TRIPSTER

Visit Tigard to Earn 20,000 Free Air Miles

Score 20,000 air miles from Spirit Airlines today at Tigard’s Azumano Travel.

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on May 21, 2012 at 12:00PM 0 Comments

Low-cost airline Spirit Airlines celebrates its new nonstop Portland–Dallas service by giving away certificates for 20,000 free air miles to the first 1,000 people who visit Tigard travel agency Azumano Travel at 4 p.m. today.

The miles can be used for travel to any of the cities Spirit serves—including direct flights from Portland to Las Vegas and Dallas.

To claim the miles, recipients must register for a frequent flyer account with Spirit (free) within seven days and plug in the promotional code on the certificate. Travel must be booked within 30 days of receiving the miles.

When: 4 p.m.
Where: Azumano Travel
16200 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard

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Tags: travel, Spirit Airlines, Air miles, Travel Deals

Northwest Glamping

Get your dose of the great outdoors, without giving up your creature comforts at these seven luxury camping spots.

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on Apr 25, 2012 at 03:00PM 2 Comments

Paws Up Resort, Montana

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Cherry Wood Bed Breakfast and Barn

Cherry Wood Bed, Breakfast and Barn
Californian oenophiles might get sideways, but Washington wine lovers get saddled. Horseback winery tours of the sun-soaked Yakima Valley are but one of the many adventures on offer at Cherry Wood Bed Breakfast and Barn. Snuggled smack in the middle of Yakima’s wine country, this working ranch’s luxe 20-foot-tall teepees offer a delightful home base from which to explore the nearby Zillah, Yakima, Red Mountain, and Prosser wine communities. Decked out with rustic carved-wood furniture, down comforters, and private bathrooms, the teepees hardly qualify as roughing it—something greenhorns will appreciate after a few hours in the saddle. Our advice? Soak away any saddle soreness in Cherry Wood’s “twilight tubs,” outdoor clawfoot tubs accompanied by bath salts and set beneath a wide open sky. From $225, including breakfast

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Momentum River Expeditions

Farm to Fork Adventures
Dip a paddle in the Wild and Scenic Rogue River and Oregon’s local food movement on Farm to Fork’s four-day June rafting adventure. Your $1,125 includes all your rafting and camping equipment, plus three squares a day, including a nightly four-course meal prepared by Park Kitchen chef David Padberg and Farm to Fork’s Matthew Domingo, and paired with wines from Grants Pass’ 30-year-old Troon Vineyard. June 20–23; space limited

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Northwest Rafting

Northwest Rafting
If hops are your preferred varietal, consider signing up for one of Northwest Rafting’s Brews with Views tours of the Rogue. Beginning in late July, the Hood River based rafting outfit offers three different four-day trips down the Rogue, each complimented by daily post-paddling beer tastings from local brewers. Food, gear, and guide service are all included in the $875 price tag. And, of course, beer. July 26–29 (Deschutes Brewery); August 9–12 (Double Mountain); August 23–26 (Sierra Nevada)

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Paws Up

Resort at Paws Up
We’ve seen five-star hotels with less polish than the glampsites at Montana’s Resort at Paws Up. Outfitted with en-suite bathrooms dressed in granite with heated floors and jetted tubs, dining pavilions where you can relax in front of massive stone-and-timber fireplaces and savor gourmet grub without having to lift a finger, and a camp butler who’s on call to answer your every whim, these 24 “rustic” retreats would put most Hiltons to shame. Set on a 37,000-acre working cattle ranch near Missoula, Paws Up’s four glamping camps have easy access to the legendary Blackfoot River (inspiration for that little fishing movie starring Brad Pitt), and all the outdoor adventure that goes along with it. From $1,025, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner for two

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Far and Away Adventures

Far and Away Adventures
Whitewater rafting and fly-fishing on one of the country’s wildest rivers (accessed by prop-plane). Gourmet meals. Campfire serenades. River guides who double as masseuses. Welcome to glamping on the Middle Fork of Idaho’s Salmon River with Far and Away Adventures, a fly-fishing and rafting company that’s been given the nod by the likes of Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast, and The New York Times. The family-owned business has been running and fishing the Middle Fork of the Salmon for 30 years, giving them plenty of time to perfect your adventure itinerary.

