Willapa Bay’s Long Island stretches for 6 miles and is nearly half as wide. With a rich and diverse western shoreline, its landscape varies from sandy shores, Agate Beach being a favorite, to tall, imposing cliffs, shaped by storm tides and tsunamis. A long scamper across the shore reveals m… Read more
The Columbia-Pacific region is known for its great diversity of wildlife, from mighty eagles and elegant elk to songbirds, salamanders and salmon. Sometimes, residents unfortunately create conflict when bringing domestic animals like cats and dogs into contact with wildlife. Fortunately, the… Read more
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On a dreary February day in the early 2000s, a chance interaction sparked a cultural phenomenon that is now as iconic to the Columbia-Pacific as the column on Coxcomb Hill. Read more
On a windless December night in Astoria, light snow was falling around 2 a.m. In just moments, the city would experience one of the most devastating urban fires in Oregon’s history. Read more
Antique lighting fixtures are one of the best ways to enhance the interior character of a historic home. The right combination of lighting fixture and space can be inspirational, an important detail in historic home restoration. When I started my first restoration project, back in 1988, I wa… Read more
One of the great things about the Columbia-Pacific region is just how much wildlife is abundant in the area. Even most of the region’s developed areas have a good amount of green space that attracts not just birds and small animals, but elk, deer and occasionally even black bears. Read more
spotlight
Above the Arctic Circle, including in many parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, the longest of summer days never quite disappear from sight. The midnight sun, a phenomenon in which skies experience daylight for weeks, even months on end, is cause for celebration. Read more
Backyard bird flocks across the Northwest are facing a dangerous threat. In neighborhood chicken yards, local waterways and parks, birds are dying suddenly as a result of avian influenza, ravaging both domestic and wild bird populations. Read more
One of the joys of life swirls around this place we live, just here in this corner of ever evolving landscape called the Columbia-Pacific, sandy beaches with lifting and descending tides. Read more
spotlight
“Come play in the sand with us,” Debbie Nelson said. Nelson, the committee chair for this year’s Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, looks forward to seeing the community’s unique creations. Read more
Antique lighting fixtures are one of the best ways to enhance the interior character of a historic home. The right combination of lighting fixture and space can be inspirational, an important detail in historic home restoration. When I started my first restoration project, back in 1988, I wa… Read more
One of the great things about the Columbia-Pacific region is just how much wildlife is abundant in the area. Even most of the region’s developed areas have a good amount of green space that attracts not just birds and small animals, but elk, deer and occasionally even black bears. Read more
spotlight
Above the Arctic Circle, including in many parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, the longest of summer days never quite disappear from sight. The midnight sun, a phenomenon in which skies experience daylight for weeks, even months on end, is cause for celebration. Read more
Backyard bird flocks across the Northwest are facing a dangerous threat. In neighborhood chicken yards, local waterways and parks, birds are dying suddenly as a result of avian influenza, ravaging both domestic and wild bird populations. Read more
One of the joys of life swirls around this place we live, just here in this corner of ever evolving landscape called the Columbia-Pacific, sandy beaches with lifting and descending tides. Read more
spotlight
“Come play in the sand with us,” Debbie Nelson said. Nelson, the committee chair for this year’s Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest, looks forward to seeing the community’s unique creations. Read more
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Zachary Stocks imagines coastal visitors past and present standing shoulder to shoulder, exploring lands their ancestors may have once visited or called home. Read more
Nehalem Valley Historical Society, located beneath the Pine Grove Community House in Manzanita, guides visitors chronologically through a room of exhibits. Beginning with the stories of the Clatsop and Nehalem tribes, the series layers on the arrival of white settlers, the development of loc… Read more
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Stretching for miles along Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula through Chinook, Ilwaco and Long Beach, then continuing as far north as Ocean Park, residents call it the “World’s Longest Garage Sale,” and it lasts for four days. Read more
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“This was something we had to have,” Andrea Nichols said, holding up two pottery pieces, a planter and a mug, each with a glazed charcoal surface and hand carved etching of Haystack Rock underneath a crescent moon. “They’re slip casted, so it’s kind of fun because all of them are just a litt… Read more
