Northwest Magazines

Your Own Olympics—Olympians aren't the only ones who can revel in Whistler's world-class sports atmosphere.  —Lee Juillerat

World's Biggest Potlatch—If you're in Vancouver for the Winter Olympics, don't miss this celebration of Aboriginal peoples from all across Canada.—Gary Singh

Leavenworth—A Bavarian town for all seasons.—Joanna Nesbit

The Sweet Life in Leavenworth—A chocoholic shares his story on how he got hooked on the good stuff. —Jon Klein

Crater Lake on Snowshoes—See this national park as few do, on a pair of snowshoes, for a true wintertime experience. —Lee Juillerat

It's a "Holly Jolly" Farm—A visit to Washington's Henderson Holly Farm is sure to get even Scrooge in the mood for the holidays. —Anne Erickson

Editors Notes - By Rosemary Camozzi, Editor

EDITORS NOTES

In 1967, the Oregon legislature passed a bill guaranteeing public access to all of the state's ocean beaches. As a result of this foresight, our beaches have been preserved with a minimum of development. And while a few towns have become sophisticated in a laid-back sort of way, you'll still find miles and miles of rugged oceanfront awaiting your exploration. And really, when you think about it, a little sophistication is not necessarily a bad thing. What's to dislike about gourmet Northwest cuisine, interesting boutiques, good coffee, and hand-crafted brews? You'll find it all on the Oregon Coast.

We Northwest Travel editors took to the road, revisited some of our favorite spots, and tried to cover the highlights of all 363 glorious miles, which was not an easy task. With everything from quaint fishing villages to rugged capes to a world-class aquarium and some good old-fashioned tourist attractions, you could (and many do) spend decades exploring our unspoiled coastline.

I say "our" because Northwest Travel is headquartered in Florence. We get to wake up and smell that clear, salt air every day. Of course, as this time of year comes around, we also get pounding rains, howling winds, and wild seas. Yahoo! It’s storm-watching season! Many visitors come to the coast every year at this time to rent an ocean-view cottage, grab a book, and settle in for a few days of storm watching. It's the majesty of nature at its finest.

Also in this issue, you'll find a profile of Leavenworth, Washington. Nestled into the peaks of the north Cascades, Leavenworth has over the last few decades reinvented itself as a Bavarian village. They've done such a good job that people have actually moved there from Germany. The whole town pitches in to help out with festivals and performances, and of course, Mother Nature puts on her own shows here too. This is a great home base for hiking, rafting, and skiing trips and also to shop, eat German food, and watch the festivities.

This winter we can look forward to the 2010 Winter Olympics, held in British Columbia. If you're planning to head up there, be sure to peruse Lee Juillerat's story on the great skiing in Whistler. And since Aboriginal culture is being widely celebrated during the games, you’ll want to check out the amazing art at various sites around Vancouver. Gary Singh has given us the inside scoop on where to find it.

If we've missed any of your favorite spots on the coast, write and let us know. You can reach me at rosemary@nwmags.com. Also, I wanted to let you know that we put together one 2010 calendar for both magazines this year, combining coastal and general Northwest scenes. With the still-flagging economy, we've found a few ways to conserve resources so that we can continue bringing you these terrific magazines and a gorgeous calendar as well. Happy Holidays!

—Rosemary Camozzi