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.

Forests for Families

April 17, 2015
One of the most intriguing and exciting stories was born in the forest just off Portland’s front step – the Tillamook State Forest. That’s where four successive and devastating fires – collectively called the Tillamook Burn – destroyed over 400,000 acres of ancient forest in the last century. The Tillamook Forest Center is located just… More
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Family Fun , Museums , Educational Activities , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Oregon Ghost Towns and New Beginnings

April 10, 2015
Just past the Gorge in Eastern Oregon, less than 20 miles south of The Dalles, you quickly see that distances are great, the people are few and times gone by are easy to find. Oregon history buff Robert Waldron said that the Friend School, built in 1909, offers a sneak peek to the promising life that folks… More
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Eastern Oregon , Wasco , State Parks , Ghost Towns , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Wahclella Falls and Columbia Gorge Wildflowers

April 3, 2015
The Columbia River Gorge offers moments of magic through scenic beauty and adventure that come from poking around seldom-seen sites prized for spring time splendor. I call the mile-long trail to Wahclella Falls a “back-pocket hike” because it’s handy and easy to reach and just a stone’s throw from Bonneville Dam in the Columbia River… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Lakes & Reservoirs , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Keep Tradition Alive at Barbey Maritime Center

March 27, 2015
Many folks tend to think of Oregon history in terms of the rough and ready pioneer life that meant hardship and great adventure in the early 1800s, when covered wagons crossed the country to reach the Willamette Valley. But the Oregon story reaches back many thousands of years to a time that may fees distant and… More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Native American Culture , Museums , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Peace and Serenity in Oregon Wine Country

March 13, 2015
Oregon is famous for its delicious wines and scenic vineyards that can provide wonderful escapes from the city. Tyee Wine Cellars near Corvallis is about as “grass roots” as it gets – owner Dave Buchannan, a pioneer in the Oregon wine industry, boasts of five generations of family that have worked their Oregon Century Farm. He said… More
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Willamette Valley , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Oregon’s Sweet Spring

March 6, 2015
While much of the country remains in the deep freeze – we lucky folks continue to enjoy the early taste of a sweet Oregon spring. Salem’s Capitol Mall is a rare Oregon gem: a free state park meant for strolling and where a sweet Oregon spring’s in full swing! You will find colorful blooms as… More
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State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Tamolitch, The Blue Pool

February 27, 2015
The trails less traveled are the ones I cherish most and Oregon has a bounty of places to choose. We’re heading up the McKenzie River Valley into the rugged mountains where a gentle trail lead us to one of the state’s most remarkable sites called Tamolitch or the “Blue Pool.” The McKenzie River Scenic Byway may… More
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Willamette Valley , McKenzie Bridge , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Hiking & Backpacking , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Caring for Oregon’s Wildlife

February 20, 2015
It’s a good bet that you have walked a stretch of beach along Oregon’s gorgeous, nearly-400 mile-long coastline where chances are also good that you’ve crossed paths with wildlife that soar overhead or wing past you in a dizzying blur. From eagles to peregrines to scores of pelicans, sea birds by thousands either pass along… More
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Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Love Letter to Oregon’s Waterfalls

February 6, 2015
I am a big believer that back-road adventures — the ones that let you get a sneak peek at nature — are the very best! I am particularly pleased when I have the chance to blend a bit of romance with my travels – the sort of romance that many couples appreciate to be sure, but… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Waterfalls , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Grant’s Getaways: Kilchis Point Reserve

January 23, 2015
If you know where to look, there are some chapters of Oregon history that come to life in the great outdoors. In Tillamook County, you can discover much about Native American heritage along a trail built by a community that holds on to their history. Kilchis Point Reserve is about as “grass roots” as it… More
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Oregon Coast , Bay City , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Museums , Trip Ideas , Attractions , Events ,