The BLM’s National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is offering a special opportunity for visitors to learn about pioneers and frontier lifestyles with the “Meet the Pioneers” event Friday to Sunday, Memorial Day weekend. Each day from Friday May 25 through Sunday May 27, historical re-enactors will show authentic clothing, crafts, and demonstrations of “frontier life” between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This includes activities such as quilting and other textile skills, black powder shooting, and pen and ink writing. Roving interpreters will portray pioneers and be available to answer questions in character about life on the Oregon Trail.

“Pack Your Wagon” children’s exhibit is open through May 28. This exhibit uses costumes, life size games, rubber stamp activities, puppets, and a full-scale packable pioneer wagon for youngsters to learn by doing about Oregon heritage and the frontier adventure of coming west on the Oregon Trail.

Friday through Sunday,  storyteller and living history re-enactor Karen Haas will perform three times daily in the Leo Adler Theater. Programs are “Wagons West” at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday and Sunday, “Tales and Tunes” at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, and “Narcissa Whitman” at noon each day. Wagons West and Tales and Tunes are interactive, family friendly presentations. Narcissa Whitman takes a more serious look at the pioneer missionary and her role in early day frontier Oregon Territory, and may be more appreciated by adults than children.

The Interpretive Center will be open all weekend, with living history presentations of “Equine or Bovine” at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday. All hiking trails are open, and conditions are excellent for viewing spring time wildflowers or taking the self-guided geology walk.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway east of Baker City, Oregon. Take Exit 302 from Interstate-84 onto Highway 86 and proceed five miles. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $8.00; seniors are $4.50; and children 15 and under are free.  Federal passes are accepted.

For more information about the Center or call (541) 523-1843 for an update on programs and events. For information on other events in Baker County, Oregon, call (800) 523-1235. Additional information is available online at: www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/

“We’ve promoted Hells Canyon All-American Road as a motorcycle-friendly destination before. But over the past two years, our message has really focused on inviting two-wheel riders to visit Hells Canyon, which is one of the Top 10 Scenic Drives of the Northern Rockies (www.drivethetop10.com),” said Alice Trindle from the Eastern Oregon Visitors Association, a regional Destination Marketing Organization for eleven counties east of Oregon’s Cascade Mountains. “It’s exciting to see the increased interest among riders in this incredibly scenic route.”

Developed in conjunction with public awareness initiatives at the America’s Byways Resource Center, the promotion awarded a year of free advertising on the RoadRUNNER website, http://www.roadrunner.travel/. It also included professional digital ad design and upload services.

“We’re pleased to recognize the work of Hells Canyon All-American Road,” said Michelle Johnson, Director at America’s Byways Resource Center. “The byway’s submission showed a strong commitment to reaching out to biking visitors.”

To win the recognition, Hells Canyon All-American Road submitted various materials demonstrating its motorcycle-friendly positioning. For example, a message-specific rack card was distributed to more than 5,000 participants at the Seattle Motorcycle Show in December 2011 and a print advertisement is now running in the American Road Magazine and the Eastern Oregon Visitor Guide. In addition, the byway has created digital ads for Travel Oregon and other online media.

“We saw many marketing examples from America’s Byways that are wisely reaching out to motorcyclists—travelers who truly appreciate the best drives in the nation. We’re excited to share byway information with our readers,” commented Melanie Brown from RoadRUNNER.

For more information about Hells Canyon All-American Road, visit byways.org. To see the new ad online beginning in April 2012, visit RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel.

For more great motorcycling curves in Eastern Oregon, Visit Eastern Oregon.com.

Winding Waters River Expeditions on the Snake River.

Northeast Oregon is known for its natural beauty, from snow-capped mountains to crystal clear rivers. However, one natural asset that is often overlooked is its grasses. The Wallowa Valley region is home to some of Oregon’s richest grasslands and oldest ranches, raising grass-fed cattle long before it was popular. In fact, the high-altitude grass here is so rich in protein, it’s shipped to Kentucky and Japan to fuel top race-horses. Long ago, ranchers recognized this prized grass and set up ranching here. Today, two of these nearly century-old ranches produce some of the best grass-fed beef in the world: the Carman Ranch and the 6 Ranch.

