Explore Oregon

Enjoying fishing in Oregon's scenic waters, these anglers explore outdoor adventures featured in 1859 Oregon Magazine, highlighting the region's natural beauty and leisure activities.

Cape Kiwanda Dory Fishing Adventure

Punching through Cape Kiwanda surf with a seasoned captain, a hefty catch and century-old dory culture written by Cathy Carroll In the faint light just after dawn in the Pelican Brewing Company parking lot in Pacific City, Captain Joe Hay stood at the stern of his trailered dory boat, primed to launch straight from the beach through the surf of Cape Kiwanda—a tradition among local fishers since the early 1900s. With the dry humor of someone who’s spent thirty years plying the waters for its bounty, Hay, in pink Chubbies swim trunks but visible only from the waist up, quipped: “I guess you’re wondering why I’m not wearing pants—my wife wears them, and she’s home in bed.” This was just what a neophyte wearing an anti-seasickness patch behind an ear needed to hear. “She’s a smart woman,” I replied, feeling less nervous. I climbed aboard. The crew towed the open-hulled,…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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.

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…

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…