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Lakedale Resort

Lakedale Resort
This San Juan island retreat’s canvas cabins (225-square-foot, redwood furniture and pillow-top queen bed appointed dens) are available from May–September. But the Friday Harbor resort only offers its Gourmet Glamping weekends three times a year (May 11–13, June 15–17, and September 21–23). In addition to indulging in all Friday Harbor has to offer (hiking, biking, fishing, swimming to name just a few), Gourmet Glampers spend an afternoon with chef Kyle Nicholson, of nearby Bluff Restaurant, learning how to prepare a multi-course feast, which they’ll later eat. Think chile-rubbed pork loin, bavette steak, Vietnamese crepes, and, of course the ultimate s’more: a finger-licking almond financier, ganache and marshmallow mess. $429 for a two-night stay, includes culinary instruction, meal and continental breakfast for two

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Storm Creek Outfitters

Storm Creek Outfitters
We’re not sure where the name of Idaho’s No Return Wilderness actually originated from, but a few days of glamping at Storm Creek Outfitters will leave you convinced it has something to do with visitors never wanting to leave. Set amid one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48, Storm Creek provides access (and guides!) to the area’s rich fishing, hiking, hunting, and horseback riding opportunities. Rise to the smell of rich coffee and fresh baked bread, go for a post-supper stroll to see the sun set on the Selway River Valley, then retire post-supper (no prep or dishes required) meal to your quilt-covered queen bed. From $250, includes breakfast, lunch and dinner

We know, we know, “glamping” is kind of a silly word. But savoring the outdoors in style sure isn’t. From the San Juans to Idaho, ranches, rafters, and even vintners have, in recent years, been adding deluxe digs to stunning landscapes and inviting others to experience for a few days what they savor all year long. Take a tour of some of the Northwest’s most popular spots with our slideshow, then start making summer plans … these places fill up fast!

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Tags: portland, Far and Away Adventures, Farm to Fork, Momentum River Expeditions, Cherry Wood, Northwest rafting, Lakedale Resort, Resort at Paw Up, Northwest travel, glamping, travel, Storm Creek Outfitters

Spring Greening: 8 Great Northwest Golf Destinations

From wind-swept coastal links courses to Central Oregon’s posh high-desert resorts, we highlight some of the top spots to knock the rust off your sticks this spring.

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on Apr 11, 2012 at 12:00PM 0 Comments

Courtesy Tetherow Golf Club

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Salishan

Salishan
Redesigned by Peter Jacobson in 2004, Salishan’s par-71 course is split between two equally exquisite but very different landscapes. The front nine cuts through thick forest before opening up to sedge-strewn links-style holes on the back nine. Punctuated by views of the Pacific and neighboring Siletz Bay, Salishan assures that—despite what Twain says—any trip to Salishan promises a good walk, unspoiled. (And even if your game leaves a little something to be desired, you’ll find solace in Salishan’s on-site spa and restaurant.) From $69 per round

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Gearhart Golf Links

Gearhart Golf Links
Even back in the 1890s, patrons of the (now-defunct) Hotel Gearhart played golf on the town’s modest green. One of the oldest courses on the West Coast, the Gearhart Golf Links got an update in 1999, but the course architect retained the former spirit of the place: The links-style course undulates with the landscape, and British-style pot bunkers are the hazards to avoid. The 1940s-era clubhouse, the Sand Trap, burned down in 1998, but the new Sand Trap, operated by McMenamins, features historic photographs of early Gearhart golfers on the walls. Play a round, then tipple a little on the deck or down in the Pot Bunker Bar, where you can relive your day, or, depending on how you fared, forget it altogether. From $25 per round
—Leslie Heilbrunn

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Sandpines

Sandpines
Florence’s wind-sculpted par-72 course circles a stunning central lake, graveyard to many an errant shot. Named one of the best value golf courses in the states by Travel + Leisure, Sandpines promises a quintessential Oregon coast golf experience in a beautiful setting. The 9,000-square-foot clubhouse offers a prime place to post up after your round, or head into town for an unbeatable meal at the historic Waterfront Depot (reservations recommended). From $69 per round

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Bandon Dunes

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
When Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s opened Bandon Trails in 2005, it was praised as a course that all golfers should play before they die. Luckily for us, crossing that item off the short list is no tall order. The resort, which took the No. 1 spot on Golf Digest’s 2011 list of best American golf resorts, is but hours away by car and remains an idyllic place to escape the vagaries of city life. In spite of the accolades, the resort’s courses actively shun any urge to pomp up its aesthetic: From the coast-hugging Bandon Dunes to the forested Bandon Trails, these are true links courses. Carts are strictly forbidden. Bandon’s newest course, Old Macdonald, has already taken top honors from Golfweek magazine as one of the country’s best new courses, and this summer, a fifth course, the 13-hole Bandon Preserve opens next to Bandon Trails. From $160 per round ($100 at the Preserve when it opens in May)

