About the Author

Lisa Holmes

Lisa D. Holmes is a graphic designer by trade and a hiking fanatic by accident. Her life changed when she moved to Oregon in 2007 and became obsessed with the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She has since spent much of her time hiking the trails of Oregon and Washington and taking photographs of everything she encounters. Combining her photos, map and book design skills and desire to share her journey with others has led to her first hiking book: I Heart Oregon (& Washington): 25 of the Portland Area's Best Hikes and I Heart Oregon’s Seven Wonders: Hikes at the Oregon Coast, Mount Hood, Columbia River Gorge, Smith Rock, Painted Hills, Crater Lake and the Wallowas. Follow her adventures at iheartpacificnorthwest.com.

Hit the Trails at Oregon’s Seven Wonders

June 22, 2016
You can see every one of Oregon's Seven Wonders from your car or standing at a designated viewpoint. But to really experience them, you should hit the trail. Nothing else compares to getting to know a place than to hike through it. All of your senses will be engaged, not just the sights, but also the sounds and scents of each of these places is unique — from the sweet scent of juniper at Smith Rock, to the aroma of the salty ocean air at... More
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Oregon Coast , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Hiking & Backpacking , Attractions ,

Exploring Oregon’s Wonders: Painted Hills, Sheep Rock and Blue Basin

June 1, 2015
In spite of my intrepid drive to experience the diverse and incredible landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, the Painted Hills were one of the 7 Wonders of Oregon that I had yet to see. And to be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd seen many striking photos, and as with other beautiful photos of amazing landscapes, I wondered if it would be that scenic in person. More
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Eastern Oregon , Mitchell , 7 Wonders , Trip Ideas ,

Camping on the Oregon Coast: Brookings

July 31, 2014
When the weather forecast began calling for nearly constant rain with temperatures in the low 50s, we felt it would be a great time to head southern part of the state for our three-day camping trip. So off we went to Brookings, home to sunshine and the warmest temperatures on the coast. From Portland, we… More
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Oregon Coast , Brookings-Harbor , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Camping , Trip Ideas , Attractions , State Parks ,

I Heart Hiking in Oregon: 4 Favorite Hikes

July 8, 2014
Until I moved to Oregon from the Midwest seven years ago, I had never hiked. Having grown up with virtually no trails to hike on, sweltering summer heat, high humidity and plenty of biting bugs, spending much time in the outdoors didn’t appeal to me. But, when I discovered the extensive trails that exist in… More
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Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas , Hiking & Backpacking ,