Finley Never Disappoints

  One winter, many years ago, I was up on the OSU campus in Corvallis. I'd just gotten into my car and was starting to head home when a humongous flock of Canada geese flew over head. In awe, I pulled my car over, rolled down my windows and watched. I had never seen so …

Willamette Valley Cheese Company: Salem

I love driving Oregon's back roads. You never know what you are going to find among the tractors, corn fields, and filbert orchards. Yesterday, it was Willamette Valley Cheese Co. We were somewhere west of Salem on our way to the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville. The directions we had started out with …

Stand By Me: 30th Anniversary

In June of 1985 a young film director trying to prove himself brought four unknown child actors and an entire film crew to Eugene. For seven weeks they stayed at the Hilton, first to give acting classes to the young actors, and then to film on location, an adaptation of Stephen King’s novella, “The Body.” …

Snag Boat Bend: Finley National Wildlife Refuge

We were welcomed to Snag Boat Bend with the sound of bird song. From the time we opened our car doors, until we closed them again to leave, bird song was our constant companion. Part of the Finley National Wildlife Refuge, Snag Boat Bend is operated with the same conservation goals, to protect the winter …

Harris Bridge Vineyard

Tucked into a tiny valley, between the historic Harris Covered Bridge and a railroad track, just outside the town of Philomath is Harris Bridge Vineyard which specializes in dessert wines, sweet vermouth, and aperitifs. We've tasted at a lot of wineries throughout Oregon, especially in the Willamette and Umpqua Valleys. So when I first read about Harris Bridge …

Cabell Marsh: Finley National Wildlife Refuge

The first time I experienced Finley National Wildlife Refuge, I was instantly enamored. Hearing the beat of thousands of geese wings as they swirled overhead is an experience I won't soon forget. After our first visit, I planned to take many additional trips up Highway 99 to experience the Refuge in different seasons and conditions. …

Woodpecker Loop: Finley National Wildlife Refuge

We made our first visit to Finley National Wildlife Refuge last winter and at that time, I resolved to go back often. The refuge -- and more precisely the incredible number of birds -- fascinated me and I wanted to explore throughout the year to see how it changed with the seasons. Well, that was the goal anyway; …

Linn County Historical Museum: Brownsville

I have read many good things about the Linn County Historical Museum; so earlier this year when I found myself in Brownsville doing research on their Stand By Me filming locations, I made sure to have time for a visit. Since 1984, the museum has been located in the old Brownsville train depot (circa 1895) which was …

4 Spirits Distillery: Corvallis

Walking into the door of the 4 Spirits Distillery tasting room is a lot like walking into a small museum, and there is a lot of history tied into this little distillery, from the location of the tasting room to its name. It is hard to know where to start, but we’ll begin with the …

Vivacity Fine Spirits: Corvallis

Walking into Vivacity Fine Spirits in Corvallis, the aroma of gin, juniper berries, Oregon grape, and other intoxicating fragrances delighted our senses. Everyone in my tasting party stopped just inside the front door, took a deep breath, and said “Wow”. Last winter at the Good Earth Home and Garden Show in Eugene, we did our …