2025 Plan
I am so far behind with writing up and updating my trips, I have decided to focus on getting caught up this year. I still intend to make a trip to the Oregon Coast, and hopefully to Canada . . .
finish North Bend to Brookings OR
write another post about Vancouver WA
write another post about Portland metro
write up Cowlitz County WA, possibly Clark County WA
rewrite I-84, with separate posts for Hood River and The Dalles
finish writing up Richland to Walla Walla via Lewiston ID
compile Native Americans of the PNW
Whatever below I couldn't manage before and might somehow be able to manage this year
I am so far behind with writing up and updating my trips, I have decided to focus on getting caught up this year. I still intend to make a trip to the Oregon Coast, and hopefully to Canada . . .
- updated "Chinatown Portland OR" for the 2025 Lunar New Year celebration at Lan Su Chinese Garden--now dated 2-22-2025
- updated "Esther Short Park & Vancouver WA" to include Black History Exhibits at the Mall--now dated 2-22-2025
- updated "Black History in the Pacific Northwest" to include Black History exhibit at Vancouver Mall, etc.--now dated 2-24-2025
- updated "Seattle by Train" to include Aug 2024 trip by car to West Seattle/Alki Point--still dated 3-25-2023
- updated "Sacajawea Trail (Lewis & Clark Expedition, Corps of Discovery) Part 1"--now dated 3-22-25
- updated "Sacajawea Trail part 2"--now dated 3-24-25
- updated "Saturday in the Park" to include Laurelhurst Park, Portland OR--now dated 3-29-2025
- at last published "Mtns of the PNW, & what they are made of"--dated 4-21-2025, though I finished it in May
- updated/revised "Hanukkah & Holocaust" post, now dated 6-10-2025, includes annual Jewish holidays + Shabbat
- published "Hwy 38--Reedsport (Chainsaw Carving festival) to Drain OR", dated 6-20-2025
- updated "O Canada!"--now dated 7-22-2025
- updated "Fort Vancouver" to include the 200 yr commemoration in Aug 2025, updated again to include Christmas event Dec 2025
- updated "Trees to See in the PNW" to include a map of the trees along Officer's Row at Fort Vancouver WA
- "Goldendale to Prosser WA, with Toppenish, Granger, & Sunnyside"--dated 8-27-2025 (finished updating 12-7-2025)
- "Hood River Harvest Festival via the CAT"--dated 10-20-2025 (includes a bit abt Multnomah Falls & Cascade Locks)
- "Hawaii in the PNW"--dated 8-23-2025
- "Madras & Mt Jefferson"--dated 9-24-2025
- "Veterans Day at Ft Vancouver & Pearson Field"--dated 11-26-2025
finish North Bend to Brookings OR
write another post about Vancouver WA
write another post about Portland metro
write up Cowlitz County WA, possibly Clark County WA
rewrite I-84, with separate posts for Hood River and The Dalles
finish writing up Richland to Walla Walla via Lewiston ID
compile Native Americans of the PNW
Whatever below I couldn't manage before and might somehow be able to manage this year
2024 Touring Targets
Goldendale to Prosser WA--in process
Portland Greek Festival--didn't make it
PNW Gold & Ghost Towns--still haven't made it
The Polar Express, Chehalis-Centralia WA steam train & museums: couldn't manage again this year
Latvian Christmas Market, Portland OR? sorry to miss ☹
- Updated "2 Seattle by Train" with more photos from the summer of 2023, travel by car, not train--see post dated 3-25-2023
- Updated "Logger's Jubilee" with photos/content from Buckley WA I explored July 2023--post still dated 8-15-21
- Updated "Traveling the Oregon Trail part 3" (Applegate portion) with info/photos from summer 2023 trips--post still dated 2-21-2023
- Updated "Traveling the Oregon Trail part 2" to include summer 2023 travels--post still dated 7-23-2022
- Updated "Ft Vancouver" with photos from summer 2023--post now dated 1-31-2024
- Updated "Battle Ground Lake State Park" to include vicinity, such as Alderbrook Park, Lewisville Regional Park, and Battle Ground city--post date still 1-2-2020
- "Oregon City OR", includes info about the OR Trail, John McLoughlin, & other pioneers--post dated 2-15-2024
- Updated "Buddha: birth, life, enlightenment, & Cultural Connections"--post still dated 7-11-2023
- Updated "Chinatown"--post still dated 10-27-2019
- Updated "Celebrating Chinese Style" now dated 2-16-2024
- Updated "Japanese American Journeys"--post still dated 5-8-2022
- Updated "Black History in the Pacific Northwest" to include content from 2023-2024, but post still dated 2-26-2022
- "Wilsonville OR"--post dated 3-30-2024 (includes Tulip Festival & Easter events, Molalla River State Park, etc.)
