built troll sculptures by Danish environmental artist Thomas Dambo. The publicly accessible sculptures are located around the Pacific Northwest (Washington and Oregon), where each whimsical troll sculpture is part of an underlying environmental story.

When you think of coffee, the thought of Seattle, Washington usually comes to mind. However, Portland, Oregon, is known as the Coffee Roaster Capital of the United States, with over eighty coffee roasters. With all that choice, it’s challenging to know just who the best coffee roasters in Portland are.

It's almost Halloween, so I thought I would write this post on Halloween. St. Helens, Oregon, is the town where the Disney movie...

The Northwest Chocolate Festival is held the first weekend of October every year. It lasts two days and is acclaimed as the TOP SHOW for CHOCOLATE in North America and one of the best shows for Chocolate in the world for the past 15-years. During the festival you can go to the world’s top education workshops, see some of the best chocolate exhibitors, and indulgent chocolate tastes!

The Flavel House Museum was the home of Captain George Flavel (1823-1893), one of Astoria's most influential citizens in the late 1800s. Captain Flavel was a noted bar pilot on the Columbia River and a prominent businessman.

Every year in September, Mount Angel holds their annual Oktoberfest. The Weingarten has a rustic Old-World feel. Large wooden beams overhead with sawdust on the floor, Bavarian chalets are the bars serving beer and wine.

There are two Lost Lakes in Oregon. One is in Mount Hood National Forest near Mount Hood, and the other, which I will discuss, is in Willamette National Forest near Sisters, Oregon.

Nestled in the heart of the Cascade Range, Trillium Lake is a breathtaking gem that offers a perfect escape for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. With its stunning views of Mt. Hood, crystal-clear waters, and lush forests, this serene lake is a must-visit destination.

On the Washington side of the Columbia, was armed with smoothbore cannons to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from enemies. Three years later, in 1865, Fort Stevens, complete with a moat and drawbridge, was established on the Oregon side. In 1875, Fort Canby came into existence to improve the defense of the Columbia. In 1896, Fort Columbia was built, and in 1897, Fort Stevens was enhanced. The mouth of the Columbia River was now protected with three forts.

Bradwood, Oregon, may not be the first place that comes to mind, but this ghost town is a hidden gem filled with history and intrigue....

The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse was established in 1856, making it one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast of the United States. Its creation was prompted by the treacherous waters of the Columbia River Bar, known for its dangerous currents and frequent shipwrecks. The lighthouse was built to guide vessels safely through these perilous waters, and its light has been a beacon of hope for mariners for over a century.