Ralph Friedman hitchhiked his way to Oregon in 1933 as a 16-year-old. He spent the next six decades or so lovingly chronicling the unique people and places of his adopted state.

"In Search of Western Oregon" is really a culmination of his life's work. Yes, it's structured as a travel guide; but it's also much more. Friedman covers the well-known sites and history, but his clear emphasis is on the forgotten faces and places that are such an essential part of the Beaver State. Many of the photographs in this book are by Friedman's wife, Phoebe, his partner in both life and work.

Friedman's earlier "Oregon For The Curious," also still in print, offers a similar, but less comprehensive, treatment of both halves of the state. Separately, or together, they provide a unique overview of this diverse, beautiful, often still wild state, and the people who have attempted to find a life in harmony with it. It's wonderful for the armchair traveler and invaluable for anyone who has the desire and opportunity to travel off the beaten path.

People from other states should settle for something thin, like Scenic Driving Oregon, but for natives who are looking to explore deeper, who have wondered what's up that pigpath, this is the very best. Too bad he didn't do Eastern Oregon in the same manner.

I recently visited Portland for the Fourth of July weekend and this book along with {Best Places Portland} were my constant companion. Extensive information regarding EVERYTHING from Shopping, Restaurants, Lodging to detailed information on each neighborhood.

If you are looking to visit Portland and need a Visitor Guide, Grab your highlighter! and get a map. I carried this one with me constantly. The only flaw I could find in this one is that it didn't seperate the restaurants by Meal Type ie; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Respectfully Reviewed

Whether you live in Portland or are visiting for an extended time or have just moved, this is an excellent guide to the Rose City. Everything from shopping, restaurants, recreation, sites of interest, etc. You name it, this book covers it. Want to find a new place to go out to dinner? Look here. Want to figure out where to take a visiting friend from out of town? Look here. This is an excellent guide to all aspects of living, working, and playing in Portland. The one shortcoming this book has is that it has very limited coverage of the surrounding metro area. If it's not in Portland, it's probably not in this book.

In the Kids' Guide To The National Parks Of California And Oregon, 12 year old Jenna Sullivan and her 14 year old sister Laura effectively collaborate to write a thoroughly "kid friendly" guidebook to the spectacular parklands of California and Oregon. These include Redwood National Park; Yosemite National Park; Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; Pinnacles National Monument; Point Reyes National Seashore; Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument; and Crater Lake National Park. These descriptive text covers the geology, vegetation, and wildlife of the parks, along with the young authors' insights into natural resource issues like air pollution, acid rain, fire ecology, wildlife habitat, plant ecology, and resource management. Very highly recommended for any family planning to visit these west coast parklands, the Kids' Guide To The National Parks Of California And Oregon is enhanced with an introduction, a conclusion, an index, author bios, and four color plates.

As I read these two sister's enthusiastic descriptions of a number of national parks, I found myself forgetting that they were only kids. I'm a habitual reader of travel guides (otherwise known as the armchair traveler), so I feel qualified to say that this one is very refreshing. In fact, if you're thinking of travelling with your kids to any national park, you should pick up this book so you can see what it's like from their point of view. I particularly enjoyed the interviews with park rangers who treated their thoughtful questions very seriously and added a needed perspective on many parks. I'm impressed that two young kids were able to put together such a professional book -- I can only imagine what their next project will be!

A delightful young heroine and realism on the westward journey. A clean, delightful read for myself, my children, and grandchildren!

Retta Barre is truely an engaging character. She is 12 yrs. old the summer her family leaves Ohio to travel the Oregon Trail. The days are long and boring for Retta,but that doesn't last for long once she meets up with the indian Two Bears and his family.....the adventures begin. Retta finds herself in in fixes that she knows God is leading her through. This is a fun little series.

Don't miss the rest of the books in this series:

Book 2. The Buffalo's Last Stand
Book 3. The Plain Prairie Princess

This is a well-written book. Izzy shares deep personal experiences of her life, that tell of very deep lows as well as exhilarating highs. It is very easy to relate her experiences to similarities in your own life. Some of the depths she reached were different circumstances than mine, but the feelings were similar and they led to destructive results. The intriguing story has you feeling that you personally know her family and friends, and they become your family.

