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.

Serving it up in St. Helens

September 1, 2014
Tucked into the curve of the Columbia River about 30 miles north of Portland, the little town of St. Helens is a day-tripper’s dream. Take a boat out on the river, explore historic Highway 30 and check out the views of the mountain for which this charming river town was named. Once you’ve worked up… More
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Portland Region , St. Helens , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Farmlandia Farm Loop Tour

Portland’s urban buzz is surpassed only by its proximity to pastoral beauty. When you’re yearning to explore the tranquil countryside, check out the Farmlandia Farm Loop. Just minutes from downtown, you’ll find farms, wineries and vineyards celebrating Oregon’s rural life and bounty along this 14-stop agri-tour. From farms stands and U-pick to plant nurseries and… More
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Portland Region , West Linn , Culinary Events , Farm & Ranch Stays , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Liquid Assets in Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory

August 22, 2014
With the backdrop of Greater Portland, Mt. Hood and the Willamette River, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory offers the best of all worlds — urban buzz, mountain beauty and verdant river country. More
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Portland Region , Oregon City , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

South Coast Brews

August 21, 2014
There’s something brewing on Oregon’s South Coast. Just a couple of years ago, there was a veritable beer desert between the California border and Newport, more than 200 miles up the coastline. Now you can find a delightful taste of Oregon craft beer in the towns of Coos Bay, Gold Beach and Brookings. Just off… More
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Oregon Coast , Coos Bay , Trip Ideas ,

Road Trip: Mosier

August 19, 2014
Just five miles east of Hood River, Ponderosa pines, basalt cliffs and leafy cherry orchards welcome visitors to the little town of Mosier (pop. 437). Set on the Columbia River and with the Historic Columbia River Highway running through town, Mosier is a great destination for wine tasting, road biking and browsing historic sites. Outdoor fun:… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Mosier , Trip Ideas ,

Discover Hood River’s Camp 1805 Distillery

August 14, 2014
If Lewis and Clark had just waited 209 years for their glorious expedition through the West, they could have wet their whistles in Hood River when Camp 1805 Distillery opened this past July. Co-owned by Chris Taylor and Roy Slayton, Camp 1805 is named to honor the legendary explorers and their route through the Pacific… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Hood River , Spirits & Distilleries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Winemaker for a Day

August 2, 2014
Oregon is no longer the best-kept secret of wine lovers. What began four decades ago when a few brave believers planted the first vines in the Willamette Valley has blossomed into a world-renowned industry. Today, Oregon is home to 545 wineries, 905 vineyards and 17 distinct wine-growing regions. Chef Gabriel Rucker, self-described pinot noir lover,… More
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Willamette Valley , Newberg , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Searching for Oregon Bounty With Chef Gabriel Rucker

August 1, 2014
Chef Gabriel Rucker knows Oregon bounty. As the owner of Portland restaurants LePigeon and Little Bird, Rucker uses the freshest Oregon ingredients to create the experimental French cuisine that has earned him two James Beard Awards — Best Chef Northwest, 2013, and Rising Star Chef of the Year, 2011. This passionate localvore spends plenty of… More
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Portland Region , Portland , Culinary Experiences , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

8 Spots for Van Camping on the Coast

So you’re interested in camping, but you’re kind of over sleeping on the ground and cooking by headlamp hunched over propane stove. Sure, you could go the glamping route (that’s glamour plus camping), but maybe 400-thread-count sheets and champagne in the woods is too far in the other direction. We’ve got just the thing for… More
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Oregon Coast , Camping , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

A Taste of Oregon Charcuterie

July 31, 2014
In the steaming kitchen of Olympic Provisions in Portland, Chef Elias Cairo is carrying on an old-fashioned tradition that is one of Portland’s newest trends — charcuterie. Cairo is one of many Oregon chefs who have renewed the age-old practice of custom cutting and curing their meats in house. “This product has been made since we’ve… More
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Portland Region , Farm & Ranch Stays , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,