1 comments about Canine Oregon: Where to Play and Stay With Your Dog.

1. Canine Oregon: Where To Play And Stay With Your Dog by Lizann Dunegan is a handy travel guide for Oregon pet owners who reside there, or who simply come a pleasant vacation with their canine companion. Listing suitable canine accommodations, pet-oriented shopping, doggie daycare, hiking routes, and more, Canine Oregon: Where To Play And Stay With Your Dog is an excellent fact-filled information resource which is especially commended to the attention of Oregon bound dog owners.

2 comments about Best Hikes With Dogs: Oregon (Best Hikes With Dogs).

1. I truely enjoy the book. We have been on roughly five of the hikes recommended in the book. The author states what difficult level each hike is. However, that is for her and her dogs fitness level. I only found one trail impossible to master so far. But that was because of fear of heights. After going on these trails I add my own comments to the book, such as how the trail was, if litterbags were available and if restrooms were on site. I also add a map were available and mark our own hikes. Because of this book we have discovered a few new trails to take. Thank you Ellen Bishop.



2. This is such a fun book to look at and think of all the possibilities. There are more hikes in this book than my dog and I could complete in many years. Each hike is rated for difficulty and the book tells you how long the trail is as well as how steep it is, whether there is water, shade, lots of crowds, etc. I have been to several of the trails including Forest Park, Tryon Creek, Angel's Rest, Hart's Cove, Wahclellah Falls, etc. I would never have known many of these places were out there without the help of this book. That being said, the directions are often very vague; I've gotten lost more than once looking for a trailhead, and there is one (Oneonta Gorge/Triple Falls) that I never found. Also, the trails are rated for which seasons they can be hiked inaccurately--one trail (Hart's Cove) was listed as year round but the access road is closed half the year! Some of the trails are listed as one way only, meaning you need at least two people and two vehicles to complete them, or you would somehow need to hitch-hike with your dog back to your car. I think the addition of color pictures would also add much to this book. It's hard to tell how beautiful many of these places are by the black and white pictures.

1 comments about Day Hike! Columbia Gorge: The Best Trails You Can Hike in a Day (Day Hike!).

1. We love this book. The rating system they use is perfect. They fit the hikes well. We know which hikes we can take the kids on and how long they are going to take. The directions to find the beginning location for each hike are wonderful. We will buy more of these for different areas!

1 comments about Compass American Guides: Oregon Wine Country, 1st Edition (Compass American Guides).

1. I used this beautiful and informative book to plan a fabulous Yamhill County, Oregeon wine tasting day with friends. The book had wonderful, accurate information about an incredible number of Oregon wineries. I am pretty fussy about wine and go tasting frequently in California. The authors of this book gave great recommendations and the wineries we picked based upon their endorsements were all top-notch. No disappointments! We left the book with our friends in Oregon, but I am buying another copy to keep at home to use for navigating the Oregon section of our local wine stores. One caveat: the authors find something nice to say about every winery they review, and they cover a lot of them. So, if you are looking for a great pinot, and the review for a particular winery focuses on the lovely garden, you may want to visit elsewhere!

No comments about Backpacking Oregon: From Rugged Coastline to Mountain Meadow.

No comments about Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon.

1 comments about Pacific Northwest Camping Destinations: RV and Car Camping Destinations in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia (Camping Destinations series).

1. I have traveled extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest and much of the U.S. This year travel will be limited to the Pacific Northwest. As a "native" Washingtonian and lifelong camper I've been looking for a new guidebook that combines travel info with the latest on campgrounds. There are new parks and new travel ideas - enough to generate enthusiasm and travel plans! Each listing has large icon keys that make it easy to find suitable camping spots, ie 50 amps, big rigs, activities and more. The book covers Washington, Oregon and British Columbia with everything from weekend to multi-week trip planning possibilities. Thank you to the authors for a great guidebook.

3 comments about Kayak Routes of the Pacific Northwest Coast: From Northern Oregon to British Columbia's North Coast (Kayak Routes of the Pacific Northwest Coast).

1. Good information basically summarized. Most regions described are generalized but it gives you good information to start from. Maps could have been much better though.



2. Invaluable guide. This book does not just tell the reader where to park and where to camp, also includes history, low impact camping tips, advice on ethics and hygiene and manners.

   The chapters on various island groups are described by different authors, with uneven quality. We have been to areas covered in three chapters, The Discovery Islands, The Clayoquot Sound, and the Gulf Islands. The details of the two of the chapters were precise, the hazards were as described (as we discovered when we did not take them seriously enough - I was almost run over by a whale watching boat in the fog off Vargus Island, a hazard that we had not taken seriously even though it was clearly described in the chapter).

   The chapter on the Discovery Islands in some cases offered vague or incorrect details as to the location of camp sites.

   For some reason, we did not find this book on the Amazon web site by using searches that should have found it, for example kayaking British Columbia. But our local Kayak store carried it.




3. A really nice book for people who are new in sea kayaking. Have lots of information like outfitters, transportation, maps, etc. It's a good book to read for info. and to pick the best place to kayak in the NW if you have only a few days in the region.

No comments about Afoot & Afield Portland/Vancouver: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide.

3 comments about Oregon's Dry Side: Exploring East of the Cascade Crest.

1. The varied wonderlands of Oregon East of the Cascades are largely unknown, even to many Oregonians, who think of it as "the desert". This book finally offers glimpse after glimpse of the diversity of scenery, ecosystems, and satisfying landscapes that exist here.
   The photography is absolutely outstanding, and the images are accompanied by accurate captions. The choices of human history photographs and quotes are great. The natural history sections are readable, unlike a field guide, and there is an excellent balance of "charismatic species" coverage. As one of those who prefers places to people, I found the balance between obsession with our own species and appreciation for the others to be perfect.
   As far as I can tell, it is extraordinarily accurate - and I learned a few things even after Skylar and I have been exploring the subtleties of these places for over 20 years. There are some excellent perspectives; for example, St. John probably wins the prize for the best way to frame the Columbia River dam "controversy" (see page 177). He is unafraid of "deep time" to explain modern ecosystems and weaves the fossil record throughout the text.
   My only concern is purely selfish = he describes some of our favorite haunts so eloquently, readers are going to flock to them and the desert solitaire he praises will change. Oh, well. Maybe those readers will be moved to protect these special places as a result. I just hope the editors of Outside never get a copy...
   I plan to buy a few dozen as gifts for friends who wonder "Why are you guys living out there in the frontier instead of in _____ (insert city, bay, whatever)?"
   
   This is on the top of my list of "Books that Work".
   
   Ted Fremd
   Paleontologist
   John Day Basin



2. This book provides, in stunning pictures, as well as words, a picture of Oregon that most people don't know exists. It is a travel guide that covers small towns and natural areas in good detail. Most people don't know that these places exist, an a vacation or weekend trip to these areas will get you away from the crowds (unless you choose to attend a local festival, where the crowds are still not exceedingly large).
   
   St John gives listings of wildflowers and wildlife you might see along the route or at your destination and when the best chances of sightings occur. These helpful hints prove to be very useful. Being a desert rat, I find it easy to see the beauty in the remote areas St John describes.



3. Having traveled many of these places, this book makes me want to get out and see more. Good history, good recommendations, great photos!!