Grant’s Getaways: Backyard Bird Watching in Oregon

When is a birdhouse a ‘home?” Oh, that’s easy! It’s when feathered residents move in and build a nest.

“Birding” is a popular outdoor recreational activity for many Oregonians– whether it’s watching for varied species, filling a feeder or even building the songbirds a home! Today, I visit a man who makes sure native songbirds get more than a simple roof over their heads: they get a backyard resort for a home.

There’s quite an outdoor show for those in the know as Oregon’s wild places are prime at this time of year  – rain or shine – places like Sauvie Island Wildlife Area are at their showy best.  ”No better time of year,” I like to say as eagles soar or waterfowl dive and it gets even better at places like Smith–Bybee Wetlands when you’ve an expert who shows the way for a walk on the wild side:

“It t may be wet, it may be cool but it’s not freezing and there’s lots of food for the birds,” noted James Davis, wildlife author and teacher. Davis works for Metro and he is a an accomplished wildlife expert who wrote the comprehensive “Northwest Nature Guide.”

He said folks don’t have to travel far to find wildlife at this time of year.

“There are hundreds of thousands of ducks, geese and swans and hundreds of raptors coming to and thru the heart of the Willamette Valley.”  It’s hard to imagine a better place to watch the show, but Davis added that there are many easy to reach sites that could be considered “close to home,” like the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood.

It offers a wonderful visitor center and two miles of easy trail that combine to put you in touch with wildlife that’s practically as close as your own backyard.  “This is ‘the south’ for half a million birds. We have a warm, mild, wet climate that is great for them. But many people think, ‘Well it’s cold here, why would they come here?’ Well, just imagine what it’s like in northern Manitoba right now? Brrrrr!”

Don’t forget Ankeny Wildlife Refuge near Salem. It offers visitor friendly boardwalks and viewing platforms that give you a front row seat to wetlands and feeding waterfowl that also keeps you out of foul weather.  US Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist, Molly Monroe, keeps a sharp eye for the many wildlife species that use the refuge and said it’s a perfect place for newcomers to “stop in and visit and hike the varied trails.”

“It is a wonderful thing when you can sit somewhere, observe the finest little things, and enjoy an outdoor spectacle – a great way to come out and enjoy the refuges.”

Spectacular shows are easy to come by in winter; not just the huge flocks of waterfowl or solo raptors like hawks and eagles, but also the smaller songbird species.  In fact, consider attracting wildlife species like songbirds into your own backyard.

Hillsboro resident, Dennis Frame, loves the sights and sounds of the wild – so he builds feeders and houses for native songbirds.  Frame’s structures aren’t really homes – but his elaborate wooden abodes are more akin to – well, bird resorts.

Washington County resident, Irene Dickson, has two of Frame’s beautiful yet functional – feeders and each is firmly planted in the ground on fence posts – 6 feet off the ground in her yard. She said that they “really work.”

“They add such pleasure and peace,” said the avid bird fan. “They’re real de-stressers too. Plus, the resort detail is fabulous and impressive with the little rock walls, benches and other details. It looks like a little cabin by a lake.”

Frame is a builder of human homes by trade, but in his cozy and well organized carpentry shop, he said his greatest pleasure comes from crafting the elaborate “bird resorts.”  “This is my little getaway and I can come in here and get away from it all and get creative too.”

He’s always been a fan of simple, rustic log cabin homes and will often scour the countryside for “models” that he can reproduce on a small scale for the birds.  “I’ll drive and spot one and ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ Maybe snap a photos or make a mental note and then recreate it in a bird house.”

Frame has been ‘chippin’ away’ at his hobby for 15 years and said it ‘s the tiny details that impress most people.

The resorts sport stone and mortar chimneys, decks with handrails and small pieces of character that set them apart from ordinary store-bought models – including a wooden front door.

“The door actually opens. I do that because you must clean out the resort following each nesting year. In fact, the birds seldom return the following year unless you do that. I try to make it an easier job.”

Frame also trades, barters and salvages for everything – recycling for the birds!  On top of that – he rarely sells a house; instead, through the years he has given them away to non-profits like his local Rotary Club and the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Education Center. The groups then sell Frame’s bird resorts and raise hundreds of dollars to support their educational programs.

