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Perfect Wine Country Weekend

August 6, 2014
Stephanie Pearl Kimmel has been inspired by the bounty of the Willamette Valley for more than 40 years. Considered by many to be the godmother of Northwest cuisine, Stephanie is a pioneer in the local, seasonal food movement, and has been an active restaurateur in the Willamette Valley since the 1970s. Her nationally-celebrated Eugene restaurant,… More
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Willamette Valley , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Rivers Run Through It

August 5, 2014
You could say that salt has been in Aaron Longton’s blood for just about his entire life. Born in Roseburg, he began fishing at the tender age of eight with his father on the salmon and steelhead-rich rivers of Southern Oregon. Since he was fishing every chance he had, Aaron decided to make it his… More
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Oregon Coast , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

High Desert Brews

July 30, 2014
Jimmy Seifrit got the brewing bug early on, while growing up in Philadelphia. An urge to move west, specifically to a mountain town, landed him in Bend in the mid 1990s. An avid home brewer, he turned professional nearly 20 years ago in the tank rooms of Deschutes Brewery. In 2011, the opportunity to take over… More
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Central Oregon , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Eastern Oregon by the Glass

July 15, 2014
Members of the Stein family have been grain farmers in Wallowa County for multiple generations. Because they produced high-quality rye, wheat and barley, the next step was a logical one: Use it to create Oregon’s first Eastern Oregon micro-distillery. Located in Joseph, Stein Distillery takes a grain-to-glass approach, controlling every element that goes into their… More
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Eastern Oregon , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Gathering of the Guilds

April 4, 2014
The Gathering of the Guilds is a great show. And I should know – I’ve had a booth at the show for the past four years. I’ve sold my jewelry at various craft fairs throughout Oregon since 2006. Thanks in part to having my jewelry featured in movies (like The Descendants) and TV shows (such… More
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Portland Region , Portland , Fairs & Festivals , Trip Ideas , Events ,

Riding the Fruit Loop

March 8, 2014
Splayed between the twin peaks of Mt. Hood in Oregon and Mt. Adams in Washington, the Hood River Valley beckons road bikers with a yen for agri-tourism. There’s low traffic, a constantly changing landscape, and tacos, pies and wine around every turn. What’s not to like? Every season serves up reasons to bike the valley,… More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Hood River , Favorite Trips , Farm & Ranch Stays , Bicycling , Culinary Experiences , Sustainable Travel , Farms & Ranches , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Small-Town Charm, Big-Mountain Riding

March 4, 2014
Oakridge, a charming little timber-turned-mountain-bike town nestled in the majestic hills of the Willamette National Forest, has quickly made a name for itself as Oregon’s single-track sanctuary. Hundreds of miles of well-manicured trails, from steep and rocky to fast and flowy, have earned Oakridge recognition from many outdoor magazines. I was in town for a weekend’s worth of rides on new-to-me single-track with a biking buddy. More
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Willamette Valley , Oakridge , Favorite Trips , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Cozy Winter Lodges

December 11, 2013
Some are mighty icons of bygone craft and woodsy romance. Others are tucked-away gems, perfect for a cold-weather weekend escape. We explored Oregon’s forests, coast, and high desert to find the state’s best winter lodges and retreats — and the results could keep you busy (and cozy) straight through the season. At Mount Hood’s famed… More
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Trip Ideas ,

An Introduction to Rafting the Rogue

November 20, 2013
In the past few years, I have come to appreciate the River as a metaphor for, well, everything — for life, you could say. Or at least for a life I strive to live. Rivers are dynamic and constantly re-routing, but always steadfast on their course. Rivers strike strong balances — between simplicity and intricacy, patience and… More
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Southern Oregon , Guides & Charters , Rafting , Trip Ideas ,

Wild and Edible

June 28, 2013
Elan Hagens is a native Oregonian, which can be a bit rare these days in the Portland Metro area. Ever since she was a little girl, Elan has been playing in the woods, hiking, foraging and going to every outdoor camp imaginable. After college she became well known for her work with dogs, and was… More
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Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions , Events ,