• Food,  Oregon

    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…

  • Pink Places in Vegas
    Nevada,  Pink Places

    Pink Places in Las Vegas

    I really love fun girlie places that are decked out in PINK and I figured I can’t be the only one, so I’m starting a series of really great pink places, starting with Las Vegas. This is by no means a complete list because there are still so many more on my list. Here are some of my favorite pink places in Vegas: Cafe Lola There are five perfectly pink Cafe Lola locations in Las Vagas and I’m slowly working my way to visit them all. Recently I made it to their newest cafe at the Forum Shops at Cesar’s Palace. This adorable cafe is easily one of the cutest,…