Travel Spotlight

Vintage gramophone with a large horn, placed on a wooden table with a floral tablecloth, in a room with floral wallpaper and framed artwork.

Explore Pendleton’s Underground History

Discover the sultry past of Pendleton through its underground history written by Joni Kabana | photography by Travel Pendleton In the town of Pendleton, history presents itself as you walk alongside old buildings, peruse the interiors of shops and read heritage signage. But did you know remnants of the region’s history are also found underground? The Pendleton Underground offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into a wilder chapter of the American West where legends and stories shaped one of Oregon’s most colorful frontier towns. At street level, downtown Pendleton is charming with brick storefronts and western heritage historical elements with the hum of a modern rural community. But descend a staircase into the Pendleton Underground, and suddenly the atmosphere shifts. Dimly lit tunnels and preserved passageways reveal how early Pendleton operated after dark in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Pendleton was a bustling railroad and wool hub in its boom…

Group of performers in period costumes on stage, playing traditional instruments and singing, capturing Oregon's rich cultural heritage and lively musical traditions.

Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland

Spend an evening at Oregon Cabaret Theatre written by Joni Kabana Tucked just a few blocks from the bustle of downtown Ashland, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre glows like a vintage marquee dream. Housed in a beautifully restored 1911 church, the theater blends historic architecture with plush cabaret tables, candlelight and the hum of anticipation that only live performances can create. Unlike traditional theaters, the Cabaret invites audiences to settle in with a meal and a cocktail before the curtain rises. Its dinner theater is elevated with beautifully plated entrées, local wines and artful desserts served just steps from the stage. Performers are close enough to make eye contact, and you can see the flicker of emotion, the quick breath before a high note and the mischievous grin that lands a punchline. While the Oregon Shakespeare Festival often draws global attention, the Oregon Cabaret Theatre has carved out its own devoted…

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,…