Jennifer Burns Bright

Hood River-based Wilderton Botanical Spirits opened the country’s first nonalcoholic distillery with a dedicated tasting room in Hood River in July 2023 — here’s what to expect on your next round of drinks. More

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

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

To the joy of foragers like me, wild berries that flourish each summer mean you don’t need anything more than a bucket and an identification guide to collect pounds of juicy, jeweled fruit. With homemade berry pie or jam on the horizon, many families head out to their special spots for a time-honored tradition from July to October. Though you can easily buy farm-grown blackberries at markets or mountain-foraged huckleberries at stands or though CSAs in season, there’s nothing like the incomparable pride of foraging... More

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

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

If you love the ocean, any getaway to the Oregon Coast can make you feel like a million bucks. Breathing in the salty air, catching a whale spouting from a cliffside trail, digging clams for an impromptu dinner over a campfire: All these experiences are Oregon luxuries with little to no cost. But for special occasions or just an unforgettable experience, the state’s 363 miles of coastline provide many ways to splurge.  More

For a quick meal before an afternoon hiking the cliffs, a stop on a long-distance cycling tour or a budget-friendly family dinner, someone has the perfect taco for you. Here’s a guide to restaurants and food carts that would make any tortilla proud. More