Review: Portland from the Air

Portland from the Air by Sallie Tisdale
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Witt he help of a close-range helicopter and a customized pair of gryo-stabilized camera systems, photographer Russ Heinl captures Portland’s grace and grandeur form an airborne perspective.
Across the nation, Portland is seen as a model of civil engineering and livability. Bordered by the rivers
connecting it to the Pacific Ocean an hour west, blessed with a temperate climate that makes the city greener than seems possible, and decorated by distinctive architecture both old and new, Portland charms its residents and visitors with an unparalleled grace.
This unique portrait of the city, “Portland From the Air,” essence of the city and surrounding region. Known for almost two decades for his spectacular outdoor photographic images, Heinl’s interpretations of Pioneer
Courthouse Square, the Willamette River waterfront, Lewis and Clark College’s green spaces and formal
gardens, the nearby coast and Mount Hood are composed with an impressive artistic flair.
“Portland From the Air” will take Oregonians on a ride to see their home as never before and give visitors
unusual insight into on the jewels of the Pacific Northwest.
Award-winning author Sallie Tisdale complements the photographs with an essay that is anything but pedestrian, mixing her unique take on history with an insider’s perspective.

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Review: Best Places to Stay in the Pacific Northwest: Bed & Breakfasts, Historic Inns and Other Recommended Getaways

Best Places to Stay in the Pacific Northwest: Bed & Breakfasts, Historic Inns and Other Recommended Getaways by Marilyn McFarlane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Pacific Northwest – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia – with its dramatic landscapes and outdoor activities, is one of the fastest-growing destinations for both American and Canadian travelers.
This latest edition by Marilyn McFaren in the highly praised Best Places to Stay series, has been extensively
revised to include more than 50 new top-quality establishments, bringing the total to more than 300. With
indispensable information on coastal cottages, wilderness retreats, grand old lodges, guest ranches, and more, this volume is a comprehensive reference to accommodation choices in all price ranges.
McFaren writes a weekly column in This Week magazine and is the author of other guidebooks to the Northwest.

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Review: Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon: 1850-1950

Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon: 1850-1950 by William J. Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is a gigantic undertaking to include history of the Portland area over 100-year period. “Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon 1850-1950″ by William J. Hawkins and William F. Willingham is filled with drawings, plans of houses, photos of chateaus and other structures that influenced the architects who built these monumental buildings.
The photos of the homes and other building are so clear that you will know you have passed them as you drive around Portland. The interiors will make you want an invitation to visit them. Unfortunately, some of the structures have been demolished.
With so much information for the layman to digest, the book has been carefully and thoughtfully assembled.
The authors have created seven large time periods beginning with Classical and Medieval Revivals, which start out in the 1840s and end in the 1870s. Then it is on to the Renaissance and Baroque, Eclectic and Early Colonial. Followed by the Twentieth Century styles of Tudor, French Renaissance, English Cottage styles and more.
In the same period, the authors lead the readers through the American styles – very different from the period styles – and Early Modern. The final section includes what the authors call the “Northwest” style. Depending on your own background and tastes, there is no doubt you will be enchanted by some, if not all, of these descriptions and styles.
Hawkins, a Portland architect, and Willingham, a historian who lived in Portland, clarify each manner of
structure in a most readable manner. Each of the styles are grouped in seven larger categories and general descriptions are provided of each time period.

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Review: Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide

Washington State Parks: A Complete Recreation Guide by Marge Mueller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Whether you’re an active outdoors enthusiast or a weekend admirer, the diversity of Washington state’s parkland offers something for every outdoor pursuit. To quench your desire to be at one with nature, authors Marge and Ted Mueller offer the complete recreation guide “Washington State Parks.”
The Muellers are Seattle residents who have been active in the outdoors around Puget Sound for more than 30 years. To research this book, they logged several thousand miles by land and water to visit every state park in Washington.
The publication, in its second edition, is a definitive guide to more than 200 public parks throughout Washington. Featured is everything the visitor needs to know to enjoy each area to the fullest. Every state park is thoroughly reviewed, including information on hours, size, facilities, access points and main attractions.
The book offers detailed information about camping, hiking, bicycling, sightseeing, boating, nature-watching and a multitude of other outdoor experiences. Information such as seasons, reservations and fee listings, moorage and navigation data for boat access, and accessibility for disabled visitors is included.
There are eight regions covered in the book:
Olympic Peninsula
Southwest Washington
The San Juan Islands
North Puget Sound
South Puget Sound
Southwest Cascades
Northeast Washington
Southeast Washington
The second chapter in the book covers Southwest Washington. Close to home is the area located along and around the Long Beach Peninsula. There are several state parks covered in the book that are popular and some you may have never heard of.
The entire length of beach along the peninsula – known as the Long Beach Seashore Conservation Area – covers Leadbetter Point State Park, Skating Lake State Park, Pacific Pine State Park, Loomis Lake State Park, Fort Canby State Park, Colbert House Heritage Area, Fort Columbia State Park, Lewis and Clark Campsite Heritage Area and Willie Keil’s Grave Heritage Area.
Each park or heritage site is described with background and historical information. Plus informative tips on local foliage and wildlife are offered. An easy-to-use chart matches outdoor activities with suitable parks, making this guide a must-have for year-round outdoor fun.
Published 10/07/1999 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: Wet and Wired: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Pacific Northwest

