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 New Vision for Oregon Shakespeare Festival

August 19, 2019
Nataki Garrett has been called a visionary; a force of nature. She’s spent the past two decades leading theater companies and making artistic connections around the world — everywhere from Dallas and Denver to Paris, Italy, Rwanda and Uganda. And now she’s landed in Southern Oregon, taking the helm of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival at a time when the theater company and region are looking to remain a top destination. More
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Southern Oregon , Ashland , Theater & Performing Art , Attractions ,

Road Trip: Oregon’s Newest Scenic Byways

Sure, you could drive straight from Point A to Point B when traveling anywhere in Oregon, but where’s the fun in that? The rugged coastline, grand forests, snow-capped mountains, rolling valleys and sweet (and often quirky) towns along the way make for some dramatic eye candy, not to mention surprising adventures. More
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Scenic Drives , Trip Ideas ,

Meet the Feast Makers

August 1, 2019
Dozens of makers across the state are preparing to bring their tastiest innovations to the eighth annual Feast Portland (Sept. 12-15, 2019), arguably Oregon’s hippest food and drink festival. These tastemakers — chefs, butchers, farmers, ranchers, artisans, brewers, distillers and winemakers — are tasked with showcasing the bounty of Oregon at the festival’s large tasting events, spirited parties, intimate dinners, workshops and demonstrations, and more. More
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Eat & Drink ,

Sip Whiskey, Tour the Farm in Newberg

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 ,