The Waffle Window

by Matt Dela Peña

Portland has a treasure trove's worth of shimmering gems hidden within its ninety-five neighborhoods that even some of its own residents don’t quite know about. Because that’s just the thing about this hipster-run metropolis: the locals don’t really want you to know about them.

Let's start with Crater Lake

by Matt Dela Peña

Hike up Garfield Peak. You'll be glad you did ;)

I have a belief that we, regardless of where we're from, tend to take for granted the beauty that is in our very own backyard. Well, that's the case for me anyway.

You see, I've spent the majority of my life thus far as a resident of the state of Oregon, despite at first being a Filipino immigrant to California, and this September marks my 9th year living here—roughly half my current lifetime. So, I truly consider myself an Oregonian despite what anyone else might say.

Aloha wau ia Hawai'i: My top 5 O'ahu experiences

by Matt Dela Peña

One of the perks of going to university is that the students you attend it with tend to hail from different parts of the world. In the case of my school, a lot of these folks come from the state of Hawaii. Before I met my college friends, the extent of my knowledge of the 50th state was just that—it was the 50th state (and I guess Lilo & Stitch).

San Francisco: A mini photolog

by Matt Dela Peña

Let's see. I haven't been to the Bay Area in five years. I decided to take the trip down with a couple of strangers when I realized I would have nothing to do at home over spring break. Is that a little crazy?

Couchsurfing and traveling

by Matt Dela Peña

Slowly, but surely!

Last year, I discovered an online community dedicated to penny-pinching backpackers who can request to be hosted by their fellow travelers—for free—in the cities they're going to visit. It's called Couchsurfing.

Oly and the Emerald City pt. 2

by Matt Dela Peña

We spent our third and final day together as a group in Olympia. In the morning, we hiked around a nearby forest which had a muddy trail that led to a rocky beach perched on the coast of Puget Sound. I can't remember the name of the park but it was nice.

Oly and the Emerald City pt. 1

by Matt Dela Peña

For this year's spring break, the gang had originally planned to go to Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho, but the idea ultimately failed when we found out that the park wasn't even going to be open during that week. As a result, we each ended up making separate plans. However, most of us did manage to agree upon a group trip to Washington, and spend the first weekend of spring break at Josie's house in good ol' rural Olympia.

When I root, I root for the Timbers!

by Matt Dela Peña

Everyone, minus Devan :[

The world gives us a ton of crap for being the only country in the world that doesn't embrace soccer. However, it's pretty likely that these, for the lack of a better word, arrogant European soccer fans haven't been to Portland, Oregon. Well, Portland is home to the MLS team Portland Timbers, whose fan base, the so-called Timbers Army, can rival that of any team in the Champions League.

Honey Toast Cafe

by Matt Dela Peña

If you're looking to settle a sweet tooth craving and experience one of the more hip, metropolitan-Euro-Asian fusion parts of Portland at the same time, then look no further than in Beaverton, a town just west of downtown.

Voodoo and Phở

by Matt Dela Peña

Ever since Spring semester started, I've been stuck in the metro area with pretty much nothing to do. During such occasions, I always go to Portland with some friends just to walk around and find new places to eat. In a tradition that dates back to high school, I now pretty much know most of the downtown area like the back of my hand.

My first snowboarding experience

by Matt Dela Peña

Blurry iPhone pic. Because iPhone.

Since moving to Oregon nearly eight years ago, I have never been to the Cascades. My family has a chronic fear of driving in snow. Thus, it has been quite embarrassing to know that so many of my friends from places like Hawaii have already managed to visit that part of my own state. So yesterday, I went snowboarding for the first time.

Not just on The Strip

by Matt Dela Peña

Most people go to Las Vegas for The Strip. Facts unchecked, it is probably where 100% of the city's tourism revenue comes from. As an Oregon hipster, I wanted my Sin City experience to be less mainstream, so I sought after a local who knew more things to do in the city than just hop around the hotels that surround Las Vegas Boulevard.