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.

Casting for Spring Chinook

May 15, 2014
For Oregon anglers, spring snowmelt is spelled c-h-i-n-o-o-k. Returning from the ocean to head upriver, these salmon are usually about 4 years old and can be as big as 40 pounds. Chinook are prized for their great taste, high oil content and their big fight. The Rogue and Umpqua rivers, coastal watersheds that reach up… More
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Guides & Charters , Fishing , Trip Ideas ,

Geocaching Treasure Hunts

May 13, 2014
It’s every kid’s dream: navigating an unknown trail with a secret map to discover hidden treasure. Only with geocaching, the map comes from GPS coordinates and the treasure is a logbook where you connect with previous explorers. According to Geocaching.com, more than 6 million people are searching 2 million-plus geocaching sites around the world. Caches… More
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Trip Ideas ,

Seven Wonderful Waterfalls

May 1, 2014
In the south Willamette Valley, you’ll find wonderful trickle-down in seven waterfall wonders that stretch from the Cascade Mountains to the Oregon Coast. With spring snowmelt swelling the forested streams that feed them, these gorgeous cascades are more beautiful than ever. 1) Salt Creek Falls Oregon’s second highest single-drop waterfall is easily accessed by a half-mile… More
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Willamette Valley , Lakes & Reservoirs , 7 Wonders , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Klamath Falls

Driving into the charming downtown of Klamath Falls (pop. 21,000) with its historic buildings set in secretly sunny Southern Oregon, you might wonder why you haven’t been here before. Once you pay a visit, you’ll be sure to plan another. Eats and treats: For the love of all things gluten, start your day at Green… More
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Southern Oregon , Klamath Falls , Trip Ideas ,

Beyond Wine in the Willamette Valley

April 16, 2014
Ready for a getaway to the Willamette Valley? Plan your trip at OregonWineCountry.org. We’re wild about wine in the Willamette Valley, but this fertile region has even more to offer than the 300-plus wineries within its boundaries. Beer, mead, cider, farm-to-table cuisine and local harvest also flourish here. Why not take a trip beyond the wine in the… More
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Willamette Valley , Trip Ideas ,

New Neighborhoods in Hood River

March 25, 2014
You know Hood River, that gem of an outdoor town tucked on the windy banks of the Columbia River just an hour east of Portland. There’s plenty of recreation, craft beer, gourmet food and one-of-a-kind boutique shopping, right? But recent changes in two parts of town make this little burg worth getting to know even… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Hood River , Trip Ideas ,

Sunny Spring Road Bike Rides

March 13, 2014
Spring sunshine always gets our wheels turning: the ones in our heads that start planning the ultimate spring road trip and the ones on our bikes that have been sitting in the garage all winter. Central Oregon is an excellent place to spin along, head, heart and handlebars. We suggest you check out the four… More
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Central Oregon , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Destination Newport

March 4, 2014
If the Oregon Coast is calling your family for a spring road trip, Newport is a good answer. Just two and a half hours from Portland, this friendly fishing town of 10,000 people tucked along the Central Coast is rich in ways to enjoy the wild creatures of the Pacific. More
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Oregon Coast , Newport , Favorite Trips , Aquariums & Zoos , Family Fun , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Sunshine Mill Winery

When Molli and James Martin started making wine in 2004, they figured it would be an engaging hobby to go along with their real careers as cherry farmers. Born and raised into cherry-growing families in The Dalles, they’d moved away for college and jobs. Following 15 years in Portland, they returned to take over the family farm. But when James really threw himself into the new pastime, their lives took a very different course. More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , The Dalles , Favorite Trips , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Wildlife Images Heals the Animal World

Wildlife Images, a refuge and rehabilitation center in Southern Oregon, sees more than 1,000 injured animals and birds come through its doors every year. Most are kept out of the public eye, rehabilitated and rereleased into the wild. Those that can’t survive on their own live out their lives on Wildlife Images’ 24 wooded acres. More
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Southern Oregon , Merlin , Favorite Trips , Family Fun , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,