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.

Agate Hunting on the Oregon Coast

February 8, 2013
Oregon’s winter months offer a roller coast ride of sorts in the great Oregon outdoors; when wind and rain are often followed by stunning sunny days.  This week, I headed to the rugged edge of Oregon on a treasure hunt for all things shiny: rocky nuggets from the tides called “Agates.” As the wintertime surf… More
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Oregon Coast , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Rainy Day Hikes

January 18, 2013
Oregonians like to boast this truism about our weather: "Give it five minutes and it will change!" That’s because winter in Oregon offers a roller coast ride of conditions in the great Oregon outdoors; days that may be dominated by wind and rain are often followed by stunning sunny days or snarly snowstorms and frigid… More
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Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Sustainable Travel , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Waterfall Wanderings

January 11, 2013
A cold winter chill may dampen, but never drown, my spirit for adventure along Oregon roadways that are less traveled; especially when I’ve so much wild company to show the way before I drop in at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area just off State Highway 30. It’s an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife site that… More
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Portland Region , Rainier , Lakes & Reservoirs , Birding , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Family Fun , Waterfalls , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Ice Age Tonquin Trail

January 4, 2013
I'm always on the lookout for unique, interesting recreation that blends adventure with history and tells a really good story along the way. So imagine a time – not so long ago - when gigantic icebergs floated across an incredible lake that flooded the entire broad-shouldered Willamette Valley. Now, it’s history you can explore along a Portland… More
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Portland Region , Sherwood , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Best of Winter

December 21, 2012
As the year winds down, here's a look back at a few favorite winter trips  to consider during the upcoming holiday break.   High Life Adventures From 70 feet above the ground, it’s easy to see that the high life provides a bird’s eye view that takes your breath away. The remarkable outdoor experience called… More
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Trip Ideas ,

Why We Love Tryon Creek

December 14, 2012
Oregon offers hundreds of state parks that reach into every corner of the state, and each park offers unique features worth exploring. One local state park recently celebrated its story through a unique video contest that shows why so many folks fall in love with Tryon Creek State Park. Michael Barton helps his kids explore the… More
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Portland Region , Lake Oswego , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Family Fun , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Paddling Across History

December 7, 2012
Oregon’s fastest-growing water-based recreation, flatwater kayaking, enjoys popularity because it is simple to get involved: all you need is a paddle, a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) and a 16-foot kayak to explore the great Oregon outdoors on the water. But what we call recreation is actually based upon tried-and-true tradition and skills learned through generations… More
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Portland Region , Kayaking , Museums , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Winter Cycling

November 30, 2012
While the weather outside often turns frightful in November, many folks have remarkable dedication to recreational cycling in Oregon. Sally Miller and Hanna Vaandering never let the wintertime weather get in the way of their training rides. For them, rain or shine, it’s all about mileage. In fact, the cold and the wet rarely slow them… More
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Portland Region , Portland , Bicycling , Sustainable Travel , Snow Sports , Trip Ideas ,

Salmon for All

November 26, 2012
Each fall, big salmon overcome huge barriers to continue their cycle of life in Oregon’s coastal rivers, including the dramatic leaping for life at Nehalem Falls on the South Fork of the Nehalem River. But at nearby Waterhouse Falls on the North Fork of the Nehelam River, the salmon’s upriver journey is briefly interrupted. It happens… More
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Oregon Coast , Rockaway Beach , Trip Ideas ,

Astoria’s Backdoor Byway

November 16, 2012
It's time for a wonderful whistle-stop tour of waterfalls and wildlife with a noted landscape photographer along Astoria’s little-known “backdoor byway.” Little trails often lead to big discoveries, and that’s when a camera comes in handy for Oregon’s premier landscape photographer Steve Terrill. We strolled along the short graveled trail at Lee Wooden County Park –… More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,