Jump forward 100 years and along comes a local rafting company in northeast Oregon that uses this great beef on its river trips, along with other locally produced foods. In fact, one of the ranchers from the 6 Ranch even guides with the outfit. So, the owners, Paul and Penny Arentsen, brainstormed a way to celebrate this local food source with their guests. What better way than to visit the ranches themselves, then take everyone on the river- all in one trip! With this idea in mind, Paul and Penny searched for a partner to help put the trip together. They pitched it to a Portland pro: Erica Polmar with Plate and Pitchfork, a company that provides farm to table dinners prepared by known Portland chefs. It just so happened that this year is Plate & Pitchfork’s 10th Anniversary and Erica was looking for a special trip to celebrate. So, as they say, the rest is history!

Here’s a little about the trip: for a “Taste of Place” in beautiful, verdant Wallowa Mountain country, join Winding Waters River Expeditions, Plate & Pitchfork, and 2 of Portland’s top chefs: Chef Benjamin Bettinger of Beaker & Flask and Chef Jason Barwikowski of the Woodsman Tavern on a 4 day food extravaganza! You’ll spend the first day of your adventure on dry land. While you tour the ranches you’ll learn about the art and science behind raising great beef exclusively on pasture, and some of the tools of the trade like cow dogs, horses, and flying lariats. If you’re feeling daring you might just find yourself roping a calf. Your day will end with a traditional branding-style BBQ prepared by Ben and Jason. On day two you’ll head into Hells Canyon, the deepest river gorge in North America. Your days will be filled with thrilling class III and IV whitewater, incredible scenery, wildlife viewing and fishing opportunities. And as long as you don’t toss the chefs out of the boat they’ll be happy to prepare gourmet lunches and dinners for you for the duration of your trip.

Contact Paul and Penny at Winding Waters River Expeditions (877-426-7238 or info@windingwatersrafting.com) for more information.

A view of the 2011 Mother's Day Brunch train ride.

Are you searching for a fun and different way to celebrate Mother’s Day with family and friends? Consider a delicious brunch, served at a table with an amazing and ever-changing view of tumbling rivers, forested ridges and rugged basalt cliffs. Share the experience with neighbors from throughout eastern Oregon and visitors from across the country.

All of this is possible when the Eagle Cap Excursion Train begins the 2012 season with the popular Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 13. This annual excursion provides a rare opportunity to enjoy the canyon scenery draped in spring greens. The trip departs from the Elgin boarding site at 10 a.m. for a 3.5 hour train ride down the Grande Ronde River to Rondowa, then up the Wallowa River to Kimmel. At Kimmel, passengers have the chance to get off the train for a few minutes and enjoy the fresh, piney mountain air before the return trip to Elgin. The meal is prepared and served by Ten Depot Street Restaurant of La Grande and includes a wonderful gourmet selection of breakfast and lunch items and beverages. Prices for this train trip are youth, $40; Adults and Seniors, $75. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting Alegre Travel, 541.963.9000 or 800.323.7330, or via email to travel@alegretravel.com.

Proceeds from the Mother’s Day Brunch benefit projects of the Friends of the Joseph Branch, a non-profit organization that preserves and presents the history and enjoyment of the century-old rail line in Wallowa and Union Counties. Members serve as volunteer hosts on the excursions and assist with equipment restoration and other railroad projects. Go to the website, www.eaglecaptrain.com, for information about membership and join in the fun.

The regular excursion season begins June 23. Rumor has it train robbers plan to hit this trip! Be prepared for big laughs and great photo opportunities. Featuring the antics of the Gold Rush Bandits, assisted by the Elgin Stampeders. The full 2012 season schedule will be released soon, with trips departing from Elgin and Joseph, and the introduction of the Blue Goose Steam Excursions.