“This is my way of giving back to the community. I believe in community; they help me out so I help them out. And getting people out of their houses and learning more about the outdoors is a positive way to go in my book.”

Many people must agree with Dennis! His wildlife work is “red hot” popular and he can’t make them fast enough.  In fact, Dennis created a special edition that’s a one of a kind dandy home that he has named the “Grant’s Getaways Bird Resort.”

He has donated the avian abode to one of my favorite non-profits: the Banks Community Auction.  The popular and annual Washington County event raises money to support programs in the local schools.  In addition, I’ll contribute two of my “Grant’s Getaways” books to go with Frame’s wonderful bird resort.

So, consider attending and bidding on the package to help the birds and local children. This year the auction will be held at the Banks High School on April 28.

Chocolate and cheese, please

Cheese and chocolate lovers mark your calendars for a sweet and savory March!

The Oregon Chocolate Festival takes place March 2-4 at the Ashland Springs Hotel and will showcase the sweet creations of more than 50 Oregon chocolate makers and other specialty food vendors. From traditional candies, to chocolate-covered bacon and lavender-infused truffles, the festival has a taste for every palette ($20). Southern Oregon winemakers will be on hand to provide wine pairings, and a Chocolate Makers dinner will be held on Friday ($59) along with other special events through the weekend.

March 16-17, members of the Oregon Cheese Guild and select cheesemakers from surrounding states will gather for the Oregon Cheese Festival. A Cheesemakers Dinner will be held on Friday at the Ashland Springs Hotel (limited seating), where diners can visit with cheesemakers and enjoy cheese-centered courses paired with wine from Southern Oregon wineries ($90). Margo True, Food Editor of Sunset Magazine, will emcee. On March 17, visitors can sample the goods of 80 cheesemakers, artisan food vendors, wineries and breweries in a farmers market setting at Rogue Creamery in Central Point ($15).

Extra slice: There’s a new face in the Oregon cheese world: Portland Creamery, the newest licensed creamery in the state, will be on hand at the Oregon Cheese Festival with fresh goat cheeses. Look for Sweetfire (with habañero and marionberry puree), tarragon mustard (a spring offering) and herbes de provence (elegant!). If you’re lucky, owner Liz Alvis might bring some of her coveted cajeta — goat’s milk caramel.

Grant’s Getaways: Celebrating Oregon’s Birthday!

Just ask your Oregon neighbors and you’ll find out: “What’s so special about Oregon’s Birthday?”

When you reach 153 years of age, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate.  With Oregon celebrating its birthday this week (Valentine’s Day), I checked out a few local sites that offer lively lessons linked to the Oregon celebration dating to the U.S. Congress approval of Oregon’s statehood in 1859.

If you decide to learn more about Oregon’s road to statehood 153 years ago, start your adventure at Champoeg State Park near Wilsonville and discover that Oregon’s early pioneers felt exactly the same way:

Champoeg is where the first provisional state government formed in 1843 and it set the stage for statehood that followed on February 14, 1859.  Oregon State Park Ranger, Dennis Wiley, said the Champoeg State Park holds on to the Oregon story that began in the 1840’s. He added that the park’s visitor center can show you how it happened:

“The early arrivals started the “Oregon way.” Those folks wanted to do things a little bit differently and they built the townsite with their own hands because they knew this was remarkable place.”

The nearby Robert Newell house has been standing just as long and while it’s a private museum now, it’s interior furnishings arrived on the Oregon Trail and reflect the success that Newell found in Oregon.  “You can see the wealth in the formal layout of the rooms,” noted Park Ranger Mike Niss. “The clothing, the bedding – everything was a little better quality than the average citizen would have had at that time.”

Fifteen miles away, there’s a bigger than average reason to stop in at Willamette Mission State Park where Jason Lee built the first Methodist mission in 1834.

The park is also home to a gigantic cottonwood tree that was here long before the church was built according to Park Manager Ryan Sparks:  “We believe this tree was here before the mission was built, so this tree has seen some of the earliest settlers come to the Willamette Valley.

Wilson Park, Capitol Park and the Capitol Mall are all part of the Capitol State Park in Salem.

“You can see statues here of Jason Lee, Dr John McLoughlin (the Father of Oregon) and the Circuit Rider statue – we even have a replica of the Liberty Bell on the mall outside the capitol building as well.”

