Chris Santella

With an abundance of steelhead, salmon and trout fisheries, as well as productive warm-water venues, Oregon may offer up America’s most diverse sport fishery — with equally diverse scenery to match. But Oregon’s also a pretty big state, so where’s a fisher to go to cast a line in summertime? Here we highlight favorite spots all around the state as well as what’s in season. Before hitting the road, check out the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Recreation Report, which is updated weekly with... More

Oregon's state fish tells one of nature’s most fascinating stories. More

The cooler climes of winter bring quieter times to the pristine lakes and rivers of Southern Oregon. Water-skiers have long put up their skis, rafters have deflated their crafts until spring. With fewer people on the water, it's a great season for anglers to wet a line. More

Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Chris Santella’s new book in the 'Fifty Places' series, 'Fifty Places to Drink Beer Before You Die.' Resting against the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Central Oregon, Bend boasts a dry, sunny climate where cool mountain breezes meld with the scent of high-desert sage and juniper… More

Every two years, my college buddies and I (proud class of ’85) organize a golf trip. A few of us play with some regularity; for others it’s a once-every-two-years activity. While we appreciate experiencing some nice courses, these trips are more about our camaraderie and having an adventure in a new and inviting place — preferably one… More

Ethan and Wendy (who calls herself a “recovering” legal assistant, having worked for 12 years at a Portland law firm) Barrow formed their adventure travel company to introduce people to the natural wonders of Oregon, primarily through fly-fishing. More

Most fly-fishers agree that central Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River — with its native rainbow trout and steelhead — is a world-class fishery. When the annual salmon fly hatch begins in late May, it becomes a see-it-to-believe-it experience. More

With nearly 200 public golf courses ranging from surf side links to desert oases, Oregon attracts traveling foursomes by the thousands to test their skills against the world’s greatest architects … and good old Mother Nature. If you’re planning to explore Oregon’s 7 Wonders this coming spring and summer, throw your sticks in the car, because… More

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from Chris Santella's new book, Fifty Places to Bike Before You Die, which features two must-ride cycling routes in Oregon. “We all have certain places that speak to us in a special way,” Jonathan Nicholas began.  “For some, it might be the Parthenon. For others, Pebble Beach..  For me,… More

My wife Deidre is at best an indifferent striker of the golf ball. I find a driving range visit more relaxing than the most nuanced massage. We both appreciate coastal vistas and find them infinitely enhanced if they’re enjoyed while our children are safe at home with a friend. With our priorities thus clearly established… More