For additional information and photos, go to www.eaglecaptrain.com. The Eagle Cap Excursion Train is operated by Sierra Nevada & Pacific Rail as part of the Wallowa Union Scenic Railway on a stretch of the historic “Joseph Branch.” The 63-mile railroad is owned by Wallowa Union Railroad (WURR), a partnership of the two neighbor counties.

Check out the Oregon Trail Center programs for students and families during Spring Break.

Baker City, Ore. - The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is hosting several workshops and activities suitable for families during March, including several during Spring Break, March 26-30.

Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, there will be a workshop teaching how to make historic frontier style rag rugs. Cost is $10.00 which includes all supplies. This workshop is suitable for ages 12 and up, or for younger ages if skilled with handcrafts.

Interpretive presentations are offered each Saturday through March including “Under It All” about pioneer era underwear on March 17, “Campfire Conversations” on March 24, and “Women on the Oregon Trail” on March 31.

During Oregon Spring Break week, activities will be offered daily with simple craft and nature based projects including making rag dolls, paper quilt blocks, casting animal tracks, geology, skulls and scat, and mapping the trail.

The interactive children’s exhibit “Pack Your Wagon” is open daily throughout the month.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is located east of Baker City, Oregon. Take Exit 302 from Interstate-84 onto Highway 86 and proceed five miles. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5.00; seniors are $3.50; and children 15 and under are free. Federal passes are accepted.

Visit oregontrail.blm.gov for more information about the Center or call (541) 523-1843 for an update on programs and events. For information on other events in Baker County, Oregon, call (800) 523-1235.

-BLM-

The Blue Goose will soon be pulling trains along the Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers.

Travelers along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway in 2012 will have the opportunity to experience some exciting changes to one of the byway’s most popular attractions. The Eagle Cap Excursion Train, which operates out of Elgin, Oregon, 20 miles north of La Grande on the Highway 82 section of the byway, will gain a 1915 Baldwin Steam Engine to its rolling stock. Operators hope to add the steam engine to the schedule of excursions by mid-summer. The engine, known as the Blue Goose, has a long history of pulling excursion trains, most recently on the Yreka Western Railroad in northern California. Railroad officials agree, the steam engine is sure to increase ridership on the excursions along the highly scenic Grande Ronde and Wallowa Rivers.

The Wallowa Union Railroad Authority (WURA) confirmed at their January 5 meeting, they had come to an agreement to contract with Standard Northern and Pacific Railroad (SNAP) for operation of the railroad, which is jointly owned by Union and Wallowa Counties. The 63 miles of track, historically known as the century-old Joseph Branch, was rescued from salvage in 2003, when the governments of the two counties stepped in to preserve the vital piece of transportation infrastructure. Since that time, WURA has operated an excursion train and limited freight business on the line, with help from the non-profit support group, the Friends of the Joseph Branch. From spring, 2009 to fall 2011, the railroad leased the Wallowa County portion of the track to Union Pacific for storage of out of service lumber cars through the height of the recession. Revenue from the lease paid off the Counties’ debt on the railroad and put them in a good position to lease the line to a railroad company that can build on what has been started. Some trains will be pulled by the steam engine, while the diesel engines will continue to provide the power on most trips.

Plans announced by SNAP also include increasing the number of trips throughout the excursion season, adding trips to and from Wallowa and Joseph, and eventually bringing back the popular Steelhead fishing trains and rafting pick-up trains. Keep an eye on www.eaglecaptrain.com for the 2012 schedule and updates to the activities of the railroad. Make reservations for the annual Mother’s Day Brunch train by calling Alegre Travel, 800.323.7330.

