Travel Spotlight

Historic Oregon Waterfront Resort with Hot Springs and Scenic Views.

Hot Lake Springs Oregon Retreat Guide

A restorative escape to Hot Lake Springs written by Joni Kabana | photography by Hot Lake Springs Resort On a winding stretch of Highway 203 near La Grande, there’s a place where the earth whispers its secret warmth: Hot Lake Springs Resort (formerly The Lodge at Hot Lake Springs), a historic haven carved from geothermal mineral waters. Pull into the gravel drive as the late-afternoon sun gilds the surrounding bluff, and you’ll feel it first: a hint of sulfur in the air, an ancient promise of rest and renewal. Once a famed early-twentieth-century spa resort known as the “Mayo Clinic of the West,” Hot Lake drew weary travelers and health seekers from around the globe to its bubbling springs and grand brick hotel. Step inside today, and the echoes of that illustrious past are palpable in every beam and brick. Though the lodge has seen fire, abandonment and decades of…

Unique display at Portland’s Temple of the Weird showcasing quirky artifacts and spooky memorabilia.

Portland’s Peculiarium: A Temple of Weird

Something Peculiarium this way comes in an already-odd city written by Joni Kabana Peek through the door of The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium in Northwest Portland, and you’ll swear you’ve stumbled into the dreams of a mad scientist, or maybe the nightmares of an imaginative child who never quite grew up. This offbeat museum-shop hybrid is equal parts art installation, curiosity cabinet and love letter to all things bizarre. You’ll find walls lined with glowing alien fetuses, cryptid exhibits and framed photos that seem to follow you with knowing eyes. There’s even a “surgery experience” that lets brave visitors pose as the patient (or the doctor!) under bright, eerie lights. Founded in 2011 by self-described “collector of the curious” Mike Wellins and friends, the Peculiarium celebrates Portland’s proud weirdness with a wink and a grin. Each room brims with oddities that blur the line between fact and fiction, humor and horror. But…

A sign for Clyde's restaurant in Oregon, highlighting its long-standing history since 1955, with a humorous message about local dining experiences, featuring vintage-style signage surrounded by lush greenery and string lights in an outdoor setting.

Clyde’s Prime Rib: A Portland Classic

Dine on prime rib, feast on the music scene written by Joni Kabana | photography by Mel Barbour Slip into a curvy red booth, order a Manhattan and let yourself slide back in time at Clyde’s Prime Rib on NE Sandy Boulevard in Portland. For more than sixty years, Clyde’s has been “the spot” for lovers of swank, funk and occasional tap dancing. The decor is a throwback to the ’50s. Think Elvis. Known for its crowd-pleasing prime rib dinners, Clyde’s knows how to dish up old-school traditional Americana favorites such as steaks, chops and lobster. (Dean Martin would be proud.) Side dishes include the famed creamed spinach, lobster macaroni and cheese and, of course, bacon-wrapped asparagus. The food aside, Clyde’s biggest attraction is often the musical acts it presents in the adjoining bar. From cool jazz to psychedelic funk, the lineup transports listeners back to Croon Town. Many nights,…

Camping is vastly improved with a pie from Beckie’s Cafe.

Beckie’s Cafe: A Historic Oregon Gem

A long-time favorite in the Umpqua National Forest written by Joni Kabana Who would have thought back in 1926 that a small cafe located minutes from Crater Lake National Park would survive recessions, change of ownerships and even a pandemic? Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Beckie’s Cafe—in addition to host Union Creek Resort—has been a beloved destination for many sojourners, even as far back when Union Creek was an important camping spot on the long stretches of trails connecting early settlements with Crater Lake. Zane Grey, Jack London and Herbert Hoover purportedly have made stops there and mingled among patrons, in addition to many repeat connoisseurs. “Beckie” was actually Ed Beckelhymer, who opened the cafe and passed the torch to his wife, Cecil, also becoming known as “Beckie,” until she passed during the late 1960s. A few recipes might have changed over the years with new owners,…

Views from Paulina Peak on a hike in Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

