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.

Wine-Lovers’ Adventure at Bounty of Yamhill County

July 26, 2016
It’s one thing to sip world-class wines from an Adirondack chair with a lovely view. It’s another thing to pair those wines with an afternoon yoga session, a river paddle and picnic, or even a hot air balloon ride. The Bounty of Yamhill County — a three-day food and wine event set for Aug. 25-27,… More
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Willamette Valley , McMinnville , Culinary Events , Culinary Experiences , Restaurants , Wine & Wineries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

Wide-Open Country at Cottonwood Canyon State Park

July 21, 2016
With 8,000 acres of rugged terrain — vertical cliffs carved by the John Day River, deep canyons and rocky grasslands stretching for miles around — a trip to Cottonwood Canyon State Park in Eastern Oregon is like traveling back in time. Located about two hours from Portland (50 minutes southeast of The Dalles), Cottonwood is Oregon’s… More
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Eastern Oregon , Wasco , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Raised on ‘Dairy Done Right’

July 18, 2016
Jill Allen has loved the land since an early age. Born and raised not far from Tillamook, an area populated by more cows than people, she was active in Future Farmers of America and studied agricultural business at Oregon State University. After college she married a dairy farmer and laid down roots in Tillamook, where… More
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Oregon Coast , Tillamook , Trip Ideas ,

How to Book a Last-Minute Camping Trip

July 14, 2016
There’s good news and bad news for last-minute campers out there. Try these tips for finding first come, first served campsites in Oregon. More
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Camping , Outdoor Recreation ,

4 Reasons to Love the Chetco River

July 6, 2016
Luke Martinez grew up splashing around in the Chetco River. As a teenager he became passionate about paddling, and spent his summers guiding rafting trips. That was 20 years ago, and Martinez has since returned home — to the tiny town of Pistol River, between Gold Beach and Brookings on the Southern Oregon Coast — to raise… More
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Oregon Coast , Brookings , Lakes & Reservoirs , Guides & Charters , Rafting , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Oregon’s Largest Statewide Art Event

June 30, 2016
How much art is there across the state of Oregon? Michelle Grabner and Bryan Suereth can tell you. In what they call the “most comprehensive survey of Oregon art, ever,” they drove about 1,800 miles across the state from September to December last year, visiting 107 artists’ studios — from Astoria to Ashland, Pendleton to… More
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Art Galleries & Studios , Theater & Performing Art , Trip Ideas , Attractions , Events ,

Summer Adventures at Oregon Ski Areas

June 28, 2016
The snow has (mostly) melted, but that doesn’t mean Oregon’s gorgeous ski areas are closed for the season. More
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Southern Oregon , Zigzag , Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Ski Areas & Sno-Parks , Bicycling , Hiking & Backpacking , Snow Sports , Sports , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Arch Rock Brewing Brings Home the Gold

June 21, 2016
Larry and Marjie Brennan just wanted to make good beer in Southern Oregon. They never imagined they’d be making gold medal-worthy beer on a world stage. But three and a half years after opening, Arch Rock Brewing — a tiny 15-barrel brew house and tasting room in Gold Beach — has racked up five gold medals… More
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Oregon Coast , Gold Beach , Culinary Events , Beer & Breweries , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink , Events ,

7 Things Not to Miss in Lincoln City

June 16, 2016
Have you seen the Oregon Coast from the viewpoint at Cascade Head? This hidden gem of a hike – through groves of Sitka spruces and summer wildflowers — offers panoramic views of the Salmon River estuary, with Cape Foulweather and Devils Lake in the distance. It’s all in Lincoln City, home to a lot more… More
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Oregon Coast , Lincoln City , Shopping , Hiking & Backpacking , Windsurfing & Kiteboarding , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Astoria’s Columbia River Maritime Museum

June 15, 2016
My kids love adventure stories — shipwrecks, buried treasure, nautical mysteries, tales of survival against all odds. That’s exactly what we found at the nationally renowned Columbia River Maritime Museum, one of the highlights of our recent trip to Astoria. We headed up there — myself, my husband and two boys, 10 and 7 —… More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Museums , Educational Activities , Trip Ideas , Culture & History , Attractions , Events ,