Oregon Books

I usually read books like this once, then trade them in. But this is a "keeper" to be read again and again.

It works on many levels and for many people. First, if you've ever thought about moving to the country, it is full of solid information on everything from wells to livestock. But it's also so full of humor and sensitivity, a true love of nature and an adventurous spirit that it makes great reading even if you're a metropolitan-ite.

The book had particular appeal to me since the author lives, and wrote about, an area not far from my home; one of my favorite places (Yamhill county, Oregon). If only she'd sell her farm to me!

Drake's book is warm and touching but never mushy. She uses her words with economy to create vivid images that strike the eye, and the mind. I would encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this book. Filled with positive images, and insights that are surprising and touching, it's a great read, I couldn't put it down.

Barbara Drake has written a sweet and lovely word-picture of her life on the Oregon farm she shares with her husband and their motley group of animals. Although she writes with a tender love for her land, and all that is on it, it is never saccharine, and is actually quite informative for anyone thinking of undertaking this type of lifestyle change.The book is written as a collection of brilliant essays,each filled with pathos,tenderness,and a deep understanding of the dramatic lifestyle changes involved in delving into farming.We meet, and learn to love, her sheep, geese, the sheepherding dogs,and the colorful neighbors. And even her warm and adoring father,who has an especially hilarious relationship with the hugely protective gander who patrols the gaggle of geese on the property, becomes someone you wish you could have met in person. This is one of those truly magical reads that leaves you with an afterglow of satisfaction after it's done. This is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and the magic of nature, the relationship of animal friends, the satisfaction of self-reliance and independence, or just someone who loves simply-beautiful prose. Barbara Drake is a poet at heart.

I ordered this book based on the positive reviews, and it was just delivered to me today.

As I was breezing cursorily through it, I came to a description of the author's lambs being taken away for slaughter.

Guess I was expecting a wonderful book of heart such as "Enslaved by Ducks" by Bob Tarte, where he and his wife, Linda, love their pets (at last count, in "Fowl Weather", the sequel, being 37 I believe), and deeply mourn when they experience the loss of them due to death.

So this book is not for anyone expecting a totally loving tale. I personally could not find "Peace at Heart" while raising lambs for slaughter.

Anyway, just a warning for those of you whom this might bother or disturb. It is probably very well written, but I personally will spare myself sorrowful feelings by not reading it.

If you've ever wanted to just forget city life and pack up and move to the country, read this book. It's a great collection of non-fiction writing about Drake's life in rural wine country, raising sheep and making wine.

I work in health care and can understand the authors problems with the care of her mother. She seems to blame them for delaying treatment which would have resulted in a better outcome for her mother. But what she writes is too brief in content and biased. Most of the book is a copy of her mother's hospital record and even for me hard to decipher the hand writing. Plus the fact that several pages are copied is not helpful. The book
does not have a conclusion or written ending. It is left up to the reader to gauge what happened and who or what was exactly at fault. The health providers do not get the opportunity to explain their care or according to the author their lack of it. This book was not what I thought it would be. It seems that the author blames everyone for her mothers death but does not justify that claim except to produce hospital records that are difficult for a lay person to understand. I was also bothered a lot by the multitude of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Did nobody proof read this book?

Grandma is writing what I say to you for us. we miss you, and I know your an angel now. But we want you back. moma says we smile like you. we miss your cookies. love Ari and Alexsandra

Mom It has been a month short of a year that the hospital took you from me. I miss you so much it aches sometimes. Its almost mothers day and your birthday and I wanted you to know I will never stop loving you!, nor will I stop seeking justice for you that you deserve! Happy mothers day mom Carolyn

Author K.D TOWNSEND

MOM IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE I WROTE THIS BOOK, AND I STILL MISS YOU SO MUCH. ESPECIALLY NOW THAT IM IN THE UK.
WISH YOU WERE HERE BESIDE ME, ALEX AND ARI I MISS YOU SO MUCH, AND IF YOU SEE THIS KNOW THAT YOUR GRANDMA LOVES YOU SO MUCH.
THIS IS A GREAT INFORMATIONA BOOK TO READ TO PROTECT YOUR LOVE ONES AND YOURSELVES.

KD TOWNSEND

I have read both 'Stealing Home' and 'He calls me Caroline'. by MS Townsend. And by far this was a very hard story for me. I lost my father to a stroke, and often felt could he have been saved also. As Ms Townsend portrays the care to her mother was not given at the most cricial time, and by the reports within the book it seems to me that she was right about the lack of her mother's care. It must have taken alot of courage for her to write this book. I think alot of people should read this book for themself's or for a love one so this doesnt happen to them or the ones they love.

