Blog Profiles: Western U.S. Blogs
Welcome to Blog Profiles! Each week, we select a topic and handful of blogs that do a great job contributing to the conversation. We’re kicking off our series of regional blogs with a list of standout western U.S. blogs. Do you have a blog that deserves recognition? Tweet our writers at @BeyondBylines.
My husband and I recently took a trip to Seattle and loved visiting the Pacific Northwest, a stark difference from our desert home in New Mexico.
Since each region of the U.S. differs widely in terms of the weather, culture, food, and lifestyle, I decided to use my next few posts for “Blogs We Love” as a chance to highlight unique blogs in each region.
These are not comprehensive lists, so if you know of another great regional-focused blog, let us know in the comments.
Let’s begin in the West.
(Update: Check out our lists of unique blogs from the South, Northeast, and Midwest.)
1. The Local Arrow
The Local Arrow is the blog of Hasson Company Realtors, an Oregon real estate agency. The blog posts “guide you through Pacific Northwest Living.”
Looking for recommendations on local events, shopping, restaurants, or home inspiration? The Local Arrow has you covered. And, of course, you can check out some of the local listings if you are considering buying a home in the area.
I enjoyed reading 23 Essential Fall Events in the Portland Area; 18 of the Best Wineries in the Willamette Valley, Mapped; and Why Washington State Was Ranked the #1 State in the U.S.
Follow @HassonRealtors on Twitter.
Credit: @hassoncompany on Instagram
2. California Through My Lens
Josh McNair lives in California and manages this blog with his wife Amie. California Through My Lens documents the couple’s weekend travels throughout the state they call home.
McNair is a self-taught photographer and includes stunning photographs in his posts. If watching a video is more your speed, most articles also include YouTube videos of the pair exploring the location.
California has myriad landscapes to explore and this blog does a great job covering them. If you’re overwhelmed with the amount of options in the Golden State, start with the map of locations to find attractions near you. I also recommend checking out the “Bizarre” section for some off-the-beaten-path travel ideas.
Avalon Day Trip: What to do on Catalina Island; Crystal Cove State Park: El Moro Loop Trail; and Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino are good reads.
Follow @CAthroughMyLens on Twitter.
Credit: @californiathroughmylens on Instagram
3. Just a Colorado Gal
Heather Balogh Rochfort started this blog in 2005 when she left her job as a magazine editor to hit the road in search of adventures. Since then, she’s traveled the world with her husband and young daughter and eventually returned home to Colorado.
Balogh Rochfort is especially passionate about encouraging women to go outdoors and experience things like backpacking and camping more often. She has great travel posts about locations spread across a number of countries and continents, including Colorado and areas closer to home.
I recommend reading Family Glamping: Yurt Life at Snow Mountain Ranch; Best Of: Colorado’s Romantic Outdoor Spots; and Flip the Script on Female Empowerment in the Outdoor Industry.
Follow @AColoradoGal on Twitter.
Credit: @acoloradogal on Instagram
4. Big Wild Adventures
Big Wild Adventures is a family-run business based in Montana that leads guided backpacking and canoeing trips throughout the West, including Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska.
The site has helpful trekking and canoeing gear lists and plenty of additional resources to help you get the most out of your wilderness adventures. Posts are typically short and many are broken down into 2-3 part series. If you’re curious about the level of difficulty of a specific trip, the site’s handy rating system can help.
Here are a couple helpful posts: Swimming and Water Safety on Guided Yellowstone Hikes; and Three Great Montana Backpacking Destinations — An Overview.
Follow @BigWildAdventures on Facebook.
P.S. Ever wonder how we come up with ideas for our blog profiles? Our handy list of industries and subjects on PR Newswire for Journalists stays top of mind. If you’re a blogger or journalist looking for travel or region-specific news, let us know. We can customize a newsfeed for you.
Rocky Parker works in Audience Relations at PR Newswire. Check out her previous posts for Beyond Bylines and connect on LinkedIn. When she’s not working, Rocky typically can be found cooking, binge watching a new show, or playing with her puppy, Hudson.