Several water fountains and a gorgeous show of flowering cherry trees that bloom each spring compliment the State Capitol State Park’s statues.  Ryan Sparks added that a visit is perfect cap to your day’s adventure, so consider it a journey of discovery to learn more about the place you call home.

“It’s really important for all of use to know where we came from and I think it helps put perspective on what it was like for the early settlers. When you travel between these parks you begin to see how they compliment each other.”

Grant’s Getaways: Storm Watching on the Oregon Coast

Wintertime in Oregon offers a weather roller coaster ride of sorts when the gray shaded days of wind and rain are quickly followed by breaks of soothing warmth and sunshine. There’s never a dull moment this time of year.  Winter is the perfect time to check out the powerful natural drama that is found along Oregon’s coastline when he heads outdoors for a winter storm watch.

As winter surf floods and ebbs, beachcombers wander…seeking secrets from the tides.  Along the beach near Cape Meares, Don Best uses his camera to find the secrets that many of the beach strollers miss.  The longtime local has a passion for pulling out the best in a winter scene and his Best Impressions prove it.

“Sometimes it takes quite a few pictures to get the right one,” said Best. “There’s a lot of dynamic action; wave movement, breakers hitting the rocks or logs. Shooting the wind and the waves with a camera is exciting.”

That much is true on a day when sparkling sunshine clears away the gloomy gray as a powerful east wind stirs up a show on the ocean.

Best says those are the days to watch for “Spindrift” or “King Neptune’s Horses:”  “The wind blows the tops of the breakers back out to sea,” said Best. “It is stunning and the spray is like a white sheet that even has rainbows if you get the right angle.”

His photo collection of stormy coastal moments provides a unique angle to Oregon coastal life that many people never get a chance to see.  Many shots from Best’s collection of coastal photographs date back nearly a century and show that winter storms weren’t always so nice. In fact, they were terrible.

Like the winter of 1915, shortly after the Tillamook North Jetty was built and the Barview community was flooded by giant ocean waves.  Best’s album shows off images of railroad wreckage and homes that were lost as people watched helplessly when sweeping waves wiped out the town during a disastrous storm.

What were folks thinking about at the time?

“An escape route, where to run!” noted Best with a chuckle. “That’s what I would do too.”  Robert Smith, Oregon State Park’s Beach Safety Manager, said that when you head to the beach in winter it’s critical to stay alert because huge logs are often washed ashore. He said that just 5 inches of water can move a five-ton log.

“It’s such a big powerful ocean and we enjoy looking at that power, but people have to recognize that power can also prove dangerous and turn a log into a weapon.”

Smith added that rocky jetties might seem inviting because they offer a front row seat to the ocean’s action, but people should stay in their cars to enjoy the show and not walk out on the jetty rocks.

“The jetties are designed to protect the channels for safe shipping traffic and not designed for pedestrian use. The rocks – as large as they are – shift and can have caverns and sinkholes that you never see. Plus, you’ve got poor footing because it’s slippery. It’s just a recipe for disaster.”

Smith added that even the popular coastal hiking trails require caution:

“The amount of water and rain that we get here – coupled with the amount of sea spray  – adds up to increased erosion on our trails.”

But there’s no shortage of Oregon State Park Beach Waysides to enjoy winter storms, and Smith noted that some of his state park favorites include overlooks like Cape Meares or Heceta Head State Parks because both are fine vantage points that have lighthouses too.

“These sites are a little higher up, a little further away and definitely safer,” noted Smith. “You get a bird’s eye view of the power of the ocean. Perhaps the premier location for storm watching along the entire coast is Shore Acres State Park. It’s simply amazing when the surf crashes along that shoreline.”

There are many amazing places to watch nature’s drama play out along the northern Oregon coastline too – and if you’d like to enjoy a guided tour with a knowledgeable guide to show the way, check out Oregon Storm Tours in Seaside.

Darren Gooch and Patricia Murphy joined an ‘Oregon Storm Tour’ because it’s a safe and educational option and importantly; they “weren’t sure where to go.” OST’s David Posalski said that his driving tours stop at many north coast sites, but the Columbia River South Jetty viewing tower at Ft Stevens State Park is a favorite among the visitors who join him each winter.