Killed a train accident, eighty-nine year old Clay Mullins death is just suspicious enough to be investigated. When Detective Antonia `Mac' McAllister and his rookie partner, Dana Bennett, begin looking deeper into the victim's life, they find a tangled web of secrets and lies.

In addition, Mac is not only dealing with his job's pressures. With his attractive partner, Dana, Mac is dealing with issues of the heart. While he has deep feeling for Dana, medical examiner Kristin Thorpe, despite her hair and sense of humor, has also caught his attention.

Terminal 9 was another good book in the McAllister Files series. Maybe it was a little slower paced then previous ones, but it still kept my attention. It was a well-written mystery and I enjoyed reading it

An elderly, retired railroad worker in a motorized scooter is run over by a train. Accident? At first, that's what everyone assumed. But when the switchyard foreman moves the train engine from the scene despite an order from the authorities not to do so, Mac McAllister grows suspicious. Is there more to this death than meets the eye? But what?

Kooky Dr. Kristen Thorpe, local medical examiner, appeared for the gruesome task of collecting the scattered remains of the body. An autopsy would be performed, though the cause of death is painfully obvious . . . isn't it? Then again, why would an invalid man be on the railroad tracks in the middle of the night?

As Mac's instincts take over, he and his new partner Detective Dana Bennett are plunged into a twisted and bizarre investigation that lead them to suspect after suspect - and no answers. The dead man's relatives prove evasive but rouse more suspicion with each meeting. And it seems the old man was an annoyance with his constant visits to the yard where he used to work, giving unwanted advice and generally making a pest of himself.

A teenager is discovered vandalizing the old man's home. Then the place catches fire. Was it arson? Another body is found. Who is it? Every time Mac and Dana think they're closing in on some answers, they're thrown off in a different direction, and the list of suspects mushrooms.

And Mac's personal life is nearly as chaotic as the investigation. His old attraction to Dana escalates as they work together, but he is almost equally drawn, for some curious reason, to the eccentric Kristen Thorpe. When he accepts-and thoroughly enjoys-a dinner invitation from Kristen, he is more confused than ever.

Words from Mac's former partner and mentor assure Mac that God has the answers: answers to the case, his inner doubts and confusion, and the yearnings of his heart.

Terminal 9 is an engrossing read you'll find hard to put down. The twists and turns will surely keep you guessing. This is a wild ride on a merry-go-round where the brass ring is just out of reach. Another winner from Pat Rushford and her McAllister Files writing partner Harrison James. Don't wait to find this book. If you like suspense, you'll love this one.

Peggy Phifer ©2005

Antonio "Mac" McCallister and new partner, Dana Bennett, are trying to ignore their attraction to each other while solving the murder of Clay Mullins, an 89-year old, retired, wheelchair-bound railroad worker who owned prime riverside property adjacent to the railroad. The victim was killed by being struck by the very trains he loved.

Considered a nuisance by some at the railroad, the retiree was a regular fixture at the railroad yards during the common workday. One of the railroad workers, in particular, is filled with animosity toward Mullins. Joining the suspect list are Mullins' heirs, a successful daughter and a deadbeat son, until shortly into the investigation the victim's house burns, and the son is found dead in the rubble.

McCallister is challenged in this book to go forward without his partner who is recovering from cancer treatment. He misses his partner and the subtle reminders that came from him that God is in control of all things, even Mac's love life. As Mac fights his attraction to Bennett, she proves to be a brilliant young detective, and her abilities deliver a blow to Mac's ego, causing him to struggle on another level. When she fixes him up with the dynamic medical examiner, Mac struggles more and is fun to watch as he works himself through these situations.

Terminal is a good read for those who like police procedurals and carries the tone of one experienced in police work-for good reason. Co-author Harrison James is a supervisor of a major metropolitan Police Department and whose background includes working as an undercover narcotics agent, homicide and sexual/physical abuse detective, and he has also unforced big-game poaching laws in back-country investigations. He's also made appearances in several of today's police/crime reality shows.

Patricia Rushford has written four serial mysteries. She is an award-winning author, speaker, teacher, registered nurse and holds a Masters in counseling.

Terminal delivers with tension, conflict, a good mystery and subtle character growth. It is the third in the McCallister series, following Secrets, Lies and Alibis and Deadfall.