- "Return to Roseburg, then Scenic Hwy 138, and Klamath Falls"--post date 4-20-2024 (includes Umpqua River, various mtns)
- Updated the "Oregon Trail part 3" with a May 2024 visit to Brownsville OR (what a fantastic quaint and historic place!)
- Updated "Milo McIver...Estacada" post with more about Estacada and Carver OR--now dated 6-17-2024
- "North Bend to Brookings--the Southern Oregon Coast"--(4 installments thus far: N Bend, Coos Bay, Charleston, parks along the Pacific south of Charleston) dated 5-31-2024
- "Skoal Scandinavia!", including Astoria OR Scandinavian Midsummer Festival--dated 6-24-24, also to include Nordic Northwest Scandinavian Fair in Portland OR, Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire (Viking weekend), Snohomish WA, & Poulsbo WA
- "Tillamook to Astoria, OR"--dated 6-24-2024
- "Bend OR & Beyond", including more mountains, dated 7-31-2024
- "Quilt Shop Hop-greater Portland Region" (Gresham to Hillsboro, Lake Oswego & Oregon City to Vancouver WA); 9-28-24
- "Lighthouses of the PNW"--dated 8-19-2024 (but didn't get it published until 10-10-24)
- "Bremerton & Poulsbo WA" (including something of Kitsap county)--dated 10-25-2024
- "O Canada!"--the beginning, dated 11-9-2024, including Victoria BC (also update Capitals of the PNW to include more Victoria)
- "Gresham OR & its environs"--dated 12-14-2024; Wood Village, Fairview, Troutdale, great parks and great mountain views
Goldendale to Prosser WA--in process
Portland Greek Festival--didn't make it
PNW Gold & Ghost Towns--still haven't made it
The Polar Express, Chehalis-Centralia WA steam train & museums: couldn't manage again this year
Latvian Christmas Market, Portland OR? sorry to miss ☹
2023 Hopeful Scope
Oregon Chainsaw Carving, Reedsport OR--couldn't make it again this year :-(
http://reedsportcc.org/oregon-divisional-chainsaw-carving-championships/
Scandinavian Festival, Astoria OR--https://astoriascanfest.com/ couldn't manage this year
Renaissance/Viking Faire, Bonnie Lake WA--https://washingtonfaire.com/ tickets sold out a week in advance at least, :-(
PNW mountains--compilation
PNW Native Americans--compilation
- published OR Trail part 3--Feb 2023
- Updated Black History in the PNW, Dam Awesome Sites, S Oregon (Cottage Grove to CA), and OR Trail 2--Feb/Mar 2023
- Updated Sacajawea Trail parts 1 & 2--March 2023
- Finally got Boise Bound, Again! post finished & published--post dated 8-24-2022
- 2 Seattle by Train--post dated 3-25-2023 (2022 trips)
- Portland's 2023 Cinco de Mayo Festival--post dated 5-10-2023
- Renaissance Faire, Canby OR--https://www.oregonfaire.com/ alot of fun! post dated 6-13-2023
- Updated "May Days . . . Gardens to Delight" after trip to Salem OR--post now dated 6-21-2023
- Buddha & Connected Cultures--post published 7-11-2023 includes Asian & SE Asian foods & cultural ties
- Islamic Excursions--posted 7-20-2023, linked to Buddha post for Asian & SE Asian foods & cultural ties
- Hillsboro Chalk Art Festival--post published 8-8-2023
- OR Trail Days, Tenino WA--post dated 8-9-2023
- Great Scot! Scottish Festivals: Enumclaw WA, Eugene OR, Gresham OR mention, & part of Renaissance Faire in Canby OR--published 8-15-2023; updated 9-17-2023 with the Scottish festival in Kelso WA
- PNW Capitals: Salem OR, Olympia WA, Boise ID (brief mention of Victoria BC)--post dated 8-31-2023
- Hood Canal, Hwy 101--post dated 9-7-2023
- Return to the Redwoods, Smith River to Eureka CA (& a bit beyond)--post dated 10-25-2023
Oregon Chainsaw Carving, Reedsport OR--couldn't make it again this year :-(
http://reedsportcc.org/oregon-divisional-chainsaw-carving-championships/
Scandinavian Festival, Astoria OR--https://astoriascanfest.com/ couldn't manage this year
Renaissance/Viking Faire, Bonnie Lake WA--https://washingtonfaire.com/ tickets sold out a week in advance at least, :-(
PNW mountains--compilation
PNW Native Americans--compilation
2022 Wish List
- Seattle Aquarium & Zoo--post dated 2-16-2022