Wet and Wired: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Pacific Northwest by Randy Hodgins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Coffee, grunge, computers and beer. Some of the most influential aspects of American culture have arisen from the Pacific Northwest. “Wet and Wired: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Pacific Northwest” by Randy Hodgins and Steve McLellan provides travelers and natives with the most unusual and unique people, places and things of the Pacific Northwest.
“Wet and Wired” provides familiar regional icons such as Starbucks, Nirvana, Microsoft and Bill Walton, but also sheds light on lesser-known curiosities such as the J.P. Patches Show, Mountain Bars, 13 Coins and Hydroplanes.
Within seven categories, some of the entries include:
* Arts and Literature: children’s author Beverly Cleary; “The Far Side” creator, Gary Larson; Elizabeth and Rider Montgomery, author of the Dick and Jane series.
* Business and Politics: Amazon.com; the real outdoorsman, Eddie Bauer; Greenpeace; Nintendo of America; United Parcel Service; Weyerhaueser.
* Media: Flying Karamazov Brothers; Michael J. Fox; Simpson’s creator, Matt Groening; Edward R. Murrow; Bill Nye the Science Guy; Gus Van Sant.
* Music: Bryan Adams; Bachman-Turner Overdrive; Ray Charles; Bing Crosby; Jimi Hendrix; Courtney Love; Sarah McLachlan; Pearl Jam.
* Attractions, Places and Events: Bigfoot; Sea Lion Caves; Space Needle; Portland Building, the most unusual government building; Underground Seattle.
In addition to alphabetical listings, “Wet and Wired” contains short essays describing art in each city; listing specific books, television shows and movies about the region; analyzing economics and environmental battles of the area; highlighting coffee and beer; listing the music groups that hit No. 1; chronicling the history of “Louie, Louie;” discussing the rainy weather; studying the origins of the sports team nicknames; and remembering baseball in the area.
With black-and-white photographs throughout, “Wet and Wired” provides an insider’s look at the Pacific Northwest.
Published 12/07/2000 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: 100 Hikes in Washington’s North Cascades National Park Region

100 Hikes in Washington’s North Cascades National Park Region by Ira Spring
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A true Northwest treasure, the North Cascades embrace some of the wildest and most beautiful mountain terrain around. Discover the wonders of the region for yourself with hikes in this perennially popular guide.
Thoroughly updated and revised, it describes 100 short jaunts, day hikes, and overnight backpacks that include both well-loved and less-used trails for a representative sampling of the North Cascades wilderness.
This is a new edition of, “100 Hikes in Washington’s North Cascades National Park Region,” is a great guide to Mt. Baker, Ross Lake NRA, Pasayten Wilderness, Methow-Chelan. It is part of the great 100 Hikes in series.
Authors Ira Srping and Harvey Manning provide the best and most authoritative hiking guide to Washington’s dramatic North Cascades, now with 16 pages of color photos.
You’ll find strolls through thickly forested valleys, high alpine ridge runs, foothills rambles, and trails winding through the deepest reaches of the mountains. Each trip profile includes driving directions and detailed trail descriptions, with data on elevation, distance, hiking times, and seasonal considerations. Includes sketch maps and photos.
Published 12/07/2000 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: Hiking Oregon’s History