From the opening pages this book grabbed me and didn't let go. What makes this book a great read is the unique, detailed crime scene investigations and the interesting cast of characters. It really felt like I was there looking over the shoulder of the detectives as they worked through this complex mystery.

This is the third book in a series, staring state police Detective "Mac" McAllister. In this book, Detective Mac's not only up to his ears investigating a suspicious death, that's looking more and more like a murder, but he's also struggling with feelings for his new, and very attractive female partner. If you like the kind of book that you just can't put down, this is the book for you.

Then you'll like the McAllister series, and Terminal 9 is no exception. Gritty, realistic and often quite descriptive, this book explores the death of an old man which turns out not be just an accident. The story makes you feel as if you are part of the case as Mac and Dana uncover clues, interview suspects and discover body parts along the way. Mac and Dana make a good team, with none of the police detective sterotypes. They both allow each other to take charge and do thing his or her own way. They have a good relationship with a hint of romance but not so much to take away from the main story. *Note this is not a romance story so as not to scare off male readers.* I've enjoyed Patricia Rushford since reading her Jennie McGrady series and this book continues the enjoyment. And I've just discovered that my library has order book 4 of the series!

This is a great book, but it isn't as complete as I would have liked. The photographs are good and you can identify quite a bit, but not everything. It is a good starting point book though because there are numerous subsections.

Easy to use guide, great for identifying most things by sight. Occasionally pictures could be a little misleading, but holds together in general.

This book has been very helpful in identifing the many different creatures I have seen while diving in Washinton State's Puget Sound as well as around Vancouver Island. It is perfect for any recreational diver because while it does list Phylum and Species, it also gives the commom name and even alternate common names if applicable. Each entry also gives the Size, Range, Habitat, Description and a brief comment about the entry. The photos are clear and sometimes include photos of the fishes egg mass. This book covers the most common of the marine life that you are likely to encounter while diving in the Pacific Northwest. I take it with me when I go diving and use it after the dive to show what I saw and for others to identify what they saw. It also helps me at home latter when I want to put a name to a photo I took while diving. I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone slightly curious as to what that thing is called they saw on that last dive.

This book is a must for any scuba diver venturing into the waters of Puget Sound, coastal British Columbia and Vancouver Island. It was a great resource during a recent 4 day diving trip to Barkley Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It provided us with hours of conversation about what we had seen and what to look for next.

This book's easy-to-use key immediately helps visitors to Olympic's coast identify dozens and dozens of marine animals and plants. We bring it on ranger-led tide pool explorations because it complements our journeys so well. Each section provides structural, behavioral, and habitat information about the type of creatures. Then, many individual species are photographed and described, including known life cycles, predator-prey relationships, and other unique aspects. The book is particularly good because it includes several marine mammals, enhancing tide pool exploration with ocean discovery. This is a wonderful aid in introducing visitors to the intertidal zone, the marine sanctuary, and the abundant life thriving within.

I purchased this book to accompany me on a roadtrip from Portland, Oregon through Seattle to Vancouver, Canada. I was mainly staying in the three major cities and was looking to find accomodations, restaurants and things to do while there. The book has a brief section on the three cities which left me wanting more information. I think if you plan on spending time in the places in between, it is a great introduction to the Northwest. However, if you are just looking for specific information on a few (in my case, 3) it was not extremely informative. It gives you the best of the best. Just not much more than that.

We've been using the "Best Places" books for travel in the Northwest for a number of years, and this year's edition is further proof that this is the best guidebook series going. The information is unfailingly reliable as well as encyclopedic, and the editors' discernment shows through in all aspects: lodging, meals, touring, siteseeing, etc. Certainly the best choice for anyone visiting the area, whether a first-time visitor or a happy returnee.

Now in its updated and expanded 13th edition, Best Places Northwest is quite simply a 'must' for any who plan on touring the Pacific Northwest: it doesn't hesitate to pick only the best of restaurants, lodgings and tour opportunities throughout Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and provides descriptions which offer plenty of insight on why the 'best' rating is deserted. A starred rating system allows for picking the 'best of the best'.

I planned an entire 11 day trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands with this book. We stayed at an absolutely wonderful 65 room hotel right near the famous Market in Seattle, then we took the ferries (read about in the book) and stayed at a cabin on Orcas Island near the shore where we could use the canoes and explore the sea life. Then we stayed at great B&B on San Juan Island that also had a yacht you could sleep on, then another B&B on the olympic penninsula that specialied in French cooking. All theses places... were from this book! Fantastic.
The star ratings guide help you decide what's right for you and the pricing guides are accurate.

