Explore Oregon

A Wine Country Thanksgiving

Gastronomy: A Wine Country Thanksgiving in the Willamette Valley written by Jen Stevenson Eschew the mall madness and super sale insanity of Black Friday in favor of a far more elegant and enjoyable holiday season kickoff—the Willamette Valley’s 36th annual Wine Country Thanksgiving. From Friday, November 23, to Sunday, November 25, more than 150 participating wineries from Appolloni to Antiquum will feature special tastings, festive flights, food pairings, live music, winemaker meet-and-greets, artisan markets and holiday discounts, because nothing fills out a stocking better than a bottle of Dundee Hills pinot noir. With the mad scramble of harvest a near-distant memory, brilliantly hued fall foliage still clinging to the vines, and the worst of winter gales still to come, this is one of the best times of year to visit the valley. Make a weekend of it with a romantic retreat at Newberg’s tony Allison Inn and Spa, or the Atticus…

The Jennings Hotel: A Superbly Stylish Passion Project

The Jennings Hotel is a superbly stylish passion project in the lively town of Joseph written by Jen Stevenson As the autumn chill sets Eastern Oregon’s bigleaf maples ablaze and the season’s first snows paint the almighty Wallowas winter white, roll your dusty wagon down the main street of Joseph, a wee but lively Wallowa County town that’s made a name for itself as a bona fide destination for adventurers both artistic and extreme—with the boutique hotel to match. A superbly stylish passion project dreamed up by “accidental hotelier” Greg Hennes and brought to life by an ambitious Kickstarter campaign, this unlikely mecca of art, design and creative camaraderie sits on the top floor of Joseph’s Jennings Building, a two-story circa-1910 brick structure that could have been pulled straight from a spaghetti western. Inside, things get decidedly more modern—each room was designed by a different acclaimed artist, architect, or designer,…

Foraging for Dinner in Western Oregon

Foraging for dinner in Western Oregon written by Felisa Rogers With its sheltered coves and temperate rainforests, western Oregon is a foragers’ paradise. Fall and spring get the most press, but winter is the best time of year to forage for mussels, and several varieties of local mushrooms are hardy enough to withstand frosty nights. The enterprising scavenger can put food on the table all year—provided you don’t mind getting up early and getting wet. On a cold November morning, I woke up at dawn to drive to the coast. My mission? Combat the winter blues by foraging for dinner. Armed with pliers, a utility knife, gloves, a bucket and my shell sh foraging permit ($10 for residents, good for a year), I parked at Seal Rock, south of Newport. To make access easier, I’d planned my expedition for a minus tide, which occur a few times a month. The…

Alysia Kezerian of Wheelies Around the World

Wheelies Around the World: Alysia Kezerian may use a wheelchair, but that’s not stopping her travels written by Mackenzie Wilson If The Little Engine That Could was a person, it would be Alysia Kezerian. The 24-year-old, from Danville, California, hasn’t let anything get in the way of her seeing the world, not even a devastating injury. In 2015, Kezerian, then a student at the University of Oregon, was paralyzed from a fall at Smith Rock State Park near Terrebonne. She was bouldering up a 10-foot rock face and on the way back down, a section of the rock broke off, sending her to the ground. Adrenaline dulled her initial understanding of whether she was hurt. “I thought, oh I didn’t hit my head, I’m fine,” Kezerian said. “ Then I tried to move my legs and I couldn’t.” It took rescue crews seven hours to get Kezerian out of the…

The giant sequoia of Queen of Angels Monastery

The giant sequoia of Queen of Angels Monastery written and photographed by Betsy L. Howell More than 700 miles from its native range in California, a 125-year-old giant sequoia tree welcomes visitors to the Queen of Angels Monastery in Mount Angel. In 1893, Sister Protasia Schindler found the seedling growing beside the railroad tracks. She immediately dug it up to plant next to the monastery’s entrance. Many years later, she said that if she’d known how large it would grow, she never would have planted it so close to the monastery. The tree now dwarfs the building as well as the other trees on the grounds, including one of its progeny planted in 1982. In 2004, the giant sequoia was designated an Oregon Heritage Tree. This honor is bestowed for an individual tree’s historical significance, accessibility to the public, and general health. The Benedictine Sisters at Queen of Angels welcome…