Ecologist and author Douglas Tallamy proposes in his writing the concept of a homegrown national park. Rather than depend on large swaths of land held in trust for the public, this preservation concept proposes that privately owned yards, gardens and farms can be set aside for native wild… Read more
Jim Tweedie, a friend, was a pastor for many decades and has recently retired. A good storyteller, I wish I had caught a few of his sermons. I suppose I have indirectly a time or two. Read more
Soon, as the weather warms, owners of historic homes will begin thinking about painting exterior surfaces. Though modern paint technology has given us a plethora of colors to choose from, painting remains an unending cycle. Read more
spotlight
Locals and visitors will once again have the chance to explore regionally crafted goods at the Astoria Sunday Market, now open on Sunday afternoons through October. Read more
For stunning aerial views of land and sea, a wind-powered sport has just begun its summer season on the North Coast. Paragliding, with a view high above the land in a personal gliding system, offers the opportunity to soar above miles of shoreline. Read more
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A trio of running festivals will take place across the Columbia-Pacific region this week, covering a variety of terrain and scenery from river bank to wildlife refuge. For those looking to get outside and engage in a challenging yet fun activity, try one of the three festivals set for the weekend. Read more
Ecologically valuable and supportive of local wildlife, native plants are those that have adapted already to local climate and soil patterns. For gardeners, this means that they’re easier to grow than many non-native species, and make an excellent addition to any garden. Read more
Bates' home was once a site of the 1986 film 'Short Circuit' Read more
Incorporating native plants in local gardens is one of the best ways to reverse ecological damage done by invasive plant species. Native plant gardens also have the added benefit of improving local ecosystems overall. Read more
As the weather improves, it’s time to consider window restoration. Read more
spotlight
Over the past four decades, the Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival has changed names, locations and sponsors, but one thing has remained the same: the overarching vision of the event, celebrating the bounty of dining on the coast. Read more
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At a time when stewardship of planet and place is more important than ever, this Friday will mark the 52nd Earth Day. Organizations and businesses on the North Coast plan to celebrate the opportunity to give back by hosting an array of events, giving those passionate about the coast a cha… Read more
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With the crisp air and green leaves of spring just around the corner, look no further for a perfect day hiking destination than Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. To celebrate National Park Week, take a trip to learn about these historic lands and explore miles of beautiful trails. Read more
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Public lands make up nearly 40% of the United States, managed at the federal, state and county levels. Ideally, these reserves are created to benefit local residents and wildlife. In practice, however, private interests such as logging and mining often put pressure on governmental entiti… Read more
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Composed of numerous sites encircling the mouth of the Columbia River, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park is well positioned as one of the North Coast’s top birdwatching sites. The park features numerous biomes, including coniferous forests, intertidal estuaries and expansive plains. … Read more
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“We’re so excited to be doing this again,” Assistance League of the Columbia Pacific chapter president Mary Davies said. Davies is returning to manage the league’s 13th Home and Chef Tour, a fundraising event set to take place on Saturday. Read more
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Each turn of the tide brings forth new, drifting logs and stones on the remote coast of Washington state. Wind gusts reshape long stretches of sand while seabirds search the shore, swooping in to find abundant coves of fish. But along this wild and beautiful coast, scattered bits of plastic … Read more
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With 8 miles of trails that lead through forests and ocean vistas, plus beautiful spots for camping, Cape Disappointment State Park is anything but a disappointment. Get immersed in the park’s countless activities and centuries of history. This park has something for visitors of all ages … Read more
In my last two columns, I outlined the issue of invasive plant species and their disastrous effects on local ecosystems, including some common invasive plants found in the Columbia-Pacific region. In this next installment, I’ll cover some local invasive animal species. Read more