“Usually it’ll be a single couple, like Darren and Patricia, and we decide what they want to see, what they want to do depending on their time and how active they want to be.

The wonderful thing about the tour is that David can present varied location options and you can tailor the trip to suit your time and budget and interests.

“We are the least touristy tour anyone has ever been on,” noted David.

Grant’s Getaways: Tubing at Ski Bowl

If you want to have winter fun but you’re not into downhill skiing or snowboarding, tubing is perfectfor its ease and simplicity — plus, it’s perfect for youngsters and those young at heart.

On a sunlit day without a cloud in the sky, the crowds at Ski Bowl East near Mt Hood were eager for action on the groomed tubing hill. Ski Bowl Manager, Sean Maloy, noted with a smile, “It’s more fun than any one person deserves, so they usually bring lots of friends!”

Judging by the line-up of enthusiastic visitors, Maloy seemed to be right! Winter tubing has become popular recreation at Ski Bowl and other snow park sites around Mt Hood.vvIn fact, Ski Bowl draws as many tubing enthusiasts as skiers to the nearby slopes.

“Snow play has taken off,” said Maloy. “You don’t need lessons or pieces of sophisticated equipment to ride a tube. You just come out and have fun and now the secret’s out!”

At Ski Bowl East, you not only ride a comfy cushioned seat atop a vinyl-wrapped inner tube, complete with handles and a towrope, but you can enjoy an easy tow up the hill or try the new escalator style, stand-up ride back to the top.

“From small kids up to adults, tubing is a good family oriented activity where everyone can hang out, socialize and spend the day together.”

At the nearby snow park hillside “Snow Bunny,” (managed by the Summit Ski Area,) you will find less grooming and a rental shack where you pick up an old fashioned inner tire tube.  It’s a great place for large groups,” added Fisher. “They have their own space and it is more affordable. We get a lot of church groups that come out to Snow Bunny and play all day long.”

If you wish to “free lance” and find a hill to call your own in the Mt Hood Forest, be cautious of the site you choose. Hillsides are usually heavily wooded and not groomed at all.  One exception is the Littlejohn Sno-Park in the Mt Hood National Forest that’s located along Highway 35 less than 10 miles from Government Camp.

Adjacent to the parking lot look for a ‘sled at your own risk’ sign that marks important rules should you choose to slide down the site’s steep slope.  Climb the highway back up to White River West Sno-Park and enjoy a spacious and popular play area.  It’s a great site for snow play and it is where Devan Schwartz, a guide with “Adventures Without Limits”, brings newcomers for a hike along the  eastern approach to Mt Hood.

“It’s one of the more popular destinations and just a few miles past Government Camp,” noted Schwartz. “Everything from inner tubing to snow shoeing to backcountry skiing happens up this way.”

You’ll also find plenty of elbowroom and a stunning view to the mountain that makes the snowshoe effort so worth your time. And that is the point – get out there and explore the Mt Hood National Forest in winter.  “When we get fresh snow – and we will,” added Ski Bowl’s Troy Fisher. “It’s a good getaway and feels a world away.”

A Sno-Park Permit is required in most snow play areas. The money from the sale of the permits offsets the cost of snow removal along roadways and parking areas.   Something else to keep in mind: Winter is “weather fickle!” and the snow level can rise and falls thousands of feet each week, so check snow conditions and the weather forecast before you head for the hills.

The Pheremone Art Gallery— A Downtown Salem Activity

If you’re in Salem and you don’t like the weather, whether it be too hot or too cold, one fun thing to do is gallery hop.

Map out a short list of art galleries in the downtown area. Then find a parking spot at a meter, a free parking garage like Marion Parkade or Chemeketa Parkade, or a Park and Ride with a public bus connection, and walk the many-covered sidewalks of Downtown Salem. (Here’s something else to help with parking.)

My favorite gallery so far is The Pheremone Art Gallery. The artist, Christopher Marley, has preserved brilliantly-colored insects and interestingly-shaped bugs into fascinating layouts. His work looks a little like a bug collection, of pinned things to white blocks, except there are no pins and he arranges them not in rows, but in clusters or spectrums.

One piece might contain several dozen species of bug, all the same shape, but each a different color. There are no labels, so if you just want to look without reading art plaques to learn more about the bug, you can.