For families with youngsters and holiday visitors looking for an alternative to shopping, the activities will provide opportunities to have fun while learning. Crafts include making beeswax candles, colorful leaf rubbings, and rice cake birdfeeders. Activities include a scavenger hunt, classic American games such as Jackstraws and Simon Says, as well as traditional Native American games like Tasiha Unpi (Catching Deer Bones with a Needle ). The video Pioneer Life for Children series will be shown throughout the day including “The Pioneer Journey Westward” and “Daily Pioneer Life”. Frontier toys show and tell demonstration will also be ongoing throughout the day.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is located 5 miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5. Seniors are $3.50. Children 15 and under are free. Federal passes are accepted. Visit oregontrail.blm.gov for more information about the Interpretive Center, or call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events. For information on this and other activities in Baker County, Oregon, call 1 (800) 523-1235.

-BLM-

Paper Ornament workshops will be offered Wednesday, November 16, and Saturday, November 19. The workshop on November 16 will be held in downtown Baker City at 1937 Main Street from noon to 2 p.m. It is free and open to all; no registration is required. The workshop on November 19 is at the Interpretive Center from noon to 2 p.m. and is free with general admission. Supplies are provided, but workshop attendees may also bring colorful paper from home or photographs to create simple boxes, stars, flowers, and more.

The Interpretive Center is working with several local elementary schools using recycled materials to make decorations which will be featured in the Flagstaff Gallery during the month of December. The annual Holiday Open House at the Interpretive Center is scheduled on Sunday, December 4 from 1 to 4 p.m. and includes live entertainment, craft activities, refreshments, and a silent auction.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is located 5 miles east of Baker City, Oregon, on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Interpretive Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5. Seniors are $3.50. Children 15 and under are free. Federal passes are accepted. Visit oregontrail.blm.gov for more information about the Interpretive Center, or call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events. For information on this and other events in Baker County, Oregon, call 1 (800) 523-1235.

-BLM-

Visitors to Hells Canyon Scenic Byway country and residents looking for entertainment and a way to burn energy need look no further than the heart of La Grande. The Maridell Center now features “Laser Pirates,” along with pool, ping-pong and arcades for the whole family. If you’ve never played laser tag, you might be surprised to discover that it’s not just for kids. Although kids enjoy it immensely, adults often find it’s a blast as well. The 2,500 square foot Pirate-themed arena rivals those of much larger cities. Utilizing their years of experience building haunted house attractions, Maridell Center owners Jay and Jeri Mackley put their heart and talent into designing an excellent set and course, resulting in challenging, dynamic, unique and fun play. Laser Pirates offers two different kinds of guns to choose from– regular and shocking! The shock guns deliver a mild shock through the handle of the gun when you get hit, which really adds to the competitive nature of the game. Shocking guns are limited to players 14 years of age and over but the regular guns are great for all ages.

“People are loving it!” reports Jeri Mackley. “We’ve had people tell us that this is the best Laser Tag arena they have ever seen. Soon we will be adding games set up for more than just point-and-shoot, but also including the option for objective and team-based game play.” Games are 15 minutes long and the cost is $5.50 per person. Laser Tag is open Tuesday through Saturday 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Also new at the Maridell Center is “Little Ochy’s”, located inside the Maridell Center and offering a variety of Mexican and American foods including tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, Monterey jack cheese steak sandwiches, chicken wings and lots more. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, Little Ochy’s uses all fresh and homemade ingredients. Little Ochy’s is open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Purchased in 2010 by Jay and Jeri Mackley, Maridell Center was formerly the Elks Lodge and the original portion of the building dates back to 1914. When the Elks Club disbanded a few years ago, the empty building at first seemed a challenge for city officials working on downtown revitalization. During the past year the Mackleys have been renovating and building attractions in much of the space while holding events in other areas of the building. “We have had concerts, dances, reunions, dinner theater, birthdays and you name it here,” says Jeri Mackley. The Maridell Center has a large banquet hall with dance floor, a party room for birthdays and smaller groups and the game room, as well as the Laser Tag arena and Little Ochy’s restaurant.

The Maridell Center it is located at 1124 Washington Avenue, on the corner of Washington and Depot in downtown La Grande, Oregon. For more information, visit www.maridellcenter.com, call 541-963-2023, or like Maridell Center on Facebook.