2024-04-13 20:57
Looking for the best hiking trails in Bend, Oregon? Oregon’s central city of Bend is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering a spectacular array of hiking trails that boast th… Read More
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Explorer Sue Blog
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A travel blog focusing on destinations within the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., but also covers travel advice and other destinations within North America.
2024-04-06 20:29
Spanning the border between Oregon and Washington, the 80-mile Columbia River Gorge carves its way through the Cascade Range, creating a natural playground that’s as diverse as it is s… Read More
2024-03-30 03:31
There’s nothing quite as soothing as a dip in a natural hot spring, especially if it’s in the picturesque landscapes of Washington State. A hot spring soak can be a meditative ex… Read More
2024-03-23 21:51
With a state that offers varied climates such as gorgeous water views, rugged coastlines, a temperate rainforest, snowy peaks, arid high deserts, and ancient waterfalls, finding romantic pla… Read More
2024-03-15 00:12
We’re about to take a deep dive into one of Canada’s crown jewels – the exquisite and varied province of British Columbia. The magnificent northern addition to the Pacific… Read More
2024-03-08 00:05
If you are wondering where to stay in Portland that combines local flair with amazing amenities, you’re in the right place. Visitors will find the coolest hotels in Portland ranging fr… Read More
2024-02-22 03:21
I’d been vaguely aware of the hobbit house in central Washington for years. Its tantalizing photos graced my Instagram feed from time to time. And so it was that one lazy December even… Read More
2024-02-02 03:41
Living in the Pacific Northwest over the last 20 odd years I have crisscrossed Washington State many times and find that it is in many ways similar to Oregon in topography, except for the am… Read More
2024-01-18 02:38
Oregon is best known for its diverse landscape, the rugged Pacific coastline, the volcanic Cascade Range, and numerous old-growth forests. The largest city, Portland, is famous for its eccen… Read More
2024-01-09 19:20
Looking for coffee places in Portland? Look no further. I am coffee obsessed. It’s safe to say I need it pretty much every day, and I’m fortunate that my home town of Portland is… Read More
2023-11-30 19:42
Since Oregon is my home, I always look here first when I get the itch for a good hike. If you’re looking for a detailed guide to Oregon hikes, look no further! Epic Oregon Hikes In my… Read More
2023-11-09 03:26
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, it cannot be denied that the sights, sounds, and smells of a good Christmas market will entice even the heartiest of Scrooges. The Pacific Northwest p… Read More
2023-10-09 02:09
As gorgeous as British Columbia is, it should come as no surprise that the province is a hiker’s paradise. With its vast wilderness, stunning mountain ranges, and diverse landscapes, B… Read More
2023-09-15 23:53
British Columbia is renowned for its breathtaking mountaintop views and beachfront getaways – ideal conditions for glamping. Glamping offers the chance to enjoy nature without roughing… Read More
2023-08-16 23:46
I’ve written a fair amount of content about RV living but have never driven an RV. How crazy is that? Well, when one of my clients approached me with the idea of taking one of their sm… Read More
2023-07-14 16:19
Where in the world can you experience towering alps, castles seemingly hanging in mid-air, a mystical mountainous spirit, bubbling hot pots from the center of the earth, and finish off the d… Read More
2023-05-30 01:29
Seattle offers something to fit everyone’s nighttime entertainment needs; whether that means dancing until dawn or simply sipping drinks with friends. Explore one of the city’s e… Read More
2023-04-21 02:58
Oregon boasts many breathtaking sights all over the state. Taking a weekend trip from Portland is just the thing to escape the city. So whether you live in Portland or are just visiting, con… Read More
2023-03-15 23:07
Like many Oregonians, I’ve spent my fair share of spending the night under the stars, listening to the sounds of Oregon’s iconic craggy shoreline as the waves wash up along the s… Read More
2023-03-02 00:38
Whether you’re looking for a two-person getaway, a family-friendly day trip or a more ambitious multi-day excursion, the Pacific Northwest has plenty of options to get away from the ci… Read More
2023-01-31 00:11
Enter the world of Night Parks and turn yourself over to Nyx, mythic mistress of night, and allow your imagination to be captivated by infinite possibilities. There, between the cabaret of c… Read More
2023-01-09 21:26
Scrambling up a steep trail laden with slippery rocks and muddy patches on a Pacific Northwest hike, fresh after a long drizzle, is no easy task. Yet it’s exhilarating and rewarding. A… Read More
2022-12-04 03:10
Oregon is such an amazing place to visit. Undeniably pretty yet rough around the edges, sophisticated yet crude, brazen yet comforting, Oregon will leave you hungry for more. And what better… Read More
2022-12-04 03:10
Find the best Oregon road trip ideas here, for all reasons, for all seasons. Come discover your own Oregon!