He’s got other stuff other than insects, like crystals and shells, but my favorite is the bugs. That’s weird for me to write because I hate spiders and wouldn’t touch a live beetle if you paid me. I’m good with ladybugs and roly-polies, but those are not what Christopher makes art with.

It helps if you read the second paragraph of his ‘About’ Page: he tells us that he was just as squeamish about them as we are until he saw them as a designer and decided to show us just the bugs on a clean, white surface, behind a sheet of clean, clear glass. In the art gallery, they’re fascinating– huge stick bugs that I’ve never seen close up because I can never see them. Giant morpho butterflies of lots of brilliant blues and indigos. I’m even fascinated by the beetles with the huge horns because they’re not surrounded by dirt and dung and other bugs.

My favorite part about the art gallery is the knowledge that kids in the area often have field trips to this white-filled space. There’s a three-seater coloring table at the back of the gallery with walls that are plastered with completed coloring pages.

There are copies of a matching game made with Christopher’s art around the gallery for sale, but there’s another open copy that the kids can play with while they’re in the gallery. There are sets of markers and crayons out for kids to freely reach for. There’s great music playing while they color and you continue to absorb. Sounds like a great family vacation activity.

It’s clear Christopher has kids and that he’s a kid himself. He’s a small geek with his exciting bug collection, and you can tell by his tone in the placards next to his pieces. He’s excited about the color and form in the natural world, and he’ll have you walking away, feeling awed as well.

Kate is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. As much as she’s learned to seek out the subtle colors of the desert, Kate has found that she really is a tree girl at heart. She posts on parents’ tips for kid-friendly traveling havens from a curious newcomer’s perspective; Kate is a very recent resident of Salem and thrilled to be here. Kate writes personally and with just as much enthusiasm here.

Winter Wildlife Watching in Oregon

There’s a stark beauty to Oregon in winter, and even more so in its wild creatures — a majestic bald eagle perched in a leafless snag, a regal Rocky Mountain elk bull ranging in a snowy field. Across the state winter wildlife viewing options abound. And thanks to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) — and their handy, interactive maps — it’s easy to find the best spots.

In eastern Oregon, Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer move down out of the mountains to graze in open pastures in places like the Elkhorn Wildlife Area and Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. Ladd Marsh is open year round and can be easily access from I-84. Elkhorn is officially closed during the winter to protect the animals, but elk can be seen from the Anthony Creek Viewing Site or with T&T Wildlife Tours, which offer horse-drawn wagon trips to feeding sites. On the west side of the state, Jewell Meadows Wildlife Area is a great place to see Roosevelt elk (the largest of the four elk species in North America) and other wildlife during the winter months. It’s located off of Highway 26 west of Portland.

Some say the best winter bald eagle viewing in the lower 48 can be found in the Klamath Basin at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges and the ODFW Klamath Wildlife Area. Check out the local Audubon Society’s Winter Wings Festival Feb. 17-19, the longest running bird festival in the nation. Near Portland, Sauvie Island Wildlife Refuge is home to overwintering bald eagles, Canada geese, ducks, sandhill cranes and many varieties of sparrow. The Willamette Valley hosts bald eagles at Fern Ridge Wildlife Area and Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge.

A variety of interesting birds and other creatures can be seen during the winter at White River Wildlife Area south of The Dalles, around Harney County, Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge on the coast, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge in Portland and Summer Lake Wildlife Area near Lakeview. Search for information and directions to these and more wildlife spots around the state at the ODFW website.

Skinny Ski Time – Nordic Trails in Oregon

Skiing in Oregon isn’t just about the vertical. Our mountains and meadows also offer great access to Nordic skiing. Here are some ideas to get you kicking and gliding on those skinny skis.

Ski Trillium Lake’s four miles of trails for unparalleled views of snowy Mt. Hood. Nearby Teacup Lake Nordic offers 20 kilometers of groomed track for skating or classic skiing. Don’t miss the chance to take a break in the quaint warming hut. No dogs or snowshoes are allowed here or at Mt. Hood Meadows Nordic Center’s 15 wooded kilometers of groomed trails and set track.

