Carrie Uffindell

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September 8, 2015 by Carrie

Central Oregon’s Lava Lands & Volcanic Vistas

Recently my family and I were whisked back in time 7,000 years when visiting Lava Lands, part of Central Oregon’s Newberry National Volcanic Monument in the Deschutes National Forest. That’s when Lava Butte erupted and engulfed miles of surrounding forest and wildlife with layers of molten lava. Today, visitors of all ages can explore the volcanic landscapes in this scenic area.

On the Trail of Molten Land
On the Trail of Molten Land, photo by Carrie Uffindell

Created when a volcanic vent erupted, Lava Butte is a cinder cone, elevation 5,020 feet. Drive the 1.75-mile paved road to the top and enjoy wide-angle views of the remains of Mt. Newberry and the surrounding lava fields from the observation tower. If time permits, circle the butte’s 60-foot crater on the .25-mile unpaved Lava Butte Rim Trail.

Due to limited parking at the butte, 30 minute parking passes are issued on a first come, first serve basis. (On busy days there may be a wait.) Passes are available at the main entrance.

Located at the base of Lava Butte, the visitor center is filled with interactive displays, topographic maps, and educational films about the area’s cultural and volcanic history. There’s also an on-site bookstore offering maps, brochures and souvenirs. Ranger-guided walks are offered twice daily.

Afterward exploring the visitor center, my husband, our four-year-old son, my mother-in-law, and I walked the Trail of Molten Land, a one-mile, self-guided loop that meanders through the millennia-old lava flow.

When you go

Lava Lands Visitor Center is open most days May through early October. There’s a nominal fee per vehicle to enter. To plan a trip to Central Oregon, visit the Central Oregon Visitors Association.

This originally version of this post was published in the September/October 2014 issue of Northwest Travel Magazine.

Filed Under: General, Travel to Play

January 6, 2015 by Carrie

2015 Family Travel Trends

On the Alta Vista Trail near Paradise
My family and I, on the Alta Vista Trail near Paradise, WA.

I really enjoyed this article “Top 10 Family Travel Trends 2015,” which I found on travel guru Peter Greenberg’s website. Two of my favorite trends are the rise of multi-generational vacations and the demand for immersive experiences. My own family is planning a trip to the United Kingdom this summer which will include four generations touring England’s canals in three narrow boats. Do any of these trends inspire you to plan your own family adventure or adventures? And if so, how?

Filed Under: General

April 2, 2012 by Carrie

Travel & Words Spring 2012

Greetings travel friends and freelance travel writers! I’m really looking forward to attending the Pacific Northwest Travel Writers Conference: Travel & Words Spring ’12, April 29-30, at Fort Worden State Park Conference Center in historic Port Townsend, Washington. This year’s theme is “Go! Pitch. Write. Publish.”

I’ll also be speaking on Sunday’s Freelance Writers Panel to discuss how I came to specialize in family travel in the Pacific Northwest and Wales. 

My fellow freelance writer colleagues will speak on these key themes including:

JASON BRICK, Portland, OR;  freelance writer, will share his strategies for writing full time as well as being a house-dad and utilizing his experience from the business world as a springboard for gaining paying gigs online and in print

MICHAEL FAGIN, Redmond WA; FL writer, author, blogger and freelance NW weather forecaster will share how he’s casting a wider net with his freelancing endeavors

SUE FRAUSE, Whidbey Island; FL writer, blogger, and social media maven on Facebook and Twitter as well as fitting in radio and culinary theater gigs will share her travel writing lifestyle and also her life as frequent ferry passenger and her love of B.C. in her  blog, www.ClosetCanuck.com

KAREN GILB, Vancouver WA; FL writer, travel blogger, and fiction writer will share how she’s expanding her NW writer’s brand for 2012-13

MARTY WINGATE, Seattle; FL garden writer, garden tour developer, and writer of a cozy mystery, The Garden Plot, and the Potting Shed Mystery series will share how she’s marketing her writing and traveling interests

Log onto www.travelandwords.com to see the Event Schedule, Travel and Tourism Exhibitors, and Registration details. We hope to see you April 29-30 in Port Townsend!

Filed Under: General

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Phone: 971-258-2228
Email: writer@carrieuffindell.com

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