STEVESTON VILLAGE, B.C. -- Steveston Village southwest of Vancouver boldly lists on its Web site 101 things to do (or consider doing) during a visit to that part of the world. Some of the suggestions are a little more esoteric than others -- "Toss your troubles away," compared to "Visit Britannia Heritage Shipyard and their new visitor center."
By Jeff Larsen | December 30, 2004
LEAVENWORTH -- I read last week in the Sonnenschein Auf Leavenworth, the official guide to Washington's only Bavarian theme town, that the Arts and Entertainment Network last year named Leavenworth "Ultimate Holiday Town USA." The small town nestled in the ultimate alpine setting at the foot of the Cascades beat out the likes of country western theme town Branson, Mo.
By Jeff Larsen | December 23, 2004
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- A trip to Vancouver over the holiday season doesn't have to be just about shopping. It can be as much fun as peering over the railing of a 230-foot-high suspension bridge into a raging river gorge, riding a tramway to the top of a 3,700-foot, snow-covered peak overlooking the city, or hopping a miniature train through an extraordinary Christmas display in Stanley Park -- all in the same day.
By Jeff Larsen | December 16, 2004
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Charm and character were the first words that came to mind as I drove into downtown McMinnville for the first time a couple of weeks ago. During my stay I discovered both are alive and well in this small town, situated in the fertile wine-producing region of Yamhill County 36 miles southwest of Portland in the Willamette Valley.
By Jeff Larsen | December 9, 2004
MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -- The 3-year-old Evergreen Aviation Museum declares that part of its mission is to inspire and educate the public about certain aviation milestones.
The modern museum's archives brim with aviation facts and figures. Visitors are educated by static aircraft exhibits as well as splashy electronic displays and educational tools scattered throughout a hangar.
By Jeff Larsen | December 2, 2004
ASTORIA, Ore. -- Up until two years ago, I thought Astoria was just a small town on the Columbia River that you had to negotiate after crossing from Washington to reach the really fun places farther south on the Oregon coast, like Seaside or Cannon Beach.
However during a short stay in 2002, I sensed a certain spark and charm -- not too commercial, not too touristy -- that made me feel comfortable.
By Jeff Larsen | November 18, 2004
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND -- As I reached in my pocket for the $10 bill to pay the ferry attendant at the Colman Dock, by old habit I barked out my side window that I was headed for Winslow.
"You mean Bainbridge Island?" the attendant asked rhetorically.
She was right, of course. The ferry-dock town of Winslow doesn't officially exist anymore except in the hearts and conversations of islanders. The town was renamed city of Bainbridge Island when an all-island annexation was approved in 1991 after a vote so close it required a recount. Guess I must have missed that.
By Jeff Larsen | November 11, 2004
VICTORIA, B.C. -- When a Madagascar hissing cockroach gets angry, it's not a pretty sight. It rears up and makes a nasty, high-pitched squeal that only another roach could appreciate.
Skunklike when threatened, a giant Brazilian roach lets fly with a powerful odor strong enough to be smelled by humans if you get close enough.
And who would have guessed that some scorpions glow in the dark and that large, furry red-legged tarantulas make good pets?
By Jeff Larsen | November 4, 2004
VICTORIA, B.C. -- Over the years, I've found that exercise and travel don't often go hand-in-hand. Because of time and my eating habits, I usually end up frequenting more hotel restaurants than hotel exercise facilities. After a while, the lack of physical activity starts to take its toll.
So, for a change of pace, two weeks ago I responded to the call of the goose -- the Galloping Goose Regional Trail that is, not the roasted kind you might find on a menu. How could I resist?
By Jeff Larsen | October 28, 2004
When you're the world's worst gambler, a casino wouldn't seem like a high-priority destination. But after I wrote last summer about the Quinault Beach Resort and Casino near Ocean Shores, I just had to try gambling one more time -- this time a little closer to home in Bow, a small berg just north of Burlington, about 70 miles north of Seattle. After all, I had another $30 to burn (i.e. lose).
By Jeff Larsen | October 21, 2004
