Karen Brown's Pacific Northwest guide

The Karen Brown series of guidebooks celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, but if the name is new to you, take a look at one of the 2007 guides. From the charming cover - a painting of an inn - to the easy-to-follow itineraries, easy-to-read typeface and slightly old-fashioned tone, the guides offer a gentle and inviting alternative to the fact-packed travel books that can sometimes feel like encyclopedias.

"Karen Brown's Pacific Northwest" ($19.95) takes you from Oregon through Washington and up to the southern tip of British Columbia. About half the book offers sample itineraries, and half covers interesting inns and other places to stay. The emphasis on accommodation is a hallmark of the Karen Brown series.

Recommendations for Oregon include Ashland, home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and nearby wineries like Weisinger's Vineyard, Ashland Vineyards and Valley View Winery, along with natural wonders like Oregon Caves National Monument, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, the Columbia River Gorge Scenic River Area, and Mount Hood, the state's highest peak at 11,235 feet. Mount St. Helens and its famous volcano include a must-see stop at the Johnston Ridge Observatory and a walk along a trail for dramatic views.

For Portland, the book recommends stops at Powell's City of Books, the Oregon History Center, the Portland Art Museum, Washington Park, the Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Classical Chinese Garden, Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the Pearl District and Nob Hill District, Forest Park and Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Oregon Wines on Broadway is described as a charming wine bar, while Brewbus is a four-hour tour of breweries.

Places to stay around the state recommended in the Karen Brown guide include Country Willows Bed & Breakfast Inn, Morical House Garden Inn and Peerless Hotel in Ashland; Cricketwood Country Bed & Breakfast in Bend; Campbell House in Eugene; Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River; Mount Hood Hamlet Bed & Breakfast in Mount Hood; and The Benson, The Governor Hotel, The Heathman, and Heron Haus in Portland.

For more information on the 17 guides in the Karen Brown series, which include destinations in Europe, Mexico and the U.S., visit http://www.karenbrown.com.