The post 5 Best Oregon Road Trips appeared first on Explorer Sue Read More
2022-10-12 03:16
This article was written by my good friend John Schoppert, who lives in Southern Oregon intimately knows the Southern Oregon Coast. Dropping over the edge of 50 floors of a sand dune precipi… Read More
2022-10-03 16:49
Washington State is where the wilderness feels alive and endless green forests seem to roll on forever. They don’t call it the Evergreen State for nothing! Every nook and cranny of the… Read More
2022-07-10 01:38
“See those white bits in this wolf scat? Those are from deer bones.” We all looked down at the offending poo and I was overcome with a strange mixture of fascination and repulsio… Read More
2022-06-21 21:31
When you visit Yakima Valley, just over a 2-hour drive east from Seattle, you would be remiss to pass by the charming little town of Union Gap, just south of Yakima, Washington. It should be… Read More
2022-05-17 21:25
Sometimes you just don’t know what treasures await you until they literally fall into your lap. That’s the beauty of travel. There are some destinations that will take your breat… Read More
2022-04-14 22:34
As we age, a great many of us find that we have more freedom. That could mean many things… perhaps the kids are grown and out of the house. Or perhaps you have just retired, and while… Read More
2022-02-18 03:50
I recently went on a hiking trip to Mount Rainier. It was just….WOW. Simply put, Mount Rainier is a hiker’s paradise. And the park is HUGE, so there’s lots to explo… Read More
2021-12-23 18:58
With the ongoing pandemic, the global tourism sector is still facing an uphill recovery. But fear not! There is a bright spot. In the US and Canada, tourist arrivals actually rose… Read More
2021-11-06 21:42
The Pacific Northwest is the very definition of outdoor adventure. Here I go again, giving myself another impossible task. The outdoor adventures are never-ending in the PNW. And so I strugg… Read More
2021-09-30 21:40
The small town of Edmonds is ripe for exploring, thanks to its prime location along Puget Sound. Just 20 miles north of Seattle, it’s a great little community, which makes for a fantas… Read More
2021-09-07 22:28
Few people who pass by Baker City as they speed along Interstate 84 in eastern Oregon know what a gem of a town they are missing. A former gold and copper rush area located on the historic O… Read More
2021-08-29 21:25
Come with me on my recent adventures to eastern Oregon! Here you will not only read about how awesome Baker County is, you will know where good food really comes from. You hear the term &ldq&hell…Read More
2021-08-12 22:56
This article, written by yours truly, first appeared on B-C-ing-U.com, a wonderful British-run eclectic website where I am a regular contributor. Portland, Oregon is a foodie haven, where th… Read More
2021-07-18 00:06
The winding road skirting central Oregon’s mountain range led me into air that was getting increasingly heavy. Haziness could be detected as far back as Black Butte. My arrival i… Read More
2021-06-25 23:14
One of the best things to do in the Columbia River Gorge is to tour all of the waterfalls on the Oregon side. The popular ones are fairly close together and not far from the main roads runni… Read More
2021-06-14 23:31
Puget Sound is an amazing place. The biodiversity alone will set your imagination alight and keep you endlessly enthralled. Most visitors to Seattle and Olympic National Park have no idea th… Read More
2021-06-03 16:46
This is a guest post from some great people that know exactly where all the best road trips are in Oregon – the DMV. Planning your next road trip? A road trip in Oregon is someth… Read More
2021-05-29 02:20
The town of Sisters is the sweet cherry that sits on the top of the ice cream sundae that is Bend in central Oregon. A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts year-round, there is perfect skiing and s… Read More
2021-04-29 02:58
One of the great things about being a travel writer is discovering and getting to know some of the amazing people you encounter as part of your job. It is the chance encounters of meeting pe… Read More
