Hiking at Wahkeena Falls

We went for a hike last Sunday, in the Columbia River Gorge. We cruised the Old River Highway, and the images in this post feature Wahkeenah Falls and the viewpoint at the Vista House. These inspiring natural gems are less than an hour from home--we are so blessed!

We're making plans for more hiking for the spring and summer in and around Portland and Oregon. Tell me about your favorite places to get into nature...

Images by Tina Pfeiffer - Apt 3 Photography, 2010.

Travel: Astoria, Oregon

Photos by Tina, Pfeiffer Photos © 2010 ~ all rights reserved.

Flickr Faves: Fleeting Color

Fleeting Color, originally uploaded by Ar'alani.

In a hurry today. I finished my movie poster project for art class {you can view it on my apt3design blog} after 3 redesigns. Two blog updates. Now I'm off to catch the bus for class at 2:00 PM.

Sharing some Oregon fall color with you today...enjoy!

Etsy Treasury: Forest Green

It's our second time to be included in an Etsy treasury that features the shades of glorious piney foresty green! Thanks to Carol of Designing It for choosing our Bridal Veil Falls image for this collection.

Click the grid for a larger view of this and visit HERE to view the shops containing these items.

Bridal Veil Falls by Tina - Pfeiffer Photos 2008.

This image is available in my Etsy shop as a print (various sizes), or a blank note card. Shipping to addresses within the US 48 is free, matting is included and framing is available upon request.

copyright pfeiffer photos 2008 - all rights reserved.

Where the Columbia flows into the Pacific

Astoria is a nationally significant historic city at the western end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies; a place that takes visitors back to simpler times, its architecture dominated by hundreds of Victorian homes clinging to steep wooded hillsides and with a revitalized 1920s era downtown; all set against a backdrop of tremendous natural beauty in the temperate rain forest at the mouth of the Columbia River.


t 2 b: Astoria Theatre Detail by Tina of Pfeiffer Photos, Waterfront Trolley courtesy of airstreamlife.com/wordpress, Columbia Barge by Chris, Flavel House Museum courtesy of oldoregon.com

Visitors have an opportunity to escape into an appealing, intriguing past. Unspoiled and generally uncrowded, Astoria and nearby Warrenton have several first-class interpretive attractions including Fort Clatsop, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Flavel House, Fort Stevens State Park, the Astoria Riverfront Trolley and the Astoria Column. The area has an extraordinary sense of place and a feeling of history. [1]

Astoria has hosted the filming of a number of movies over the years including, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, The Ring 2 and the most famous and beloved, The Goonies!



t 2 b: The Goondocks by Chris, The Goonies House courtesy of gosleepgo.com


A visit to Astoria for us means a stop for lunch at T. Paul's Urban Cafe. They describe their menu as Fresh-Eclectic Northwest Cuisine and we describe it as very tasty indeed. The atmosphere is casual, complete with a dimly lit coffee lounge in the rear. Overstuffed sofas surround a coffee table full of art and local magazines. A large saltwater aquarium glows in the corner. T. Paul's hosts live music on Friday and Saturday nights: blues, jazz or folk.



l 2 r: T. Paul's Urban Cafe by Tina

On our recent visit hiked the nearby 1.5 mile trail to view the Cathedral Tree, a 300-year-old spruce tree with a unique opening at the base.


Cathedral Tree by Tina

From the Cathedreal Tree the trail climbs to a wooded park towering above Astoria on Coxcomb Hill, Oregon’s highest hill. At the top the Astoria Column presents a spectacular view of the city and surrounding rivers, bay, forest, mountains and Pacific Ocean. The Astoria Column commemorates the westward move of discovery and migration. Built in 1926, it is 125 feet high and has 164 steps winding to the top.



t 2 b: Astoria-Megler Bridge and by the Astoria Column by Chris

Sometimes I think to myself that it would be nice to move to a smaller city with plenty of history, find an old house to live in and restore with my hubby and our two cats. Space to create, write, go outside, experience nature daily and steep in the quietness at night. A community that moves a bit slower, makes more personal connections with the people around us. Sometimes I just think this and that maybe, someday, it might be Astoria.


photos copyright of photographers as labeled.

[1] http://www.oldoregon.com

text [except as noted], copyright pfeiffer photos 2008

Photo Ode to Water and Trees

Browsing through our own shop this morning I noticed how many photos we offer of water and trees. Nature is truly an inspiration. We are blessed to live in a city and state that are both rich in natural scenic wonders. The best stress relievers, the best no-cost gifts, these are those.

Top to bottom, left to right:

Bridal Veil Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Surf,

Stream, Swan, Bridal Veil Creek, Rock Garden Waterfall,

Wahkeena Falls, Evening Pond, Newport Coastline, Old Growth,

Petals, Silver Creek Falls, Moon Locking Pavilion, The Loner.

Please click the photo grid for a much larger view. Each title is also linked to the photo listing in our shop.

All photos presented in this collection sketch are from our Etsy shop. We offer our images as fine art prints in various sizes and as blank, all-occasion note cards; sold individually or in sets. For more information or to purchase please visit our shop or shoot us an email HERE.

copyright pfeiffer photos 2008.

Road Trip through Central Oregon

We hit the road on Saturday (7/5) for a long-planned run through Central Oregon to Shaniko, OR. Shaniko is a semi-ghost town in Sherman, County, whose claim to fame was as the wool shipping capital of the world in the late 1800's. Driving out through the Columbia River Gorge and then east of The Dalles, we also visited Wasco, Moro and Grass Valley en route.

Between Wasco and Moro we took a detour off Hwy 97 to capture footage of a wind farm. At least 100 turbines stood silently in the wheat fields like an outdoor modern sculpture gallery spinning in the breeze.

(Wind Farm by Tina, Pfeiffer Photos 2008)

The town of Wasco was incorporated in 1898 and a handful of the original buildings still stand...just perfect for our camera to capture them in their fading glory.

In Moro, the Sherman county seat, main street is the place to find history. We had fun trying to peek into the windows of the abandoned movie theater; it's last run was "Once Upon a Time in America", starring Robert Deniro, in 1984. We visited with the proprietress of an antique store across the street who shared with us that the original screen, seating and projector were still intact inside the theater. She suggested we consider buying the building to refurbish and bring it alive again as a family venue.

Grass Valley is one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of towns. We found plenty of good photo opportunities here including this wonderful abandoned pioneer chapel and school. We also learned that this is the home of the Easter Bunny, and they have a sign to prove it!

(Home of the Easter Bunny by Tina, Pfeiffer Photos 2008)

To view more photos from Central and other places in Oregon, and to purchase please visit my Flickr Gallery and Etsy shop.

Copyright Pfeiffer Photos 2009-2009 - all rights reserved.