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The Deschutes National Forest near Bend, Oregon is a scenic forest with a variety of natural landscapes. From forests of Ponderosa Pine and fir trees, to sagebrush flats with rocky lava flows. Dormant volcanoes and sparkling clear lakes, wildflowers and wildlife everywhere. This is truly an outdoor lovers paradise! Whether you are a fisherman, hiker, mountain biker, kayaker, golfer, windsurfer, camper or photographer, the Deschutes National Forest has something for everyone.
Beautiful Elk Lake is popular with windsurfers and fishermen, and the beach area is a favorite for families. Wildlife in the area includes Osprey, Mule Deer, Elk, Black Bear, Coyotes, Chipmunks, with a wide variety of other birds and insects.
Travel the Cascades Lakes Highway out of Bend for unprecedented views of snow-capped mountains, clear blue lakes, and deep green forests. Adjoining the forest are beautiful resorts and golf courses including Inn of the Seventh Mountain, Black Butte Ranch, Sunriver Resort, and Widgi Creek.
For an unforgettable outdoor vacation - spend your next one in central Oregon on the beautiful Deschutes Naitonal Forest. And don't forget your camera!
During the months of June through August, the Ochoco National Forest in central Oregon is a haven for wildflower lovers. Photographers will find a large variety of wildflowers on each district of the forest, with some locations providing an outstanding variety in a single area. Examples of wildflowers to be found on the forest include Indian Paintbrush, Penstemon, Columbine, Lupine, Yellow Violet, Yellow Bell, Scarlet Gilia, and many more.
One of the top wildflower viewing areas is Big Summit Prairie. This area not only has a wide variety of flowers, but also offers some wonderful camping areas and fishing in nearby streams. Other great wildflower viewing areas include Walton Lake, Maury Mountains, meadows along Mark's Creek, and on the far east side of the forest around Paulina.
When visiting Central Oregon in the spring and summer, don't pass up a trip to the Ochoco National Forest east of Prineville. Wildflowers, wildlife, camping, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and more!
The coast of Oregon is not only well-known for it's picturesque beauty and the relaxing sounds of waves breaking on the sandy shores, but it has a history full of wonderful stories and colorful unique buildings.
One of the favorite stops for travelers is the Sea Lion Caves which is located south of Newport on Highway 101. Here visitors can either take an elevator down into the caves, or walk to several viewpoints where Sea Lions rest on the rocks below.
Another popular destination is the historical Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park also located off Highway 101. There are several turnouts along the highway that offer outstanding views of the lighthouse and lightkeepers residence. For the more adventurous visitor, tours are offered to the top of the lighthouse for amazing views. There are docents that will lead tours and offer information about the history of the lighthouse and the people who worked here.
The Oregon Coast is a must-see for visitors traveling to the western United States, and be sure to take your camera!
Delta Junction, Alaska is the terminus of the 1422 mile Alaska Highway. This scenic small town (Population under 1000) offers the visitor many interesting sites to check out and is well worth spending a couple of days enjoying.
The Visitor Center is a great place to have your photo taken with the monument that marks the end of the Alaska Highway. There are also giant mosquito sculptures, a display of pipe used in 3 different pipeline projects, and of course, plenty of free brochures, displays of wildflowers, and mounted wildlife and examples of furs that visitors can touch. Don't forget to pick up your certificate, certifying you have reached the end of the Alaska Highway!
Delta Junction is home to many family-run farms and also the well-known "Delta Meats" where visitors can taste free samples of their famous sausage. Other sites to see in Delta Junction include: Rika's Roadhouse, Sullivan Roadhouse, Pipeline Crossing, wildlife viewing including Bison herds and bird watching, not to mention camping and fishing.
Delta Junction is also the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Richardson Highway. The scenic views of the Alaska Range are sure to have you grabbing your camera at each turn in the road.
Delta Junction is a special place and often becomes a favorite of everyone who takes time to investigate and explore this gorgeous part of Alaska. Take lot of photos for a lifetime of memories.
Early season thunderstorms peppered the high desert of Central Oregon over the past week. Photographers were treated to some outstanding displays of cloud formations, including these "Mammatus" clouds which are indicators of a severe storm and can sometimes be a precursor to a storm cell spawning tornadoes.
The 800-mile long Trans-Alaska Pipeline runs from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez with several places along it's route that offer close-up views to inquisitive visitors.
One such viewpoint and information area is located north of Fairbanks along the Steese Expressway. Here the the visitor can find extensive information on the history of the pipeline including interpretive signs, a paved trail that offers visitors a chance to walk alongside an elevated portion of the pipeline, and a small gift shop that offers books, postcards, t-shirts, and more.
To reach this viewing area, just drive north of Fairbanks on the Steese Expressway to milepost 8.4. Watch for signs and a turnout on the eastside of the highway. The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company operates a visitor center at the site which is open daily from May to September.
Looking for a great vacation spot? Want to fish for halibut, salmon and rockfish? Enjoy seeing wildlife such as the Humpback Whale, Puffins, Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Bears and much more? Then you should check out Valdez, Alaska!
I had the opportunity to make a 2-day trip to Valdez, Alaska last summer and had one of the most enjoyable trips I've ever had. Valdez is accessible by boat or highway, and sits on Prince William Sound. It is the southern terminus for the 800-mile long Alaska Pipeline and large ships regularly go in and out of the harbor.
This colorful small town is surrounded by steep, rugged mountains and beautiful views of Prince William Sound. There are plenty of hotels, good restaurants, stores for shopping, espresso shops, wonderful museums along with charter boats for fishing, and companies offering wildlife cruises. There are also camping areas, RV parks, hiking and biking trails, and a nice park for the kids.
One of the most enjoyable trips I took while there, was on the "LuLu Belle" a smaller vessel used for offering day cruises to view wildlife on and around Prince William Sound. Although there are a couple of companies offering these day trips - and both are excellent- I prefer the smaller ship that can get into the shallower waters and closer to shore. On our cruise we saw Humpback whales, Sea Lions, Sea Otters, Seals, Bald Eagles, Arctic Terns, Orca, Porpoise, and much, much more! That's not to mention the close-up views of glaciers, watching commercial fishing boats haul in their catch, and seeing the vast beauty of the Alaska shoreline. It was a trip that will be in my memory for a long time.
When going to Valdez, weather is very unpredictable. Make sure you dress in layers, bring a hat or have a hood on your jacket. Rain Gear is essential, although those that prefer to stay out of the weather can stay in the warm and comfortable seating in the main cabin. Bring lots of batteries for your digital cameras, and also lots of memory cards! There are plug-ins both inside and outside the ship, so you can use your batter chargers or download photos to a laptop.
If you are driving - make sure you go north of town to see the Valdez Glacier viewing area. Make sure to also stop by the RV park on the left as you turn onto the road that goes to the viewing area, to see nesting Bald Eagles. The area has a fence around it to protect the Eagles, but you can see them clearly and get some great photos.
For the fishermen, you can fish to your heart's content for Salmon, Halibut and many other types of saltwater fish, and there are plenty of companies to process your catch and ship it home for you.
I would highly recommend a trip to Valdez when planning your next vacation to Alaska. It is a small town with lots to offer!
