About the Author

Jen Anderson

Jen Anderson is a longtime journalist and travel writer/editor who is now Travel Oregon’s Content & Community Manager, helping to align content for visitors via social media, print and web. She’s called Oregon home for 25 years and loves finding the latest places to eat, drink and play around the state with her husband and two boys. Brewpubs, beaches and bike trails top the list.

A Grand Time in La Grande

May 22, 2018
What’s grand about La Grande? The scenery, for starters. About midway between Pendleton and Baker City on Interstate 84, this friendly town four hours east of Portland is smack in the majestic Blue Mountains, along the ancestral home of the Nez Perce people. It’s also home to Eastern Oregon University and a vibrant arts and outdoors scene — yet tucked away so it still feels like a secret. Here’s how to spend the weekend in La Grande. More
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Eastern Oregon , La Grande , Favorite Trips ,

5 Ways to Love the McKenzie River

May 21, 2018
The crystal-clear, spring-fed Wild and Scenic McKenzie River is a favorite spot for mountain bikers, hikers, and rafting and fishing enthusiasts alike. It’s the lifeblood of clear, clean water for salmon and local farms in the Willamette Valley along its 90-mile stretch — which flows from the Cascade Range to the Willamette River, just north of Eugene. More
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Willamette Valley , McKenzie Bridge , Favorite Trips ,

Beginner’s Guide to the Outdoors in Oregon

May 11, 2018
When it comes to outdoor recreation, Oregon is hard to beat. There’s the Coast for surfing and fishing and the high desert for hiking. You can climb a towering volcano and camp by a river. While plenty of Oregonians may seem naturally at ease in the elements, staying safe and comfortable outside is a skill, and anyone can learn it. From setting up your first tent to figuring out how to surf, state park rangers, local tour operators and organizations are there to help. Here... More
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Favorite Trips , Outdoor Recreation ,

An Olympian’s Top Trails, Peaks and Rivers

May 9, 2018
Nick Symmonds grew up fishing, hiking, camping and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Today, the Eugene-based athlete has become an Oregon celebrity of sorts — a two-time U.S. Olympian (Beijing 2008 and London 2012), former college track superstar, former Nike athlete and entrepreneur. More
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Willamette Valley , Eugene , Running , Hiking & Backpacking , Mountaineering ,

Favorite Girls Getaways in Oregon

April 27, 2018
A getaway with friends is always great, but a trip that takes you on new adventures together is unforgettable. Fortunately in Oregon there's no shortage of thrills, big or small, that are fit for a perfect girls getaway. More
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Favorite Trips ,

Tour Wine Country Without a Car

April 20, 2018
Luckily in Oregon, touring wine country has never been more accessible, no matter which part of the state you are coming from or headed to. Shuttles and guided tours (on four wheels, two wheels and even by helicopter) abound, ranging from luxury-class excursions (including lunch and behind-the-scenes tours) to bare-bones transportation service only. More
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Guides & Charters , Tour Companies , Tours & Guided Trips , Sustainable Travel , Wine & Wineries , Guides & Tours ,

Eating Around the Fruit Loop

April 12, 2018
Is there anything more delightful than exploring the Columbia River Gorge? How about if you add tasting wine, jams, fresh orchard fruit and artisan treats from farm stands and purveyors along the famous Hood River County Fruit Loop? The famed 35-mile route — with 17 farm stands, 10 wineries, three cideries, six berry farms and two lavender farms (with lavender spice blends, pancake mixes, honeys infused sugars and more) — celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018, and luckily, there are plenty of places to get... More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Restaurants , Eat & Drink ,

On Location with ‘Lean on Pete’

March 29, 2018
Another made-in-Oregon film to hit the big screen, “Lean On Pete,” may have you yearning to visit Eastern Oregon’s high desert. Released in spring 2018 after broad acclaim at several international film festivals, the feature-length drama stars Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny and Charlie Plummer. It filmed mostly in the small Eastern Oregon community of Burns for a couple of months in 2016, during the Harney County Fair, Rodeo & Racemeet — a pro rodeo event that draws cowboys and cowgirls from far and wide. More
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Eastern Oregon , Filmed in Oregon ,

Gear Up to Play at Portland’s Gateway Green

March 28, 2018
If you’ve spent much time in Portland, you know that bicycling is a way of life. Whether you hop on a bright orange BIKETOWN cruiser or take part in a Sunday Parkways ride (May through September) along the city’s cycle-friendly greenways, it’s not hard to find a way to get out in the fresh air on two wheels (or one, like Portland’s famed Unipiper). One of the region’s most popular spots for bicycle adventuring is the Gateway Green, parts of which first opened in 2017. More
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Portland Region , Portland , Bicycling , Mountain Biking , Family Fun , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation ,

A Dog’s Guide to Trails in Central Oregon

March 16, 2018
Here are some of the Adventure Dogs’ top trails and dog-friendly spots for their humans to refuel in and around Bend. More
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Central Oregon , Pet-Friendly Travel , Hiking & Backpacking ,