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.

Sip Whiskey, Tour the Farm in Newberg

August 1, 2019
Most craft beer, wine and spirits hold a special connection to their land in Oregon, and that’s especially true for Ewing Young Distillery, one of Oregon’s newest craft distillers. Visitors at this 147-acre farm and tasting room in Newberg — in the heart of Willamette Valley Wine Country — can sip flights of bourbon, rye, vodka and single-malt whiskey not far from the gravesite and former homestead of pioneer Ewing Young, marked by a more than 170-year-old heritage oak tree. More
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Willamette Valley , Newberg , Spirits & Distilleries , Eat & Drink ,

Meet the Innovator Behind Deschutes Brewing

Once a brewery tour guide, Veronica Vega is now Deschutes' director of product development. More
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Central Oregon , Bend , Favorite Trips , Beer & Breweries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

“Only Slightly Exaggerated” IPA Hits Bottles

Deschutes Brewery — one of Oregon’s largest craft breweries, based in Bend, with pubs in Portland’s Pearl District and Portland International Airport — has just released a limited edition of Only Slightly Exaggerated IPA in bottles, perfect for summer adventuring. More
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Beer & Breweries ,

Glass-Bottom Kayak Tours at Wallowa Lake

July 24, 2019
You’ve heard of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, but have you heard of the monster of Wallowa Lake? According to Nez Perce legend, a giant sea creature — up to 20 feet long — inhabits the depths of this sparkling lake in the northeastern corner of Oregon, on the edge of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest in an area nicknamed the Swiss Alps of Oregon. More
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Eastern Oregon , Joseph , Lakes & Reservoirs , Destinations ,

Making Oregon’s Outdoors Welcoming for All

July 9, 2019
Mercy M'fon Shammah loves to hike, backpack, snowshoe, paddle and enjoy Oregon’s outdoors the same as any other adventurer. But she takes her enthusiasm to another level: She’s working to make the outdoors more accessible for all. More
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Outdoor Recreation ,

Explore the Gorge’s New Car-Free Route

July 8, 2019
Anyone who’s traveled along Interstate 84 to the Columbia River Gorge knows that there’s just one problem: The view, one of the most beautiful in the state, whizzes by at 65 miles per hour. Starting Aug. 3, 2019, a brand-new section of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail will be open to visitors to soak up the grandeur at a much slower, gentler pace — by foot or bicycle, without vehicle traffic. More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge , Cascade Locks , Outdoor Recreation ,

How to Camp Like a Pro

Ahh — long nights of stargazing, snack foods and wanderlust explorations. Camping is a rite of passage in Oregon, no matter if it’s your first time or 50th. Even for the most seasoned outdoors enthusiast, there are a few camping insider tips that can help you channel your inner Smokey Bear so your next camping trip is more “Planet Earth,” less “National Lampoon’s Vacation.” Here’s what to consider when planning your next Oregon camping adventure. More
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Camping ,

Hear Classical Music ‘In a Landscape’

June 17, 2019
To Hunter Noack, a small state park or private farm can offer just as much grandeur as a concert hall, if not more. The young Portland musician — a classical pianist raised in Central Oregon — brings the state’s majestic outdoor spaces to life each year with his award-winning “In a Landscape” series of concerts. With help from a dedicated crew, he sets up a 9-foot Steinway grand piano and performs for concert goers who either gather around or listen with headphones as they explore... More
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Visual & Performing Arts Events , Events ,

Road Trip: Lakeview

June 13, 2019
If you’ve been looking for that off-the-beaten path road trip, there’s almost no place in the state more remote than Lakeview, home to around 2,300 people who call Southern Oregon’s outback home. This high-desert town has no stoplight. It’s 100 miles east of Klamath Falls, 140 miles south of Burns and 175 miles southeast of Bend. More
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Southern Oregon , Lakeview , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Wine, Cheese and Charcuterie at Wooldridge Creek

June 3, 2019
Yes, there really is a place in Oregon where you can sip wine, nibble on perfectly paired cheese and charcuterie made on site, ooh and aah over the baby goats and then stretch your legs with a long walk in the vineyard. Wooldridge Creek Winery, in Southern Oregon’s fertile Applegate Valley, is that uniquely magical place, and the winemakers just celebrated their 40th year of giving back to the land. More
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Wine & Wineries , Eat & Drink ,