- added "Celebrating Chinese Style" because I had too much to just add to other posts--dated 2-16-2022, updated 5-8-2022 to include Seattle's Lunar New Year that had been postponed til 30 Apr 2022; update 11/28/2022 to include Tacoma memorials
- added "Black History in the Pacific Northwest", inspired by art and more--dated 2-26-2022, updated 11/28/22 and 3-4-2023
- Sacajawea Trail--part 1 post dated 3-15-2022; part 2 published 4-14-2022 updated 11-26-2022
- added "Walk the Willamette Waterfront Loop, Portland OR", published 4-16-2022
- updated/reorganized Portland Downtown Day Trek, 4-26-2022 to include Oregon Historical Society Museum etc
- Victoria Clipper, still awaiting opportune timing
- updated Japanese American Journeys--now dated 5-8-2022, updated to include photos from Tacoma 11-28-22
- Savor the Latin Flavors--published 5-14-2022, updated Oct 2022 & 11-28-2022
- updated Fort Vancouver to include Officers Row--post now dated 6-24-2022
- Mt Shasta & Shakespeare--post dated 6-27-2022 (includes Weed CA, Ashland OR, Central Point OR, Gold Hill OR, and Valley of the Rogue State Park)
- updated Forks, Port Angeles, & Sequim WA with more about Sequim, dated 8/30/21
- Columbia Hills (petroglyphs) & Maryhill 2--post dated 7-14-2022
- Vancouver to Vancouver by train--looks like I can't manage again this year ☹
- Pirate Festival, Lacey WA--post dated 7-12-2022
- OR Trail part 2--posted 7-23-2022 Hooray! Part 3 posted 2-21-2023
- updated Esther Short Park & Vancouver WA with lots of Hawaiian Festival photos, now dated 7-25-2022
- Ft Nisqually, Tacoma Museums & Waterfront Parks, Northwest Trek--post dated 8-15-2022
- Port Townsend WA, Mt Baker & the North Cascades--post dated 9-10-2022
- Mt Angel OR Oktoberfest--post dated 9-18-2022
- Swiss-Bavarian Alpenfest Joseph OR--post dated 10-4-2022, includes towns & things to see & do along Hwy 82
- Dam Awesome Sites along the Columbia River--post dated 11-15-2022, updated 3-4-2023
- updated Greater Portland post to include Winter Wonderland (Christmas Lights)
2021 Travel Intents
- Japanese-American Journeys--post updated 5-8-2022 and re-dated
- Ontario OR & the Four Rivers Cultural Center & Museum (added to gather info for other posts)--post date 9-24-21
- Lincoln City OR (part 1: winter waves post 1-26-21)
- Crabbing on the Coast--Waldport OR post 8-15-21
- added Florence OR (since I was staying there on the Crabbing trip)--post dated 8-30-21
- added Yachats etc (all part of the Crabbing trip)--post dated 8-30-21
- added Reedsport OR and Up & Down the Coast (more from the Crabbing trip)--post dated 8-30-21
- Hagg Lake OR--added to Saturday in the Park, post 3-22-20
- Detroit Lake OR--posted 4-30-21
- Goin', Goin', Gone Fishin'--posted 3-31-21, but still gathering and adding
- Zoos, Aquariums, Safaris--still collecting
- Tacoma WA--couldn't squeeze it in this year
- Long Beach WA--posted 4-20-21
- Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston OR--posted 2-12-21
- Boise ID--traveled April 2021, post dated 5-25-21
- Jetboating Hells Canyon--see the Snake River post dated 6-15-21, scroll down
- Pendleton, La Grande, Baker OR & more--6-11-2021 (gathering for OR Trail post)
- added Halfway & Union OR, and therabouts (gathering more info for Snake R, fishing, OR Trail...)--dated 9-15-21
- Sacajawea (Lewis & Clark) Trail--in process
- Oregon Trails--part 1 posted 7-20-2021;
- Klamath Falls OR, Collier State Park, & Hwy 138 "Highway of Waterfalls"--had to be adjusted for fires--it's now Klamath Falls to Springfield OR, in the Loop, post date 9-5-2021
- Mt Adams day trip--posted 7-6-2021
- Columbia Hills State Park WA--transmission died before I could make it this year
- Deschutes River rafting, Maupin OR--part of River Runs and Water Fun, now done; posted 7-27-2021
- Loggers Jubilee, Morton WA--post dated 8-15-2021, under Forests on the Destinations page
- Olympic National Park, traveled in Aug, post dated 8-30-2021
- added Forks, Port Angeles, & Sequim WA--coastal towns & their surrounds, post dated 8-30-2021
- Canada Cruise (Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver BC)--spoiled again by COVID-19 restrictions
