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.

World of Mystery at Oregon Caves

June 1, 2012
Some of the best travel experiences across Oregon happen at places that offer teachable moments through touchable history. This week we visit an iconic site in southwest Oregon that will put you in touch with geologic history that reaches back 250 million years. It’s an above and below ground adventures at the Oregon Caves National… More
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Southern Oregon , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Why You’ll Love the Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway

May 18, 2012
When the weather warms, it seems far too many Oregon byways can be busy blurs that just don’t allow you enough time to slow down, get out of the race and set your own pace for travel across the state. In the southern Willamette Valley, you will slow down and savor the spirit of cycling… More
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Willamette Valley , Cottage Grove , Covered Bridges , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Bicycling , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas ,

Fishing and Boating the McKenzie River

May 11, 2012
When you fish with a legend you know you’re in good hands! Aaron Helfrich is a member of a legendary Oregon family who made fishing and boating a popular recreation on the state’s rivers and streams. Aaron is the third generation in a family of Oregon fishing guides and like his firm grasp on the… More
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Willamette Valley , McKenzie Bridge , Lakes & Reservoirs , Guides & Charters , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Family Fun , Waterfalls , Fishing , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Whiskey Creek Hatchery

May 4, 2012
In May, as the sun makes itself more at home across Oregon, it’s the time of year to head outdoors for on-the-water adventures. If there’s a more exciting fishing moment than hooking and fighting a chrome bright chinook salmon fresh from the sea, I surely don’t know what it could be. That’s especially true on Tillamook Bay where an… More
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Oregon Coast , Tillamook , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Fishing , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Oregon’s Fishing Ambassador

April 20, 2012
When it comes to building bridges along many of Oregon’s rivers, fishing guide David Johnson is one of the best. He doesn’t use steel, iron or concrete to build bridges. Instead, Johnson relies on rods, reels and bait. You see, David Johnson uses a lifetime of angling skill and knowledge to connect Oregon fishermen with… More
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Portland Region , Oregon City , Lakes & Reservoirs , Guides & Charters , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Fishing , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Discovering Ki-a-Kuts Falls

April 12, 2012
This week, I embarked on a trek to discover Ki-a-Kuts Falls, a picturesque waterfall along the Tualatin River only accessible through a rugged hike through a forest of towering trees. The Tualatin River meanders thru neighborhoods and industry on the western edge of the Greater Portland area. It is a slow moving stream flanked by… More
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Portland Region , Gaston , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Sustainable Travel , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

A Dog-Gone Great Getaway

April 6, 2012
As spring season kicks into gear, chances are you’ve got a canine best friend who loves to get outdoors too…for hiking, camping and travel across Oregon. This is the story of a man who has explored the entire state with his trusty four-year-old sheltie. Curt Smith and his best friend, Chase, explore the Oregon outdoors… More
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Portland Region , Vernonia , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Pet-Friendly Travel , Trip Ideas , Attractions , Pet-Friendly Travel ,

White River Adventure

March 30, 2012
This week I hit the open road to explore the valleys east of Mt Hood and discover the White River Wildlife Area and White River State Park. There are nearly 30,000 acres of refuge that reach across more than 20 miles of terrain that provides an eastern point of view to the mountain. Josh Moulton,… More
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Central Oregon , Maupin , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Family Fun , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Bald Eagles in Oregon – Back from the Brink

March 23, 2012
People can explore the great Oregon outdoors with a bit more pride this spring because bald eagles are back from the brink of extinction. If you enjoy watching our national symbol soar across Oregon’s skyline, you’ve many places you can visit for amazing wildlife moments. Bald eagles are kings of the sky once more. After… More
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Portland Region , Hillsboro , State Parks , Birding , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

On the Trail of Erratic Rocks

March 16, 2012
Imagine a when gigantic icebergs floated across the broad-shouldered Willamette Valley. Rick Thompson is a detective of Oregon geologic history and he’s on trail of one of the region’s oldest mysteries: how hundreds of Montana granite stones ended up in farm fields in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. “They’ve been in the ground a very long time,”… More
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Portland Region , Tualatin , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Family Fun , Museums , Trip Ideas , Culture & History , Attractions ,