Denise Seith & Co. Marketing, Advertising, Travel Writing

The northern panhandle of Idaho holds a special scene for RVers looking for something unique. There lies a great mix of beauty, mountain recreation, history and a whole lot of shiny stuff— silver that is. Some of the richest silver deposits ever discovered were first found here in the early 1880s. Wallace, Idaho, known officially as the Silver Capital of the World, is one of 14 historic towns tucked into Idaho's Silver Valley. The Valley stretches about 40 miles, mostly along Interstate 90 alongside the Coeur d'Alene River to the Montana border. The Valley's Coeur d'Alene Mining District is still one of the largest silver-mining regions in the world, and has produced more than a billion ounces over the past century.

"If it's not grown, it's got to be mined," Lenny the mine guide stated  matter-of-factly as he lead our hard hat-wearing group into the dim, camp underground Sierra Silver Mine. "If you really think about it, you'll realize how true that is," he continued proudly. "The manufacture of everyday products requires silver, gold, copper, lead, zinc and other minerals."

Nicknamed "Smurf" by his former coworkers because of his... article continued at Trailer Life

They say location is everything, and Oregon’s capital city is certainly proof. Nicely situated on the banks of the meandering Willamette River in the middle of the fertile Willamette Valley, Salem is both pretty and convenient. It’s also fun to note that the city is right off Interstate 5, halfway between the North Pole and the equator on the 45th Parallel! With a locale like that, Salem is as easy to find on a map as it is enjoyable to explore. No bustling bypasses and confusing freeways run through this capital city. Instead, downtown Salem offers plenty of easy parking (it's best to bring your towed car), is loaded with history, and boasts highlights within short distances of each other.

Half open-air museum, half indoor tour (outdoor exhibits are free), Mission Mill Museum is the best place to learn about two groups that were important to Oregon’s early history — missionaries and industrialists. Founded in 1841, Salem is one of the oldest cities in the United States' "far west." So even prior to the celebrated Oregon Trail migration, which brought wagonloads of pioneers from the East, Jason Lee's Methodist Mission was going strong. The stark white Jason Lee House and...  Read the full article here. http://www.fmca.com/index.php/magazine/features/3092-salem-oregon-a-capital-idea

They say all that glitters in not gold, which is especially true in the Gem State where garnets, opals, and jasper sparkle just as brightly. Back in the late 1870s, though, it was mostly the gleam of gold that attracted prospectors to the Yankee Fork of Idaho's Salmon River. And where gold glimmered yesterday, it often means gold rush ghost towns are found today. The twins towns of Bonanza City and Custer are fine examples of once-booming mining settlements gone bust and are well worth a visit when traveling through scenic central Idaho. You'll aslo find the Yankee Fork Gold Dredge located on the same road. Both ghost towns and the dredge are nine miles down... read the rest of the article here.

On February 14, 2009, Oregon will turn 150 and you’re invited to a sweetheart of a sesquicentennial celebration! In honor of the milestone birthday, Oregon's seven distinctive regions— the coast, Portland metro, Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood, Willamette Valley, southern Oregon, eastern Oregon, central Oregon— will host special events and activities throughout the year. But even without these extra festivities, the Beaver State's scenic corridors are always something to celebrate. From the Pacific Ocean to the Cascade Range, from the high desert to the historic and unpretentious towns, the Beaver State beckons with hundreds of reasons to stock up the RV and hit the road! 

Oregon turns 150 on February 14, and you’re invited to its border-to-border birthday party! In honor of the milestone, each of the state’s seven distinctive regions is hosting special events and activities throughout the year. Even without these extra festivities, Oregon's scenic corridors are always something to celebrate, so whether you’re a windshield tourist or wilderness explorer, now’s the time to plan a day trip, long weekend, or extended vacation. And since all the regions are an easy drive from the Mid-Willamette Valley, there’s no reason not to get reacquainted with the Beaver State this year—and enjoy a slice of birthday cake while you’re at it. Don’t forget your camera! Scattered along 360 miles of stunning coastline is an abundance of charming towns, historic sites, and lofty lighthouses. To see it all, begin up north with a bird’s eye view from...

