• Food,  Oregon,  Portland Foodie

    A Taste of Russia at Kachka in Portland Oregon

    Today’s foodie lunch experience featured a taste of Russia at Kachka in SE Portland. When I previewed the menu I was little nervous due to the amount of herring and beet options. Despite being 1/2 Norwegian, I’m not a fan of herring. And beets…Well, beets taste like dirt. 😬 Everything I sampled had a wonderful combination of flavors and tasted so fresh. I always find it helpful to see photos, especially if it’s food I’m not familiar with, so here’s a look at what we ordered. What we Tried I ordered the CURED SALMON BUTERBROD (beet cured salmon, farmer’s cheese, pickles and radish sprouts on toasted rye.) Yum!! If you…

  • The Painted Hills part of the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument in Oregon.
    Hiking Guides,  National Parks,  Oregon,  Travel

    Experience the Beautiful John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

    If you have never visited the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, you’re in for a real treat. In this post I’m sharing what to expect you visit the John Day Fossil Beds in Oregon. For starters, the John Day Fossil Bed National Monument is a part of the National Parks System and features three distinct units: The Painted Hills Unit, The Sheep Rock Unit and the Clarno Unit. We visited the Painted Hills and Sheep Rock Units and hope to explore the Clarno Unit soon. Unlike most National Parks and Monuments, admission is free year round at the John Day NM! Our trip fell during the early part of…

  • Eastern Oregon Road Trip
    Oregon,  Road Trips

    Central Oregon to Eastern Oregon Road Trip Sights and Shenanigans

    This article is a visual highlight reel showcasing the best sights along our road trip from Central Oregon to Eastern Oregon. Each of the sections featured in this post has a corresponding in-depth article with even more photos and details. To get the full scoop, just click on the bold yellow text. Stop 1: Smith Rock State Park Stop One on our journey to Eastern Oregon was at Terrebonne Coffee Wagon for some coffee to sip as we enjoy the views at Smith Rock. Discover Three Great Hikes at Smith Rock State Park. Stop 2: Central Oregon Mural Trail We hit several murals along the way beginning in Madras. Central…

  • Oregon,  Road Trips

    A Closer Look at Steens Mountain

    Seeing Steens Mountain from below is pretty great, but exploring the ridges and viewpoints and getting an up-close look at Steens Mountain from the summit is really the best way to experience this rugged eastern Oregon mountain. That’s right, fun fact: Steens Mountain (also known as “the Steens”) is not a mountain range, but is actually a single fault block mountain! In this article, you can follow along on our trip through small eastern Oregon towns to the top of a vast mountain and back down to the desert with stunning scenery the entire way. Buckle up and enjoy the ride… What is a Fault Block Anyway? The Steens Mountain…

  • Jalapeño burger in John Day at 1188 Brewing Company.
    Food,  Oregon,  Travel

    Enjoy a Delicious Burger at 1188 Brewing Company in John Day, Oregon

    After a day of hiking and exploring the Painted Hills, nothing hits the spot like a good burger and that’s exactly what we found at 1188 Brewing Company in John Day, Oregon. We ordered the Bacon Jalapeño Cheese Burger to share and it was one of the best burgers I’ve had in a while. Our burger was juicy, bacon was crispy, lettuce was fresh and the bun was buttery toasted perfection. It came with a generous side salad that was also super fresh and delicious with jalapeño ranch dressing. What Cider Pairs well with a Jalapeño Burger? Great question I’m glad you asked! We sampled of a couple of their…