Paranormal activity fans on the North Coast can once again look forward to a weekend filled with ghost tales and haunted encounters at the return of the Northwest’s largest paranormal convention. Read more
Recently, just before National Invasive Species Awareness Week, I highlighted how invasive species negatively affect local ecosystems and why they should be removed whenever possible. The following is a list of some common and perniciously invasive plant species in the Columbia-Pacific reg… Read more
With its brightly colored beak, yellow eyebrow tufts and orange webbed feet, the tufted puffin is an unofficial mascot of Cannon Beach. Read more
The 2021 Readers' Choice Awards picks for activities include some of the Columbia-Pacific region's most popular popular trails, vistas, museums, and festivals, including Cape Disappointment State Park, the Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival, Discovery Trail, the Columbia River Maritime Museum… Read more
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For Nansen Malin, operating a full service floral studio offers a deep sense of purpose. “Every single day, I have a deep heartfelt connection and confirmation that I am doing what I’m supposed to be doing,” Malin said. Read more
The Neah-Kah-Nie Mountain overlook, situated along U.S. Highway 101, is a scenic place to spot migrating whales. Read more
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Gray whales swim one of the longest mammalian marathons each year. As adults, these whales can grow up to 50 feet long and weigh in at more than 40 tons. Starting later this month, whale watchers will gather hoping to catch a glimpse as these whales make their way through migration corridors… Read more
A dated bathroom can become a charming period piece. The renovation spanned three years, as I was busy and had started demolition prematurely in my excitement for the project. This was far longer than the project needed to take. Read more
I was a shy child, almost painfully so. But when I was 10, my mother came into my room one Saturday morning and announced that she thought it would be a good idea if I took some acting classes at the Portland Civic Theatre. Read more
Scotch broom, English ivy, Gorse, Popweed and butterfly bush are just a few of the invasive species of plants that can be found in the Columbia-Pacific region. How did they get here, and why are they such a problem for local ecosystems? Read more
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SEASIDE — The Seaside Aquarium will host the second annual “Maine Event” fundraiser on Sunday, benefitting the Friends of Haystack Rock and the North Coast Land Conservancy. Read more
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In the darkest depths of a cold Alaskan night, after a series of unfathomable blunders, the steel hull of the Exxon Valdez came to rest upon the rocky shoulders of Bligh Reef. The ship’s grounding unleashed a swath of destruction. Over 10 million gallons of oil coated the biological and econ… Read more
It takes some courage to confess this on the North Coast, but for the first 18 years of my life, the only “seafood” I consumed was fish sticks. Read more
Take a stroll through Astoria’s downtown along the south side of the Columbia River and you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in craft beer, wine, ice cream, crab, or chowder. And since last December, at the corner of 11th Street, the specialty bakery Kim’s Dough2Go has been turning the Riv… Read more
Walk along the coastline in our region, especially after a storm, and there’s a good chance you’ll find some seaweed washed up on the shore. And if the tide is low, you may even get to see some species growing live, especially on rocky outcroppings. Read more
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The North Coast Food Web may only be 10 years old but it has already outgrown its space in the cheerfully painted building in Astoria. Read more
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This month features advice for selecting interior colors. Read more
Living along the Pacific coast, the destructive forces of nature people tend to think about most are storms and floods — and, of course, tsunamis. But fires have also been a constant presence in the Columbia-Pacific region, including lightning-strike wildfires, controlled vegetation burns by… Read more
The back of a photo lists names. Read more
Sometimes you have to venture underground to reach outer space. That’s the feeling visitors get at Galactix, an immersion arcade and taphouse located in the basement of the M&N Building in downtown Astoria. Read more
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Pacific Northwest design is about bringing the outdoors in, and at Variegata Exotic Plants, the North Coast’s newest greenery haven, you’re invited to do just that. Whether you’re looking for low-maintenance cacti or unique aroid varieties, you’re sure to enjoy a visit to the space. Read more
LONG BEACH, Wash. — The city is turning 100 this year, and will be marked by the Long Beach Centennial Celebration, starting off with a display of fireworks on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. Read more