Anthony Lakes Ski Area near La Grande offers 29 kilometers of groomed track as well as 11 more of singletrack and snowshoe trail. You can bring your dog on the Mud Lake Loop, and check out the historic Nordic Center Lodge, built by the Oregon Civilian Conservation Corp. during the Great Depression.

On a sunny day, you’ll be rubbernecking at the awe-inspiring beauty of Crater Lake at your elbow as you ski some (or all!) of the lake’s 33-mile perimeter trail. Shorter trails are another option for appreciating the quieter, colder season at the lake — Mazama Loop (1.7 miles), West Rim Drive (1.2 to 6 miles) and the Hemlock Loop Trail (1.3 miles), among others.

Folks at the Mt. Bachelor Nordic Center are well prepared for Nordic skiers. The 56 kilometers of trails there are groomed daily for cross-country lovers. Enjoy more than a dozen routes as well as a long season — sometimes stretching into May!

As with all wintertime activities, check for current road and terrain conditions before you go, and be prepared. Bonus: If you are interested in seeing these clear skies at night — check out the Feb. 7 full moon for a night ski.

Grant’s Getaways: Cape Perpetua Scenic Area

Some call it the ‘rugged edge of the Oregon coast’ where the sun and surf meet to leave you spellbound and breathless. This week, I escaped to Cape Perpetua Scenic Area where in winter – except for surf and wind, the coast slows down – that’s easy to understand – few distractions, few folks around…especially along Oregon’s rugged edge of life.

It’s more than forty miles of central Oregon coastline beginning at Waldport and continuing along a southerly stretch of Coastal Highway 101 marked by steep headlands, jagged volcanic outcrops and jaw-dropping scenic drama. In fact, it is so significant and prized a place that 2700 acres of massive Cape Perpetua is designated a National Scenic Area. Two miles south of Yachats, Oregon you will find the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center and it is open daily.

Oregon State Parks Ranger, David Weisenback, said that the sheer beauty of the place surprises many first timers:

“It is such a beautiful and unique area – you can hike to the overlooks, the viewpoints, across the rocky shorelines. No matter where you travel in the world, this is still one of the most scenic areas.”

USFS Manager, David Thompson, noted that atop Cape Perpetua you can turn in any direction for views that surprise and amaze:

“Certainly the coast is the most dramatic the part that captures your attention first,” noted Thompson. “And yet if you turn and look the other way, you’ve got this unbelievably green sitka spruce forest with a wealth of moss and ferns and giant trees – it’s all special.”

The Visitor Center provides a wealth of hiking choices too: over 11 different trails for a total of 27 miles and the wonderful thing is that at one point or another many of the trails inter-connect with one another.

The Captain Cook Trail is wheelchair accessible, leads you from the Visitor Center to skirt the shoreline. At low tide, the trail puts on quite a show as waves crash into rocky crevices and cracks at a place called “Spouting Horn.” If you wish to wander longer consider the astounding collection of Oregon State Park Waysides with names like Neptune, Ponsler or Strawberry Hill where tide pools invite closer inspection during the ebbing tide.

Nearby, Washburne State Park Campground invites you for an overnight stay where winter campers are welcome in a tent, trailer or r-v. For those who love to camp, but lack the right gear, Park Ranger Deborah Edwards said to consider renting a yurt:

“Camping in winter can be just as exciting as the summertime, you just have to deal with a bit more rain and a yurt is perfect. You get a bunk bed which sleeps two on the bottom and one on the top, a futon, table and a couple of chairs, plus heat and light.”

Little more than five miles away, another site requires you to take a short stroll on a paved trail and then a quick ride down the face of a cliff for 208 feet in an elevator to reach Sea Lion Caves.

Sea Lion Caves has been an Oregon coastal icon as far back as most folks remember; more than 100 acres of the adjacent land has been in private ownership since 1887.

It’s been a drawing card for the curious,” said Manager Boomer Wright. He explained that the massive cave is largest along west coast and where 250 stellar sea lions are a raucous, rowdy crowd.

“They are very social animals with their barking, crawling over each other and even nipping one another. They are very social animals.”

Wright added that up to 1,000 stellar sea lions use the cave from November through late summer: They are often seen lounging, loafing or just plain sacked out on the rocky interior cliffs or boulders.

Of course, there is the large center rock that we call ‘King of the Hill,’ noted Wright and there is usually quite of a bit of fighting between sea lions to see who gets to rest atop it.”

