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.

Heceta Head Lighthouse and B&B

December 11, 2009
In winter, except for surf and wind – the coast slows down – few distractions, fewer folks around and many people like it that way. At the rocky headland called "Heceta," – named for 18th century Spanish explorer Bruno Heceta, the landscape is marked a gleaming sentinel – a whitewashed wonder with a powerful light… More
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Oregon Coast , Yachats , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Lighthouses , Trip Ideas ,

South Slough Estuary

October 30, 2009
Once you travel the Cape Arago Highway that skirts a lonesome and lovely section of the Southern Oregon coast, it may become a road once taken that you'll never want to leave! It leads you past so many intriguing sights that you may well wonder, "Why have I never come this way before." Fourteen miles southwest… More
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Oregon Coast , Coos Bay , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Outdoors Women Learn to Hunt

October 2, 2009
Leaves changing colors signals the start of Oregon's fall hunting seasons. This week, I discovered that women who have always wanted to try their hands at hunting have a new way to learn about one of Oregon's premier recreational pursuits. More
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Willamette Valley , Corvallis , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Hunting , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Black Rock Mountain Biking

September 25, 2009
This week, I traveled to Polk County to discover a little piece of cycling heaven for mountain bike riders called Black Rock Mountain. Located across 500 acres of Oregon State Forest at Black Rock Mountain in Polk County, this little piece of cycling heaven that offers "free rider" a true test of the stamina, not… More
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Willamette Valley , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Linn County Covered Bridges

September 18, 2009
Is it time for you to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday city life? Perhaps to unwind on a backcountry byway that will take you into a chapter of Oregon history? I am a big fan of Oregon's little roads; you know, the ones without numbers. Linn County has a few and sometimes these… More
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Willamette Valley , Scio , Covered Bridges , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Trip Ideas ,

Tree Climbing

September 11, 2009
High above the Willamette Valley in the Willamette National Forest, follow the roadway that traces a trail along Fall River, near Lowell, Oregon and you could discover adventure that's guaranteed to take you to new heights. I met a group of climbers along this roadway near Fall Creek Reservoir. As I discovered, they were a… More
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Willamette Valley , Eugene , Climbing , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Digging Into Oregon’s Past

September 4, 2009
Oregon offers a treasure trove of interesting places and fun activities that can reveal much about our region's past. In fact, one Eastern Oregon town offers fascinating lessons in "pre-history," that – with a bit of imagination and some handiwork – can transport you to a quite different Oregon. In Fossil, Oregon all you need… More
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Eastern Oregon , Fossil , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Family Fun , Trip Ideas , Culture & History ,

Grant’s Getaways: Metolius River

August 10, 2009
Oregon's rivers fascinate us! They offer cool, restful moments along their shady shorelines and that's the basis for this week's Grant's Getaways. This week, I travel to Central Oregon to visit a river that has earned protection and is prized for its fishing, camping and unique outdoor adventures. Plus, you can watch the Metolius River… More
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Central Oregon , Sisters , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Camping , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

The Treasure of Thompson’s Mills

July 27, 2009
If you like treasure hunts, you'll love one of the newest – oldest – sites that Oregon State Parks Department offers visitors across the state. There's simply nothing like what you'll find "down by the old mill stream" at Thompson's Mills State Heritage Area. More
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Willamette Valley , State Parks , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Country Golf

July 13, 2009
We head outdoors to discover the wonderful world of Country Golf on this week's "Grant's Getaway." Whether a beginner or an established player, discover three distinct courses across the Willamette Valley that are family-owned, affordable, close to the rural side of Oregon and put you in touch with the great game of golf. But golf… More
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Portland Region , Hillsboro , Golfing , Trip Ideas ,