2021-04-17 02:20
I just love staying in hotels, even in my own home town! I’m sure many of us have become fans of the staycation and if I’m going to be completely honest, I’ve been doing it… Read More
2021-03-22 00:04
“It was a dark and stormy night…” Which is never far from the truth in Oregon, at least in the wintertime. Do you believe in ghosts? I suppose you do, lest you would not b… Read More
2021-03-01 22:14
The Emerald City is a true cosmopolitan delight, but even the most steadfast of Seattleites need to get away from the big city once in a while. Luckily, Seattle is completely surrounded by a… Read More
2021-02-17 01:38
If you’re looking for some Pacific Northwest travel inspiration, these Washington and Oregon vacation ideas are the cat’s meow. I’ve gleaned some pretty tasty ideas from th… Read More
2021-01-21 02:58
As I look towards what appears to be a very promising new year, part of my process is (duh) writing down and reflecting on the past year and what it has taught me. And boy, was it a doozy of… Read More
2020-12-24 23:30
When you think of taking your wanderlust quite literally on the road with RV travel, what is the first feeling that comes to mind? Elation? Abject trepidation? Instant terror? Or a smatterin… Read More
2020-11-25 04:09
The PNW is known for a lot of things. Incredible natural scenery, carved out by the last ice age. Lots of rain, grunge music (I’ll always love Pearl Jam, and who can forget Nirvana?)… Read More
2020-10-27 00:06
Out here in Northeastern Oregon, the Wild West still reigns supreme and the Wallowa Mountains are the focal point. Carved by the Oregon Trail, not a lot has changed since the good ‘ol… Read More
2020-10-09 00:07
Sometimes you just need to get away with your besties. Even during a (insert your choice of expletive here) freaking pandemic. Yes, you CAN still travel, and do it safely. And fellas, if you… Read More
2020-09-10 00:40
The Columbia River Gorge is an outdoor enthusiast’s playground. But most people only traverse the Oregon side. What is lesser known is all of the wonderful things that can be discovere… Read More
2020-08-28 18:20
Have you heard? The big trend in travel is going eco-friendly. And the Pacific Northwest is leading the charge in this area. Being such a green area of the world anyway, we Oregonians and Wa… Read More
2020-08-07 01:14
Twenty-twenty is the year of the road trip – no one can deny that. And if you are one of my faithful readers, you will know that I looooove road trips. What better way to usher in the… Read More
2020-07-22 19:45
What kind of traveler are you? For some, they like to pick a chain resort, one with a lovely pool, and just park themselves there for a week. That is SO BORING. Who wants to travel hundreds… Read More
2020-07-09 00:01
Old habits die hard, to coin a familiar phrase. What that means is, as much as I talk about taking things slowly when you are traveling, I didn’t seem to want to listen to that inner v… Read More
2020-06-24 21:26
Along an unassuming highway extending east from the lumber town of Roseburg is an oasis of outdoor adventure, glorious hiking opportunities, and yes…waterfalls galore. It is one of th… Read More
2020-06-12 02:57
Chances are if you are reading this blog, you have the wanderlust bug. Go on, admit it. I have it too, so let me tell you how my need to get out and explore has made me a happier person. Goi… Read More
2020-05-26 02:04
Portland is an incredibly walkable city. Many of its main attractions are within walking distance, not to mention a plethora of restaurants, food carts, and coffee houses along the way. It i… Read More
2020-05-08 00:56
There is a great shift happening in the travel sphere. The move is on to travel slower, to savor more of the outdoors, and to do it in a responsible way – but still have FUN. Getting o… Read More
2020-04-27 23:34
Have you heard the news? Of course, you have. The world of travel has changed, literally overnight. International borders have closed on a global scale, and our exploratory nature has been d… Read More
