Featured

7 Ways to Play on the Water

Fishing, swimming, houseboating & kayaking are in the summer mix written by Jean Chen Smith With warmer days ahead, we have some ideas on how to stay cool and have fun doing it. Whether you are a swimmer, fishing enthusiast or boater, here are the perfect water activities to keep you busy this summer! 1. Fishing at Foster Reservoir SWEET HOME Located near Sweet Home, Foster Reservoir, also known as Foster Lake, is one of thirteen reservoirs in the Willamette Valley and was built by the U.S. Corps of Army Engineers in the ’60s. The reservoir stretches 3 miles in length and offers a variety of activities for residents and tourists alike, but it is most popular for fishing. The reservoir is reportedly stocked with 40,000 trout annually. The lake also contains other fish such as bass, yellow perch, bluegill, crappie, Chinook salmon and kokanee. Situated close to I-5 and…

Construction of the Civil Defense Center. Workers prepare concrete forms atop the arch that will become its roof.

Cold War Refuge

Kelly Butte’s hidden nuclear hideout written by Sig Unander It was a lazy late summer day in Portland, not unlike others. It had dawned cloudy but by mid-morning warming sunshine cleared the light overcast. At 10:35 a.m. air raid sirens split the city air with a high-pitched wail signaling an impending attack. Early warning radar had detected unknown aircraft, possibly Russian bombers, over Canada, on a course for Portland. Deep beneath a forested volcanic butte east of the city, Mayor Terry Schrunk and other key officials hunkered down in the operations room of a two-story underground Command Center designed to preserve city government and maintain communications in the event of a nuclear blast. Firefighters and police went into action as hospitals, schools and offices emptied. Thousands of cars filled main evacuation routes heading out of town. Shoppers crowded into building basement bomb shelters and tuned radios to emergency frequencies. Noon…

Yellow wildflowers

7 Prime Spots for Wildflowers

written by Jean Chen Smith No matter where you live in the state, you are likely within a short driving distance to hikes that reveal the most scenic wildflowers of your region. Whether you are seeking an easy meander or a more challenging hike with elevation, we have a spot for you. So, pack up your hiking bag and lace up those shoes for your next adventure. While all the following locations are currently in bloom, you might try to hit all the prime spots on our list before the end of fall. Willamette Valley In Eugene-Springfield Mount Pisgah Arboretum Trail Type: Includes loops and out and back | Elevation Gain: 1,050 ft. | Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Wildflower Viewing: Pink fawn lilies, trilliums, giant white wakerobins and great camas | Tip: A small daily parking fee applies. Dogs must be leashed to protect the arboretum and wildlife. Public…

Wallowa Lake in Eastern Oregon is a premier spot to unplug for an Oregon staycation.

Spring Break Staycations

Shake off winter close to home After months in the house, thanks to winter weather and the pandemic, you’re probably ready to explore further than the end of your own block. Whether you’re up for a road trip to another part of the state or you just want to explore something in your area that you may not have experienced yet, this list has you covered. You can stay local, have fun, and get outdoors to shake off winter and welcome the sunshine. CENTRAL OREGON Stargaze at Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory The Sunriver Nature Center and Observatory is the largest publicly accessible observatory in the United States. You can also walk around eight-acres of pine forest, wetland and meadow habitats even if you don’t set foot in the observatory itself. Walk in anytime, no reservations needed, for daytime visits with access to the nature center (birds of prey, swans…

Skyline Forest mountain peak viewpoint

What’s Next for Skyline Forest?

The $127 million question—could this finally be the moment Skyline Forest becomes a Central Oregon Community Forest? written by Kevin Max From nearly any high point in Bend, you can see the vast stand of pines that creates a deep green vista to the northwest, all the way to Sisters. Mountain bikers, gravel riders, hikers, snowshoers, hunters and fly-fishers find solitude here among the mule deer and elk habitat. Ponderosa pines tower over its creeks and springs weaving through the forest’s floor. In its entirety, Skyline Forest is nearly 33,000 acres, or the equivalent of 50.5 square miles. For perspective, Bend, itself, is only 33 square miles. What may come as a surprise to many of Skyline Forest’s users, this vast forest on Bend’s northwest side is not publicly owned. Rather it’s the private property of a Chinese investment firm, Shanda, whose portfolio includes mostly Chinese tech companies.  Here’s where…

At Fish Sauce, send your palate on a trip with, clockwise from top left, chuối chiên; pork bánh mì; bún vermicelli; gỏi cuốn; Botta’s Favorite with grilled shrimp, fried egg, jasmine rice and núớc mắm; and the Fortune & Glory cocktail with rum, mint, hibiscus and lime.

The Global Flavors of Portland

In America’s darling of the dining scene, the world lands on your fork written by Julie Lee When the culinary scene in Portland amped up in the early 2000s, the keystone to international recognition was flavorful dishes that chefs created which were ingenious to anywhere but the Northwest. The secret to the recipe, though, was the collective passion to source local ingredients. Of the more renowned chefs, Andy Ricker became internationally famous for what he could do with a chicken wing. Pok Pok was one of the first of many foodie favorites that started as a food truck, garnered international acclaim, and put Portland front and center on the gastronomic map for occasional diners and food snobs alike. In the pandemic’s wake, the restaurant industry has suffered dearly, with decades of hard work and fame wiped out. While Portland lost some renowned chefs including Ricker, many food carts, restaurants and…

For urban chic adventures with your pooch, stay at Royal Sonesta, near the Pearl District and Portland strolling bliss.

Romantic Getaways for 6 Types of Lovers

Indulge every kind of passion—for food, wine, art, culture, the outdoors, your dog, yourself and your lover—with these premier Oregon adventures written by Vanessa Salvia It’s well-known that the ancient Greeks had multiple words for love. They differentiated between passionate love, the affectionate love of friends, familial love—even obsessive love. Of course, feeling one type of love doesn’t preclude another—you can love food and wine and outdoor adventure, or be a dog lover who also loves art and culture. Fortunately, in Oregon it’s easy to do a romantic getaway with a single focus or one that mixes it up. So for an adventure your dogs will love as much as you will, or a place to indulge a passion (obsession?) for great food and wine, visit any of these spots for the ultimate expression of self love—bringing your canine pals or significant other is up to you. DOG LOVERS PACIFIC…

French doors open a room to create a more spacious feel, refreshing it with natural light.

Form, Function, Financially Fit & Fabulous

Oregon designers spill the smartest ways to use $50,000 in home equity written by Melissa Dalton In the past year, our homes have taken on new significance. We relish the comfort they provide, while pondering possibilities for making them even better. We asked three Oregon designers to weigh in on how they’d recommend homeowners spend $50,000 in home equity. Turns out, a little can go a long way, if you know where to use it. HOUSE OF MILO, BEND Sarah Westhusing | Remodel a kitchen or bathroom People tend to look at the question of remodeling in two ways, said Sarah Westhusing, interior designer and founder of House of Milo, a Bend-based studio which tackles everything from new builds to renovations. “The first are the people that really focus on return on investment,” she said. They only want to invest an amount in updates that they’ll recoup when they sell…