This guide is very general. It would be good for someone who is interested in general information, but not good for anyone looking for specific identification.

This is a neat little book. My five year old son likes it alot. I didn't realize when I bought it though that it only has twenty five bugs in it. I guess the author put in his 25 favorite bugs of Oregon & Washington. It's a well written and illustrated book and I was easily able to identify several bugs around my home. I guess I will have to purchase a more complete insect book to be able to identify ever insect I see. I like the other books by the Lone Pine and have used them alot where I live. (The woods of eastern Oregon).

really, a book on bugs? well that's what I thought too, but when I browsed through it at Powell's in Portland, I knew I had to have it. people are too free with their stars on Amazon but this book deserves 6 of them. it is a delight. not only are the illustrations great but the writing is pure and simple and done with some humor. it's clearly a labor of love. I liked this thing so much that I bought 2 copies and gave one to a friend.

In his introduction to Bugs of Washington and Oregon, John Acorn explains how difficult it was to select 250 bugs from the 25,000 that populate the region. His criteria for choosing was 1) big, 2) colorful, 3) really hard to miss or 4) extremely wierd. This is by no means a comprehensive guide, but an excellent handbook to get you started identifying miscellaneous bugs and Acorn's example species are well chosen. In the Introduction Acorn addresses various concerns, sensitive issues, and points of interest in entomology. His views are sensitive, yet balanced--a pleasure to read. It's one of the few introductions I've read that was worth the time. The illustrations by Ian Sheldon are clear and nicely executed and Acorn's descriptions contain intriguing factoids. This is a terrific gift for the naturalist in the family.
**If you are looking to further your insect education, one of the best and most lovingly written bug books out there is For the Love of Insects and if you're looking for a beautiful picture book, try An Inordinate Fondness of Beetles.

The book was put together in an informative and easy to read way. It's a travel log, for anyone wanting to visit the Nez Perce Trail National Park, plus it gives a summarized overview of that happened. I loved the author's method of narrating the story of what happened, with easy to read maps and tables of information. Her list of references was also impressive. More detail will require further reading, but this is a starter. What is missing from her story is what this band of renegades really was. They were outlaws, shunned by their own Nez Perce Nation and what is also missing is the national impact of this unfortunate Indian outbreak had on our Country. That is why I didn't rate the book higher. It's a view into history "through rose colored glasses", which is quit in style today, but that gives the starters on history a dangerously biased view. Real history is often painful to read about. These Indians were not heroes. Hundreds of innocent people were murdered and the real Nez Perce almost lost their wonderful Idaho Reservation because of this War. Congress was in a complete uproar. They were also opposed by other Indian Nations, specifically the Bannock, Shoshone and the Crow to mention a few. This is the story of a national disaster and tragedy. The real heroes were often those they attacked and the horse soldiers that had to chase them. Still, as a travelog and guide to 80% of the historic sites along the Nez Perce Trail, this book is a good starter. I also loved the historic photographs, some of which I have not found anywhere else.

The story of the Nez Perce bands of Wallowa Oregon is one of the saddest of the expansion period of the American West. Driven from their homelands by a sneaky treaty they never signed, several bands of Nez Perce were moving reluctantly onto the new, smaller reservation. But a few angry young men left camp, on their own, and killed a white man they knew to be bad to Indians. The U.S. Army responded and thus began the pursuit of the Nez Perce, across Idaho, to Wyoming, and then Montana, over 1100 miles. Eight hundred Nez Perce men, women, and children walked and rode hoping to find a new place to settle where the Army would no longer pursue. But the Army did pursue, and finally caught up with the Nez Perce on a cold October day in Northern Montana, where after a 5 day siege, Chief Joseph finally surrendered to save those that were left, cold, sick, and tired. This book follows the trail, and recounts the history as told by several authors and particpants including General Howard, Yellow Wolf, and some Army Scouts. It is the one book you should read first. Then get out and drive the trail that the Nez Perce rode. I bet you can't drive it in one summer, but they rode that distance, moving camp every day, with the Army shooting at them when ever they didn't move far enough. Chief Joseph wondered when will the white men ever tell the truth. Why is the Indian not allowed to live under the same laws of freedom as the white man.

