On our last trip to the Oregon Coast, we woke up at 4:30 a.m. to be at the Devil’s Punchbowl at low tide. We had never been there before but figured we’d have enough time to figure out the directions we found online. It turns out that 2 hours wasn’t enough time. We did make …
Every time I hear about Portland on the national news I hope that it’ll be because they’re finally getting some acclaim for their fine dining opportunities. However, despite near-constant news coverage of the city, none of it has been about the excellent food scene… In fact, whenever the Pacific Northwest is lauded for its fine …
I’m not sure why but every little boy goes through a period when they love trains. Some of us just never grow out of it. However, convincing my wife and two daughters to spend a day or more on a train or at a train museum requires a pretty good sales pitch. Unless, of course, …
If you’ve seen many art prints (or even bumper stickers) of Washington and Oregon you’ll know that the lighthouses are the poster boys for the entire PNW Region. And I’m not even mad about it. By their very nature, lighthouses are often placed in the most rugged and picturesque areas which makes them some of …
If you’re rushing between flights, I won’t make you wait. Here is the cliff-notes version of the answer: However, if you have a minute to sit down and read, there are many more options to choose from in this gigantic airport. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the ten largest airports in the United States …
What do you do if drug dealers are taking up residence under a bridge in your neighborhood? You build an 18-foot behemoth troll to scare them away. If you’re really lucky, you’ll even attract millions of visitors which will make the area safer, bring attention to the arts, and even get your troll featured in …
If you’re anything like me you probably remember the zoos of your youth with fondness. The problem is, that fondness probably turned to sadness when you realized that most zoos are really just cement cages for animals to while away their lives in. The zoos in the PNW are from a different mold. I remember …
When my wife and I moved to the PNW our house was already landscaped for us with native plants…courtesy of nature. In other words, it was an unkempt mess that hadn’t been cared for or looked after for 15+ years. By the time we got done hacking and trimming it turned out that we didn’t …
When it comes to art…I appreciate it. In fact, I love it. However, I’m an absolute ignoramus about what artists are famous (and why). However, since art is such an integral part of the PNW’s identity I felt that it was a gap in my knowledge that was bound to be exposed any day. So …
Everyone romanticizes small-town life. That is, everyone does except for those of us that grew up in small towns. Sure, there are the annual festivals, the quirky characters, and the quaint shops. But, other than that, there’s usually just a whole bunch of boredom, the smell of cows, and 40+ hour workweeks for sub-average pay. …