I came into Dufur, Oregon, via Hwy 197, a winding road that skirted small towns and open countryside. Heading northbound from Bend, my destination for the evening was a hotel I’d only recently found while researching historic lodging: The Balch Hotel. I arrived a little before check-in, so I had some time to poke around. […]
November 1, 2023 When I arrived in Bend, OR, it was not by chance. I was specifically looking to check out the Old St. Francis School, one of the many historic properties the McMenamin brothers have transformed. Established in 1936 as the area’s first parochial school, it served as such for sixty-four years before classes
May 3, 2004 As much as I love unplanned travel, I knew before starting this trip that I was heading for Montana. My intention was to head straight east after sending Dad off from Portland, to wander back along the Columbia River Gorge and continue on into Idaho, following the Oregon/Washington state border along the
July 22, 2002 I had read about Kennedy School online before hitting the road, so I knew a little about it in advance. What I didn’t expect was how nice it would be. I had envisioned—for what reason I have no idea—an urban school, maybe several stories high, with a small restaurant inside the lobby
July 21, 2002 I know I really like a place when it’s difficult to leave, and that’s exactly how I felt as I prepared to check out of the historic Weasku Inn in Grants Pass, Oregon. In fact, I found it so hard to leave that I set up my laptop in the Great Room