Photo by CorriAnne Photography + Design

Hi! My name is Matt Wastradowski, and I’m a travel and outdoors writer based in Portland, Oregon.

Whether on assignment or just for fun, chances are good I’m usually doing something that deepens my passion and enthusiasm for the Beaver State and the broader Pacific Northwest.

In recent years, I’ve visited nearly 150 breweries and cideries, hiked hundreds of miles, and driven roughly 20,000 miles around Oregon. I’ve camped in tents, yurts, and fire lookouts. And I’ve spent countless hours exploring seemingly every backcountry road this state has to offer, often with no bars on my iPhone.

It wasn’t always like this …

A Bit About Me and My Experience:

Coming out of college, my career goals were simple: Make a living with words. I’d figure out the rest later, but the gist was to get out of stocking shelves and rounding up carts at my local grocery store. And if I could put my shiny new liberal arts degree to good use, all the better!

Since graduating in 2005, I’ve ….

Written front-page articles for my hometown newspaper
Became that newspaper’s first social media coordinator
Wrote marketing copy for my alma mater’s arch-enemy
Told the stories of inspiring patients and doctors at a Portland-based cancer center
Edited emails, websites, proposals, and marketing copy for progressive politicians and nonprofits
Pivoted toward a career centered on travel and outdoors writing, with a special nod to Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, and the region’s many wonders

I won’t bore you with a full-fledged resume here, but suffice to say: My 21-year-old self was onto something when he pined for a writing career. And, with luck, the best is yet to come.

No matter the assignment or editor, I pride myself on three things: turning in clean and compelling copy, maintaining a positive demeanor, and meeting deadlines—no matter the circumstances.

Selected Stories:

In recent years, I’ve worked to channel my energy and enthusiasm into a career as a travel and outdoors writer. Here are a few of my favorite stories (travel and otherwise) to date.