2020-04-19 20:01
**Note: Even though the state-at-home order has been imposed pretty much everywhere, that doesn’t stop us from planning a fantastic trip around Portland when we are able to move around… Read More
2020-04-01 00:25
Who doesn’t love a good book? Especially when you are stuck at home and cannot travel. At least it is comforting to know that when you are able to travel again, the world will still be… Read More
2020-03-20 18:13
Gonna have to throw my standard, evergreen content out the window for this post, folks. Because we are smack dab in the middle of Coronavirus; this grand stinking pandemic of the unprecedent… Read More
2020-03-07 01:51
Looking for what to do in Baker City, Oregon? Come along with me… When most people make the journey west into Oregon, they will most likely be road-trippin’ along Interstate 84… Read More
2020-02-26 04:25
When most people think about what to see along the Columbia River, the Gorge area immediately springs to mind. Probably because it is the most scenic! But there is so much more to this magni… Read More
2020-02-16 03:19
My first trip to Baker City was smack dab in the middle of winter, but this historic gold mining town managed to charm the pants off of me anyway. More about my trip around Baker City in a f… Read More
2020-02-08 03:10
City Breaks and Micro-cations are on the rise. What do these buzzwords mean, you may ask? City breaks are for those who are looking to relax and get away from the routine of their lives for… Read More
2020-01-28 21:49
Tucked into the bustling Main Street of downtown Redmond is a new hotel that is revolutionizing the hotel industry. The SCP Redmond. Soul. Community. Planet. That’s what the SCP stands… Read More
2020-01-18 16:05
The truth is, I love food, probably too much – it’s the reason I’m a few pounds over (ahem, ahem). But dang it, I just happen to live in one of the world’s premier fo… Read More
2020-01-09 23:02
Everyone loves these kinds of things, right? Interesting or funny facts about a certain area of the world – an area where they live, or where they are traveling to? It lends a personal… Read More
2019-12-24 18:26
I couldn’t end the year without waxing philosophical about why I got into this business of blogging in the first place! Yes, it’s because I love to write and even more so, love t… Read More
2019-12-14 00:15
Have you heard of Tillamook ice cream? How about Tillamook cheese? Apparently, the Queen of England likes it. At least that’s what I heard. Maybe I’d better fact check that. On s… Read More
2019-12-05 19:47
I struggled with this one. I really did. Simply because ALL of the Pacific Northwest is scenic. But some downright gorgeous places had to inevitably be put to the chopping block. Damn. Howev… Read More
2019-11-25 22:49
Of all of the sections in Portland, I would argue that North Portland is the hippest, the weirdest…and the all-around coolest part of the city. And there’s definitely some weird… Read More
2019-11-18 03:48
Why DO we procrastinate? This is a deep, deep subject. It is something that has been heavily studied by top research scientists. Why? Because we all do it. Whether we are the most practical… Read More
2019-11-02 02:59
Who doesn’t absolutely adore the iconic American comfort food – macaroni and cheese?? As a kid, my Mom would cook it up for us, with fish sticks, almost every Friday. We’d… Read More
2019-10-19 19:49
You may have seen the image many times. Trillium Lake – with a perfect reflection of Mount Hood on the water with not a ripple in sight. The sunrise shots are the most dramatic a… Read More
2019-10-09 03:23
I’ll admit it, it’s not all about me! I started this blog with the humble desire to shout my love of the Pacific Northwest to the world. I wanted to show people how incredibly, f… Read More
2019-09-26 01:59
Wonderfully narrow winding roads led us 2,000 feet up into the high desert, east of Ashland, Oregon. I’m so glad we came during the day because the views were incredible! As we ascende… Read More
2019-09-17 22:57