Alas, I have been asked by my publisher to write yet another book on Chief Joseph. I wish to do it well and respectfully, and, if possible, break a little new ground. So, I may be one of ten people on earth who has travelled the Nez Perce trail, both known and unknown, from the Wallowa all the way to Tonkawa, with requisite sidetrips to Nespelem and various relevant sites. All in all, I've put about 10,000 miles into this enterprise. And here's the hard truth: Cheryl Wilfong, whoever she is -- and God bless her researching soul -- has made this trip possible. She has broken the route down into three categories -- mainstream traveller, for the pavement folk; adventurous traveller, for the dirt road folk; and intrepid traveller for the white-knuckle, high center clearance, "I don't need guard rails" folk. I did it mostly on the adventurous/intrepid roads. And I can say, unequivocally, that she has created a work that will not soon be bettered, and which is absolutely invaluable for any Nez Perce afficianado, from the casual traveller to the "I only come out of the archives to breathe" geeks who are researching the familial ties between Wahlatits and Yellow Bull.

By the very nature of the task, she has a few errors, and they can put you in harm's way, such as having you travel 1.8 miles to a crossroads in the vast emptiness of Montana's back country when the actual distance is 11.8 miles. But these errors are so few as to be remarkable in their infrequency. Overall, she takes you mile by mile, dusty crossroad by dusty crossroad, rutted mountain pass by rutted mountain path, and conducts you on an assiduously researched journey of the trail that the Nez Perce followed from their homeland in the Wallowa and Snake/Salmon country to their exile in Oklahoma.

I could give you endless specifics, but here is the bottom line: you cannot take this trip, or any portion of it, without this book. You can forget your Josephy, misplace your Haines and your Lavender, or trade your Greene and your McWhorter for extra gas money. But you cannot -- CANNOT -- take this journey without having this book on the seat next to you.

Take it from someone who stopped at every pile of stones, every remnant of rifle pit and breastwork, every old campsite and every battle and staging area; who walked the high country trails near Lolo and the lowland campgrounds on the flats below Fort Leavenworth: You absolutely must buy this book if you choose to retrace any of this journey.

The Nez Perce Historic Trail Foundation and the National Park Service should canonize this woman.

End of story.

This is an excellent work which I plan to use as a tool for planning vacations over the next summers. The history is concise yet accurate and supplements works by Helen Addison Howard (Saga of Chief Joseph), Merrill Beale (I Will Fight No More Forever), Alvin Josephy (The Nez Perce and the Opening of the Northwest), L. V. McWhorter (Yellow Wolf & Hear Me My Chiefs!) The maps, side trips, and road condition guides are useful. Classifications of roads for vehicles and travelers described as mainstream, adventurous and intrepid are unique for this type of history book and assist in planning based on the type of vehicle one might be using. Reminds me of hiking books. A knowledge of geography is vital to understanding history. Wilfong aids amature historians visiting the areas to view and get a better understanding of the physical conditions both the troops and the Nez Perce found in this tragic chapter of American history.

Mostly hotels not really camping which I was looking for. But it's great for hotels if you need something for that.

Many of my friends will not leave home without their dogs, so when I discovered this book I knew I had found the perfect pet lovers gift. The feedback has been excellent -- they report that the information is up-to-date, accurate, and easy to use. Dogs and their drivers are both well-served. Now all I need is my own dog...

HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL NORTHWEST EDITION includes Oregon, Washington and Idaho and has been newly updated to list over 2,100 dog-friendly accommodations throughout the Pacific Northwest. This isn't just a plain listing of dog- friendly hotels: it tells where in the building the pet is welcome, any restrictions, deposits, price ranges, and general room descriptions. From cabins to resorts, motels, and chain hotels, HAVE DOG WILL TRAVEL comes packed with plenty of specifics suitable for touring.

Now in a newly updated edition, Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition by Barbara Whitaker is the a practical guide for dog owners and dog lovers to hassle-free traveling. Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition features over 2,100 canine-friendly accommodations in the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Addresses, phone numbers, rates, web sites, and brief summary of basic information concerning each lodging fill the majority of the pages; with an additional sections offering basic advice concerning everything from first aid for a dog to types of available ID tags and how to best go about cleaning up after one's pet. Have Dog Will Travel: Northwest Edition is especially recommended for dedicated dog owners in the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho area.