The adventure begins with a ferry ride. The Washington State ferry system is easy to use, and the scenery along the water route is magnificent. After parking your rig on board (the ferries can accommodate even the largest RVs), choose a comfy seat next to a large window on one of the ferry’s upper decks. Then sit back and relax with a snack or a beverage as the ferry sails by lush wooded islands, hidden coves and marinas. Watch for glimpses of marine wildlife and enjoy the distant panoramas of Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountains. Four islands dominate the San Juan Archipelago—San Juan, Lopez, Orcas, Shaw. Each island has its own unique personality and special attractions, and all boast of beautiful scenery and are ideal for... read the rest of the story online 

Just about anyone who has seen the 1977 science fiction film Close Encounters of the Third Kind will think about it when they first see Devils Tower, located in northeastern Wyoming. But after you park your motrohome in the lot, thoughts of alien spaceships fade to black. The distinctive 1,267-foot monolith and surrounding scenic countryside easily capture your attention without the help of Hollywood, as does the large prairie dog colony and numerous hiking and climbing options. If you're short on time, that's OK. The highlights are covered in a condensed area, so you'll still get the full experience even if you can't extend your stay to include the campground. Located where the pine forests of the Black Hills meet the rolling prairie grasslands and meandering Belle Fourche River, the monument's proper name is actually Devils Tower, not Devil's Tower (a clerical error on early governmental paperwork mistakenly omitted the apostrophe). The name was derived from the Native Americans who referred to it as "the bad god's tower." Believing that "the devil's tower" was a better English translation...

Famous for its hot springs and majestic mountain setting, Banff National Park is the most popular destination for visitors to the Canadian Rockies. Although the birthplace of Canada’s national park system shouldn’t be missed, neither should the scenic splendors in adjacent Kootenay and Yoho National Parks. Smaller, quieter, yet over-flowing with thick wilderness, glistening lakes, rushing rivers, and jagged snowy peaks, lesser-known Kootenay and Yoho are no less picturesque than busy Banff. Wildlife-watchers certainly won’t be disappointed in Kootenay and Yoho.  Fewer crowds usually mean more animal sightings— particularly the “big ones” such as bear, moose, elk, and bighorn sheep. If you do encounter black bears chomping dandelions beside the road or bighorn sheep blocking an entire lane...

Looking for that million-miles-away-from-it-all feeling that only an island setting can provide? Prefer to get there in the comfort of your roomy RV instead of a confining airliner seat?  Northeastern Ohio’s scenic Lake Erie Islands can give you an off-the-mainland escape within the lower 48. Now, you might be surprised, that the Buckey State has islands, but more than a dozen small isles (not all inhabited) lay between mainland Ohio and Ontario to the north. No palm fronds sway in the breezes here, but you won’t miss the typical tropical setting that “island” usually brings to mind. The most popular and populated, close-in South Bass and Kelleys Islands, are as carefree and charming as any saltwater island retreat—minus the geckos and coconuts. Each island has its own personality—South Bass is more...

Central Oregon’s High Desert is the prettiest, most diverse desert you’ll probably ever see—no lackluster sand and scrub here!  Instead, sweet-smelling ponderosa pines and juniper surround fish-filled rivers and gleaming lakes while striking snowy peaks create a beautiful backdrop. It all adds up to a picture-perfect setting that looks good, smells good, and provides a million-miles-away-from-it-all feeling. Opportunities to fly fish, hike, bike, boat, golf, and much more are as plentiful as the eye-catching scenery, so bring along your camera and outdoor gear. Camp Sherman, a tiny wooded community on the banks of the Metolius River, is the heart of the Metolius Recreation Area. For well over 100 years now it has remained a peaceful respite, a place to slow down and reconnect with nature. And as with most small towns, the general store is the hub of it all. With wooden floors and old-fashioned gas pumps, the 88-year old Camp Sherman Store is reminiscent of days gone by. Small but well-stocked, RVers will find everything from a gourmet lunch to a week's worth of groceries, plus a large selection of wines, maps and books, over 1,000 fishing flies, and even souvenir T-shirts. The post office attached to the store is not only for mailing scenic postcards back home, it also serves as an informal book and magazine exchange—take a free one and leave another in its place. An elementary school, miniature church, community hall, campgrounds, and resort-style cabins next to the fine dining Kokanee Café, round out the miniature neighborhood. Chances are good that a pancake feed, steak roast, or similar special event will be happening during your visit. Everyone is encouraged to join in......

After the Rally in Redmond, Oregon next month, save time to explore more of the Pacific Northwest with a road trip north. Interstate 5 connects the Beaver State to the Evergreen State, and with as many scenic attractions as there are miles of road, spectacular sight-seeing is assured—majestic mountains, volcanic peaks, a lengthy coastline, abundant wildlife, and pleasant cities filled with creature comforts when you need a break from Washington’s natural beauty.  Since October 2004, Mount St. Helens has been intermittently reminding us that she’s far from dormant. Although the present volcanic action isn’t as dramatic as the last major eruption 27 years ago, the new lava dome inside the crater continues to slowly grow, emitting low levels of steam, gas, and ash. Of course the seismic activity could...

