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 and Relax with a Guided Boat Trip

May 29, 2017
There’s nothing like a whitewater rafting or jet boat trip to leave you breathless, soaked to the bone and pumped full of adrenaline. Then there’s the kind of boat trip that takes it down a notch — from wild to mild, but every bit just as sensational. Here are a handful of guided boat trips… More
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Portland Region , Corvallis , Kayaking , Lakes & Reservoirs , Tour Companies , Rafting , Beer & Breweries , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

Sea Turtles Forever

May 19, 2017
A steady stream of rain didn’t stop the volunteers on Earth Day 2017 at Cannon Beach. Combing the beach with garbage bags and their plastic-gloved hands, the 40 or so volunteers spent two day handpicking tiny bits of plastic from the reedy shoreline — layers upon layers of broken-up pieces of fishing line, plastic bottles,… More
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Oregon Coast , Sustainable Travel , Trip Ideas ,

Trips That Leave No Trace

May 12, 2017
As a 6-year-old growing up in Hawaii, Travis Mazingo was jumping off 50-foot waterfalls with his dad. He was surfing well before his teenage years, exploring national parks and backpacking with his grandmother in a crater on Maui. He’s kept it up through his 20s and 30s, moving to seven states to chase his pursuits… More
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Guides & Charters , Sustainable Travel , Sports , Trip Ideas , Events ,

7 Things You Didn’t Know About Oregon

May 8, 2017
Have you heard of our obsession with artisan doughnuts? Or our love of beer, wine, coffee and spirits? And it pairs so well with the great outdoors: all-year round you’ll find us camping, hiking, biking and paddling through rivers, forests, mountains and coastline. Even when we come inside to rest, we’re soaking up some an… More
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Southern Oregon , Plush , Covered Bridges , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

5 Epic Adventures in La Pine

May 4, 2017
If you’re not paying attention, you can easily bypass the quiet town of La Pine. It’s 30 miles south of the activity in Bend and 60 miles north of Crater Lake, one of Oregon’s most popular destinations. But with quick access to the Newberry Crater, Deschutes River, Deschutes National Forest, Cascade Lakes and other major… More
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Central Oregon , La Pine , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Sip & Savor Oregon Wine Month

April 27, 2017
Nowadays, you can go almost anywhere in the state and enjoy a glass of Oregon wine with your locally sourced meal. That was hardly the case in the 1970s, before Oregon wine country began to take root. It was 1972 when Stephanie Pearl Kimmel had just returned from studying in France. She had been so inspired… More
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Willamette Valley , Eugene , Culinary Events , Museums , Restaurants , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Attractions , Events ,

Portland Japanese Garden Reopens in Full Bloom

April 20, 2017
Sitting on a bamboo seat at the Umami Cafe — part of the Portland Japanese Garden’s recent renovation and expansion — it’s easy to feel like you’re floating in a glass tree house, amidst the wooded hillside of Washington Park in Portland. The bright, airy cafe is a rejuvenating place to enjoy traditional Japanese tea… More
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Portland Region , Portland , Museums , Culinary Experiences , Restaurants , Wildlife Viewing , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Attractions , Events ,

Cheers to Oregon Wine Month

April 17, 2017
Do you prefer your wine tasting with food pairings, live music and supporting great causes? Oregon offers that all year-round but really steps it up during Oregon Wine Month in May, which culminates in a grand Memorial Day Weekend finale at tasting rooms in all corners of the state. Wherever your wine adventures lead, know that Oregon wines fly free on Alaska Airlines, so you can take a bottle of Oregon wine country home with you. More
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Culinary Events , Culinary Experiences , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Clear Creek Distillery’s Branch-to-Bottle Brandy

April 11, 2017
The bottles on the trees at McCurdy Farms in Hood River are not a form of public art — although they are quite beautiful. Each spring, right after the blossoms fall in April or May, the bottles are tied with twine onto the orchard’s largest pears, called the King Pears. That’s when Clear Creek Distillery's… More
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Portland Region , Hood River , Farm & Ranch Stays , Farms & Ranches , Spirits & Distilleries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

Golfer’s Paradise in Central Oregon

April 6, 2017
Sure, Central Oregon is home to some of the state’s best craft brews, skiing and cycling. But golf is also on the list — and these four award-winning spots are a golfers’ paradise, steeped in beauty with views of the Cascade Mountains, ponderosa pines and ancient lava rock. Sneak in a few holes on these championship courses on your next visit. More
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Central Oregon , Bend , Golfing , Sports , Trip Ideas , Events ,