Peak Northwest

People tend to travel to Eugene for the University of Oregon or its many outdoor recreation opportunities – or for the upcoming World Athletics Championships – but the Willamette Valley town also boasts one of Oregon’s best food scenes.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Michael Russell, restaurant reporter and critic for The Oregonian/OregonLive, who recently wrote a guide to Eugene’s essential restaurants.

With everything from sushi to pizza, Eugene specializes in farm-to-table dining and creative approaches to cuisine, not unlike many of restaurants up in Portland, Russell said. The food scene serves tourists and students well, but it’s also worth a trip down to Eugene on its own.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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When you think about classical music, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a performance in a beautiful concert hall with perfect acoustics and a large stage.

Hunter Noack, creator and pianist of In A Landscape, had other plans. Originally from Newport, the Oregon-raised musician has brought his classical performances to mountains, lakes, deserts and the coast, all with a Steinway grand piano in tow.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we chat with Noack about In A Landscape after we saw him perform live at Wallowa Lake State Park.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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It may be one of the farthest-flung tourist towns in Oregon, but Joseph is well worth the long drive to get there.

Peak Northwest podcast hosts Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor spent a busy few days in town and left feeling like they'd barely scratched the surface of things to do there.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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A trip to the south-central Oregon coast for a work trip stole the heart of podcast co-host Vickie Connor, as she explored this part of the state for the first time on a four day work trip.

Filled with natural wonder from anemones to sea lions and phenomenal rock formations on the beach, this section of the Oregon coast is guaranteed to leave you with a feeling of awe and admiration. Plus, the trip is doable in a short span of days.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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It’s not just the rain that’s been putting a damper on spring adventures in Oregon – record gas prices have also been making us rethink our weekend day trips to the coast or Columbia Gorge.

Not content to simply complain about what we’re paying at the pump, on this week’s episode of Peak Northwest we tick off some local excursions around the Portland area, including close-in hiking trails and area towns to explore.

If a lengthy day trip is too rich for your taste, you can always take the opportunity to check out some local destinations that you might have overlooked.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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With waterfalls, hot springs and crystal-clear lakes, the scenery on the McKenzie River Trail is among the very best in Oregon.

On this week’s episode of the Peak Northwest podcast, we talk all about the 26.4-mile hiking trail, found in Oregon’s central Cascade Mountains east of Eugene, and all there is to see along the way.

Whether you’re hoping to tackle the whole trail this summer or checking out the day hikes this fall, there’s a lot to enjoy and appreciate about the trail.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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Oftentimes, stereotypes portray outdoor adventurers to look a certain way or have a specific background. But access to the outdoors is meant for everyone to enjoy, even if you didn’t grow up exploring all corners of the forest. Even if summiting mountains at record speeds isn’t your thing. For so many, just getting outside and having a good time is a huge accomplishment.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk with Summer Michaud-Skog, founder of Fat Girls Hiking movement and author of “Fat Girls Hiking: An Inclusive Guide to Getting Outdoors at Any Size or Ability.”

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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One of the best parts about enjoying our great outdoors is that you can make your time as relaxed or as intense as you wish. You can hike a nice trail to see tall, awe-inspiring waterfalls. You can enjoy some calm, flat waters atop a kayak. Or you can combine the two, take the risk factor up tenfold and paddle your sit-in kayak down a 100-foot tall waterfall (after a lot of training and preparation, of course).

Waterfall kayaking is a niche sport that takes kayakers years of whitewater experience to work toward.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk with Michael Jonsson, a waterfall kayaker we spotted at Eagle Creek as he took on Punchbowl Falls and more with two friends.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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You may have seen the whimsical bear statues placed around downtown Grants Pass in the summer, but have you ever wondered where they go to hibernate?

Their off-season home, a place called the Bear Hotel, is one of the most fascinating under-the-radar attractions in southern Oregon, offering a fun, family-friendly place to spend an afternoon.

On this week’s episode of Peak Northwest, we talk to Melissa Vierra, marketing manager of Evergreen Federal Bank – which owns and operates the Bear Hotel – to find out more about the colorful attraction.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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The Columbia River Gorge is a staple for Pacific Northwest adventures. From awe-inspiring trail views, to waterfalls and wildflowers, the gorge is a must-see destination, especially with its close proximity to Portland.

Visitors this summer, however, will need to do an extra layer of research. It’s a new world in the Gorge during peak hiking season, and chances are you’ll need a permit -- and a plan -- ahead of time.

Here are some highlights from this week’s show:

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