Aaron

Aaron

Beautiful fall colors in Oregon’s parks, vibrant leaves, serene pond, and peaceful nature scene in Portland, Oregon.
Explore Oregon, Trip Planners

Fall for Ashland

As the days shorten, the Rogue Valley’s dramatic hamlet is a little spooky and a lot awesome written by James Sinks With its renowned theatrical festival, international culinary scene, public university and smorgasbord of outdoor recreation pursuits, it might not feel fair to call Ashland a ghost town. Then again, you might not be wrong. Paranormal reports abound in the hamlet in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, from the ghost of a 1930s actor lurking at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to one that stomps the hallways at the Columbia Hotel downtown. “Based on the stories I’ve heard, the spirits here are more mischievous than murderous,” chuckled 74-year-old Peter Finkle, a local historian who leads art and history walking tours. His most popular, by far, explores Haunted Ashland. Even if you don’t bump into apparitions, you’ll still be spirited away—and quite busy—in Oregon’s drama capital. Zigzag from dusty mountain trails to U-pick…

Happy beer mug cartoon character winning race with medals, racing to finish line, celebrating success, in a playful illustration for Oregon lifestyle, beverages, and local culture.
Food+Drink, Live Oregon

Beer Competitions and Why You Should Care

written by Jeremy Storton | illustration by Edwin Ouellette A woman once walked into the shop where I sold beer and wine. We chatted about her dinner plans, and I offered a few perfect pairings. Instead of taking my advice, she reached for two bottles from the bottom shelf and said, “I’ll just go with these. They’re safe.” Her word “safe” shook me. After all, a great bottle isn’t about safety or security—it’s about joy and adventure. I’ve thought about that moment ever since. What I think she really expressed was the overwhelm of so many choices, compounded by the fear of disappointment after spending hard-earned money. Luckily, there is a way to enjoy a flavor adventure without the risk.  For years, I’ve sat at a little round table with rows of mystery beer in small cups waiting for me and other beer judges to blindly evaluate them. Judging beer…

A picturesque view of Oregon vineyards at sunrise, with rolling hills, lush grapevines, and distant mountains, highlighting Oregon's renowned wine country and scenic beauty.
Featured

7 Pastoral Wine Getaways in Oregon

Fall for These Wine Country Escapes written by Jean Chen Smith Oregon tips the scale at more than 1,100 wineries in the state, making it the ideal destination for a wine country getaway. Fall is the harvest season for the majority of vineyards, when grapes are ripe for picking, and properties are abuzz with activity. Grapevines are at the apex of their beauty with an abundance of grapes. It is my favorite time to visit wineries. There are many options when it comes to choosing romantic accommodations after a day of wine tasting. Some wineries offer luxurious lodging where you can sip and stay, enjoying an immersive experience. Surrounded by the beauty of the vines, staying on a working vineyard is a unique getaway. Boutique hotels and small inns also make an excellent choice when visiting wine country. Fall head over heels for these idyllic stops. CARLTON Abbey Road Farm…

Covered wagon in a rural Oregon landscape during sunset, showcasing Oregon history and pioneer heritage, ideal for Oregon travel, culture, and scenic exploration.
Explore Oregon, Trip Planners

Baker City: Gateway to Eastside Adventure

The (Oregon) trailhead to eastside adventure written by James Sinks When 1850s-era wagon trains on the Oregon Trail creaked across what was known as Virtue Flat, near present-day Baker City, they didn’t see much reason to stop. Lots of sagebrush and dust. No coffee. Zero stars. But then prospectors found gold nearby in 1861, and the region developed a bit more cachet. Incorporated in 1874, Baker City swelled to become Oregon’s third-largest city in 1900, thanks to its prime location on the rails between Seattle and Salt Lake City. With a Chinatown, opera houses, luxury hotels and not-virtuous brothels, the so-called “Queen City of the Inland Empire” was royally flush with reasons to visit. Among the destinations then and now is the circa-1889 Geiser Grand Hotel. Today, bougie chandeliers and the dining room in a stained-glass-topped atrium offer a striking contrast to the sagging building rescued in the 1990s from…