Towering granite formations, rivers so rich they once started a Gold Rush, and pine forests so thick the hillsides look black from a distance, you won't want to be without a camera in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest. The wildlife is plentiful, too—thousands of free-roaming buffalo, spry pronghorns, shaggy bighorn sheep, and even shy prairie dogs. To experience it all, head to the second largest state park in the country—Custer State Park! Although several routes lead to Custer, two are especially scenic and almost as rewarding as the park itself. Iron Mountain Road (US 16A) enters the northeastern part of the park and provides grand vistas of the Black Hills' rough-hewn peaks and profuse pine forests. The road is also 17 paved miles of hairpin curves, "pigtails"  which are unusual bridges that double back...

On the banks of the Willamette River in the center of the fertile Willamette Valley, Salem has always been a gathering place—first for the Kalapuya Native Americans, then for pioneers, missionaries and industrialists, and eventually for state government and commerce. Today, it remains an ideal location for residents and visitors alike to get together and enjoy unique sights, interesting history, fun activities, and special events. And although Salem is the beaver state’s capital city, there are no bustling bypasses, confusing overpasses, heavy traffic, or other annoyances to discourage downtown visits. Instead, you’ll find plenty of free street and garage parking, and the city’s highlights are within short distances of each other. Begin your visit at Salem’s Riverfront Park with a magical ride on the...

The High Desert of Central Oregon is sometimes called “Oregon’s Outback” because of its dry climate, high elevation, and open expanse. But it’s no ordinary desert filled with sand and scrub. In fact, sweet-smelling Ponderosa and lodgepole pine forests, sage, juniper, winding rivers, and grazing llamas create spectacular roadside scenery that’s anything but desolate. And that’s just the lower half of the landscape—any number of snow-covered Cascade Mountain peaks are sure to fill your windshield and side mirrors. Besides providing a beautiful backdrop, the Cascade Mountain Range actually creates the dry, sunny climate of Oregon’s High Desert. By forming a physical barrier, moist air from the Pacific Ocean (about 125 miles away) generally doesn’t reach the area very often, and when it does, it’s usually in the form of winter snow. Most of the region sits at 3,100 feet elevation or higher, so even when sunny summer days average 80 degrees or better, make sure the furnace in your trailer is working at night because the temperature can dip to 40 degrees. And occasionally there’s even frost. Sisters Country is situated on Highway 20 on the east side of the Cascades, about 135 miles southeast of Portland and 110 miles east of Salem, and includes not only the western town of Sisters, but also Camp Sherman and the outlying areas west of Bend and Redmond. Sisters Country is also the “Gateway to the Cascades,” so if outdoor recreation is in your plans, you won’t be disappointed. Abundant opportunities for fishing, hiking, biking, boating, mountain climbing...

A small child might use a simple word to describe southern Oregon’s Crater Lake—blue. Artists might portray the color as cobalt, sapphire, or indigo. Scientists might concentrate on the facts behind the brilliant shade. They'd explain that light's many colors are absorbed as they pass through the clear water, leaving only blue to reflect to the surface. But everyone agrees: on a sunny day, Crater Lake is the bluest blue they have ever seen. Seasoned travelers and first-time visitors alike never will forget their first breath-taking view of the vivid hue. With a maximum depth of 1,949 feet, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and seventh deepest in the entire world. It is uniquely situated in the caldera of a dormant volcano. The lake's amazing color can be attributed to the fact that it is a closed ecological system—no streams or rivers run into or drain out of it. It is, therefore, very low in sediment and fed entirely by snowfall and rainfall. Like distilled water, Crater Lake has no true color and a low concentration of dissolved minerals, which accounts for its crystal clarity. And the snowfall is high: this particular part of the Cascade Mountains averages 44 feet of snow per year. Visitors who arrive in August, when temperatures can reach highs in the 70s, may see large banks of leftover snow here and there. Since the lake loses approximately the same amount of water via evaporation and seepage as it gains, its water level rarely varies. Geologists know that Crater Lake’s 6-mile wide caldera was formed when Mt. Mazama volcano collapsed after...