View Slideshow » Photo: Brian Oar/FairwaysPhotography.com

Salish Cliffs
Just opened in near Olympia in September, Salish Cliffs already needs to build a trophy case to display its numerous awards, which include being tapped as one of the nation’s best new courses, one of the best casino-course (Salish Cliffs is associated with to Little Creek Casino), and a glowing review from Forbes. Generous fairways make the course attractive to—shall we say—recreational golfers, while the length of some of the holes will challenge their more skilled counterparts. And both will love savor the clubhouse’s wrap-around porch. From $45 per round

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Pronghorn

Bend
Each year, the PGA picks only about 30 places to play its Champions Tour. There are reasons Central Oregon almost always makes the list: 300 days of sunshine, rugged desertscapes, and an audience of snowy giants watching over every drive. Of course, you don’t have to be Tiger to enjoy the best of Bend golf. With 22 courses easily accessible from town, Bend promises a delightful—and, during spring, discounted—escape from the soggy greens west of the mountains. A few of our favorites: Pronghorn, a private, gated golf community that opened to the public in 2010; Brasada Ranch, this Redmond-area golf resort boasts quiet, serene play with majestic views of the Cascades and an exceptional spa; Tetherow, created by designer of Bandon Dunes and the Castle Course at St. Andrews, Tetherow’s links-style course bobs and weaves along a rolling landscape of fescue-fringed bunkers; Crosswater, Sunriver’s private course (but open to guests of the resort) has also been the site of the Champions Tour’s Jeld-Wen Traditions Tournament; Black Butte, a Central Oregon classic with two courses, one of which (Glaze Meadow) debuts a $3.75-million renovation this summer.

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Tokatee

Tokatee Golf Club
Established in the 1960s, Tokatee accommodates wallet-friendly golf in a picturesque mountain setting. Situated near the Blue and McKenzie rivers, the heavily wooded course’s friendly fairways are more forgiving then one might initially expect, but still reward precise chipping and pitching. And players of all ability levels win when it comes to the setting. From $45 per round

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Running Y Ranch

Running Y Ranch
Oregon’s only Arnold Palmer designed course, Running Y puts the best of Southern Oregon golf on display: sun-drenched meadows backdropped by rugged hillsides, pine-studded woodlands, and, on the back-nine, the challenge of Payne Canyon. Palmer himself has credited the course as one of his best tracks. Even better, the resort puts you within sniffing distance of Oregon’s premier water feature: Crater Lake. From $69 per round

April showers might bring May flowers, but they also often bring discounted green fees at some of the region’s top golf getaways. Many courses kick their rates up, come May, so now’s the time to sneak in that coveted round. After all, with the unpredictable weather we’ve been having, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a drier game come May (and so far this season April’s been pretty light on the whole shower thing anyway).

View our slideshow to get rates and find out what’s new—and what’s still great—at some of the Northwest’s favorite courses. Then consult the weather report—or your Magic 8 Ball, which might be more accurate—and schedule that tee time. Even if your game’s a little rusty, the money you save will leave you feeling like a winner.

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Tags: Bend & Central Oregon, Florence, Oregon Coast, portland, travel, Bandon Dunes, Golf

Spring Break Escapes

25 prime places—near and far—to while away your week
(or weekend)

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on Mar 14, 2012 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Dennis Frates

Some like it hot. Some like it cold. And some like it salty. We’re talking, of course, about vacation destinations. (What did you think we were getting at?)

Whether you’re a toes in the sand, sun-soaking kind of of Spring Breaker, or a powder hound seeking out the last spring stashes, we’ve got the inside scoop on 25 places full of the one thing we’re all after: relaxation.

FOR SUN
Near (and nearish)
Hood River: Fruit farmers, vintners, and brewmasters are turning this outdoors hub into a gourmet destination.
Bend: Every year, the PGA picks only about 30 places to play its Champions Tour. There are reasons Central Oregon always makes the list: 300 days of sunshine, rugged desertscapes, and an audience of snowy giants watching over every drive.
Southern Oregon Wine Country: Less famous than Willamette Valley wines, the Umpqua and Rogue valleys’ vintages have been earning points with warmer-climate grapes such as tempranillo, malbec, and even gewürztraminer.
The Steens Wild mustangs, secret hot springs, and a mountain that rises from the desert floor: Welcome to Harney County, USA.
Wenatchee Planted smack in Washington’s geographic center, the Wenatchee Valley, with its prodigious orchards, verdant farms, and 300 days of sunshine, also sits at the heart of the state’s culinary scene.

