Bobbie Bustamante moved to The Dalles a year and a half ago. She had lived 130 miles east in Pendleton and 975 miles south in Anaheim, California before that. “The Dalles is a place where people really get out of their cars and get outdoors,” says the recreational runner. While the hills surrounding The Dalles offer challenging running workouts, the Columbia River is a relaxing sanctuary for her, her boyfriend and their kids.
In 1950, a flying saucer visited the farm of Paul and Evelyn Trent of McMinnville. The farmer snapped two photos that later became the most famous and scrutinized UFO photos to date. LIFE magazine found it compelling enough to publish the photos and story in its June 26, 1950 edition. McMinnville now holds a well-attended UFO festival May 18-19.
In January, with ten anonymous tasters, 1859 Oregon’s Magazine sampled seven different wines at Grochau Cellars, a winery located in the heart of Portland. Get insight into your next wine purchase with comments, descriptions and ratings found on the following pages.
Oregon is limitless when it comes to family adventures—from clean, sandy beaches to lakeside camp grounds and white-blanketed mountains, this state offers kids the chance to play in any region, any time of the year—parents won’t be disappointed either.
Hit the road on two wheels and really dive into Oregon’s identity—add beer to that and you’ll be an expert by week’s end. Check out Hood River’s Post Canyon, best known for its challenging trails with steep downhills. Finish it off with a few drinks at Double Mountain Brewery and Taproom, an unpretentious pub in the heart of downtown Hood River.
Oregon, with all its diverse glory, has myriad options for the couple looking to get away. From sumptuous sensory experiences at the best restaurants and wineries in the Pacific Northwest to adrenaline-pumping outdoor adventures, there’s something for everyone.
Blanc is the new black, or more accurately, the new noir. At least that’s what they are saying in Paris, New York, London and of course, Oregon wine country. The French have been making Blanc de noir for centuries, a style of sparkling Champagne made into a colorless wine—and created exclusively from dark grapes (Pinot noir and Pinot munier). French wine is often the inspiration for new wine endeavors in Oregon. Consequently, a handful of Oregon producers decided to give the Blanc a whirl, but with one big omission: no bubbles.
The non-effervescent venture was a success. The trail blazer, Domaine Serene, is set to release their seventh vintage of the glistening, white Pinot this year. Others have followed suit with great success. Anne Amie and Ghost Hill both have Pinot noir blanc currently available and Matello will be releasing their first Blanc de noir in May. Oregon Riesling superstar, Trisaetum Winery and Vineyards, is one of the latest to turn noir to blanc with their inaugural release of the 2010 Pinot noir blanc.
With customers as their muses, the folks at Trisaetum decided to dive in after their club members repeatedly asked for the wine. “My co-winemaker Greg McClellan and I decided we’d use some of our leanings from making six different Rieslings each year, and apply them to making a white wine from Pinot noir clusters,” said James Frey, co-winemaker and proprietor of Trisaetum Winery.
Pristine beauty, tide pools and seafood— the Oregon Coast is a world unto itself, and perfect location for a weekend getaway. Explore by car, and travelers soon find that Oregon’s coastal Highway 101 is a treasure trove of quaint fishing towns embedded with rivers, state parks and waysides. Luxuriate in Newport’s Oregon Coast Aquarium, Lincoln City’s Kite Festival, Bandon’s world-class golf courses, Seaside’s shoreline promenade and Cannon Beach’s haven of artists, cooks, collectors, connoisseurs and choices for lodging. And if checking out and exploring the coast by foot sounds like your type of coastal getaway, explore the smaller beach hamlets of Manzanita, Neskowin, Oceanside, Netarts and Yachats, where visitors can beach comb for shells, floats and other goodies that drift in from all over the world.
Spend your vacation or weekend getaway in Portland, Oregon—the premiere spot for arts and odditites. From its craft beers, neighborhood pubs and coffee, to its locavore dining and, of course, bikes, Portland is the Northwest’s culture cauldron and creative den. Experience Portland’s culinary brilliance in multiple eateries scattered throughout the city while taking in its thriving arts scene chock-full of writers, painters, filmmakers, dancers, musicians and performance artists. Also get the most out of your visit and explore Portland by foot, bike or public transportation—either way, you’ll get a full dose of its ‘Portlandia’ character and receive local praise for going ‘green.’
