Grapevine, Texas, absolutely delivered Christmas this year, as it has every year since the late ’80s, when it first leaned fully into organized holiday cheer. My mom and I chose Grapevine as our meeting point because I was going to be home for the holidays, and it sat nicely in the middle between Ohio and […]
A Texas Christmas Done Right Read More »
“Let ’er Buck!” That’s the call you’ll hear all over town during the Pendleton Round-Up, one of the most iconic rodeos in the country. Since 1910, the Round-Up has been drawing crowds to eastern Oregon with its mix of world-class rodeo, parades, Native pageantry, concerts, and a sense of community that makes you feel like
Pendleton Round-Up Week: Rodeo, Trains, and an Unforgettable Wedding Read More »
Just a scenic road trip away from Pendleton sits Leavenworth, Washington, a town I’d been dying to visit ever since my assignment in Klamath Falls. Tucked into the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, Leavenworth is an adorable little village with a big personality. When you arrive in Leavenworth, it looks like you’ve somehow landed
Finding Glühwein, Good People, and a Whole Lot of Charm in Leavenworth Read More »
Every time I make the trip from Pendleton to Joseph, I fall in love with it a little more. I visited three times during my time in Pendleton – once in winter, once for a quick summer day trip, and most recently for a longer stay – and each visit showed me a different side
Falling in Love with Joseph, Oregon – Again and Again Read More »
Above ground, Pendleton is a quiet eastern Oregon town known for its rodeo, whiskey, and woolen mills. But underneath its streets, a whole different world exists—a world that whispers of saloons, brothels, secret tunnels, and even opium dens. In fact, in the 1800s, Pendleton had a population of about 3,000 with 32 saloons and 18
Beneath the Streets: Exploring Pendleton’s Hidden Past Read More »
A trip to Queen Charlotte Lodge is all about the fishing—just ask my mom. This wasn’t her first time, but according to her, the experience has changed over the years. The scenery’s the same, the food still amazing, but the halibut limits? Way lower than they used to be. Overfishing has taken its toll on the big ones, and
Luxury in the Wild: A Helicopter Ride to Queen Charlotte Lodge We left Vancouver early Monday morning, still bleary-eyed (well, me) but excited, ready for the next leg of our adventure: four days at Queen Charlotte Lodge on Haida Gwaii. I didn’t really know what to expect—other than a fishing lodge somewhere remote—but what I got was
Remote, Rugged, and Really Comfortable: Life at Queen Charlotte Lodge Read More »
My mom and I recently took a trip to Haida Gwaii to go fishing at Queen Charlotte Lodge, and we bookended the trip with a little city time in Vancouver. It turned out to be the perfect mix of nature, relaxation, and a bit of urban adventure. We flew into Vancouver the day before heading
From City Views to Forest Canopies: A Vancouver Stopover to Remember Read More »
If you’ve never experienced the Callery Pear tree in full bloom, count your lucky nostrils. I first stumbled upon this unsuspecting menace last spring in Snyder, Texas. There I was, minding my own business, wandering through historic downtown, soaking up the charm—when suddenly, BAM. I was hit by a scent that I couldn’t un-smell, no
The Callery Pear Tree (aka Nature’s Most Inappropriate Air Freshener) Read More »
There’s a sound to Antarctica, even when it seems like there shouldn’t be. Before I went, I imagined the continent as a place of pure silence—nothing but wind and white. And there is silence, but it’s layered. Antarctica doesn’t give up its sounds easily. You have to slow down and let your ears adjust the way your