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.

Down on the Farm

July 20, 2012
Sometimes getting away from it all is more about what you are getting to. That’s what Scottie Jones has learned from guests who visit Leaping Lamb Farm Stay, her working farm in Alsea. “Everybody loves how quiet and peaceful it is. Things are kind of turned off, and the family gets to be a family,”… More
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Willamette Valley , Alsea , Farm & Ranch Stays , Family Fun , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Two Days in Pendleton

July 13, 2012
Located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, Pendleton was first platted in 1868. The town has a rich history, including many local businesses that have been in operation for more than 100 years. Day One Start your day with breakfast at the Rainbow Café. It’s the oldest business in town, first opened in 1883… More
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Eastern Oregon , Pendleton , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Beer & Breweries , Casinos , Native American Culture , Museums , Shopping , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Trail Talk with Terry Richard

July 11, 2012
Sunshine and snow melt mean open season for backpacking. We decided to talk to Terry Richard, who has been writing about the outdoors for “The Oregonian” newspaper since the 1970s. Richard has climbed, hiked and backpacked all over Oregon, so we knew he’d have some fun trip ideas. What Oregon peaks have you climbed? All… More
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Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas ,

Berry Season

June 28, 2012
If you’ve been eagerly awaiting Oregon berry season, you aren’t alone. Portland’s Ken Forkish (owner of Ken’s Artisan Bakery and three-time semi-finalist for the James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry Chef) fully embraces the bounty of Oregon berries each summer. “The joy is in the variety that we have. Once summer kicks in, it is… More
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Culinary Events , Culinary Experiences , Farmers Markets , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Outdoor Family Fun

June 27, 2012
Summer is a great time to try something new with the family, and Oregon has no end of outdoor fun. Get outside and learn something about Oregon, our sea life, camping, wetlands or the local food movement. You’ll probably learn something about yourself too! Dig it: Learn to crab or clam in Siletz Bay in… More
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Oregon Coast , Lincoln City , Kayaking , State Parks , Amusement Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Camping , Family Fun , Culinary Experiences , Seafood , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

The Building Blocks of Chocolate

June 4, 2012
Woodblock Chocolate’s new commercial space isn’t anything like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory — unless Willy Wonka moved to DIY-Portland. Instead it’s a clean, open space for creating bean-to-bar chocolate from nothing but high quality cacao and cane sugar, a product perfectly suiting Portland’s appetite for handcrafted goodies. Woodblock owners Charley and Jessica Wheelock are bent… More
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Artisan Producers , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Summer Steelhead Season Opens

May 31, 2012
Notoriously elusive and much sought after, the Oregon steelhead is the subject of many a tale about icy winter rivers, overcast skies and hours lost to exasperating and fruitless effort. Here's a morale booster: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) wants to remind us that steelhead run in the summer, too. "Summer steelhead… More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Family Fun , Fishing , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Girlfriends’ Surfing Getaway

May 25, 2012
I wanted to get out of town and try something different, some combination of physical and relaxing. A weekend in the sweet little town of Manzanita with some of my favorite women seemed like just the thing. More
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Oregon Coast , Manzanita , State Parks , Guides & Charters , Favorite Trips , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Restaurants , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

The Beauty of the Falls

Crashing, boiling, breathtaking, roaring. These are the words used by writers, poets and travelers to describe the waterfalls of Oregon. What’s harder to capture is our fascination with these powerful cascading streams that spill out of the wooded hillsides and snow-capped mountains around the state. Year after year we return to witness the cycle of… More
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Lakes & Reservoirs , Favorite Trips , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Oregon Dreamer: Pholia Farm

I’m here to learn about Oregon’s only off-the-grid creamery, which produces award-winning, aged raw milk cheeses, and, in the spring, scores of adorable baby goats. More
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Southern Oregon , Rogue River , Favorite Trips , Culinary Experiences , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,