About the Author

Jennifer Burns Bright

Jennifer Burns Bright serves as the senior editor of travel and tourism for Travel Oregon's content partner, MEDIAmerica. She works with a wonderful team on Travel Oregon’s monthly consumer enewsletters and annual visitor guide, as well as for many similar custom publications in Oregon’s dynamic travel industry. Based on Oregon's North Coast, she holds a Ph.D in English Literature and has been certified as a Master Food Preserver and Master Gardener. Her writing specialties include culinary travel and agriculture, wellness and resorts, art, and history. Look for her out in Oregon's coastal forests, foraging for wild foods.

Oregon Kelp Forests and the Critters That Love Them

June 4, 2026
Today it’s unusual to find much kelp on the beach. Bull kelp is disappearing in many areas on the Pacific Coast. Thanks to the effort of a very special team of scientists and conservationists known as the Oregon Kelp Alliance, however, restoration efforts are underway. Here’s what they’re doing and fun ways to learn more about kelp forests on your next trip to the Oregon Coast. More
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Oregon Coast , Port Orford , Tours & Guided Trips , Educational Activities , Guides & Tours ,

Road Trip: Ashland

January 27, 2026
There are many reasons to visit Ashland and its surrounds in Southern Oregon — from its family-friendly skiing to hiking stunning trails — but it offers something really special to visitors who may find themselves in need of a quiet solo trip. More
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Southern Oregon , Ashland , Trip Ideas ,

How to Enjoy Oregon’s Bounty With Less Waste

March 21, 2025
Oregon is a food lover’s dream, from the farm-grown produce in its green valleys to the fish you can purchase right off the docks at coastal ports. Sourcing food straight from the people who grow and harvest it is budget-friendly and good for the environment, too. To help celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week (April 7-13, 2025) all year round, here’s how to shop smart and support local farmers and producers at the same time. More
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Culinary Experiences , Farmers Markets , Eat & Drink ,

8 Top Hotels for a Relaxing Portland Stay

April 18, 2024
Getting away from it all can mean a remote trip to the mountains or coast, but sometimes a staycation or getaway in the city can provide a refreshing break. In the past few years, downtown Portland’s lodging options have been growing steadily, and new hotels are not only located close to excellent tax-free shopping, dining and cultural offerings, they also have amenities for cozying up all weekend without ever leaving the property. Here are some of our favorite options, including stays with expansive spas, funky... More
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Boutique Hotels , Hotels & Motels , Trip Ideas , Retail , Eat & Drink , Places to Stay ,

Plan the Perfect Central Oregon Wellness Getaway

March 13, 2024
As someone who lives on the Oregon Coast with its cool maritime climate and misty forests, I always find Central Oregon’s bright, dry, high desert a wonderful getaway for a sunny spring wellness break. Though the area is known for adrenaline-fueled sports, I seek out slower and cozier pleasures when I head to the communities of Bend, Sisters and Sunriver. There I enjoy mountain vistas, pristine rivers and scented forests of juniper, larch and pine, or I head indoors to cozy spas and museums. Here... More
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Central Oregon , Bend , Favorite Trips , Health & Wellness , Trip Ideas ,

Indigenous Flavors Meet Fine Dining

February 21, 2023
Chef Jack Strong learned traditional foodways as part of his Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians upbringing. When the executive chef and cookbook author took the helm at renowned JORY Restaurant at The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg in October 2022, he found heritage foods ready to welcome back his family. More
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Native American Culture , Restaurants , Eat & Drink , Culture & History ,

The Unsolved Mystery of Oregon’s Beeswax Wreck

November 22, 2022
Of the many treasures washed to shore on Oregon’s North Coast — a stretch of cliffs and sand known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific” for its shipwrecks — one created quite a buzz in 2022. No, not the gold and jewelry discovered on the lost ship in “The Goonies.” We’re talking beeswax, and a ship carrying a load of it in its cargo hold that wrecked in 1693. More
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Oregon Coast , Astoria , Museums , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Guide to Foraging Wild Berries in Oregon

July 25, 2022
Though you can easily buy farm-grown blackberries at markets or mountain-foraged huckleberries at stands or through CSAs in season, there’s nothing like the incomparable pride of foraging your own in the Oregon wilderness. Here are some tips to get you started with two of the most common berries, blackberries and huckleberries. More
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Oregon Food Trails , Favorite Trips , Family Fun , Culinary Experiences , Trip Ideas , Eat & Drink ,

How to Hunt for Agates on the Oregon Coast

May 27, 2022
There are people who look out at the ocean, and there are people who look at the rocks. I realized I was the rock type after moving to a small town on the South Oregon Coast and taking endlessly long beach walks that usually ended with my pockets pounds heavier. Scanning the gravelly sand fulfilled a deep craving I didn’t even realize I had. Part thrift shopping, part meditation, hunting for beach treasures somehow gave rest to troubled thoughts and let time fall away. More
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Oregon Coast , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

Luxury Getaways in Mt. Hood and the Columbia River Gorge

March 23, 2022
Oregon Food Trails
With soaring cliffs, views of Mt. Hood and a rolling landscape that evolves from golden hills to craggy, forested cliffs with cascading waterfalls, the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge region is one of Oregon’s most sublime natural areas. Though simply experiencing the thunderous power of water tumbling down into rushing rivers or hiking through alpine forests are luxuries, you can elevate any experience with special tours, restaurants and accommodations to make the trip even more unforgettable. More
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Mt. Hood & Columbia River Gorge ,