Featured image: Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon (photo by Cheryl Landes) Ice in the steep west hills of Portland prevented the Pittock Mansion from opening today. If conditions improve, the mansion will reopen tomorrow for its annual Christmas display. Check the Pittock Mansion's website for updates. Each year, from the Monday before Thanksgiving until New … Continue reading Pittock Mansion closed today due to icy conditions in Portland’s West Hills

One of many giant lighted ornaments at the Oregon Garden's Christmas in the Garden Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated April 20, 2020 From the day after Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve, the Rediscovery Forest at the Oregon Garden in Silverton transforms into a European-style holiday wonderland called "Christmas in the Garden". Stroll trails decorated in … Continue reading Snowless tubing, ice skating, food, music, and more fun at Christmas in the Garden in Silverton

Featured photo: Light from the Milky Way reflects in Stanley Lake in the new Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, 130 miles northeast of Boise (photo credit: Wally Pacholka, AstroPics.com) The Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, more than 1,400 square miles northeast of Boise, is the first International Dark Sky Reserve in the nation and the third … Continue reading Nation’s first International Dark Sky Reserve chosen in central Idaho

Featured image credit: Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area From December 23 through February, the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Resort has a free shuttle going from the Hood River Event Site to the ski area. The shuttle runs daily through New Year's Day and on weekends throughout January and February. The shuttle also operates on Martin … Continue reading Mount Hood Meadows runs free shuttle from Hood River to ski area

Featured image: Mark Savard's home decked out for the holidays (photo credit: Las Vegas Weekly) When comedian-hypnotist Mark Savard moved from Canada to Las Vegas, he wanted a special Christmas experience for his family. Back then, the main attraction was seeing Santa at the mall, he said during an interview with the Las Vegas Weekly. … Continue reading This hypnotist’s holiday light show in Las Vegas will mesmerize you (and maybe make you dance)

Photos by Cheryl Landes Updated December 25, 2019 Corvallis, in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley, is best known for its rich agricultural heritage and Oregon State University. It's also the only place in the Pacific Northwest where you drive through a barn to see a beautiful Christmas light display. The Pastega Christmas Light Display … Continue reading Drive through a barn to see this holiday light display in Corvallis

Featured image: Wildcat Mountain Ski Area near Jackson, New Hampshire (photo by Cheryl Landes) In skiing, what goes down must go up again. And that means hopping a chairlift for another downhill glide. Now there's another option for skiers seeking the ultimate aerobic workout. Instead of catching a ride to the top, they walk up … Continue reading Tired of downhill skiing? Go uphill instead.

Featured image: The Church of the Nativity (photo credit: Neil Ward, from Creative Commons) In Bethlehem, Israel, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, you won't find glamorous Christmas decorations to celebrate the holiday. Instead, the remembrance is mostly a quiet affair, with prayers and mass. Some visitors stop at the grotto at the Church … Continue reading Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace, beautifully simplified

Photos by Cheryl Landes The holidays are a few days longer this season at the Oregon Zoo, as it keeps its ZooLights display open longer than usual after the new year begins. Typically, the zoo's last illumination is on New Year's night, but this time, it closes on Sunday, January 7. Wander through the glittering … Continue reading On 30th anniversary, Oregon Zoo extends ZooLights until January 7