If traveling is important to you (and it should be) you should treat it like any other important thing in your life and make it a priority. When I’m having doubts about traveling and my traveling dreams, both big and small…whether I should really spend all that money on a big trip, or if I’d rather … Continue reading
Author Archives: BackyardTraveler
The Portlander’s Guide to Weekends in Astoria
Astoria: salty, seaside, sweet little Oregon tourist town. We don’t have too many truly touristic, coastal towns in Oregon. Lincoln City is for casino and beach cabin fun, head further south for some sand dune action, or go to Seaside to pretend we actually have “beaches” in Oregon. But if you’re looking for a little … Continue reading
Pack Like a Pro! Printable car camping and backpacking lists
I love to camp! If I didn’t have bills to pay and the compulsion to shower every day or two, I’d be camping every day. Well that might be a bit of an exaggeration; there is something pretty darn nice about relaxing at home for a Netflix binge session on some weekends, but you get … Continue reading
Snowshoeing on the north side of Mt. Hood: Tilly Jane & Cooper Spur Trip
Last weekend we headed up to Mt. Hood’s lesser explored north side for a “winter” backpacking trip. Unfortunately, the term winter to describe this trip is a bit up for interpretation. With record low snowfall in the west this year, most resorts at Mt. Hood have only a couple feet of snow at the base areas … Continue reading
Mount Bailey, Astoria, Parkdale, Tilly Jane, Snow Days in PDX, Kayaking the Columbia and more in 2014
After a long (lonnnnnnnnnng) hiatus from blogging, I’m ready to get rolling again with weekly blog posts about my weekend travels and adventures around the Pacific Northwest. But, before I jump right in with a post about our next big excursion, here’s a recap of all the new places I discovered in 2014, and a … Continue reading
Need a mental vacation? Take a Movie Night Staycation
While I’m not normally an advocate of a “Staycation” as a valid form of travel, nor entertainment (well, okay if you manage to really create an Island Paradise in your backyard think a truck load of sand, swimming facilities and umbrella drinks then it might be okay) I understand that sometimes you just can’t get … Continue reading
Not so strange tides: My kayak trip in Portland
There’s nothing quite like being able to step out your front door and hit the trail or set sail. A few weeks ago I had the chance to borrow a couple kayaks for the weekend (thanks sis!) and I spent an enjoyable afternoon paddling around Ross Island, just a short walk (and paddle) from home. … Continue reading