Travel Tips & Adventures

Last Friday we went Old School in Portland to McMenamins Kennedy School, now it’s time to go Rogue!  

Rogue Ales

Unlike someone who recently wrote a book entitled, Going Rogue, I actually had the opportunity to go to the Rogue Distillery & Public House, one of the many pubs that are scattered throughout the city of Portland, Oregon. Read the rest of this entry »

With a claim to fame such as: More breweries than any other city in the United States, you would think we are talking about the big names in brewing (TV commercials, big horses dragging wagons, etc.). But, Portland, Oregon’s breweries range from micro one-off locations to national and international distribution, all without the horses dragging wagons …

Don’t get me wrong, I think those big draft horses are impressive, but big breweries don’t necessarily mean the best beer, or the only beer. Read the rest of this entry »

By Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw; Photos by George Bradshaw

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Fairbanks, Alaska is the Discovery Sternwheeler boat, docked on the Chena River not far from downtown. It is owned by the Binkley family, who have been in the riverboat business since the days of the Klondike gold rush. It has been a tourist attraction since 1950 and has been continuously captained by members of the Binkley family.

Take a ride on the Discovery Sternwheeler

Read the rest of this entry »

Proprietor Joanne Gemmill knows about a true English tea since she grew up in the south of England. Once she transplanted herself to Arizona, it was natural for her to continue her tradition of tea and share that with people so they would

Proprietor Joanne Gemmill

“ Take time out from their busy lives and wallow in tea and tranquility.”
These days, everyone can use some tranquility. Read the rest of this entry »

The City “fathers’ of Carefree, Arizona, according to a story, sat around in a local watering hole deciding what to name the streets of Carefree, since many of the streets were nameless. While they downed their brews what they came up with was inspired!

You, too, can be on Easy Street - in Carefree, Arizona

Read the rest of this entry »

Ah, if only everyone could be Carefree – or travel there. It’s a town in Arizona north of Phoenix, by the way, but it is also a state of mind.

 
On a recent stay at the Carefree Resort & Villas in Carefree, the experience lived up to the name.

Carefree Resort & Villas entrance

Read the rest of this entry »

Go Beavs!

After a two and a half hour drive over the Cascade Mountains on a road (U.S. 20) that wouldn’t win any awards for staying in a straight line, I arrived in Corvallis, Oregon. Most people will probably say, WHERE?

Although near Eugene, Albany, Salem and, ultimately, Portland, Corvallis is not the most well known of cities in the Willamette Valley. While the aforementioned cities have a common trait (they are all next to I-5 traveling north and south through Oregon), Corvallis is just a bit off the beaten track (8 miles west of the interstate highway.) Not so much a tourist destination as a sports and education destination, Corvallis is home to Oregon State University. GO BEAVS! Read the rest of this entry »

Guest Author Peggy Bradshaw; Photos by George Bradshaw

Stepping onto the dome car of the Alaska Railroad you do not realize that this train is not just a tourist train.

Domed car of the Alaskan Railroad

Read the rest of this entry »

One of the major attractions in Central Oregon for those who want fabulous scenery is Mt. Bachelor and the Cascades Lakes National Scenic Byway.  And, if you ski, during the season, Mt. Bachelor is a very popular location.

Mt. Bachelor

Mt. Bachelor with ski lifts (not taken during the ski season)

Read the rest of this entry »

Bend has an interesting shopping area that was salvaged from a real old mill, a lumber mill.  

Called the Old Mill District, it has become the center for some upscale shopping, restaurants and  events.  

In an effort to be evocative, the old smokestacks are still there and there is a sign that says, “Can you smell the sawdust?”

Old Mill District

Read the rest of this entry »