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.

Fishing for Oregon Metalheads

March 18, 2016
When you fish with a legend, you know you’re in good hands! Retired fishing guide Ed Fast has run the rapids, slipped past the boulders and left all his troubles behind for nearly four decades on the Upper Sandy River —  a place that not many people can navigate. He says, "There is not an easy… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Sandy , Lakes & Reservoirs , Tour Companies , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Fishing , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Menucha, a Governor’s Home

March 4, 2016
You are in for a treat as we visit a "retreat" and explore one man’s vision of serenity, peace and solitude. It's a wonderful destination that you may have missed in the Columbia River Gorge. Come along as we travel to a long-ago Oregon governor's home, a place prized for stillness and wonder called Menucha. A century ago,… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Corbett , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Dig for Dinner with Razor Clamming

February 26, 2016
When it comes to digging supper from the sea, nighttime in the wintertime offers unique outdoor adventures along Oregon’s North Coast. In Clatsop County, there’s a famous sandy stretch from Seaside to the Columbia River that many folks call "Clam Heaven" because of its productive razor clam beds. Last May, razor clamming closed due to… More
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Oregon Coast , Gearhart , Tour Companies , Fishing , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Awestruck with the Elk Artist

February 19, 2016
The snow falls heavy and powdery drifts build to waist-deep as the temperature hovers near 20 degrees in Baker County. Ed Miguez and his crew call it another day at the "best office in Oregon." Miquez is the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) manager of the 12,000-acre Elkhorn Wildlife Area, located near North Powder.… More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Snow Sports , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Camas Country Mill & Schoolhouse

February 15, 2016
This week, we are exploring how sustainable tourism offers Oregonians and visitors a chance to help protect the many prized Oregon sites through the new “Travel Oregon Forever Fund.” When you drive down Meadowview Road, turn right on Purkerson Road, be sure to listen carefully: history’s calling at Lower Fern Ridge School. It’s where the… More
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Willamette Valley , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas ,

Hooking Kids on Steelhead

February 5, 2016
A new generation of Oregon anglers proves that learning how to fish doesn't need an age requirement — or season. Oregon winters are often marked by cold winds and driving rain; even sleet or snow can be the main entrees on the state’s winter weather menu. Still, there’s a certain breed of Oregonian who say, "There’s no better… More
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Sandy , Fishing , Trip Ideas ,

Anthony Lakes: Oregon’s Friendly Little Ski Area

January 29, 2016
This week we travel to the 8,000-foot level to see a snow-covered landscape that is out-of-this-world gorgeous at the “Friendliest Little Ski Area in Oregon,” Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort. When you drive west from Baker City and head into the Elkhorn Range of the Blue Mountains, the sun breaks through, the air is clear and you leave all… More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Ski Areas & Sno-Parks , Snow Sports , Trip Ideas ,

Downtown Baker City

January 22, 2016
“Tommy” and “Diamond” will give you a ride through Baker City that you won’t soon forget. The two giant Percheron horses are well-muscled and known for “their intelligence and willingness to work,” according to Ron Colton, who – at nearly eighty years young – held tight to the reins to the giant horses. “I really like… More
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Eastern Oregon , Baker City , Snow Sports , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Dungeness Crab Recipes

January 15, 2016
Commercial Dungeness crab season is red hot and rolling despite cold and wet conditions and a five-week delay to the start of the fishing season. We joined commercial fishermen to learn more about the season and then headed into the kitchen where fishermen shared their favorite crab recipes that offer a taste of the Oregon… More
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Oregon Coast , Fishing , Restaurants , Seafood , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

McDowell Creek Waterfalls

January 8, 2016
I often go searching for islands of serenity at this time of year; places in Oregon that are special, scenic and largely quiet, where I can slow down, take a deep breath and – even for a short time – leave all my troubles behind. This week, I visited a lovely little creek that invites… More
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Willamette Valley , Sweet Home , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,