Far
San Diego: An idyllic coastal city
Santa Monica: LA’s hottest beach town
Las Vegas: A desert oasis in more ways than one
Maui: Hawaii’s isle of romance
Santa Rosa: Gateway to wine country
Santa Cruz: Surfing mecca with small-town charm
Catalina Island: Conservation meets luxury off the coast of LA
Palm Springs: Desert decadence with a splash of Hollywood glamour
Oahu: A classic Hawaiian escape
Big Island: Find adventure aplenty on Hawaii’s biggest island

Cape Arago, Oregon

SAND
Near (and nearish)
70 Ways to Discover the Oregon Coast: Five surefire itineraries for foodies, families, outdoor adventurers, naturalist and history buffs
Long Beach: Beauty abounds (but crowds do not) on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula.
Pacific City: The beachfront town of Pacific City isn’t all that cute. Yet. And that is precisely its appeal.

Far
Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara promises a two-pronged cure for any lingering winter blues: beaches and vino.
Kauai: Paradise Found: The Hawaiian island of Kauai offers an escape that’s equal parts adventure and peace
Sayulita: Sayulita is Mexico’s hush-hush resort town. Get there before the word gets out.

Tumalo Mountain by Mark Gamba

SNOW
Close Range: 12 Northwest mountain escapes where you’ll find plenty of powder—and none of the crowds, including: Willamette Pass, Mount Bailey, Tumalo Mountain, Leavenworth, North Cascade Heli-skiing, Meany Lodge, Wallowa Alpine Huts, Ski Anthony Lakes, Ferguson Ridge, Red Mountain, Baldface Lodge, and Whitewater Winter Resort.

Methow Valley, Washington: Cross country skiing and nature’s quiet symphony

Tamarack, Idaho: Ever wonder what Vail looked like before it became Vail? Head to Tamarack.

Park City, Utah: We love Mount Hood as much as the next powder hound. And Bachelor. And Rainier. But every now and again, we yearn to stretch our skis beyond the Northwest’s familiar terrain. With three ski resorts—Deer Valley, Park City Mountain, and the recently overhauled Canyons—plus six nonstop flights from PDX to Salt Lake City per day, Park City promises an easy way to scratch that itch.

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Tags: Bend & Central Oregon, Oregon Coast, travel

A Bigger, Better Deschutes Brewery Public House Opens in Bend

The signature downtown Bend pub adds 7,500 square feet of space. Translation: No more two-hour waits.

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on Feb 22, 2012 at 12:50PM 0 Comments

Photo courtesy Deschutes Brewery

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Deschutes Brewery

The expanded section of the Deschutes Brewery Public House (on the right) adds 7,500 square feet to the old pub (left), doubling the seating capacity.

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Deschutes Brewery

The staircase in the expanded Bend pub was made with some of the same reclaimed timber used during construction of the Pearl District location.

View Slideshow » Photo: Courtesy Deschutes Brewery

The expanded kitchen includes a new bakery, charcuterie, and prep area that gives staff the ability to create their own breads, sauces, and sausages in-house.

Reagan was president, Milli Vanilli was popular, and Mount Bachelor skiers were still wearing bibs when Bend’s downtown Deschutes Brewery Public House first opened its doors in 1988.

Now we love Mirror Pond Pale Ale (and Inversion IPA and Obsidian Stout and and and….there are 15 beers on tap) as much as the next Oregonian, but there’s a limit to our patience, even for good beer. Fortunately, with the February 1st debut of Deschutes’ expanded bar and restaurant, we no longer have to choose between slaking our thirst and exhaling completely.

With an additional 7,500 square feet, the expansion joins the old property to a new dining room built on a neighboring lot, boosting Deschutes’ seating capacity from 141 to 306. Blown-up images of past Deschutes beer label art dot the walls of the two-story dining room, which is reminiscent of the Pearl District location: it stars massive timber beams, extensive brickwork, and large street-facing windows, perfect for letting Bend’s 300-plus days of sunshine stream in. (In fact, leftover reclaimed wood from the construction of the Portland pub was used to build the new area’s stairs and trellis.)