- Gold & Ghosts (dusty rusty mining towns)--see Baker museum, Union museum... travel limited by death of transmission on the way home from Ontario OR; see also Washington State History Museum in Tacoma Treks
- added Hanukkah & Holocaust, Portland OR--dated 11-30-2021
- Snoqualmie WA Yuletide Express & Falls--posted 12-13-2021
- added Greater Portland, a collection of some years of little expeditions--posted 12-31-2021
2020 dreams & schemes
City 'Scapes
Chinese New Year in Portland's Chinatown-----accomplished see addendum to post 10-27-19
Shen Yun Dance & Pagliacci Opera, Portland Arts venues--cancelled due to COVID-19
Portland Japanese Memorial & Garden--temporarily closed, to be posted in 2021
Washington State Historical Museum, Tacoma--temporarily closed
World of Speed Motorsports Museum, Wilsonville--closed permanently by COVID-19
Fort Vancouver, WA-----accomplished, see post 2-29-20
Hawaiian Festival, Vancouver, WA--cancelled due to COVID-19
Vancouver to Vancouver (via Victoria) Clipper Ship vacation package--had to be postponed
Added nearby parks and gardens--see Destinations page
Shen Yun Dance & Pagliacci Opera, Portland Arts venues--cancelled due to COVID-19
Portland Japanese Memorial & Garden--temporarily closed, to be posted in 2021
Washington State Historical Museum, Tacoma--temporarily closed
World of Speed Motorsports Museum, Wilsonville--closed permanently by COVID-19
Fort Vancouver, WA-----accomplished, see post 2-29-20
Hawaiian Festival, Vancouver, WA--cancelled due to COVID-19
Vancouver to Vancouver (via Victoria) Clipper Ship vacation package--had to be postponed
Added nearby parks and gardens--see Destinations page
the Coast
Dune Buggy tour Oregon Dunes, & Bandon, OR--we dune it, see post 7-3-20
Crabbing in Lincoln City, OR--cancelled due to COVID-19
Long Beach, WA--venues I wanted to see closed for COVID-19
Oregon Coast Aquarium et al, Newport, OR--see post 11-28-20
Seaside, OR added--see post 8-12-20
Crescent City, CA--see post 10-22-20
Crabbing in Lincoln City, OR--cancelled due to COVID-19
Long Beach, WA--venues I wanted to see closed for COVID-19
Oregon Coast Aquarium et al, Newport, OR--see post 11-28-20
Seaside, OR added--see post 8-12-20
Crescent City, CA--see post 10-22-20
the Gorge
Antique Aeroplane & Auto Museum, Hood River, OR--post 12-15-2020, scroll to Hood River
Gorge Days, North Bonneville, WA & the Bonneville Dam (and more!) see post 12-4-2020
Cascade Locks and the Oregon side of the Gorge--post 12-15-2020
added Waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway--post 12-23-2020
Gorge Days, North Bonneville, WA & the Bonneville Dam (and more!) see post 12-4-2020
Cascade Locks and the Oregon side of the Gorge--post 12-15-2020
added Waterfalls along the Historic Columbia River Highway--post 12-23-2020
the Forests
Redwoods, CA--see post 10-20-20
Goin' Fishin'--checking out accessible fishing all over, all year
Loggers' Jubilee, Morton, WA, Collier State Park Log Truck Show & Steam Day--cancelled
Blueberry Festival, Mossyrock, WA--cancelled due to COVID-19
Added various state & regional parks--see Destinations page
Trees to See in the Pacific Northwest (Arboretums)--posted 4-11-2020
Goin' Fishin'--checking out accessible fishing all over, all year
Loggers' Jubilee, Morton, WA, Collier State Park Log Truck Show & Steam Day--cancelled
Blueberry Festival, Mossyrock, WA--cancelled due to COVID-19
Added various state & regional parks--see Destinations page
Trees to See in the Pacific Northwest (Arboretums)--posted 4-11-2020
the Mountains
Mt Hood--made it before the fires made it impossible, see post 9-18-20 (went 9-2-20)
Crater Lake--made it, posted it 8-6-20
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest? spoiled by COVID-19
Mt. Rainier--see post 9-22-20
Southern OR, Cottage Grove to CA along I-5 & Hwy 199--posted 10-29-20
Crater Lake--made it, posted it 8-6-20
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest? spoiled by COVID-19
Mt. Rainier--see post 9-22-20
Southern OR, Cottage Grove to CA along I-5 & Hwy 199--posted 10-29-20