An Ancient Playground

Central Oregon’s Newberry National Volcanic Monument is home to lava tubes and ersatz moon walks written by Joni Kabanaphotography by Rich Bacon/Visit Bend Get your lanterns out—you’re going to need them. Lava River Cave, Oregon’s longest uncollapsed lava tube, can be found approximately 13 miles south of Bend but feels like it is located in an ancient undiscovered land. This cave is in the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which includes 54,822 acres of lava flows, lakes and geologic wonders. Visitors can also explore destinations such as Lava Butte, Lava Cast Forest and Newberry Caldera in addition to Lava River Cave. If you like reflecting about your life’s journey while setting your eyes on expansive vistas, you can drive (during summer months only) along rough terrain and hairpin turns to reach Paulina Peak at 7,984 feet, where views of the Oregon Cascades and high desert plains will leave you breathless. Take…

Fossils found at the Wheeler High School fossil beds in Fossil.

Digging for Fossils

Fossil, Oregon, lives up to its name written by Joni Kabana Are you an explorer? Would you like to dig for fossils in a place that is relatively unknown? Then head to the tiny town of Fossil in the land where time forgot. Here you can find fossils in a hillside formed some 30 million years ago by volcanic activity. What was once a lush region with lakes and waterways is now a paradise for rock hounds and fossil lovers. Diggers have found more than thirty different species of plants, insects and fish, some designated as being extinct. No excavation experience is necessary—just bring some patience and a rock pick, trowel and chisel. If you don’t happen to have these on hand, you can borrow equipment on site. This fossil bed was discovered during the building of Wheeler High School in 1949 when builders noticed a large amount of fossilized…

Of Portuguese heritage, St. Peter’s Church in Echo is slowly being restored.

Preserving Heritage

The rally to restore a historic church written by Joni Kabana If you find yourself traveling along Oregon’s Interstate 84, consider taking a short side trip to the small historical town of Echo, 8 miles south of Hermiston and 20 miles east of Pendleton. Set amid gorgeous rolling hills on the banks of the Umatilla River, Echo takes you way back in time. You can sip wine at either Echo Ridge Cellars or the Sno Road Winery, take a jitter juice or lunch break in the family operated H&P Cafe or peruse any of the small yet highly fascinating museums. There are seven buildings that are registered with the National Register of Historic Places, so simply strolling the town’s streets is a history lesson in and of itself. The real treasure of this town is tucked away on a lot that, despite facing three major floods in the last century,…

Witch’s Castle in Forest Park is a creepy symbol of a creepy seduction and subsequent murder.

Witch’s Castle

Macabre folklore a stone’s throw away written by Joni Kabana Looking for a gothic love story location that is full of mystery close to your favorite take-out eatery or coffee shop? Take a short hike to the Stone House, otherwise known by locals as the “Witch’s Castle” in Portland. This hidden wonder, located via a short hike along forested pathways, has quite a sordid history. Ernest Tucker, commissioned by the Bureau of Parks, built this stone building in 1929 to serve as a public toilet and storage room. As part of the Works Progress Administration projects, this structure was completed sometime during 1935–1936. It was in full operation until 1962 when the Columbus Day Storm destroyed the water line, which has never been repaired. But there’s more! Folklore has it that Danford Balch brought his family to this spot by way of the Oregon Trail around 1850. Balch claimed a…

Out ‘N’ About Treehouse Treesort features an assemblage of unusual stays perfect for a memorable summer getaway.

Sleeping in the Trees

Once weekend play for kids, treehouses are now fit for even picky parents written by Joni Kabana Looking for someplace unique to get away from it all? Many know Southern Oregon boasts one of the largest concentrations of old-growth trees in the nation, but did you know that this region in Oregon also is home to one of the largest concentrations of treehouses in the world? Out ‘N’ About Treehouse Treesort in Cave Junction is a collection of treehouses that can be rented for a bird’s-eye chance to sleep high up in a mighty old tree. Staying at one of these treehouses will catapult you back to your good old backyard treehouse childhood days or satisfy your best Robinson Crusoe lifestyle fantasy. With names such as the Serendipitree and the Tree Room Schoolhouse Suite, each treehouse was built with fun and adventure, and a bit of humor in mind. The…