Izzy has always been a loving, caring, warm, helpful, overly busy person. When these qualities are not reciprocated they can, and often do, lead to a depression of one form or another. Hers came out in alcoholism. One does not have to be an alcoholic to appreciate and receive help from this book. It does help to be open and seeking whatever it takes to better one's own life. She made it through all these hard experiences; so why can't I do the same?

The author, Isabel Covalt, grew up on a hardscrabble farm during the great depression. She entered nursing school, but was booted out for the sin of getting married.

She and her husband established a successful chain of restaurants. When he died suddenly, she became captain of the ship.

She then successfully fought the billionaire Hunt brothers, when they tried to put her out of business with a groundless lawsuit.

Meanwhile, she was struggling with alcoholism, a disease which nearly brought her down.

The story of her life is an inspiration for us all. And before you're done, you'll be calling her Izzy.

This is book 2 in the Wagon's West series.

The wagon train is now heading into new territory for them. They are on the way to Oregon and are leaving Independence, MO behind. They are also now being led by Whip Holt. They are traveling through Nebraska and continuing westward.

This is the story of their struggles against the British & Russian forces trying to keep them for making the trip as well and the environment and Native Americans.

This book is one of the 6th printing from back in the late 70's. If you are interested in the settlement of the American West this is one series that you need to revisit.

This is a book I keep reading again and again. It just is a terrific read. If you're interested in the history of early America, then this is THE series for you!

I recently got given this book, and I can see myself making most of the recipes in it as the first 3 have all been so successful. Great variety of recipes, good layout and directions, and the added bonus of a list of great Northwest Restaurant to try out when you don't fancy cooking!

Simple, elegant recipes that make a stunning meal. The herb baked salmon, asparagus linguine, and black mussel linguine were absolutely wonderful. Each dish had clear instructions and only required a few good ingredients.

I've been looking for a cookbook that has wine pairings with food that won't break my budget and yet complement my choice of wines. The recipes are simple and tasty. Many cookbooks in the market today tend to be needlessly complicated or just plain out of reach to the average consumer. The Taggerts did a wonderful job of making this subject accessible but not condescending. It is just right for the budding wine enthusiast who love to cook. I've liked it so much that I'm giving a copy to a friend.

Unlike any other food and wine book, NORTHWEST Food and Wine, is the most current book on the foods and wines of Washington State and Oregon. It is an easy-to-read interesting compilation of the latest in food and wine trends from the great Pacific Northwest.

As an information junkie, I'm always turning to the Internet for fast and up-to-date information for my garden design business. This book has replaced my computer for first-glance information. Debra provides significant editorial value in this reference, which I find dog-eared and well-used in a few short weeks. A must-have for any gardener in the Northwest, and a brilliant gift for a gardener new to the area.

It's a Northwest garden enthusiast's dream come true! Stephanie Feeney has outdone herself and compiled information in this edition I will refer to again and again. The list of nurserys to visit is complete with directions, business hours, the types of plants they sell and what they specialize in, e-mail addresses, and any other helpful information that may be of interest. I especially appreciate the geographic locator in the very back that breaks down locations by region that makes planning a garden outing a breeze. I even found a few nurseries in my small town that I didn't know existed. Other chapters include organizations that help gardeners, clubs, foundations, societies and volunteer opportunities, education, gardening with children and young people, internet gardening, publications, professional services, gardens to visit, shows and exhibits, and the list goes on. And it's all written in a friendly personal manner.

The intriguing story of a woman who came to Oregon in a covered wagon in 1851 and lived long enough to see hundreds of automobiles passing by her home in the last year of her life. Here we have the West as it truly was, from the primitive era of the Oregon Trail to modern times of World War I. Dr. Richard M. Brown, History Dept. University of Oregon

"...gritty, marvelous portrait of life in mid-19th century America. I like the mix of the detail of everyday life and the tense and hair-raising moments."loisb@efn.org