Portlanders take their biking pretty seriously. I mean, we’re certainly not Amsterdam, where you are genuinely putting your life at risk should you step out in front of a biker on the… Read More
2019-09-11 01:05
City rivalries are pretty silly if you ask me. I mean…WHY? It’s like two siblings fighting over who is best in mother’s eyes. Take Seattleites’ disdain for Tacoma, f… Read More
2019-09-01 00:04
What is the quirkiest thing you can think of where you live? I always love finding out new and interesting things about my area of the world. So I decided to go on a mission to hunt for what… Read More
2019-08-14 04:44
Southern Oregon doesn’t get much love on the blogosphere, but that should change. Why? Because it is so much a part of the state. Oregon is so much more than the beautiful coastline, s… Read More
2019-08-05 03:06
My review of Seattle’s maaany many neighborhoods continues. You can find my first collection of Seattle neighborhoods HERE. Dare to go beyond Pike Place Market, the Space Needle… Read More
2019-07-28 01:58
Can I just tell you how AMAZING whitewater rafting is? Why the heck did I wait so long? I went for the first time this summer (2019), a day after my 40-(ahem-ahem) birthday. It was an incred… Read More
2019-07-17 01:41
The North Cascades is a wilderness paradise. My previous trip to the Northern Cascade Loop took us on a couple of epic hikes but little did I know there is so much to the area of northern Wa… Read More
2019-07-06 04:15
Portland, Oregon is a unique charmer of an American city. Yes, I am biased! But honestly, there are so many things that make Portland unique, and the nightlife is one of them. Not only… Read More
2019-06-16 23:41
High up on a hill in the forests of the Columbia River Gorge is Skamania Lodge, a destination resort unlike anything I’ve experienced. I have traversed the Oregon side of the Gorge cou… Read More
2019-06-05 03:14
When you need to take a break from the city, away from the great coffee shops, the incredible food scene or just the bustle of downtown Portland, there is a myriad of places you can get away… Read More
2019-05-23 03:49
So what IS up with all of those islands? Countless one off the coast of Washington State (I’m talking about you, Puget Sound) and even more off the coast of British Columbia. No… Read More
2019-05-08 04:26
I’ve been meaning to do this for years. I love seafood and I love wine. So why it took me this long to attend this yearly event, now in this 37th year, I’ll never know. But this… Read More
2019-04-28 03:32
April is Tulip time in northwestern Washington, and even though it’s too late to go now for 2019 because your friendly neighborhood blogger didn’t tell you about it until now&hel&hell…Read More
2019-04-14 03:08
Are you tired of seeing travel bucket lists? No? Oh good, because here’s another one. I have an entire board on Pinterest devoted to my own personal bucket list. Places like Patagonia… Read More
2019-03-31 21:51
Tucked away in the heart of Bellevue, WA, lies a lovely cabin, mere steps from the Meydenbauer Bay, Lake Washington. About ten miles from the heart of Seattle, this is the perfect place to g… Read More
2019-03-26 03:45
There’s just something about small towns located next to large bodies of water that fascinate me. Unlike small communities of the land-locked variety, tiny coastal town exude an air of… Read More
2019-03-15 03:19
Bainbridge Island is a large gorgeous island due west of Seattle across Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. With its historic and quaint Winslow not far from the ferry landing, this is the perfect… Read More
2019-03-04 01:22
Catchy title, eh? I mean, just how many blogs have you read so far of “The Best Places to Eat in Seattle”? I’m guessing a lot. Well, allow me to throw another one at you. A… Read More
2019-02-20 05:03
I do like to share the love. However, to quote Yoda, only one woman, I am. Wait, no he didn’t say that, but that’s how he speaks. I can only do so much. Running a Pacific No… Read More
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