A shiny, sleek open kitchen lines almost the entire length of the adjoining wall, while upstairs you’ll find more tables and even a private event space that holds 75. Happily for the nostalgic among us, the old space remains much the same. The bar sits where it always has, albeit with a few more seats, and where you once found tables near the entrance, you’ll now find chairs and a waiting area.

The physical expansion hasn’t been mirrored on the menu, which boasts largely the same collection of belly-filling sandwiches and pub grub that it did before. But there is one notable addition: the flatbread pizzas found at the Portland pub have joined Bend’s menu (we particularly like the grilled pear and goat cheese version).

Of course, all the buzz about the new Deschutes means wait times can still come close to 60 minutes at peak hours. But at least now you’ve got a place to stretch your legs and sip a pint of Hop Henge IPA while you wait. Still impatient? Check out our slideshow for a look inside without having to wait.

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Tags: Bend & Central Oregon, Deschutes Brewing, travel

8 Reasons to Love Mount Hood

From moonlight snowshoes to slope-side saunas, winter brings myriad reasons to swoon over our signature peak.

Posted by: Kasey Cordell on Jan 11, 2012 at 12:00PM 2 Comments

1 YOU OWN THE MOUNTAIN

Gather up your ski buddies and rent out the east side of Mt Hood Skibowl as your private kingdom for the night. The Cascade Chair, accessing eight runs, is your throne; the tubing hill your jester’s court; and the rustic Multorpor Lodge, with its traditional Old World fare and mighty stone fireplace, your palace. It’s good to be king. Rate negotiable.

2 BECAUSE SNOW GLOWS

When moonbeams bounce of off new fallen snow, the forest is as bright as day. See for yourself along the easy 1.5-mile snowshoe to Mirror Lake at the base of Tom Dick and Harry Mountain near Government Camp. Green Trails Map no. 461, Government Camp

3 UNBEATABLE APRÈS EATS

Scene 1: you’re dominating the slopes at Mt Hood Meadows, but the sunlight is fading, and a dank chill has punctured your parka; it’s time to call it a day. Scene 2: you lounge fireside at the Alpenstube Loft in the South Lodge, a rosy hue spreading across your cheeks as you greet the Mt Hood Lava Flow—a helmet-size brownie oozing with Tillamook ice cream, chocolate sauce, and hazelnuts, served in a hot cast-iron skillet. Curtain.

4 YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

If it involves snow, ice, and mountains, odds are Oregon Peak Adventures, Mazamas, and Timberline Mountain Guides can lead you up, around, or into it, from family-friendly Nordic lessons to full-on winter survival classes. In other words, these guides might be the only people who love winter more than you.

Photo courtesy Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon

5 ST. BERNARDS RULE


An infallible truth: everyone loves puppies. Last January, Timberline Lodge welcomed new Saint Bernard mascot Heidi, a then-65 pound puddle of fur who wasn’t much interested in posing for pictures (see the adorable video above). This Christmas, 8-week-old Bruno (left) joined the Timberline family. And he’s already had his first close-up.

6 SUMMER ISN’T THE ONLY CAMP SEASON

Windell’s Ski Camp is renowned for its summer programs on Hood. But its winter and spring free-ski, snowboard, and skateboard camps hold a distinct tactical advantage: smaller class sizes, with student-to-instructor ratios hovering around 5 to 1. Sochi 2014, here we come.

7 THINGS CAN GET STEAMY

The Finns know a thing or two about riding out a long dark winter in style. Their secret? A good sauna. Embrace the Suomi spirit inside a six-person cedar sauna set just a few yards away from the 12 miles of cross-country trails around Trillium Lake. To indulge, you’ll need to book a night at the adjacent three-bedroom Barlow Trail Cabin. Inside, massive windows stare up at Hood’s summit. It’s hard to imagine a better spot to watch the snowflakes drift down than in between the soothing clouds of steam next door.

8 PARENTS CAN SKI GUILT-FREE

Meadows is one of a handful of ski areas in the country with its own state-certified, on-site day care—a 3,500-square-foot facility that cradles babes as young as six weeks old while parents hit the slopes ($25 an hour or $100 for the whole day). If you’re still feeling guilty, sign your snow bunny up for ski lessons (ages 3 and up)—they’ll be on your tail soon enough.

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Tags: Skiing, Mt. Hood, Mount Hood, travel