Explore Oregon

Two women enjoying a relaxing hot tub experience at night, engaging in conversation and smiling, with warm lighting and modern decor in the background.

Oregon Sauna & Cold Plunge Experiences

Across Oregon, sauna-and-plunge rituals are turning up the heat on connection, calm and date night written by Cathy Carroll Sitting naked in a rustic cedar sauna in the forest along the Breitenbush River, steam rising through slots in the wood floor and sweat beading down my back, I felt my core approaching the same temperature as the earth’s—unsurprising in a sauna perched atop a capped geyser of volcanically heated water from thousands of feet underground. Pushing open the door, I plunged into a clawfoot tub of frigid water—a bracing slap that brought me to my heightened senses. I returned for sweatfest part two and emerged onto the snow-covered deck feeling triumphant, renewed, invincible. Giddy with geothermally induced vigor, I sat on a snow-covered ponderosa pine log, wearing two well-positioned fern fronds and posed for my Christmas card photo. It was years ago, and recipients thought it proved the practice required…

A person fishing in a lush, green river in Roseburg, Oregon, surrounded by tall trees and rolling hills, perfect for outdoor recreation and nature lovers.

Roseburg Trip Planner: 3 Days in the Umpqua Valley

From wine to wildlife, their risks are your rewards written by James Sinks Thankfully, Richard Sommer ignored the naysayers. Sixty-five years ago, the pioneering winemaker planted what would become Oregon’s first commercial pinot noir vineyard, on a former turkey farm outside Roseburg. Since then in Southern Oregon’s scenic Umpqua Valley—now home to some thirty wineries—vintners have routinely followed the instincts of the late “Father of Oregon Wine,” experimenting with new-to-Oregon varietals and yield-boosting innovations and even launching a winery in a former car dealership. Risk-taking spirit has long been a hallmark around Roseburg, the Douglas County seat and onetime Oregon timber capital, from the time mercantile owner Aaron Rose claimed 320 acres in the Homestead Act in the 1850s—and then gave parcels away to attract the railroad and even churches to his new town. Among other notable examples, wood industry giant Roseburg Forest Products began as a Depression-era sawmill with…

Bright breakfast nook with built-in bench, wooden table, and large window letting in natural light, decorated with artwork and a small plant.

Lucky Duck: A Carlton Wine Country Stay

written by Kerry Newberry | photography by Carter Hiyama/Lucky Duck Want to live like a local in the heart of Oregon wine country? Check into Lucky Duck, where Carlton’s oldest building is now a sleek home base for eating, drinking and settling into small-town life. Upstairs, a newly refreshed two-bedroom guest house occupies the top floor of the 1910 building that once housed Carlton’s first bank. The latest venture from James Beard-nominated chef Kari Shaughnessy and her Hayward team, Lucky Duck puts a distinctly local spin on wine-country hospitality. Think Oregon’s twist on the European “country restaurant with rooms”—an immersive stay where food and drink are central to the fun, not an afterthought. Decorated with earthy ceramics, funky art posters and vintage lamps, the living space has serious cool-aunt vibes. And the kitchen? Chef-worthy, naturally, with Bernal Cutlery knives, Made In cookware and Sabre flatware. Go ahead and plan a…

Beautiful Oregon golf course with rolling greens, a lone tree, and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

Beyond the Obvious in Oregon

Where art, ancestry and an unhurried coastline reward the curious traveler written by Cathy Carroll Oregon has always rewarded those willing to look past the obvious. This summer three experiences—a sacred homecoming, a reimagined museum and a coastal town seemingly unchanged since 1890—make that case compellingly. Gearhart offers a rare and unhurried step back. In Portland, a decadelong transformation has reinvented the only major art museum between San Francisco and Seattle. And in the Wallowa Valley, the Tamkaliks Celebration offers the chance to experience one of Oregon’s most breathtaking landscapes through the eyes of the people who have always called it home. An Oregon Summer, the Old-School Way Oregon Coast culture as it was at the turn of the last century—unhurried, unvarnished and beautifully analog, unfolds effortlessly in Gearhart—a town that has been quietly, deliberately itself since it was platted as a resort community in 1890. In the mornings, the…

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…