About the Author

Grant McOmie

Grant McOmie is a Pacific Northwest broadcast journalist, teacher and author who writes and produces stories and special programs about the people, places, outdoor activities and environmental issues of the Pacific Northwest. A fifth generation Oregon native, Grant’s roots run deepest in the central Oregon region near Prineville and Redmond where his family continues to live.

Olympia Oysters Are Back

June 3, 2016
As we motor across the fast-ebbing tide on Netarts Bay, skipper Travis Oja says with a chuckle, “Lift your feet fellas, 'cause it gets really shallow really fast! Oja is an oyster farmer who owns the Nevør Shellfish Farm at Netarts Bay. He inspects his crops — millions of Pacific Oysters — each day. But there’s another oyster he… More
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Oregon Coast , Netarts , Culinary Events , Fishing , Seafood , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Battle Lake Trout Hike

May 27, 2016
You know spring has arrived when anglers begin casting lures for rainbow trout. That's also the signal for the annual Battle Lake Trout Hike. "It’s the only hike-in lake on the district that we stock with fish,” says Robert Bradley, a fishery biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “I have an email list to… More
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Oregon Coast , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

A Visit to the SAGE Center

May 20, 2016
Eastern Oregon's Morrow County has been called “The Breadbasket of the State” for the abundant variety of food that is grown here and then processed and shipped around the world. In the wide open country near Boardman, a new silo-framed show-stopper catches your eye and invites you inside the SAGE Center, one of the most intriguing… More
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Eastern Oregon , Boardman , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Museums , Educational Activities , Trip Ideas , Culture & History , Attractions , Events ,

Oregon’s Gorgeous Gardens

May 13, 2016
Spring in Oregon brings clear skies and warm sunshine! That’s especially true in parklands, farms and nurseries where wonderful colorful flowers are hitting their peak. At the Adelman Peony Gardens near Brooks in Marion County, rows of color appear to reach to the horizon. If you visit Adelman Peony Gardens, there’s a good chance you’ll cross… More
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Willamette Valley , Dallas , Wildlife Viewing , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Cooking Oregon’s Wild Edibles

May 6, 2016
I’m an Oregonian who prefers the roads less traveled! That is most likely the result of a childhood largely spent exploring Oregon’s sparse and vast high desert landscape. Couple that with abundant fishing and hunting adventures and the net result is a strong appreciation for the idea of “living off the land.” This week’s outdoor… More
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Oregon Coast , Culinary Experiences , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions , Events ,

Harvesting Oregon’s Wild Edibles

April 29, 2016
When it comes to Oregon’s culinary treats, none are more surprising than the amazing array of wild edibles that you can harvest, collect or forage from the outdoors. I recently joined a wild edible pro and his friends who really know the Oregon backwoods and tidal estuaries, where they find and harvest delicious treasures. John Kallas is… More
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Oregon Coast , Tillamook , Tour Companies , Culinary Events , Culinary Experiences , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Attractions , Events ,

“Let’s Go Outdoors!”

April 22, 2016
Springtime in Oregon reignites a certain shoutout heard far and wide: "Let's Go Outdoors!" It's also the name of a popular Oregon Parks and Recreation program that teaches outdoor skills such as camping, hiking, crabbing, clamming, paddling, cycling and disc golf. It's hard to beat the outdoors experiences at Fort Stevens State Park where you can… More
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Oregon Coast , Estacada , Kayaking , Tour Companies , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Wetland Wanderings and Wildlife

April 15, 2016
If your commute feels hectic and hurried, consider the 20,000 Canada geese jammed wing to wing, twisting and turning, jockeying for position to gain speed for flight above Marion County’s Ankeny Wildlife Refuge. The clouds of geese darken the sky as the big birds prep for takeoff and their long flights toward their subarctic homes.… More
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Willamette Valley , Salem , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

High-Wire Act in the Rogue Valley

April 8, 2016
The sound gives it away — a distinct, whirring and metallic noise as a dozen steel rollers spin across a thick cable. Rogue Valley ZipLine Adventure is a high-wire act that lets you soar over treetops and leave all your troubles behind. Before soaring in the sky, riders first gear up for safety. Zip line guides Steve Carlino and Katie… More
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Tour Companies , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Table Rocks, Oregon’s Islands in the Sky

April 1, 2016
If you're looking for an outdoor adventure that will take your breath away, journey to Southern Oregon where two stunning landscape features are home to hundreds of wildflower species. Take a hike to the top of Lower Table Rock in Jackson County, one of two Table Rocks that are unmistakable and prominent landmarks that some call… More
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Southern Oregon , Medford , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,