About the Author

Tina Lassen

Tina Lassen writes about travel and outdoor recreation for several national publications and websites, and is at work on a guidebook about watching wildlife in North America. She has lived happily in Hood River for more than 20 years.

Road Trip: Gresham

October 17, 2016
Oregon’s fourth-largest city, Gresham (pop. 109,397), feels more like an amiable small town thanks to its vibrant town center and bounty of public green spaces. Perched at the eastern edge of the Portland metro area, Gresham is a gateway to both urban pleasures and the outdoor wonders of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge. Well-served… More
found in
Portland Region , Gresham , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Museums , Bicycling , Farmers Markets , Restaurants , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Culture & History ,

Road Trip: Madras

October 13, 2016
When you’re cruising across Central Oregon, the high desert plateau can feel as vast as the ocean, a sea of sagebrush and pine under an endless dome of blue sky. Yet surprises await around Madras (about 45 minutes north of Bend), where the land seems to crack open like an eggshell, revealing deep desert canyons,… More
found in
Central Oregon , Madras , Lakes & Reservoirs , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Museums , Spirits & Distilleries , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Tualatin

October 2, 2016
Maybe Tualatin took inspiration from the Oregon Trail, the epochal pioneer route that ended just 10 miles east of here in Oregon City. A web of trails stitches through this town 20 minutes southwest of Portland, linking downtown businesses and leading off into parks and natural areas. You might also want to beat a path… More
found in
Portland Region , Tualatin , Kayaking , Lakes & Reservoirs , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Museums , Bicycling , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Brigham Sisters Carry on Family Tradition

September 2, 2014
Terrie Brigham and her sister, Kim Brigham-Campbell, members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, are sharing their generations-old family tradition with the public. More
found in
Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Cascade Locks , Favorite Trips , Seafood , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Wines of the Gorge

July 18, 2014
The Columbia Gorge Winegrowers Association advertises “a world of wine in 40 miles,” and it’s a fitting slogan. The unique geography of the Gorge creates a surprising array of microclimates and soils in a relatively compact corridor. More
found in
Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Mosier , Favorite Trips , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Southern Oregon Taster’s Tour

January 28, 2014
I knew Oregon’s southwest corner, around Medford, for its wild beauty, where iconic Oregon rivers like the Rogue and the Illinois tumble through the deep seams of the Siskiyou Mountains. But it was a treat — literally and figuratively — to discover this same lush landscape is home to a thriving artisanal food and wine scene. More
found in
Southern Oregon , Jacksonville , Artisan Producers , Favorite Trips , Culinary Experiences , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Oregon Dreamer Janet Freeman

December 6, 2011
Meet Portland-based Betty Rides, one of the country’s first women’s-only outerwear companies. Janet Freeman designs women's clothing that is feminine without being frilly. More
found in
Portland Region , Portland , Favorite Trips , Shopping , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,