Steens Mountain is located in the remote Southeastern corner of Oregon—about as far as you could get from the Tillamook area without leaving Oregon! It is less than 50 miles from the Nevada border stretching across more than 30 miles. Most unique is the fact that the wilderness area covers 170,200 Acres!  The terrain is very rugged and known for its jagged peaks and deep gorges, which is the perfect set up for breathtaking views! 

The Steens abruptly rise up from the sagebrush desert to nearly 10,000 feet. This geological monument also forms one of the largest fault-block mountain ranges in the Great Basin.

What makes this area truly amazing is the diverse ecosystem, from lush alpine meadows with bright colorful wildflowers to hidden…

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As the leaves begin to change and the weather starts to shift, Tillamook county comes to life with many Fall related festivities, such as corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and craft nights! There really is so much to do! Below are a few things I have participated in and things that have been recommended to me to do this time of year.

Old house Dahlias is a pumpkin and dahlia farm with hundreds of varieties of vibrant dahlias and a two-acre pumpkin patch. Visiting Old House Dahlias will not only leave you with a cute locally grown pumpkin and a bouquet of flowers, but you can take a hay-ride behind a tractor around the field, which will show you another side to farming in Tillamook County!  Open weekends 10:00AM to 5:00AM, Beginning Saturday October 7…

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In a wonderful turn of events, our local YMCA has made a game-changing acquisition by taking over Tillamook Lanes, the beloved local bowling alley! This significant move not only ensures the preservation of a cherished community landmark but also paves the way for exciting new opportunities, particularly for youth programs.

From bowling leagues to leadership development initiatives, the YMCA, under the enthusiastic leadership of Kaylan Sisco, CEO & Executive Director at Tillamook County Family YMCA, is committed to offering even more avenues for our young members to thrive and enjoy their time.

Several months ago, I embarked on a journey with the YMCA, which has quickly become one of my most fulfilling experiences in recent years. It's the…

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Tillamook offers several fantastic options for finding great bargains while supporting eco-friendly practices. Among the places I’ve had the most success are the Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Recurrent, and Likely Finds.

Goodwill isn’t just your go-to for the usual suspects like clothes, and housewares; it’s a treasure trove for various other items too. You’ll find everything from charger cords to Halloween costumes, work attire, beachwear, and even unique gift exchange items. Meanwhile, Recurrent specializes in selling clothes, handbags, and jewelry.

Habitat for Humanity stands out for its extensive selection of beautiful furniture and knick-knacks. They excel in presenting holiday items, and they even have a free shed for items that…

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First and foremost,  we’re gonna start with making sure that as adults embarking on this journey, we are in the right mindset to get ready to fish with children. This task is not for the faint of heart and is not the place to put your dreams of catching the largest fish you’ve ever caught or putting dinner on the table. This is purely for the joy of children and to build a relationship with nature that will last a lifetime.

My kids have fished off and on throughout their childhood. I started to expose them to enjoying nature when they were very young. As they got older, I used to avoid taking my kids to fish the river by myself because I was terrified that I was going to catch a large salmon and not know what to do with it.

I’ve since gotten…

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Do you enjoy gardening? Do you have a garden?  Whether you have a large garden or just a handful of potted planters full of vegetables, it can bring joy to you and those around you!  To me gardening has become a deeply rewarding and fulfilling activity that brings me tranquility, mindfulness and a much needed escape from the fast-paced world we live in today!  I truly believe it can enrich our lives in various ways! 

Did you know that spending time in your garden has been shown to actually have therapeutic benefits for your emotional well-being?!?  I didn’t know this until I moved to my dream property in 2021 and was blessed to find a fully established garden already planted full of berries including raspberries, newberries, blueberries and…

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If you are from Portland looking for an easy day trip, I pulled some of my favorite spots and created what I think is a fun way to spend a sunny summer day at the Oregon Coast! You will not only be driving along the ocean for the majority of your drive, but you will experience amazing food, activities and a true sense of adventure.

To begin the day, head out early in the morning to beat your fellow day trippers to one of my favorite childhood spots--Camp 18, located right off of highway 26 at mile marker 18. This place is full of historical artifacts, friendly staff, and a few roaming outdoor cats. It’s also a great spot for your morning coffee and a hot breakfast. In my opinion the best thing on their menu is a fresh-baked cinnamon roll, made…

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Prior to working at Rob Trost Real Estate, I volunteered at the Tillamook K9 Rescue located at 6965 Officer Row in Tillamook. Tillamook K9 Rescue works with Law Enforcement to ensure dogs found in our community have a safe place to stay while an owner is located. I first learned of the rescue center a few years ago when my family and I took a hike with our dog at the neighboring Anderson Hill Park. When I decided I wanted to volunteer at the K9 Rescue I reached out via Facebook and was quickly connected with Jeanet and Melanie--two very kind and passionate shelter managers.

If you enjoy giving dogs well-deserved love, while also meeting a community of passionate dog lovers, this might be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! There are currently…

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I grew up playing, beachcombing and jumping waves in Netarts Bay, as we were fortunate to have a family beach cabin right on the bay not too far from Happy Camp.  Back then, it was a campground with tents, small trailers and fires dotting the shoreline at dusk.  

Beyond the camping area is an eclectic, fun-loving oceanfront resort called Happy Camp Hideaway, built in the early 1900’s and located at the mouth of the bay.  The centerpiece is The Homestead House, a Southern plantation style home built in 1902 and was made entirely of logs that washed ashore during frequent storms.  The two-bedroom end cabin, fondly known as “Cabin #9”, was originally the carriage house for the camp.  The remaining eight cabins were built in the 40’s and even though…

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You will need to get up early if you want to explore tide pools and caves in the Summer months on the North Oregon Coast. There are numerous opportunities this year with 20 negative tides in July and 16 in August! 

If you look in a tide book the negative tides are usually highlighted in red and it simply means the tides are going to be significantly lower than usual, which exposes beaches and areas you can’t typically get to along with sea life you don’t get to see very often. Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July always seem to be when the negative (super low) tides hit, which perfectly coincides with an influx of travelers and explorers. 

We met up with some friends in the parking lot in Oceanside at 6:30 this morning then walked…

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