About the Author

Tina Lassen

Tina Lassen is a nationally published freelance writer who frequently writes about travel and outdoor recreation. Her features have appeared in National Geographic Adventure, Alaska Airlines Magazine, Endless Vacation, USA Today and several other publications. She also has authored and contributed to several guidebooks for Fodor’s, Frommer’s and the National Geographic Society’s Books Division. Thanks to a career that lets her live anywhere, Tina happily writes and recreates from her home in Hood River.

Road Trip: Villages of Mt. Hood

October 24, 2016
You choose the sports and the season; communities along this scenic route lay out the welcome mat 12 months a year. More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Brightwood , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Fishing , Hiking & Backpacking , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Springfield

October 20, 2016
Springfield is often mentioned in the same breath as Eugene, the two cities forming the state’s second-largest metro area. But Springfield deserves its own spotlight, because there’s plenty to discover in this vibrant community surrounded by what seems like an endless expanse of rivers and woods. Paint the Town: Boutiques and antiques thrive on Main Street,… More
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Willamette Valley , Springfield , Art Galleries & Studios , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , State Parks ,

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
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Portland Region , Gresham , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Trip Ideas , Museums , Bicycling , Farmers Markets , Eat & Drink , Restaurants , 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
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Central Oregon , Madras , Lakes & Reservoirs , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Museums , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Culture & History , Attractions , Spirits & Distilleries ,

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
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Portland Region , Tualatin , Kayaking , Lakes & Reservoirs , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Museums , Outdoor Recreation , Bicycling , 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
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Cascade Locks , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Seafood ,

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
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Mosier , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Wine & Wineries ,

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
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Southern Oregon , Jacksonville , Artisan Producers , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas , Culinary Experiences , Eat & Drink , Wine & Wineries ,

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
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Portland Region , Portland , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas , Shopping , Attractions ,