Travel & Outdoors

Life & Style 'Once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon': Joshua trees in unusual bloom (Photo Gallery)

By Associated Press Published: Apr 11, 2013 at 12:27 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 11, 2013 at 12:27 PM PDT

Joshua trees, those spiky sentinels of the Mojave Desert, are having a blossom bonanza and nobody is quite sure why.

Life & Style Astoria sea lions: pests or tourist attraction?

By Associated Press Published: Apr 11, 2013 at 7:12 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 11, 2013 at 7:13 AM PDT

Sea lions: marina pests or tourist attraction? That was the debate that broke out at a special meeting Tuesday of the Port of Astoria commission.

Life & Style 400-year-old ring-dated log missing from Sedro-Woolley (Video)

By Jamie Lynn Published: Apr 11, 2013 at 5:57 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 11, 2013 at 10:50 AM PDT

A $500 reward is being offered to find the log that dates back to before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth.

Life & Style Dogs sniff out illegal wildlife in ongoing fight against smugglers (Photo Gallery)

By KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 10, 2013 at 2:56 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 10, 2013 at 4:23 PM PDT

Wildlife traffickers have something new to worry about - getting caught by one of the wildlife detector dogs that have been specially trained to sniff out smuggled wildlife.

Life & Style Bird hazing begins at the coast in effort to protect young salmon

By KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 11, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 10, 2013 at 10:15 AM PDT

Hundreds of young salmon are now making their way to the ocean and wildlife officials want to make sure they can get there without getting picked off by hungry birds.

Life & Style Albuquerque tops list for pet friendly travels, Portland comes in at #2

By Associated Press Published: Apr 10, 2013 at 9:11 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 10, 2013 at 9:15 AM PDT

Albuquerque has been named America's best city for four-legged travelers.

Life & Style All-paraplegic race team: 'Don't ever believe you can't do anything' (Photo Gallery)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: Apr 9, 2013 at 1:38 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 9, 2013 at 8:39 PM PDT

To watch them ride, you wouldn't think they were different from any other guys who were out on the race course this past weekend competing for top honors. But there is something unique about this group.

Life & Style The fruit trees are in bloom... time for the Blossom Festival

By KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 8, 2013 at 7:05 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 8, 2013 at 7:05 AM PDT

There's nothing quite like a sea of fruit trees in bloom to soothe your blues and brighten your spirits.

Life & Style Gun club, now bordered by urban sprawl, hits 100-year mark (Photo Gallery)

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: Apr 5, 2013 at 11:27 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 26, 2013 at 1:31 PM PDT

Folks have been shooting clay targets at the Portland Gun Club for a very long time - 100 years to be exact.

Life & Style Wildlife web cams from around the world

By Shannon L. Cheesman, Multimedia Journalist / Travel & Outdoors Published: Apr 5, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM PDT

It's not often you get to see wildlife in its natural habitat - humans tend to spook creatures into hiding.

Life & Style Photos: You don't have to go to D.C. to enjoy the cherry blossoms (Photo Gallery)

Published: Apr 3, 2013 at 6:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:36 PM PDT

Life & Style Travel spotlight: Kyoto with kids (Photo Gallery)

By ADAM GELLER, AP National Writer Published: Apr 4, 2013 at 8:00 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 12:17 PM PDT

You never know how kids will react to new experiences, but not to worry. "Daddy," my daughter said, beaming as we headed for more rapids, "this must be the best summer ever!"

Life & Style This sea lion has got the groove (Video)

By CNN Published: Apr 3, 2013 at 9:13 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 10:42 AM PDT

You can bet the Backstreet Boys and Earth, Wind and Fire never imagined they'd appeal to the Sea Lion demo. But a musical mammal is making waves by keeping to the beat in the name of science. Jeanne Moos grooves with a sea lion you've gotta see.

Life & Style Bend teen is first with Down syndrome to reach Everest base camp

By KATU.com Staff Published: Apr 2, 2013 at 5:09 PM PDT Last Updated: Apr 3, 2013 at 4:00 PM PDT

A 15-year-old boy from Bend, Oregon scaled Mt. Everest and became the first person with Down syndrome to reach the Nepal base camp.

Life & Style Trekking the backcountry with splitboards (Photo Gallery)

By MARK MORICAL, The Bulletin Published: Apr 2, 2013 at 11:51 AM PDT Last Updated: Apr 2, 2013 at 11:51 AM PDT

TODD LAKE, Ore. (AP) — We finally crested the ridge, and it was time to remove the skins and put our snowboards together.

"Rip hide!" Carlos Cummings yelled, as the wind howled and the heavy snowfall swirled around us.