Portland is the setting for portions of the vampire classic Twilight.
Featured

Oregon’s Iconic Movie Locations

MAKE ICONIC OREGON MOVIE LOCATIONS YOUR NEXT VACATION DESTINATION written by Jean Chen Smith Did you know more than 700 movies and television shows have been filmed in Oregon? If you are a film buff like me, visiting movie set locations makes for an entertaining vacation. Driven by interest in movie and television locations, “film tourism” is projected to grow in the upcoming years. From major motion pictures to indie films, here are some of our favorite film location destinations, with suggestions of where to stay and dine so you can get into full travel mode. Twilight PORTLAND Although many films have been shot in Portland, we chose Twilight because of the beautiful cinematography that captures the atmosphere of the city. It centers on the lives of high schoolers Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) as they fall in love under dangerous circumstances because of Edward’s family…

Morel cream sauce over pasta is down to earth and otherworldly.
Farm to Table, Live Oregon

Foraging Morels in Oregon Forests

written by Thor Erickson | photography by Tambi Lane The early morning mist still clung to the Douglas firs when we pulled off the gravel forest road just east of the Cascades near Sisters. It was early summer, the sweet spot for morel mushroom season, and I was with my good friends Thomas and his son Chris. I’ve nicknamed Chris “the Mushroom Wizard” based on his knowledge and skill in the world of mushroom foraging—and his likeness to a wizard. We’d been texting back and forth about this excursion for weeks, waiting for just the right moment when the morels were up. We each carried a mesh bag, a pocket knife and a glint in the eye that only morel hunters know: hope, laced with visions of how we would use the fungi in our kitchens. We hiked for a half mile in silence, not wanting to tip off anyone…

Ellen Waterston sees poetry as a unifier across Oregon’s divides.
Live Oregon, Notebook

Poet in Motion

Oregon’s poet laureate brings verse to every corner of Oregon interview by Cathy Carroll Ellen Waterson of Bend is midway through a two-year term as Oregon’s poet laureate. Poetry has always been at the center of her writing, and she is also the author of three award-winning literary nonfiction books: Walking the High Desert, Where the Crooked River Rises and Then There Was No Mountain. Waterston founded the Writing Ranch, offering retreats and workshops for established and emerging writers, and the literary arts nonprofit, The Nature of Words, which she directed for more than a decade. She also founded the Waterston Desert Writing Prize, annually recognizing a nonfiction book proposal that examines the role of deserts in the human narrative, now a program of the High Desert Museum. Her latest book is We Could Die Doing This, Dispatches on Ageing from Oregon’s Outback, a collection of essays. What are some…

Modern tiny home with ocean view and outdoor deck in Oregon, surrounded by lush trees
Explore Oregon, Lodging

Luxury Glamping at Oregon’s Two Capes Lookout

written by Kerry Newberry | photography by Karolina Pora Photography On a 58-acre stretch about 10 miles from Pacific City, safari-style domes and sleek glass cabins sprout from a lushly forested landscape. As you cruise by the quiet shores of Tierra del Mar, you’d miss the coast’s new luxe glamping retreat if you didn’t know to look for it. Two Capes Lookout sits less than two hours from Portland but feels a world away—one that at first glance features the futuristic galactic dwellings from Star Wars. That is until you step inside. The modern yet woodsy interiors were brought to life by Max Humphrey, a nationally renowned designer and author based in Portland. With high ceilings and walls of windows, both the domes and cabins feel airy and expansive despite the small footprint. And you’ll find thoughtful accents throughout—from pour-over coffee stations to sustainable, evergreen-patterned blankets from locally owned Seek…

Don’t miss the Idaho Potato Museum, located in an old train depot and exploring the history and cultivation of the area’s claim to fame.
Explore Oregon, Northwest Destination

Blackfoot, Idaho: Get Fried and Baked (Potatoes)

Eastern Idaho’s Blackfoot celebrates tantalizing taters, and the outdoors written by James Sinks As the saying goes, it’s like the other vegetables aren’t even trying. A veritable vestige of versatility, potatoes can be enjoyed baked, boiled, shredded and browned. Tater Totted and curly fried. They make chips addicting, mashers magical, gnocchi noshable and latkes luscious. And the tour de force? Hello, vodka. The friendly potato also helps stave off scurvy thanks to abundant vitamin C. And as a good source of fiber, they’ll keep you on the go. Because they do so much to improve our earthly lives, you’ll be pleased to know there’s a place to celebrate the tubular tubers. Appropriately enough, it’s in Idaho. The city of Blackfoot, which dubs itself the Potato Capital of the World, invites visitors to prowl the Idaho Potato Museum, an homage in a 5,500-square-foot former train depot. You’ll know you’ve arrived because…