North America – BIGtinyWorld

Road Trip: Drenched! Rogue River & Meyers Beach – Day 2

Posted on May 17, 2018May 16, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Stories

When we drove into Gold Beach at the end of our first day of our amazing road trip to San Francisco, I noticed the sign that read, “Jerry’s Rogue Jets.” I immediately laughed, thinking this is not a business name that instills trust and reliability.

Little did I know that I wouldn’t have much choice in the matter.

A soggy start

The day rose in good old, gloomy Oregon fashion. Aaron fretted, and I merely sat back, excited for what the day would bring. I love surprises, and Aaron had everything all planned out. I didn’t know our morning plans placed us outside in the increasingly damp day.

We pulled into the parking lot of Jerry’s Rogue Jets, and I had to laugh once more at my remarks from the night before. Evidently, this establishment directed jet boat tours down the Rogue River; they did not rent out dubious aircraft with questionable loyalties.

And then I wryly laughed at our sorry luck with the weather.

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Road Trip – Southern Oregon Coast – Day 1

Posted on May 10, 2018May 9, 2018 by Aaron Shade in North America, Stories

Day 1

At the first stop on our journey to San Francisco, we stayed in Gold Beach Oregon as we intentionally wanted to go down the coastline to get there. It was about a 6 hour drive down, but we weren’t just racing to get to Gold Beach. We had a few stops before arriving that made this part of the trip special. The southern Oregon coast is magical and it would be a waste if we didn’t stop at some of the viewpoints. We’ve never visited this place in the world.

Cape Blanco State Park Continue reading “Road Trip – Southern Oregon Coast – Day 1” →

5 Things to Not Do in Portland

Posted on May 3, 2018May 13, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Portland

So you’ve got your bags all packed and you’ve set your sights on Portland. You can’t wait to visit – and why not? It’s a great city! You have some awesome activities picked out, you know the best restaurants to hit, and you might have even timed your trip for one of Portland’s summertime festivals.

But there are still a few things you should know before you arrive in the Rose City – things others are unlikely to mention when trying to entice you to visit. To ensure you have the best time possible, here are five things you should not do.
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A Road Trip to San Francisco – The Journey

Posted on April 26, 2018April 26, 2018 by Aaron Shade in North America, Stories

This trip to San Francisco was one of our first real road trips. There were many stops along the way that each have their own story. The beauty of driving is that you can see so much more than you do when you simply hop a plane. If you have the time, taking in the details along the way makes the trip special. It is all about the journey, not just the destination.

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Portland: Summertime Festivals

Posted on April 19, 2018May 13, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Portland

Portland gets a lot of winter rain and even more cloud cover. Between October and May (and often well into June), the sun seldom makes an appearance. The moisture certainly makes for beautifully lush landscapes, dreamscape waterfalls, and mystic moss-draped forests, but it can get a bit dreary after so long.

However, our summers are simply to die for. And suffering the rain only makes them that much more special.

The beauty about living in a temperate climate is we have wonderfully mild summers. And this is when visitors and locals alike come out in droves to enjoy the many outdoor festivals in our riverside Waterfront Park – a prolific display of our affection for this beloved season.
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Hiking in the Snow at Bryce Canyon – Sun Rise/Set

Posted on March 29, 2018May 13, 2018 by Aaron Shade in North America, Stories

Bryce Canyon National Park is a magical place to visit. You feel like you are on another planet with the grand hoodoos, bright orange colors, and contrasting white snow. We most enjoyed exploring this park at sunrise and sunset when the rock formations appear to be on fire. The snow provided a beautiful contrast to the bright red rocks. Here are some of our favorite places we visited while in Bryce.

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Portland: Our Favorite Restaurants – Part II

Posted on March 15, 2018May 13, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Portland

Last week, we shared with you some of our favorite local restaurants. They couldn’t all fit into one post, so I hope you’re still hungry! Here is Part II of our culinary highlights from Portland.
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Portland: Our Favorite Restaurants – Part I

Posted on March 8, 2018May 13, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Portland

You’ve gotten the preliminary tour.

You’ve seen the local highlights.

Now, let’s talk about food.

Portland is known as a big foodie town. We love our food. And living here as long as we have, we have found our favorite spots. So when we have guests, here’s where we take them.
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Our Extreme Adventure – Zion National Park

Posted on March 1, 2018May 13, 2018 by Aaron Shade in North America, Stories

We just got back from Utah after visiting Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Our goal was to go to a national park in the winter to avoid the crowds and hopefully get a little snow for our photos. We got our wish! Both parks were stunningly beautiful and we did some hikes that tested the bounds of our fear of heights. It was not only a park visit; it was truly an accomplishment. Here are the main places we visited while in Zion. Continue reading “Our Extreme Adventure – Zion National Park” →

Portland: Highlights from a Local

Posted on February 22, 2018May 13, 2018 by Brianna Shade in North America, Oregon, Portland

We get visitors all the time to our humble city – and who can blame them? It’s a popular destination. There are certain spots to which all the guides will point tourists, and those are nice… but there’s so much more to offer. After we’ve given our guests the preliminary tour, we hit up a few of our favorite spots. Here are some things we like to do – as locals – when visitors come to town.

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