The stellar sea lions are not the only wildlife species that are easy to spy at Sea Lion Caves. Back atop, keep eyes out for soaring raptors like hawks and eagles that are often seen on the hunt – or flocks of shore birds that dance and dazzle and skirt the surf.

David Thompson said that it is a remarkable scene and one that is often overlooked in winter:

“Without a doubt, it’s the most gorgeous stretch of the Oregon coast with the collection of rocky shores, so the geology, the geography and certainly the forest add up to a wonderful place to relax and wonder and wander if you want a place to decompress.”

Grant’s Getaways: Hot Lake Springs

This week, I visit northeast Oregon to visit a family who risked it all for the promise of a new start at a place you can visit called ‘Hot Lake Springs.’

Outdoor moments in Northeast Oregon’s Grande Ronde Valley are stunning and spacious with scenery that takes your breath away – When you step inside David Manuel’s art studio, it’s clear that it’s the little things that keep the past alive. Manuel is an artist who owns a love affair with Oregon’s past – like his latest sculpture of the ‘William Price Hunt Expedition.’

Hunt led a group of rugged explorers through this part of Oregon 200 years ago. They were on assignment for John Astor and determined to bring an American presence to the British-dominated region at the mouth of the Columbia River.

“I want to make sure everything that I do tells a story – it’s so important that way – that’s what keeps me interested.”

For Manuel, the journey’s truth is etched in short strokes with a sharp blade across soft clay.

“I spend a lot of time on each buffalo hair too. I don’t like the sharp edges because you can cut your hand on some bronzes with sharp edges. So I create them to overlap and it’ll really shine that way too.”

You may have seen Manuel’s work before – at Portland’s Chapman Square where “The Promised Land” shines as a monumental bronze statue.

Now, his new gallery and studio provide a glimpse to his genius as one of America’s finest artists.

“I love history and that’s what keeps me going! That is why it’s so hard to go home at night too because I get so involved in these pieces.”

But Manuel doesn’t have to go far when he goes home. That’s because he works where he and his family have lived for nearly a decade: Hot Lake Springs. It is a 60,000 square foot hospital turned hotel that rose above the Grande Ronde Valley floor more than a century ago. In fact, at one time Hot Lake was center of a ‘good health movement’ that drew people from across the country.

They came by train seeking cures for what ailed them in the mineral hot springs that bubbled up from deep in the earth.

But the place hit hard times – capped by a devastating fire in 1934.

By turn of the last century, the building was ready to fall: holes in ceilings reached to where there should have been a roof, all but two of the 350 windows were broken out and floors falling down and the locals thought it was only a matter of time:

“Everybody thought it was dead,” said John Lamoreau, a former Union County Commissioner. “There was no hope, no chance and some people were skeptical because so many had tried to restore it before and failed. To me, the Manuel family looked like the best hope.”

It wasn’t just a mess, it was dangerous and bulldozers waited in the wings to tear it all down.

It was against this dramatic backdrop that the Manuel family bought Hot Lake in 2003.

Despite a personal cost that would rise to more than $10 million, the Manuel family was ‘all in’ for the enterprise.

David’s wife, Lee Manuel, explained that they risked everything because ‘holding on to Oregon history’ was something they could not let go.

“It was as though this ol’ lady, this ol’ building, this history rose from the ground and spoke to us and then it took on a life of its own. We were drawn into that.”

Today – the transformation is nothing short of magnificent!

The successful Hot Lake Springs Bed and Breakfast boasts 22 stunning rooms, a restaurant and the new Restore Spa that is sure to please any woman interested in rest and relaxation.

Plus, there’s David’s gallery and the bronze foundry where you can watch artisans transform his work into lasting bronze art. Plus, David’s uniquely impressive collection of American Indian artifacts and US Military memorabilia that date to the war of 1812.

Still – for many people it is the promise of rest and relaxation in the “Valley of Peace” while enjoying the mineral hot springs. It is all so hard to resist.

Lamoreau observed that it is a place to soak up one of the most remarkable Oregon pioneering stories of the 21st century.

“Not only do we in Union County give thanks to Dave and Lee, but I think the whole state needs to give thanks for what they did here. They brought this place back to life.”