About the Author

Melissa Matthewson

Melissa lives and writes in southwestern Oregon. She is a lover of wildness who drinks too much espresso, teaches PNW literature, and has written a book with another one forthcoming.

Your Guide to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

September 16, 2025
Ready for another magical season, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival has all the drama you’ll need. Here’s how to choose the perfect plays, eats and stays for your next Ashland trip. More
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Southern Oregon , Ashland , Theater & Performing Art , Attractions ,

Take an Applegate Valley Hub Crawl

July 31, 2025
Spread over 500 square miles in Southern Oregon, the Applegate Valley is home to five historical village hubs spaced about 7 miles apart — the distance a horse-drawn stagecoach could once cover. Today this scenic valley brims with wineries, farms, restaurants and opportunities for outdoor adventure. Here's how to plan your own hub-to-hub journey. More
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Southern Oregon , Applegate , Favorite Trips , Trip Ideas ,

3 Days Along Oregon’s Redwood Highway

May 21, 2025
Oregon’s scenic Highway 199 — also known as the Redwood Highway — connects Grants Pass to the southwestern Oregon border. Take a road trip before the heat of summer sets in, and you’ll find rare wildflowers, a jumping-off point for some of Oregon’s largest caves, quirky roadside shops and plenty of outdoor adventures. Here are some fantastic things to see and do along the way. More
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Southern Oregon , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Scenic Drives , Destinations , Trip Ideas ,

Pacific Northwest History on Display at the High Desert Museum

December 23, 2024
History has the potential to enliven the past, illuminate the future and help us understand the lives of those who came before us. This year at the High Desert Museum outside of Bend, history buffs and museumgoers can experience two new exhibits with fresh takes on regional history — plus experience the museum’s permanent exhibit about life in the West. Here’s what to expect to get inspired for your visit. More
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Central Oregon , Bend , Native American Culture , Museums , Culture & History , Attractions ,

Fall Salmon Spawning Hikes on the Rogue River

October 7, 2024
Watching a fall run of salmon migrate up a stream is an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature’s persistence.If you time it right, you can spot salmon in the branches and tributaries of Southern Oregon’s Rogue River — which flows around 200 miles from the peaks of the Cascade Range — as they make their way inland from the ocean near Gold Beach on the southern Oregon Coast. More
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Tours & Guided Trips , Rivers & Streams , Destinations , Guides & Tours ,