Mt. Angel Oktoberfest

The weather forcast for this weekend is great and will make the 2008 Mt. Angel, Oregon Oktoberfest that much more enjoyable. Plenty of people watching, food, crafts and fun will be on hand. I'll be there. Don't miss it. The festival runs from September 11 through September 14 this year.

International Pinot Noir Celebration

July 25, 2008 - July 27, 2008
Linnfield College - Riley Hall
900 SE Baker Street
McMinnville, Oregon 97128

The 22nd Annual International Pinot Noir Celebration will dedicate the 2008 headline seminar to the topic of sustainability. Viewing the subject through the lens of the legendary wines of Dominique Lafon, as well as six additional world-class producers, attendees will learn how the world's top winemakers are proactively working to protect the environment as they craft wines of truly unsurpassed quality.

Clear Lake Resort, Oregon

Well, it's great to be back online again with Northwest Seen. I had to take a break from the blog and decide if it was really filling a need. Apparently it is.

I just got back from a great trip to the mountains and more specifically, Clear Lake Resort in the Cascade mountain range of Oregon.

There was a little more snow on the ground than I was originally led to believe, but we had a great time nonetheless.

Clear Lake is really clear. Really clear. It's so clear that you can see the many-thousand year old trees on the bottom of the lake leftover from the volcanic eruption that created the lake, back when.

You can rent a rowboat by the hour or a full day for only $25.

There is a small diner next to the lake with decent food and a great view.

Note that the "rustic cabins" are really rustic. No bathrooms and no running water. It was a pain to trek to the shower/bathrooms down the trail from the cabin. Next time we'll be in one of the "modern" cabins.

It's a great place to get away from it all; you are surrounded by beauty. Really, what more could you want?

Don't miss Sahalie Falls just down the road. Absolutely stunning view and plenty of trails to hike.
Photo copyright 2008 Randy Hill Creative

Chowder, Blues and Brews!

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will host its 12th Annual Fall Festival with award winning chowder offered from all along the coast of Oregon, the finest blues music that Oregon has to offer and microbrews from some of the best breweries in the northwest! The festival is set for September 21, 22, & 23, a time of the year where we can expect the most beautiful weather one can imagine on the Central Oregon Coast. Each year, Chowder, Blues & Brews has drawn visitors from the south and central coastal area as well as from the Willamette Valley.

Beginning on Friday afternoon, the Florence Events Center will be rocking with "musical delights" performed by the great blues artists of the Western Oregon area.

VIP tickets are $20 good for all three days of the festival and you get a collector pint glass. Friday only is $7.00, Saturday only is $10.00 and Sunday only is $6.00.

Saturday will highlight the seventh year of the Oregon Coast Professional Chowder Cook-Off where festival goers will have a chance to taste the best chowder the Oregon Coast has to offer from communities extending from Astoria to Brookings. The event will also have delicacies from some 20 food vendors and microbrews from 5 of Oregon's best microbreweries.

The Oregon Coast Professional Chowder Cook-Off People’s Choice tasting starts at 1:00 pm on Saturday and goes until the chowder is gone. For more information contact the Florence Area Chamber at 541-997-3128 or the Event Center at 997-1994.

Mark this weekend as a must, for along with the Chowder, Blues & Brews, Florence will feature its annual Tour of Homes sponsored by the Florence Home Builders Association on Saturday and Sunday. The Habitat for Humanity's annual beach walk will also be on Saturday, September 22nd.

For more information visit the website.

Granite, Oregon...Rebirth of a ghost town

On the road through eastern Oregon...

Next stop was the former ghost town of Granite. Granite was first settled on July 4, 1862. It was then only natural the settlers would name the town “Independence.” Not so said the postal authorities for there was already a town by that name in Oregon. The next choice was “Granite” for the prevailing rock in the region.

All of the buildings that were formerly empty and falling down, are being repaired and used as cabins and residences. There's even a small gift shop/cafe at the entrance to the little town.

Locals told me that the snow gets pretty deep up there in the winter. I was hoping for an honest to goodness "Gunsmoke" style ghost town, but it's a nice spot and worth finding your way there.

Pictured at top: The old Granite general store. Picture by Randy Hill, copyright 2007.

Greenhorn City - Ghost town of Eastern Oregon

Next stop on our road trip into eastern Oregon: Greenhorn City. Greenhorn was a ghost town up until recent years. Upwards of 15 people now own lots in Greenville and are in the process of building cabins. A number of the cabins use existing historic [falling down] buildings and incorporate the structures into their cabin design.

It's not an easy place to get to, especially in a van like the one we made the trip in. The small, gravel roads are more suitable for a truck or four wheeler. Still, it was well worth the trip to see this little bit of Oregon history high in the mountains.

A brief history form Wikipedia:

Greenhorn was first populated in the 1860s as miners prospected for gold in the area. The mining district was composed first of placer mines, but soon many lode gold mines developed. The city was incorporated in 1903. It continued as a viable community until 1942 when gold mining was made illegal by Federal Public Law 208 during World War II.

In later years, the old Greenhorn Jail (dating to 1910) was removed to Canyon City, Oregon under suspicious circumstances. A court case ensued for its return, but because the city straddles the Blue Mountain ridge, the district attorneys of Baker County and Grant County could not even agree in which court house it should be held. The case was eventually heard by the Circuit Court for Grant County in Canyon City. The jail remains in Canyon City.

Eastern Oregon Road Trip: Next stop, Prairie City

Leaving Sisters, we headed off into the central Oregon desert. Funny, most folks don't think of Oregon having a desert, but it does and it's there. And it can be hot.

We spent two nights at the Strawberry Mountain Inn bed and breakfast situated in Prairie City and positioned dead center with Strawberry Mountain itself.

Prairie City is an old west town with a population of 1,100 and built during the gold rush. It is surrounded by some really beautiful countryside and quite a bit of history. It is also within driving distance of the John Day fossil beds and painted hills as well as a number of ghost towns.

Antique farm equipment - on the road to the Oregon coast

Photo copyright 2007 Northwest Seen

The Great Oregon Steam Up

The Great Oregon Steam Up near Salem, Oregon is a great place to take your family for the day. Besides the totally interesting old steam tractors that are the main focus of the event, there's great food, flea markets and a variety of interesting and very cool exhibits.

You wouldn't think that a festival centered on old steam driven tractors would be much fun or very popular, but you would be wrong on both accounts.

This year's schedule is as follows: July 28-29 and August 4th and 5th. Visit the organizations website for more info.

Silver Falls, Silver Falls State Park, Oregon

Photo by Randy Hill - Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.