Explore Oregon

Vintage gramophone with a large horn, placed on a wooden table with a floral tablecloth, in a room with floral wallpaper and framed artwork.

Explore Pendleton’s Underground History

Discover the sultry past of Pendleton through its underground history written by Joni Kabana | photography by Travel Pendleton In the town of Pendleton, history presents itself as you walk alongside old buildings, peruse the interiors of shops and read heritage signage. But did you know remnants of the region’s history are also found underground? The Pendleton Underground offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into a wilder chapter of the American West where legends and stories shaped one of Oregon’s most colorful frontier towns. At street level, downtown Pendleton is charming with brick storefronts and western heritage historical elements with the hum of a modern rural community. But descend a staircase into the Pendleton Underground, and suddenly the atmosphere shifts. Dimly lit tunnels and preserved passageways reveal how early Pendleton operated after dark in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Pendleton was a bustling railroad and wool hub in its boom…

Two people riding mountain bikes through grassy open fields in Oregon, wearing helmets and casual clothing, enjoying outdoor adventure.

Explore Hermiston and Oregon’s Rugged Country

From mountain biking to watermelon to vistas, discover sweetness and adventure in Oregon’s rugged country written by James Sinks Come summer, it’s good to keep two important things in mind about Hermiston, the agricultural and industrial hub that’s grown into Eastern Oregon’s largest city. First, there’s much more to the up-and-coming burb and the surrounding area than mouthwatering local watermelons. Dubbed Oregon’s “Rugged Country,” it’s a wide-open playground that many passersby miss en route to crowds elsewhere. Their loss. From fishing the Columbia to plying dusty biking trails to sampling street tacos to exploring farms and wineries along historical byways, you can easily fill a weekend and then some. And the second thing: Still get a watermelon (or two). Climate and soil conditions are near perfect for the juicy, messy, flavorful fruit—and that’s helped put Hermiston on the national map. The deliciousness is feted at two local summer festivals, and…

Scuba diver exploring vibrant coral reef with colorful marine life and diverse coral formations underwater.

Best Scuba Diving Near Seattle in Edmonds Underwater Park

A city park in the artsy Seattle suburb is one of the Northwest’s premier underwater attractions written by James Sinks In a very cool way, it’s a skate park. And also a crab park, an anemone park and a cod park. In the 1970s, a 27-acre property just offshore in the Seattle suburb of Edmonds was designated as a conservation area—and then became a city park for those brave enough for the Puget Sound’s chill. More than a half century later, the submerged playground now attracts some 25,000 scuba divers and snorkelers annually—making it one of the most-visited dive spots in the Pacific Northwest—and helps the public appreciate the importance, beauty and fragility of the ocean. Because marine life and birds are protected, you can’t fish, crab, kayak or bring dogs onto adjacent sand, so the place teems with colorful plants and animals starting at the water’s edge. Beneath the…

A historic brick building in Dayton, Oregon, with large windows and a tree-lined sidewalk, under a clear blue sky.

The Inn at Dayton: Oregon Wine Country Stay

written by Lauren Kramer | photography by The Inn at Dayton It takes a special kind of magic to transform three seriously dilapidated, adjacent buildings from 1911, 1913 and 1913 respectively into a stylish boutique hotel. That was the task architect Paul Falsetto faced as he designed the elegant Inn at Dayton, which opened in June 2025. The project required blending the Bank of Dayton, the Stuckey Building and the Harris Building, and Falsetto seamlessly merged them into a polished, twelve-room inn spread over 20,000 square feet. Guests can choose between upscale legacy rooms or heritage (standard) rooms, but its worth the splurge at this inn. The legacy rooms feature 20-foot ceilings, dual-sided electric fireplaces separating the sleeping quarters from the living rooms, and deca-dently comfortable furniture adorned with soft throws and high thread count linens. Perfect for a romantic retreat or a weekend of wine tasting with friends, the…

Group of performers in period costumes on stage, playing traditional instruments and singing, capturing Oregon's rich cultural heritage and lively musical traditions.

Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland

Spend an evening at Oregon Cabaret Theatre written by Joni Kabana Tucked just a few blocks from the bustle of downtown Ashland, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre glows like a vintage marquee dream. Housed in a beautifully restored 1911 church, the theater blends historic architecture with plush cabaret tables, candlelight and the hum of anticipation that only live performances can create. Unlike traditional theaters, the Cabaret invites audiences to settle in with a meal and a cocktail before the curtain rises. Its dinner theater is elevated with beautifully plated entrées, local wines and artful desserts served just steps from the stage. Performers are close enough to make eye contact, and you can see the flicker of emotion, the quick breath before a high note and the mischievous grin that lands a punchline. While the Oregon Shakespeare Festival often draws global attention, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre has carved out its own devoted…

Colorful hot air balloons floating over a calm Oregon river with lush green trees, reflecting in the water during a clear day.

Oregon Hot Air Balloon Ride Guide

Shift your perspective at sunrise—from a wicker basket thousands of feet above valleys, rivers and volcanic desert written by Cathy Carroll KSSSSH … KSSSSH … Short bursts of blue-orange propane flames shoot into the opening of a hot-air balloon as pilot Kelly Dorius launches her craft at sunrise over Newberg. Nine passengers join her, ready to float 2,000 feet above the Willamette Valley’s verdant landscape. Riding in a wicker basket attached to a balloon—no seat belts, rafts, detachable seat cushions, oxygen masks—had the palms of at least one passenger sweating. Dorius scanned the horizon intently with calm blue eyes, her deerskin-gloved hands working the fuel burners and altitude-regulating pulleys, exuding confidence. The clammy-handed passenger, with a death grip on the basket’s rope handles, let go just as lighter-than-air buoyancy took over. Heated air inside the balloon made it drift above the treetops, and then, silence—no roaring engines, no announcements, no…

Okanagan Valley in British Columbia is wine country. CedarCreek Estate Winery and others specialize in white wines such as pinot gris and sauvignon blanc.

Okanagan Valley Sparkling Wine Guide

Hunt for tart sparkling wines—and tasteful getaways—in Canada’s Okanagan country written by James Sinks More than 160 years ago, the first white settler put down roots in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Fittingly, those roots included wine grapes. Yet the inaugural vineyard, planted by a French Catholic priest, was only for sacramental wine. Blessedly, in the years since, modern-day winemakers set no such limitations. Today, trellises cover more than 10,000 acres of the interior valley, stairstepping up hillsides and helping to lure caravans of vinophiles to sip, savor and recreate in western Canada’s wine capital, sometimes dubbed Napa of the North. In all, 306 wineries are licensed to do business in vast British Columbia, a territory that’s twice as big as California. More than 200 are in the Okanagan Valley, and most along the curling blue ribbon of Okanagan Lake, which stretches north 84 miles starting near the U.S. border in…

Strawberries from Oregon, showcasing vibrant red color and fresh green leaves, highlighting local produce and agricultural richness.

Albany and Linn County Oregon Trip Planner

In the mid-Willamette Valley, uncover messy good times, outdoor adventure and bluesy jams written by James Sinks If some of the best things in life are messy, you’re in extraordinary luck in Linn County. On the first weekend of every June—and still going strong after 130 years—Oregon’s “Strawberry City” hosts the sticky jamboree known as the Lebanon Strawberry Festival. The old-timey event celebrates the arrival of sweet “Hood” varietals in nearby fields, with a royal princess court, carnival, shortcake-eating contest (you’re disqualified if you don’t keep it down) and free shortcake for some 8,000 people. While that’s an impressive volume of deliciousness, it’s a fraction of the legendary 1975 version that weighed almost 3 tons—enough to feed 16,000—easily besting California rival Garden Grove in a “Battle of the Shortcakes.” The Oregon fest is the sort of place where you won’t just be happy about the napkins. It’s a throwback to…

Historic Oregon Lodge with scenic views of forested hills and lush greenery, capturing the natural beauty and outdoor charm of Oregon.

Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge on Oregon’s Rogue River

written by Kerry Newberry Like a scene lifted from the pages of Norman Maclean’s famous novella, a river runs through the remote Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge. Long revered for its worldclass fly-fishing and lush woodlands, the lodge has offered a restorative retreat since opening in 1970. Just 7 miles inland from the coastline, its lyrical name pays tribute to the Tututni—the Indigenous tribe that originally lived on the land, and loosely translates as “people of the place by the water.” Now in a new chapter under fresh ownership, the property has been thoughtfully reimagined without losing its quiet soul. Lodge rooms have been refreshed with earthy textures and understated comforts, while a collection of mirrored cabins—set along the riverbank, creek and wooded edges—bring nature in at every turn. Mornings unfurl with birdsong, the swish of sedge grass and the steady cadence of the river. A handful of modern indulgences add…