About the Author

Tara Corbin

Tara serves as Cycle Oregon’s community director, helping shine the spotlight on some of the state’s lesser known towns and scenic treasures.

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: Tumalo State Park

July 1, 2019
If you wake up with the warm sun on your face, to the rhythmic gurgling of a nearby river, as you watch a Townsend’s Warbler chasing a Mountain Chickadee from Juniper to Ponderosa to Sage, there’s a good chance you’re waking up in Tumalo State Park. Central Oregon has no shortage of amazing places that… More
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Central Oregon , Bend , State Parks , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Bicycling , Trip Ideas , Attractions ,

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: Diamond Lake

Diamond Lake is one of those places that Oregonians have been enjoying for generations because, for the most part, the experience has remained largely unchanged. The first time visiting the lake, many people are surprised to learn that Diamond Lake is not shaped like a diamond at all. More
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Southern Oregon , Diamond Lake , Lakes & Reservoirs , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Restaurants , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: Dorena Lake

The communities of Cottage Grove and Dorena Lake have one important characteristic in common. They both seem to have the incredible ability to adapt, reinvent, transform and just keep going. This unique trait is deeply ingrained in the fabric of Oregon and when you start looking for it, you start to see it everywhere. Just… More
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Dorena , Bicycling Events , Trip Ideas ,

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: La Pine

Not a lot of people have extensive knowledge about the town of La Pine. It probably doesn’t make a lot of bucket lists. And that’s the perfect reason to spend some time here. La Pine is a bit undiscovered, a bit of an up and comer. That’s all part of its charm. Stretching four miles along… More
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Central Oregon , La Pine , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: Oakridge

Some 150 miles south of Portland and 40 miles southeast of Eugene on Highway 58 is Oakridge, a small community in the midst of a rebirth. In its early days, Oakridge was a rough-and-tumble railroad boomtown in the heart of timber country. For many years the Southern Pacific Railroad hauled a steady stream of timber and lumber to and from the mills in Westfir and Oakridge. More
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Willamette Valley , Oakridge , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Cycle Oregon Spotlight: Rainbow

The small unincorporated community of Rainbow is just as colorful as its name would have you believe. Surrounded by deep green forests and magical blue waters, this area, which also includes the unincorporated communities of McKenzie Bridge and Blue River, has always been a paradise for those looking to enjoy the outdoors. More
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Willamette Valley , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,

Woods, Wildlife and a Wealth of Community in Glendale

August 31, 2016
Take a well-deserved detour in Southern Oregon and journey to Glendale, a small town with a lot of personality. "Glendale is one of the friendliest communities I have ever worked in," says David Hanson, superintendent for the Glendale School District. "Everyone really wants to make this a better place that attracts more people to the area." For… More
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Southern Oregon , Glendale , Lakes & Reservoirs , Historic Sites & Oregon Trail , Parks, Forests & Wildlife Areas , Rivers & Streams , Bicycling , Sports , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions , Events ,

Campers Flock to Indian Mary Park

July 28, 2016
It's no surprise that Indian Mary Park, a 61-acre park located in Merlin, about 16 miles northwest of Grants Pass, is the most sought after campground in Josephine County. The park borders the Rogue River and is full of green grass, lush trees and picturesque pavilions that are perfect for picnicking or just soaking up… More
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Southern Oregon , Merlin , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Eat & Drink , Attractions ,

Go Rogue in Gold Beach

June 27, 2016
Located at the mouth of the Rogue River, Gold Beach is an ideal coastal destination for people who enjoy long walks on the beach, boats and down-to-earth local flavor. “The Rogue kind of explains who we are,” says Jodi Fritts, City Manager for Gold Beach. “We’re one of the most remote cities on the Oregon… More
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Oregon Coast , Gold Beach , Boating & Jet Boating , Trip Ideas , Outdoor Recreation , Attractions ,

Soak up Bandon’s Local Flavor

June 9, 2016
With no direct link to the I-5 freeway, Bandon can be considered an out-of-the-way destination on Oregon’s Southern Coast. But if you’re up for making the trek, this 3,000-person community has a lot to offer. “A visitor once told me he had to swing on a vine to get here,” says Julie Miller, the executive director… More
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Oregon Coast , Bandon , Bicycling , Trip Ideas ,