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.

Heavenly Chocolates from Brigittine Monastery

December 13, 2013
Shortcuts are meant to get you where you're going a whole lot faster, but there are some Oregon back roads where you want to put on the brakes, catch your breath and savor a sweet treat. This week, we take a break at a place that is centered on peace and serenity at one of… More
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Willamette Valley , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Winter Hiking at Silver Falls State Park

December 6, 2013
At Silver Falls State Park, fourteen foamy white curtains whirl and ripple and tumble and shimmer at one of the most delightful park lands in Oregon. Adam Bacher, an Oregon resident and noted landscape photographer, said he’s lucky enough to capture the falls from every angle. “To me, Silver Falls State Park is like a… More
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Willamette Valley , Silverton , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Focus on Nature

November 24, 2013
You are likely to find me off the beaten path much of the year, and more often than not where the asphalt turns to gravel. This week’s getaway is no exception as I lace up his hiking boots, grab my camera and join a professional photographer who has made a career with a focus on… More
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Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Trek into New Territory

November 18, 2013
The trails less traveled are the ones that I enjoy the most – especially when there’s a chance that the adventure holds on to Oregon history. At the south end of the Willamette Valley, three outdoor adventures combine hiking with unique history and the chance to trek into new territory. The Canada geese come by… More
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Willamette Valley , Corvallis , Birding , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Oregon Cider Takes Root

November 9, 2013
There are some Oregon traditions as old as the territory’s earliest days when pioneers set down roots and planted crops – like the simple apple.  Recently, I discovered a strong resurgence of interest in Oregon apples that are not only delicious to eat but wonderful to drink as apple cider. In fact, Oregon’s apple cider… More
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Portland Region , Portland , Cider & Cideries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Molalla River Recreation Corridor

November 3, 2013
The Molalla River Recreation Corridor is a local recreation mecca that is perfect for exploring for many reasons, including new campground and picnic sites, hiking and biking and even horseback riding trails along a gorgeous scenic river byway that is less than 90 minutes from Portland. Jahn Hoover with Into the Wild Equine Adventures agrees that watching… More
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Willamette Valley , Molalla , Guides & Charters , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Back Country Guides ,

Main Street Oregon

October 25, 2013
Oakland is a Southern Oregon town that prides itself on its home town feel and a historic “Main Street” with many homes and business buildings on the National Historic Registry.  The town of 900 residents has more than 130 historic registered homes and businesses buildings, including one of the state’s best brick storefronts dating to… More
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Southern Oregon , Oakland , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Trip Ideas , Culture & History ,

Grant’s Getaways: Cottonwood Canyon State Park

October 20, 2013
When you explore Oregon, be prepared to enjoy new adventures at each turn of the trail and discover unique treasure in the history or the state’s varied regions. You’ll really strike it rich when you travel to Oregon’s newest state park in Eastern Oregon — Cottonwood Canyon State Park on the John Day River. With a… More
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Eastern Oregon , Wasco , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Cruising for Color

October 10, 2013
If the roadway flanking the Nehalem River has a number, I surely cannot find it on a map. Perhaps that’s why I’ve such a love affair with this backdoor byway that takes a bit longer to get from this place to that. It breezes along nearly 30 miles beginning at a small whistle stop village… More
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Portland Region , Trip Ideas ,

Oregon’s Beach Birthday

October 6, 2013
Discover a birthday celebration of sorts along the Oregon Coast that's 100 years in the making and -- rain or shine -- you're invited to join Oregon's Beach Birthday Party. There are a lot of special, spectacular and rare things to be found on the Oregon Coast, and there is just one thing that unites them all: Oregon statute 390.610, which declares the entire coastline free and open to the public. It means that this isn’t just any coast—it is the People’s Coast. Everything we... More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Trip Ideas ,