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.

Ride the Sandy Ridge Trail

June 27, 2013
As a dirt lover, I’ve been hankering to check out the Sandy Ridge Trail, which holds a special place as the mountain biking single-track closest to Portland. Located just east of the town of Sandy on the southwest flank of Mt. Hood, the system’s loops make up about 12 miles of riding. One recent spring… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Sandy , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

An Adrenaline Junkie’s Bucket List

June 18, 2013
Killing time in an airport on his way home to Oregon, Dr. Christopher Van Tilburg had a flash of inspiration. “I was coming back from skiing in Chile with my daughters, and I thought, ‘I need to make a list of all the big trips I’ve done and all I want to do.” The Oregon… More
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Trip Ideas ,

Great Drinks, Great Outdoors

June 12, 2013
It’s summer — time to take it outside. Whether you’re camping, boating, hiking or picnicking in the park, summer fun demands the best libations. Here’s how to get your great drinks into the great outdoors. Can-do: Grab a six-pack of Oregon craft beer in cans. Pack it in, drink it up and carry it out.… More
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Beer & Breweries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Indulge at Peterson’s Gallery and Chocolatier

June 11, 2013
After she graduated from high school, Alyssa Peterson lived in Germany for a time and fell in love with handcrafted confections and European drinking chocolate. So when the Baker City native was making plans to open an art gallery with her in-laws, her affection for chocolate rose to the top. “I had this passion in… More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Artisan Producers , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Tonia Farman Harnesses the Wind

May 30, 2013
Tonia Farman never thought she’d end up with a career in kiteboarding, nor did she dream she’d be feted in the national media as a hero for cancer survivors, but that’s how things turned out. More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Hood River , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health’s Hazel Patton

May 28, 2013
Hazel Patton has a thing for old buildings. “I’m a preservationist,” she says. “I love old structures.” A Salem resident for more than 40 years, Patton has helped restore 13 historic properties and was the driving force behind the development of the carousel at Salem’s Riverfront Park, which opened in 2001. So it should come… More
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Willamette Valley , Salem , Trip Ideas ,

Willamette Valley Bounty Electric Byway

April 11, 2013
A short drive from downtown Portland, the Willamette Valley is the most well known of Oregon’s 18 wine-growing regions. More than 150 miles long and 60 miles wide, the Willamette Valley is home to more than 500 wineries and six sub-AVAs (American Viticulture Areas). The story of the valley doesn’t stop there. The growth of… More
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Willamette Valley , Newberg , Electric Vehicle Trips , Sustainable Travel , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Southern Oregon Arts & Bounty Electric Byway

For world-class arts, fine wine and a friendly welcome, explore these towns along the Southern Oregon Arts and Bounty Electric Byway. More
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Southern Oregon , Ashland , Art Galleries & Studios , Electric Vehicle Trips , Museums , Sustainable Travel , Theater & Performing Art , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

Eastern Oregon Brews Byway

April 10, 2013
It’s fitting that Oregon, land of craft beer and gorgeous landscapes, would find a way to celebrate both. If the weather has you champing at the bit for wide open spaces and a tall cold one, we have just the trip for you. Saddle up and head out on the Eastern Oregon Brews Byway. Start your… More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Beer & Breweries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Covered Bridges Electric Byway

April 9, 2013
Oregon once had 450 elegant wooden spans, many constructed after World War I. More
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Willamette Valley , Eugene , Covered Bridges , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Electric Vehicle Trips , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas ,