Explore Oregon

The Wild and Scenic Metolius River is one of the area’s top attractions, especially for those who fly-fish.

Camp Sherman & Sisters Adventure Guide

Adventures beckon in Black Butte country written by James Sinks It is a transcendent place, where Central Oregon’s Metolius River materializes out of nowhere. So it was no surprise to Sam Johnson on a day in the 1960s that a woman had set up an easel near the riverbank on his family’s property, and was brushing an oil painting. The Johnsons allowed free access to share the wonder where the water, crystalline and always 48 degrees, gushes from basalt springs. Johnson, like he often did, was gathering trash, his daughter Betsy Johnson recalled. One of her childhood chores was picking up tourists’ cigarette butts. Then, a bus arrived and lurched to a stop, and the artist—and her painting—were engulfed in a cloud of dust. “He said, ‘We need to do something about this, it’s getting loved to death,’ and that was when he first started talking about giving it away,”…

Rafters paddle by Stair Creek Falls during a Momentum River Expeditions trip on the Rogue River.

Rogue River Rafting & Glamping Adventure

Four days of rafting and glamping on a legendary Oregon wild river written by Cathy Carroll The wide ribbon of clear, teal water is picking up speed, and the four women in the raft glance back at guide Katie Duffie as she tells just how they’re going to ride Horseshoe Bend rapids. Duffie, wielding two oars—each twice the length of the paddlers’ single, lightweight models—scans the white peaks boiling over a jumble of boulders ahead. “OK, ladies, give me two strokes forward!” she commands. The women lean, digging into the gurgling Rogue River, swirling eddies giving way to a turbulent roar and thwap! It raises its great, ice-cold liquid hand, slapping the front two squarely in the face, an age-old prank of this ancient river of snowmelt. Momentarily stunned, their eyes squeeze tightly shut before opening simultaneously with a giant belly laugh that’s joined in by the river and fellow…

Cascada’s silent sanctuary with mineral pools, a sauna, a steam room and a cold plunge.

Cascada: Portland’s Eco-Luxury Hotel & Spa

written by Kerry Newberry | photography by Cascada At Cascada, Portland’s newest luxury hotel and spa, every design detail is rooted in sustainability and serenity. Located in the heart of the Alberta Arts District, the 100-room property is a LEED Platinum-certified building, only the second one on the West Coast. The highest level of certification, Platinum is granted to projects that adhere to exceptional energy efficiency, minimal water usage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. You’ll see all that on display here and more—from the avant-garde thermal springs and spa to the stately rooms. In the lobby lounge, stylish furniture is covered with Portuguese cork and filled with natural latex. (There’s no petroleum foams or animal skins on the property.) Natural materials and wood anchor all the spaces. But the most memorable details are rooted in biophilic design from lush and leafy plant walls to the soft glimmers of circadian lighting…

Walla Walla is one of the world’s most up-and-coming viticultural areas with a talented group of winemakers leading the way.

Walla Walla’s Spring Wine Weekend Guide

Old favorites and new vintages share the spotlight for season-opening Spring Release Weekend written by James Sinks In between discovering things, Galileo mused once that “wine is sunlight, held together by water.” That centuries-ago wisdom still holds true today—particularly for the constellation of bold vintages bottled each year in the sun-splashed Walla Walla Valley, the vineyard mecca along the southern border of Eastern Washington. To welcome back those trellis-warming rays and an annual pilgrimage of thirsty vinophiles, Walla Walla unfurls an early-season welcome mat. The first Friday through Sunday each May, Spring Release Weekend is the premier celebration of Washington State’s top-flight wine-making valley, now home to 125 wineries and named the nation’s top wine region in 2022 by USA Today. Expect ritzy winemaker dinners, art shows, exclusive tastings, tours including treks through the basalt-bored barrel cave at Figgins Winery and—at several places—limited-volume vintages that sell out within weeks. “There…

Florence, on the Oregon Coast, is a small-scale romantic town for any season.

Have a Blast in Florence

The hamlet on the central coast is known for sand sports, serenity and, increasingly, its art written by James Sinks Fifty-five years ago, Oregon highway engineers puzzled over removing an 8-ton whale carcass that was rotting—and stinking, badly—on a beach near Florence on the central coast. Their solution: a half-ton of dynamite. They believed the TNT would pulverize the whale into tiny pieces that would be washed to sea, and eaten by shorebirds. Their miscalculation was captured in an epic TV news spot. The blast sent a decaying geyser skyward, raining large pieces of rotting blubber and foul fluid onto onlookers as far as 800 feet away. While nobody was seriously hurt, a chunk of meat did smash the roof of an innocent Oldsmobile. Today, the episode has become a thing of lore, and Florence leans into it. Around the world, you’ll find multiple rose cities and music cities, but…

One of the coast’s top scenic paddles, the Salmon River Estuary can be done solo or with informative tours, such as Safari Town Surf Shop.

Kayak Oregon’s Coast for Wildlife and Calm

Take a kayak tour on the Oregon Coast for a peaceful escape into nature’s calm written by Cathy Carroll The lapping water is punctuated by the pterodactyl-like call of a blue heron. A bald eagle lands on driftwood near-by. A gray harbor seal, nearly 300 pounds, pokes its rounded head above the surface, its curious eyes and whiskered snout studying you. It’s just another day of kayaking on the coast. If life feels heavy, a kayak can fix that. Becoming buoyant, the weight of the world is literally lifted. A shift occurs—as if you’ve transformed into another species. No longer a two-legged creature on land, other animals such as river otters and elk observe you close up. “You’re just part of the ecosystem,” said Tony Gile, owner of Safari Town Surf Shop in Lincoln City, which leads kayaking tours in the area. “You don’t have a motor, so you’re not…

The stunning renovation of Eugene’s Valley River Inn, as seen from the lobby.

Valley River Inn

written by Kerry Newberry | photography by Valley River Inn Eugene’s reimagined riverfront retreat exudes contemporary lodge vibes while still preserving its local heritage. Originally opened in 1973, the historic Valley River Inn recently wrapped up a multimillion-dollar renovation, transforming everything from guest rooms to the lobby lounge. Many design elements that celebrate the area’s historic logging industry—from original timber beams to grand chandeliers made from old mill parts—still grace the revived spaces. But you’ll also find fresh artwork and elegant, honey-hued wood pieces made by the locally owned Urban Lumber Co., adding modern flair. One you can’t miss is a stunning, live-edge desk that stretches along shelves of colorful hardback books, a focal point in the lobby. Just beyond this charming book nook, you can relax in the lobby’s sunken living room, where a stunning floor-to-ceiling hearth brings warmth to the space. No matter the season, you’ll want to…

Cascade Bungalows blend Scandinavian design and modern comfort.

Brasada Ranch: A Luxury Escape

written by Kerry Newberry Need a break from the wintry rain without booking a flight? Head to the high desert sun of Central Oregon for a sojourn on the range at Brasada Ranch. Located just twenty minutes outside of Bend, the luxury retreat recently added sixteen new private mountain bungalows to the resort property. Embracing Scandinavian design and contemporary comfort, each stylish bungalow has a private patio and outdoor soaking tub. You can hike snow-dusted trails just steps away and then cozy up by your fireplace with looming mountain views. While you can also book their popular ranch house suites and canyon cabins, the bungalows have singular amenities, from breakfast delivery each morning to a quiet pool. 16986 SW BRASADA RANCH ROADBEND/POWELL BUTTE www.brasada.com BUNGALOWS For painterly views of the Cascade mountain range along with luxury amenities, book one of sixteen bungalows. The newest addition to the high-desert getaway, each…

Park City and the surrounding Wasatch Range boast some of the best and most consistent snow for skiing and riding.

Park City: Ski, Dine & Explore in Utah’s Alps

Park City shines with the nation’s largest alpine resort and a hopping after-slopes scene written by James Sinks When life sends clouds—as Pacific Northwest winters are known to do—seek silver linings. Try looking eastward. An abundance of escapist luster awaits in the craggy, silver-laden Wasatch Back Range in Utah, and in its centerpiece nineteenth century mine town of Park City. Navigate silver (and gold) Olympic medalists’ terrain. Celebrate the silver screen. Admire local-fashioned sterling jewelry. Lunch at the Silver Star Café. And happily embrace the truism that not all that glitters need be gold. Long a hunting territory of Indigenous Ute tribes, the Wasatch region of the Rocky Mountains wasn’t initially enticing to westward-bound settlers in the 1860s, especially when compared to the fast-growing religious enclave founded by Brigham Young at nearby Great Salt Lake. But then prospectors struck silver. For the following century, mines churned out precious ore and…