Who are Ancestral Puebloans? It’s a mystery, really. Standing amidst stone ruins dating back to the 12th century, you can’t help wondering why, after building such huge structures with hundreds of interconnected rooms, the inhabitants of these ancient Southwest communities would vanish from the land. Was it because of drought? Depletion of natural resources? Were they driven out by someone or something? Or perhaps they didn’t really disappear, but simply migrated somewhere else?  Archeologists don’t have all the answers as to exactly what caused the many Southwestern home sites in the Four Corners region of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona to become uninhabited, but they do know that within just a few generations of the pueblos’ construction, the early builders seemingly abandoned their homes, leaving behind fascinating ruins to pique travelers’ curiosity. Who would do that and why? Who is easier to answer—for years, the word Anasazi has been used to refer to early inhabitants of the Southwest, however, that term is no longer favored. Today, the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest who consider themselves descents of the prehistoric Indians prefer Ancestral Puebloan. Furthermore, modern Pueblo peoples do not view the great stone communities as having been "abandoned." They believe that their ancestors purposely migrated to the south, east, and west—to the Hopi Mesas, along the Rio Grande, and around Zuni Mountain. They also feel that the spirits of their ancestors...

Flight-seeing with a bush pilot around the Alaska Range is an adventure way beyond “ooh” and “ah.”  It’s magical, spiritual, breath-taking—and the superlatives don’t stop there. Our two-hour Peak Dodger air adventure was a chance to savor, not just see, the majesty of the striated granite mountains, the carved paths of the glaciers, and the rugged white snowscape contrasting against bright blue sky. I’ve never seen more natural beauty in such a short time. Climbing into the tiny confines of a Cessna 185, camera and extra film in hand, I was more than just a little nervous. My no-fear husband Larry, however, eagerly claimed the co-pilot seat. P.J., our bush pilot, put me at ease with his sense of humor and emergency preparedness. Alaskan law mandates that, among other things, food, blankets, first-aid equipment and survival hunting/fishing gear be carried on back-country flights. So, with our seat belts securely buckled, sunglasses protecting against the bright glare, and no tray tables to stow, we took off from Talkeetna State Airport bound for the snowy mountains on the nearby horizon. Shortly after take-off my trepidation turned into tingling excitement. Two thousand feet below me lay miles of remote wilderness rarely seen by outsiders. From my bird’s eye advantage, hidden rivers, lakes, and homesteads came into view. In no time, the thick forest gave way to humongous monoliths of ice, snow, and rock. We flew straight for them—as well as around, over, down and in-between the peaks.

If you like celebrations and art, now is the perfect time to travel abroad and explore the eclectic capital city of Amsterdam. It’s Rembrandt van Rijn’s 400th birthday (1606-1669) and Holland is throwing a year-long party to honor its greatest 17th-century painter! But even if you’re not interested in the original old master’s work hanging in the Rijksmuseum or touring the home where he lived for 19 years, other things we think of as quaintly Dutch—windmills, wooden shoes, tulips—are also found in and around Amsterdam. And so are scenic canals, skinny gabled townhouses, the Anne Frank House, and thousands of bicycles and bridges.  Besides touring the city’s dignified diamond factories and museums, there’s also the more liberal, yet absolutely legal, side of Amsterdam that’s worth a visit. From the not-so-sleazy red-light district that’s run like a bonafide business, to “coffeehouses” selling more varieties of cannabis....

Visitors to Paris spend much of their time looking up—at the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and at a myriad of monuments and tall church towers. But for a different perspective on the City of Light—one that's filled with history, a bit of intrigue, and just plain fun—venture beneath the streets of Paris. Two of my favorite highlights are actually found under low lighting conditions.

L'Empire de la Mort — Empire of the Dead
In 1785, the Revolutionary Government of Paris set out to improve sanitation and create more prime downtown real estate to enable the city’s progress. The best way to do that was to reclaim land that, for centuries, had been used as cemeteries. Thus, the bones and decomposing corpses of 6 million Parisians were emptied from city cemeteries and relocated to...

Our specialty is working with non-profits and start-up companies. We understand real budgets and real deadlines and won't waste your time or money while we help you to establish your brand, design your first logo, and create key collateral. Need a copywriter, a ghostblogger, graphic designer, creative-idea-generator, media buyer, print manager, help with a website, and a double-tall-skinny-latte right about now? Or simply some well-written text for a newsletter and a cup of black coffee? Denise Seith & Co. Marketing / Advertising can help! We're in Dallas, just a few minutes from downtown Salem, Oregon, but our clients are located in many states.