The heart of the Journey Through Time Scenic Byway is the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, often called one of the seven wonders of Oregon, comprised of three units: Clarno, Painted Hills, and Sheep Rock. The fossil beds show visitors how the region has drastically changed, both in climate and animal and plant evolution,Continue reading “Journey Through Time Scenic Byway, Oregon”
Category Archives: Northwest Travel
Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, Oregon
The historic Columbia River Highway was constructed from 1913 to 1922 as the nation’s first scenic highway; the Columbia River Gorge is also the nation’s second National Scenic Area, which gives you a hint of how special the byway truly is! Construction of the highway presented many engineering challenges and the roadway was considered oneContinue reading “Columbia River Gorge Scenic Highway, Oregon”
Missoula, Montana, Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, and Lewiston and Ahsahka, Idaho
Our weekend itinerary offers Lewis and Clark immersion! Of course, no Corps of Discovery itinerary is complete without also learning about the indigenous peoples encountered along the journey. Lewis and Clark and company encountered 55 native tribes, but the Idaho segment, the most arduously difficult segment of the journey, richly involves a tribe who theContinue reading “Missoula, Montana, Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, and Lewiston and Ahsahka, Idaho”
Day Trip: Ritzville, Washington
I have mentioned before how surprising it can be when a small community offers sites of historical or cultural significance beyond what the size of the community suggests it would have. Ritzville, a small farm community that appears at first glance to be a drive-by town along Interstate 90, was settled in the 1880s and,Continue reading “Day Trip: Ritzville, Washington”
Mount Hood and Hood River, Oregon
Many travelers, I think, would assume that Mount Hood, that majestic peak that rises so prominently to dominate the skyline along the heavily traveled I-84 corridor, would be the focal point of our itinerary. But for me, it is the Timberline Lodge with its sense of rustic, old world, almost magical charm that I amContinue reading “Mount Hood and Hood River, Oregon”
Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland, Washington
The Tri-Cities metropolitan area, formed of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland, shares a diverse history that is intricately woven into our greater nation’s history. Sites of historical significance range from one of the few known campsites of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pasco NavalContinue reading “Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland, Washington”
Central Oregon: Madras, Bend, and Newberry National Volcanic Monument
Are you ready for another great weekend trip? Our central Oregon itinerary presents our top picks and offers a great variety of sites to visit. Best time to visit: a visit scheduled Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend will allow you to visit all the sites on the itinerary. Plan to arrive at EricksonContinue reading “Central Oregon: Madras, Bend, and Newberry National Volcanic Monument”
Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello, Idaho
Idaho Falls is a place of unique history, though a history that doesn’t begin until a ferry was placed here in 1864 to provide a crossing over the Snake River along the Montana Trail, soon to be followed by a bridge. A year later the town, soon to be known as Eagle Rock, included aContinue reading “Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello, Idaho”
Day Trip: Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is rich in regional history and thus a great place to visit for those who enjoy immersing themselves in Northwest regional history. Walla Walla is a perfect destination for a day trip for travelers who are within two hours, maybe two-and-a-half hours’ travel distance, which means the itinerary is ideal as a dayContinue reading “Day Trip: Walla Walla, Washington”
Hit the Road in the Pacific Northwest 