Travel Spotlight

Field-biologist-turned-beekeeper Matt Allen launched Apricot Apiaries in Kimberly.

The Accidental Apiary

A curiosity became a buzzing business written by Joni Kabana Tucked away on one of the most gorgeous stretches of the North Fork of the John Day River sits a honey stand chock full of honey and wonder. From various seasonal flavors of raw honey to exquisitely crafted beeswax candles to sweet honeystix that can be tucked in your workday pocket, this little hand-built stand is well worth a slow and meandering drive through Eastern Oregon high desert’s sweeping vistas to reach it. After moving to Kimberly in 2009 while splitting his time working as a field biologist in Nevada, Matt Allen purchased two beehives to fulfill his curiosity of insects and biology. Quickly, his hobby turned to obsession and launched Apricot Apiaries to sell not only honey and bi-products, but also queen bees, nucs and pollination services for fruits and nuts. Situated next to Thomas Orchards (another fruit-loving reason…

The Farm Store at Chocolate Flower Farm in Langley on Whidbey Island.

A Chocolate Lover’s Paradise

A flower farm located in the small Whidbey Island town of Langley is a wonder of cacao-themed plants written by Joni Kabana photos by Chocolate Flower Farm Chocolate lovers know their hometown favorites and often seek the best chocolatiers in any given town. But do they know that there are plants that look and smell like chocolate?  Tucked away in the state of Washington on Whidbey Island in the small town (less than one square mile) called Langley, a cacao lover can be seduced by the virtues of chocolate in various forms of plants and other delectable delights at the Chocolate Flower Farm.  Started in 2005 with a gardener’s love of dark colored plants coupled with a burgeoning love of chocolate, the farm soon expanded its offerings to include chocolate candles, jams, cocoa body butters, rare edible plants and chocolaty seeds to keep the most discerning chocoholic heart content.  Popular…

Volcanic rock and wildlife are the towering themes in Eastern Oregon's Leslie Gulch.

Destination Isolation

Eastern Oregon’s Leslie Gulch is an unexpected journey in time and beauty written by Joni Kabana One of the most remote areas of Oregon has miles of sculpted rock formations that were formed millions of years ago. Getting there takes a bit of stamina and a tough vehicle, but once you arrive, there is no doubt you will feel like it was worth the planning and effort. Towering volcanic rock, in various sizes and shapes, line the road in Leslie Gulch, located east of the Owyhee Reservoir in Oregon’s Malheur County. The soil is unique in this location and is conducive to growing rare plant species. If you love watching wildlife, mule deer, California Bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain elk and assorted coyotes and bobcats frequently roam the isolated landscape. Rock hounds will feel like they are in heaven, but collection of rocks and vegetation is strictly prohibited, as well as…

The hull of the Peter Iredale, a British ship that ran aground in 1906 in what is now Fort Stevens State Park.

Bombastic Heritage

Expect wild tales and wildlife at Fort Stevens State Park written by Joni Kabana There’s a haunting line in the lyrics of the song “I Was Brought To My Senses” by singer-songwriter Sting that reads: “And out of the confusion, where the river meets the sea, came things I’d never seen, things I’d never seen.” If you’ve ever ventured to the upper northwest corner of Oregon and witnessed the swells that occur when the mighty Columbia River rushes to meet incoming Pacific Ocean tides, these words would barely scratch the surface of the impression of what you’d see in those treacherous waters. Dubbed the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” many a sailor has gone down with the ship while trying to cross this navigational nightmare. Since 1792, some 2,000 ships have sunk in these unforgiving swells formed over a long stretch of sandbar, and notoriously dangerous conditions can arise swiftly without…

Sahalie Falls, on the McKenzie River National Scenic Trail, is steps from trailhead access off Highway 126.

Sahalie Falls

Get positive vibes from waterfalls, cozy cabins and outdoor adventure written by Cathy Carroll Need a boost for embracing new year’s goals? Want to work smarter, not harder? Bemoaning winter’s diminished light and time spent indoors in front of a computer screen—or just feeling glum? Try a waterfall. Extensive scientific research points to negative ions emitted as the pounding water at falls break apart air molecules. These particles can instantly affect the human brain—pressing a reset button and imparting calm, focus and invigoration. A visit to Sahalie Falls is a fantastic way to reap all of these benefits, and it’s so easy to do. You can get within 100 feet of the massive cascade of white water from a viewing platform that’s wheelchair accessible, about a half-minute stroll from the parking lot. Close your eyes and breathe in the positive vibes from the negative ions as the falls plunge 100…

Sugarpine Drive-In owners Ryan Domingo and Emily Cafazzo bring big-city know-how to a charming roadside eatery.

Sugarpine Drive-in Adventures

Blending old-school, roadside dining with farm-to-table sensibilities  written by Shirley A. Hancock What is now milepost 1 of the Columbia River Highway in Troutdale has been explored by many: Native Americans, fur trappers, Lewis and Clark and early Model T drivers. Today it’s where you can discover one of Oregon’s most creative outdoor dining experiences—Sugarpine Drive-in.  Husband-and-wife team Emily Cafazzo and Ryan Domingo left the stress of big city restaurants, moved to the Gorge, and opened up shop in a 1920s-era gas station. “We wanted to marry an old-school, roadside drive-in with a modern, farm-to-table restaurant, using local, organic farm produce and pasture-raised meats,” said Cafazzo, who, as executive chef, brings experience gained in the kitchens of some of Portland’s best restaurants, such as Beast. In winter, you’ll find adventurers bundled up, sipping local brews along with steaming clam chowder with leeks, celery root, bacon, smoked potatoes and cream. Or,…