Travel Spotlight

Witch’s Castle in Forest Park is a creepy symbol of a creepy seduction and subsequent murder.

Witch’s Castle

Macabre folklore a stone’s throw away written by Joni Kabana Looking for a gothic love story location that is full of mystery close to your favorite take-out eatery or coffee shop? Take a short hike to the Stone House, otherwise known by locals as the “Witch’s Castle” in Portland. This hidden wonder, located via a short hike along forested pathways, has quite a sordid history. Ernest Tucker, commissioned by the Bureau of Parks, built this stone building in 1929 to serve as a public toilet and storage room. As part of the Works Progress Administration projects, this structure was completed sometime during 1935–1936. It was in full operation until 1962 when the Columbus Day Storm destroyed the water line, which has never been repaired. But there’s more! Folklore has it that Danford Balch brought his family to this spot by way of the Oregon Trail around 1850. Balch claimed a…

Out ‘N’ About Treehouse Treesort features an assemblage of unusual stays perfect for a memorable summer getaway.

Sleeping in the Trees

Once weekend play for kids, treehouses are now fit for even picky parents written by Joni Kabana Looking for someplace unique to get away from it all? Many know Southern Oregon boasts one of the largest concentrations of old-growth trees in the nation, but did you know that this region in Oregon also is home to one of the largest concentrations of treehouses in the world? Out ‘N’ About Treehouse Treesort in Cave Junction is a collection of treehouses that can be rented for a bird’s-eye chance to sleep high up in a mighty old tree. Staying at one of these treehouses will catapult you back to your good old backyard treehouse childhood days or satisfy your best Robinson Crusoe lifestyle fantasy. With names such as the Serendipitree and the Tree Room Schoolhouse Suite, each treehouse was built with fun and adventure, and a bit of humor in mind. The…

Cog Wild mountain bikers ride Farewell Trail in Bend near Tumalo Falls.

Summer Camps for Adults

Five camps, clinics and retreats where you can get unstuck and reach new summits written by Jen Sotolongo Thank summer camp is just for kids? Think again. The adventures and fun don’t have to stop just because you’re an adult. From river rafting to trail running or mountain biking, personal development and rock climbing, there’s a camp for all types of outdoor adventures, from newbies to expert enthusiasts. VARIOUS LOCATIONS Cog Wild Mountain Biking Camps Based out of Bend, Cog Wild has run multi-day mountain biking trips for intermediate and expert riders in Oregon since 2006. Trips take place in some of the top mountain biking destinations in the state, including the Mt. Hood region, McKenzie River, the Umpqua Valley and Oakridge. Designed for expert riders who don’t mind a little hike-a-bike and big climbs, the three-day Umpqua Trip Timpanogos trip hits some of the favorite trails on the North…

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…

Steens Mountain in winter is an exhilarating outing in showshoes or backcountry skis.

Taking the High Road

Oregon’s Outback offers solitude and intrigue in winter or spring written by Joni Kabana People often say “just take the high road,” but did you know you can do this, literally, in Oregon? The highest road in our beautiful state is a stunning drive around the Steens Mountain in southeast Oregon near the quaint town of Frenchglen. The mountain, the largest fault-block type in the northern Great Basin, soars to almost 10,000 feet but it is the surrounding landscape that makes this mountain stand out from the rest. Surrounded by high desert sage, the Steens Mountain commands with dipping valleys and caverns and gorgeous sweeping vistas along every turn. The drivable internal loop is only open during weather permitting times of the year, usually mid-June through October, but visiting this location in off-season has its own very special rewards. With less cars and crowds in the area, standing before this…

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…