It happened a hundred years ago. But it could be happening right now. "Holy Rollers; Murder and Madness in Oregon's Love Cult" can be read and appreciated on many levels. On the surface, it's a great true crime potboiler, filled with religion, sex and murder. But its also a cautionary tale about the vulnerability of seemingly normal, well-adjusted people to the seductions of mass insanity. Whether it's Edmund Creffeld in 1905, Adolph Hitler in 1933 or Jim Jones in 1978, we've seen it happen again and again. In fact, the story in this book has a peculiar kind of resonance in that one of the key locations--Waldport, Oregon, also was the place where the Heaven's Gate cult held its first public gathering.

Edmund Creffeld was a Salvation Army dropout who arrived in Corvallis, Oregon in 1900 to start a new church. Within a few short years, he had persuaded some of the community's leading citizens--primarily of the female gender--to join his cult of madness. They literally practiced "holy rolling," sometimes turning themselves over and over for hours and hours at a time, becoming all the more caught up in the cult of Creffeld's strange personality. Creffeld was tarred and feathered (really!) and run out of town. That didn't stop him, nor did a stretch in the state prison. His ultimate, violent end seems almost foreordained.

T. McCracken and Robert Blodgett have combined their talents to produce an amazing story. Thanks to exhaustive research in newspapers and other contemporary sources, they're able to re-create the wild ride of Creffeld and his cult in vivid, day-to-day detail. I finished the book in a single sitting; I predict you will, too.--William C. Hall

This was definitely a page-turner! I live in this area. So, it was interesting to imagine that this went on right here! I had never heard about it, and I have lived here for the last 25 years. Makes me want to examine all the houses and areas they went to.

The book is written with a newspaper sensationalism kind of feel, but that shouldn't bother you too much.

The authors give us a true account, set in "the good old days", showing us that murderous cults didn't start with the Manson family, and religious fanatacism isn't an import nurtured only in foreign lands. Immediate and enthralling as any real crime story currently on the shelves or TV, this page-turning ride has just the right amount of wry, observational wit to balance the horrors. I loved it.

Collaboratively researched and written by T. McCracken and Robert B. Blodgett, Holy Rollers: Murder And Madness In Oregon's Love Cult is the "truth is stranger than fiction" story of the "Holy Roller" religious cult that made brutal newspaper headlines in 1903. It all began when Salvation Army dropout Edmund Creffield arrived in Corvallis, Oregon and founded a new "church". The city fathers were less than impressed -- but not so their wives and daughters! A century later, descendants of the people involved in the macabre events of Creffield's Holy Roller Cult still refuse to discuss what happened. Holy Rollers is an incredible, painstaking reconstruction and revealing expose that create a gripping book that offers especial insight into the dark side of mass psychology, religious hysteria, and unbridled charismatic religious authority.

This book has lots of useful information, but fails to tie the information in to graphics for those of us who have trouble visualizing the locations from the text. The neighborhoods are described by their names, and rougly tied into the city as a whole. However, the maps are not specific enough.

These books (there is a series) are the first resource we go to upon learning that it is, once again, time for us to transfer. They have all the information that most people could need and I recommend them to every military person I know that is in the process of transferring to make their move just a little bit easier. A look at the contents of this particular book:

Area Overview
Getting Here, Getting Around
History
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
Hotels and Motels
Restaurants
Brewpubs
Coffeehouses
Nightlife
Shopping
Attractions
Kidstuff
Festivals and Annual Events
The Arts
Recreation and Spectator Sports
Portland Parks
Golf
Day Trips
Relocation
Child Care and Education
Health Care and Wellness
Retirement
Media
Worship
Index

No, there aren't a lot of pictures, but I can buy a coffee-table book for that. This is information and lots of it - including addresses, phone numbers, and websites when appropriate. Great for visitors and potential newcomers alike!

I liked the information in this book, Even has school listings. I was purchasing it for tourism purposes and it covers that but doesn't have pictures or long descriptions and prices. Since that is what I was looking for I was a little disappointed. Good for info bad for tourists.

INSIDERS' GUIDE TO PORTLAND, OREGON, 5TH is a great guide to the cities of Portland and Vancouver, as well as their surrounding suburbs. Besides such information as house values, attractions, and the quality of schools in the area, the book also features detailed listings of the radio stations in the area, as well as in-depth discussions of what types of healthy-eating ideas and ethnic cuisine you can find in this metroplex. The book lacks a deep discussion of shopping malls in the area, preferring instead to focus on the other types of stores where a guy can find things to keep his woman happy, including CDs to dance to with her and clothes to help him look his best for her, which seems to indicate that independent stores are often the way to go to keep such promises, especially in a high-culture area such as Portland/Vancouver. Despite the lack of information on local malls, however, it's a wonderful book.