Wines Going Rogue: The Gateway to Southern Oregon Wine

The Gateway to Southern Oregon Wine sponsored content provided by Travel Medford Medford is the perfect starting point to explore Southern Oregon’s famous wine. Known for a distinctive climate and soil that create perfect growing conditions, Southern Oregon Wine Country has been named a Top 12 global wine destination by Forbes and a Top 10 travel wine destination worldwide by Wine Enthusiast. Three wine trails around the region highlight this special place. The Applegate Wine Trail features seventeen wineries and vineyards nestled into the hills of the Applegate Valley along Highway 238. Check out biodynamic winemaking at Troon Vineyard and Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden, or taste American Bordeaux at Cricket Hill Winery. The Bear Creek Wine Trail runs from Medford along Highway 99 to Ashland. With eleven wineries to choose from, the trail features wine made in the southernmost part of the Rogue Valley AVA. Grab a Bear Creek Wine…

A Perfect Pair – Theater and Dining In Downtown Medford

A Perfect Pair – Theater and Dining In Downtown Medford sponsored content provided by Travel Medford Downtown Medford is a mecca for theater-lovers and foodies. Feed your mind, body and soul, and experience the thrills of downtown — all within walking distance! Great performances are a cornerstone of Medford’s downtown core. The Craterian Theater is the Rogue Valley’s premier live performance venue. Enjoy everything from ballet, to professional acrobatics, the local symphony and performances from famous musicians. As a cultural focal point of downtown Medford, every performance will amaze you. We guarantee you’ll return for an encore. But the fun doesn’t end there for theater fans. The Randall Theatre Company has a jam-packed season of stage plays and musicals. If you make a last-minute decision to see a show, the Randall Theatre allows you to pay what you want at the door for seats that remain unsold 30 minutes before showtime….

Southern Oregon Fall Harvest Activities

Favorite Fall and Harvest Activities in Southern Oregon sponsored content provided by Travel Medford Family, Farmers Markets, Fruit & Vegetable Stands, Outdoor Activities, Outdoor Adventure, Things to Do Harvest in Southern Oregon is the epitome of fall fun. The aroma of autumn is carried through the Rogue Valley, across apple orchards, whistling through corn mazes and rustling the orange, red and yellow leaves falling from the trees. With numerous harvest festivals every weekend, freshly picked food and family-friendly activities, there’s no better time to visit Southern Oregon than in the fall. There’s so much to do in Medford and the Rogue Valley this fall. To help plan your autumn adventure, we have compiled a snapshot of our favorite fall activities. Fall Festival Fun The entire family will enjoy sampling food, meeting local vendors and farmers, listening to live music and playing among the fall leaves. There are several festivals throughout…

Bend Trip Planner

Turns out, Bend is a year-round kind of town written by Kevin Max Bend in fall, once a vacuum between summer mountain biking and ski season, is now one built around culture, the absence of crowds and top-to-bottom blue skies in the waning fire season. When kids go back to school and the floating battalion of protein in Crocs and flip-flops ops their way back south, Bend comes alive in a more subtle way. Fall brings the BendFilm festival, Oktoberfest, uncrowded trails, relatively open tables and the final bounty from area farms. As we witness the ravages of global warming, with hotter summers leading to more and bigger wildfires, summer is the nexus of hot, smoky and grey. As temperatures cool and wildfires recede, hiking and biking trails in Bend transform from temptation to reality. Much like Christmas, BendFilm Festival comes but once a year—setting cultural gifts under the learning tree…