About the Author

Emily Parent

Emily Parent is a science educator, writer, self-professed nature nerd, and avid hiker. To read more of her writing about science and nature in the outdoors, visit www.trailscholar.com.

Winter Treasure Hunts on the Oregon Coast

December 1, 2025
It was early and the sun hid behind a bank of fog as it rose, casting a soft morning light. It was early enough that instead of human prints, all we saw were wildlife tracks on the sandy dunes that separated us from our destination, Fort Stevens State Park’s beach. We were headed for a shipwreck — the storied remains of a four-masted steel ship that ran aground in 1906 called the Peter Iredale. More
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Oregon Coast , Newport , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Enjoy Oregon Trail History, Arts, Food and Drink in Historic Baker City

July 7, 2025
In Baker City in Eastern Oregon, thirteen miles of visible wagon ruts cut across the sagebrush. They were left by travelers on the Oregon Trail, a movement west that brought hundreds of thousands of people to Oregon during the mid-1800s in search of opportunity. Standing in the tracks, it is hard not to wonder about the lives and experiences of these travelers — and at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, you can learn more about what life was really like on the trail. More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

5 Rainy-Day Hikes With Kids in the Willamette Valley

December 9, 2024
Here are five great places in the Willamette Valley to experience a rainy-day hike with kids, along with a few tips for how to keep everyone safe while having a lot of fun. More
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Willamette Valley , Corvallis , Family Fun , Trip Ideas ,

Adventures on the Historic Santiam Wagon Road

October 4, 2024
The Santiam Wagon Road — which passes from the Willamette Valley to Central Oregon and beyond — was once just like this. For more than 400 miles, it served as the main thoroughfare for stagecoaches, goods and livestock from 1856 to 1939. Here are a few ways to hit the trail and experience Oregon’s history by foot, wheel or hoof. More
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Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Parks & Recreational Areas , Bicycling , Hiking & Backpacking , Destinations , Outdoor Recreation ,

Immerse Yourself in the Forest at the Tillamook Forest Center

July 15, 2024
Heading from Portland to the Coast? Don’t miss a stop at the Tillamook Forest Center. About 50 miles west of Portland and 20 miles east of Tillamook Creamery, directly on Highway 6, the center offers a variety of opportunities to learn more about the natural and cultural history of Oregon’s Coast Range. More
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Oregon Coast , Tillamook , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

5 Family-Friendly Hikes Around Portland

April 17, 2024
Here are some of the best kid-friendly hikes in Portland, along with some of my favorite tips for enhancing any hike with kids. More
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Portland Region , Portland , Family Fun , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Spring Wildflowers in the Illinois River Valley

March 13, 2024
Cradled below Southern Oregon’s craggy Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains and the glaciated Cascade volcanoes, the Illinois River Valley’s unique geology and climate make it a hotbed for rare and unusual flora. With its main city Cave Junction located about 30 miles southwest of Grants Pass, it seems a world away. Colorful rocks and quirky plants there survive on scant resources in a starkly beautiful setting, making it the perfect spring road-trip destination for wildflower enthusiasts. More
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Southern Oregon , Cave Junction , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

3 Spots to See Central Oregon’s Supervolcano

November 2, 2023
Visitors can see some pretty cool remnants of this ancient geological history at numerous recreation sites in Central Oregon. More
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State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Destinations , Trip Ideas , Trails ,