About the Author

Eileen Garvin

Eileen Garvin lives and writes in Hood River. When she’s not hunched over her keyboard or digging in the garden, you can find her mountain biking, kiteboarding, hiking, skiing or camping somewhere in Oregon.

7 Wonders Road Trip: Day 9, Baker City to Joseph

March 1, 2015
Day 9: Baker City to Joseph and the Wallowas (Driving time: 112 miles/2.5 hours) Get ready for your fifth Wonder! Today’s itinerary will land you at the foot of the Wallowa Mountains, aka “Little Switzerland,” whose snowy peaks reach nearly 10,000 feet. Head west on I-84 and then north on Highway 237 to the town… More
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Eastern Oregon , Joseph , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

7 Wonders Road Trip: Day 10, the Wallowas

Day 10: The Wallowas Take this day to explore in and around the majestic Wallowa Mountains. Start in the town of Joseph, which has made a name for itself as a center for bronze art. You can browse the galleries and public art on foot. Make your way to nearby Wallowa Lake, where you can… More
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Eastern Oregon , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

7 Wonders Road Trip: Day 11, Joseph to Hood River

Day 11: Joseph to Hood River (Driving time: 268 miles/4.5 hours) Goodbye, Wallowas; hello, Columbia River Gorge! Get ready for your sixth Wonder. The drive down I-84 takes you into the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which stretches from the Deschutes River in the east to the Sandy River in the west. With the… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

7 Wonders Road Trip: Day 12, Hood River to Mt. Hood

Day 12: Hood River to Mt. Hood to Troutdale (Driving time: 145 miles/3 hours) Get ready for your seventh Wonder: majestic Mt. Hood rising 11,250 feet above sea level. Head south out of Hood River on Highway 35. On a clear day, you’ll see the snowy peak for the entire 40-mile drive. Stop along the… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

7 Wonders Road Trip: Day 13, Mt. Hood to the Willamette Valley

Day 13: Troutdale to the Willamette Valley Bid farewell to the Gorge with a hike through the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale. This wooded area at the confluence of the Columbia and Sandy rivers is popular with dog walkers and birders. You’ll find an art installation from Maya Linn here too; it’s part of the… More
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Willamette Valley , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

Last-Minute Spring Break Trips

February 27, 2015
You made 25 valentines for your son’s class and cut out shamrocks for your daughter’s St. Patrick’s Day Party. It’s no wonder you haven’t given a thought to Spring Break. Luckily, Oregon has great getaways on the fly. Here are some last-minute ideas for fun escapes around the state. More
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Willamette Valley , McMinnville , Amusement Parks , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Brownsville

February 26, 2015
Located about halfway between Eugene and Salem, the charming town of Brownsville (pop. 1,686) offers a surprising respite from the bustle of the I-5 corridor. The town was founded by settlers from the Oregon Trail in 1846 in an area first inhabited by the Kalapuya Indians. With farmland on one side, forests on the other… More
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Willamette Valley , Brownsville , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Sisters

When you pull into the Old West town of Sisters, you’ll feel like you’re making a getaway. This friendly little outpost in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains draws visitors for its profound natural beauty as well as annual celebrations like the Sisters Rodeo (celebrating 75 years in June 2015), the Sisters Quilt Show (held… More
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Central Oregon , Sisters , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Cowboy Camp

February 24, 2015
Our trip to the Steens Mountain Guest Ranch ruined a few things for me: my favorite pair of jeans and my notion of what a working-ranch vacation would be like. Susan O’Crowley, Tim’s wife and ranch partner, put it plainly: “This is not going to be a plush vacation. This is going to be an authentic experience.” She was right. More
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Eastern Oregon , Diamond , Guides & Charters , Tour Companies , Favorite Trips , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Farm & Ranch Stays , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Culture & History , Attractions , Events ,

Inspiring Cooking at The Kitchen at Middleground Farms

February 11, 2015
In the brightly lit center of The Kitchen at Middleground Farms, we’re learning something I thought I already knew — how to core an apple. Jessica Hansen, chef and owner of this recreational cooking school in a renovated cow barn, demonstrates the best way to slice the juiciest meat out of each plump heirloom orb. Cores… More
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Willamette Valley , Wilsonville , Farm & Ranch Stays , Culinary Experiences , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,