Earlier this week I was a guest on a local morning show, Portland Today, to discuss Fall Family Hikes. Click here to watch the segment.

Earlier this week I was a guest on a local morning show, Portland Today, to discuss Fall Family Hikes. Click here to watch the segment.

This is a feature I wrote about scenic loop drives you can take from the Allison Inn. Roots is an in-house magazine published exclusively for Oregon wine country’s premier luxury resort, the Allison Inn. Click here to read a PDF version.

My latest literary spawn has left the nest! The “Best Outdoor Adventures Near Portland” is now available in select bookstores and via any of your favorite online outlets, including Amazon.
From the Intro:
“Portland, Oregon is a special place. One of the primary reasons many of us choose to hang our hats here is the seemingly limitless outdoor recreation options. If there’s something you like to do outside, chances are good that you can find it within two hours of Portland. What do you like doing? What would you like to try? It’s here. Or near here. A quick rundown of things to do includes: hiking, trail running, kayaking, whitewater rafting, stand up paddleboarding, surfing, kite boarding, cycling, mountain biking, mountain climbing, rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, horseback riding, paragliding, skydiving, ziplining…..the list is extensive.
Any real estate agent will give you an earful about “location.” Portland benefits greatly from its location in many ways, but with regards to outdoor endeavors, we’re sitting in the catbird seat. From downtown Portland, you can get to the Columbia River Gorge in 30 minutes, have Mt Hood in your face in an hour, dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean in an hour and a half, and take in a sunset from the high desert in two hours. And within that radius are more creeks, rivers, trails, lakes, peaks, valleys, and protected wilderness areas than any of us could ever see in a lifetime or more.
Over the last year and a half, I got to go traipsing around the greater Portland area with my friends, experiencing the best outdoor activities the region has to offer. And now it all culminates in a guidebook that for me, also serves as a journal of these incredible experiences. Some of the best adventures I’ve had in my life were had while “working” on this book. It is my sincere hope that it can provide you with comparable experiences. I also encourage you to keep going. This book, while chock full of some of the best stuff around, is more or less an amuse bouche for what’s out there. Within two hours of Portland, an immeasurable amount of adventure awaits.”

My latest for Northwest Travel & Life covers the world’s first non-profit brewery, Ex Novo. Pick up this months issue or click here for the online version.

The northern end of Forest Park’s Wildwood Trail is my favorite segment of the entire park. There are fewer visitors, no invasive species, and you get scenes like this; where the park is trying to show off every possible shade of green in every conceivable texture 🙂
Portland By Bus is a relatively new website that I’m pleased as punch to be associated with. Even if it’s just the occasional write up and photography 🙂 If you live in Portland or plan on visiting, the site is a dream and dare I say should be considered mandatory viewing if you plan on using public transit.
Anyway, here is the front of the site’s new rack card. A rack card is kind of an informational hand out; and this one features photography from yours truly 🙂 That’s Happy Hour at Samurai Blue on top and the ever-photogenic Portland Japanese Garden on the bottom.
In my first article for the Portland Mercury I encourage people to visit some of the area’s waterfalls for more than just their inherent beauty. From the article:
“Some waterfalls are more than just pretty places to visit. While the opportunity to prance around in a forested scene straight out of a Kinkade-ian masterpiece is typically inspiration enough to seek one out, sometimes you want more from your experience. Luckily, there are a number of waterfall hikes in the Portland area that dangle alluring carrots of added interest, like “fascinating regional history” or “a chance to commune with a faith-based deity.” So for those of you who need a little extra motivation to get your butt outside and next to a beautiful waterfall, here you go.”
Click here to read the entire article.
I know, I know. “This guy and this bridge. Always with this bridge.” Yeah well it’s true. I love this bridge. And I love fall. So here you go again. Click on pic for larger view.
My latest soup review for What’s the Soup? took me to Levant in Portland, Oregon. Chef-owner Scott Snyder creates inspired French-Arabesque dishes, like the Cauliflower & Tahini, with Fried Purple Cauliflower, Spicy Pepper & Mint Relish. From the article:
“The marriage of flavor profiles and cooking techniques that are among the most lauded in culinary history produced a soup that was a worthy and just representation of both. The richness of French cuisine was highlighted with splashes of bright Middle Eastern flavor. If what the dietary experts say about eating lots of colors is true, then this bowl of soup will go a long way towards keeping me out of the doctor’s office. Reds, greens, and purples in a variety of shapes and textures danced on top of the soup’s creamy canvas in a way that made the bowl a joy to photograph while simultaneously producing an enviable mouthfeel in each spoonful.” Read the whole article here.
I wrote an article in the May edition of Northwest Travel Magazine about a place that I believe has the best Coffee in Portland. A bold statement I know, but give it the Pepsi Challenge sometime and get back to me if you take umbrage. Click here for the online teaser, or check out the latest edition of Northwest Travel Mag to read the whole piece.
From the article:
Courier Coffee Roasters does many things other elite Northwest roasters do. They focus on high-quality, single-origin beans, showcasing the terroir of specific regions. They have relationships with the farms and cooperatives from which they source. And they also focus on light and medium roasts. But Domreis’ shop ups the ante in all three aspects and then adds more to the pot.
“We want the best beans we can get,” says Domreis, “but we also source from people who are doing things the right way. Fair-trade and organic are great, but if they had to clear-cut acres of rainforest in order to do it, I’d rather source from a farm that’s not organic, but whose methods I know and trust.”