Hiking Oregon’s History by William L. Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oregon was settled by walkers – following the Oregon Trail by walking or hiking beside their covered wagons toward the dream they called Oregon. Today the best way to discover Oregon’s grandest museum is through the outdoors.
Recounted in a fresh style that’s fun for armchair travelers and hikers alike, “Hiking Oregon’s History” by William L. Sullivan tells the stories behind 56 of the state’s most scenic historic sites. Offered in guidebook form, this book follows such trails as the Lewis and Clark trail across Tillamook Head. Readers can ride along with Chief Joseph on his tragic retreat through Hell’s Canyon, and discover paths to fire lookouts, lighthouses
and abandoned gold mines.
Each trail description is companioned with how-to sections, notes on the difficulty of each hike, tips on nearby museums and roadside attractions, and a hiker’s checklist. The author has chosen the featured trails, not only for their merit, but also for their beauty and accessibility. “Nowhere is Oregon’s natural scenery better preserved than along these paths, where the footprints of pioneers and settlers still rest gently on the land,” says Sullivan.
“Hiking Oregon’s History” weighs heavily on the historical side, which is almost as important as describing the trails. Given the detailed background, readers will become intrigued to start your exploration of Oregon’s past.
So, lace up your hiking boots and hit the trail – this is your admission ticket to the museum.
Excerpt from the book:
Tillamook Head
“The farthest point reached by the Lewis and Clark expedition was not the mouth of the Columbia River, but rather 20 miles south at Tillamook Head, where they went hiking in search of whale blubber. The 1,000-foot cliff of Tillamook Head rises like a wall from Seaside’s beach. Today, an 8-mile section of the Oregon Coast Trail follows the explorers’ route across this formidable cape to Cannon Beach. Along the way, the path passes viewpoints that made even Capt. Clark exclaim in wonder.”
Published 10/28/1999 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: Women of the Wild West

Women of the Wild West by Katherine E. Krohn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The lives of five amazing women not only reflected, but also greatly impacted the untamed and adventurous Wild West.
Calamity Jane, the Unsinkable Molly Brown, Belle Starr, Pearl Hart, Annie Oakley – these five women are all considered rebels of their day. As unconventional heroines of the American West in the 1800s, they defied stereotypes that women should marry and have children, wear dresses, and follow strict codes of behavior.
But the frontier was home to countless other strong-willed women, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder, who farmed the land, built houses and hunted for food. Over time, they pioneered the way for women into new kinds of territory – they entered professions and fought for the legal right to vote and to own property.
Through the stories of these and other daring women, author Katherine Krohn captures the adventurous spirit of the women of the Wild West. “Women of the Wild West” is a Biography series book from Lerner Publishing Group and A&E Television Networks.
Krohn tells the stories of the women through historical photos and engaging text. She takes young adults on an adventure-filled ride through the West. Readers will discover these lively women who broke through gender barriers and helped pave the way to equity for women everywhere.
Krohn is a fiction writer and journalist who lives in Oregon. She has authored other biographies for young adults, including stories on Rosie O’Donnell and Princess Diana.
Published 11/09/2000 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: Museums of the Northwest

Museums of the Northwest by Harriet Baskas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So many museums, so little time! With museum attendance at an all-time high, Harriet Baskas evaluates 300 of the region’s most celebrated institutions. Here are fascinating worlds waiting to be explored, like the largest collection of Rodin sculptures, displays of Native American totem poles and (gulp!) the world’s largest hairball.
Including 100 photographs, this invaluable resource details museums, galleries, archives, discovery centers and exhibits. Appealing to locals and travelers alike, Museums of the Northwest is an exciting new guide to the rich culture, history and personalities of the Pacific Northwest.
Published 11/09/2000 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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Review: Oregon Story: 1850-2000

Oregon Story: 1850-2000 by Oregonian
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Beginning in 1850 (when Oregon was only a territory), past the conflicts of wars both civil and international, and on to the new millennium, “The Oregon Story: 1850-2000,” unfolds, bringing the past into the present.
The historical photographs and engaging stories in this volume focus on the Oregonians who were significant in shaping each decade, and give a detailed and evocative account of what life was like in each period of Oregon’s modern development.
See the city of Portland grow from “Stumptown” into the jewel of the Willamette. Hear about men who lost everything in the Depression, yet gave us our priceless legacy in Timberline Lodge.
The only drawback to the book is that even though the title states “The Oregon Story,” it is truly focused on the Willamette Valley and not the entire state. Only a few photographs touch on Central Oregon with even fewer looking at Eastern Oregon. It would have been better named “The Western Third of Oregon Story.”
The book is based on an illustrated series of articles called “An Oregon Century” in The Oregonian. This expanded history spans the existence of the Northwest’s largest newspaper, the oldest continuously operating business in Portland. This look at a state, rich with photographs, facts and timelines, will enable you to know and enjoy Oregon as you never have before.
On December 4, 1850, The Oregonian cranked out its first newspaper under the guidance of Thomas J. Dryer,
who moved up from San Francisco to take a chance on Portland. “The Oregon Story: 1850-2000″
commemorates The Oregonian’s 150th anniversary.
Published 11/09/2000 by Crindalyn Stevens (Lyster), Editor of Coast Weekend

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