44 Results

“It was love at first touch,” Lillian Pitt recalls of the first time her hands met clay. That happenstance encounter with a potter’s wheel led Pitt down a path of creative exploration and collaboration that has taken her all over the world. At age 72, Pitt is recognized as one of the most highly regarded… More

Most fly-fishers agree that central Oregon’s Lower Deschutes River — with its native rainbow trout and steelhead — is a world-class fishery. When the annual salmon fly hatch begins in late May, it becomes a see-it-to-believe-it experience. More

Winnona Garrison knows just how beautiful the Warm Springs Indian Reservation is — deer and elk roaming the plains, cinnamon-hued canyons rising around rivers and creeks, and snowcapped Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson towering over it all. She understands the importance of those landscapes, and what they provide to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. (Several wildfires have been burning on and around the reservation, so please be respectful and avoid the area until it’s safe to visit.) More

Twisted Teepee is a nonprofit food cart specializing in local, popular comfort foods. Their menu includes Native American fry bread with huckleberry butter, huckleberry pancakes, burgers, Salmon Luckame'n (local chowder style soup) with weekly-changing healthy food options. Twisted Teepee also offers training opportunities to help jumpstart future entrepreneurs in their endeavours. More

Mecca Grade is an estate malthouse located on 1,000 irrigated acres in Madras, Oregon. Much like an estate vineyard and winery, this eighth-generation Oregon farming family grows and malts all of their own specialty grain. They grow only one variety of spring 2-row barley...Full Pint...which was bred by Oregon State University. The estate malt made with Full Pint has an entirely unique, nutty, graham-cracker sweetness that is attributable to the farming practices, malting process, and yes, even terroir.  Tastings and tours at Estate Malt House and Tasting... More

Located in Madras, Paradise Produce offers a variety of vegetables, plants and fresh produce for sale throughout the summer. Open daily April through October. More

Enjoy a much-needed break from driving when you stop by Plateau Travel Plaza, an all-in-one rest stop in Madras, Oregon. You'll find more than fuel at Plateau Travel Plaza. Grab a bite from the deli and enjoy an expanded retail selection in the store. There's also a game room to explore. Plateau Travel Plaza is owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, represented by the Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute tribes. More

If you love Oregon’s wide open vistas, consider weekend travel to Central Oregon’s Lake Billy Chinook, where newcomers and experienced birders enjoy spectacular views to birds of prey during the annual “Eagle Watch.” Framed by towering 400-foot canyon walls, Lake Billy Chinook offers a unique perspective on Central Oregon that also provides plenty of elbow… More

5 Dollar taxi serves central Oregon, also making flat-rate trips to the Eugene, Redmond, and Portland airports. More

Framed by rolling farmlands, sun-fired gorges and trout-filled waters, Madras and the surrounding steppes and canyons are Central Oregon’s ticket to family fun. From Lake Billy Chinook to the awesome airplanes that arrive in August for one of Oregon’s best air shows, the region and the city of 7,500 people play host to no shortage of adventures and attractions. Here’s how to help the family wrap up another memorable summer. More

When you’re cruising across Central Oregon, the high desert plateau can feel as vast as the ocean, a sea of sagebrush and pine under an endless dome of blue sky. Yet surprises await around Madras (about 45 minutes north of Bend), where the land seems to crack open like an eggshell, revealing deep desert canyons,… More

If you’re like me, you’re bound to be curious when traveling the wide-open spaces of Oregon. I need to know everything I can. That’s how it was when we headed south on US 97 searching for the forty million years of geologic history found in the Oregon state rock called “Thundereggs.” I cherished these magical,… More

Economy Taxi provides taxi service throughout Central Oregon. More

Located in the heart of Central Oregon’s agricultural belt, Cascade Lavender is blessed with an incredible panorama of pastoral fields and the peaks of the Cascade Mountains. With over 4,000 mature plants and 100 different varieties, the farm when in full bloom displays a breathtaking array of colors from whites to deep purples, and is soothed by the wonderful fragrance of this beloved herb. Cascade Lavender is a family-friendly place with plenty to see and do for all types of visitors and interests, from display... More

Celebrate State Parks Day at The Cove – Festival of The Land Come celebrate the land, food and stories from where the Crooked River and the Deschutes River canyons meet. Many cultures have made this area home, and each brings a diversity of experiences to share. Help us celebrate the history and all the cultures that make this land so special.This event includes:Free parking and admissionHistory, culture and wildlife displaysDutch oven cooking demonstrationsArcheology hikesKids’ gamesPetting “zoo”Mini farmers market, pollinator and fish displays, fry bread and moreParking... More

Yep, party barging! I’m officially making it a verb. My family and I recently spent the day with three other families — eight adults and eight kids in all — on the waters of Lake Billy Chinook in Central Oregon. More

Many of us enjoy taking our homes on the road in summer – whether in a tent, trailer or recreational vehicle - but this week’s getaway shows us a place where you take your home on the water. When Oregon’s Cascade Mountains are behind you and Central Oregon’s U.S. Route 97 unwinds onto a desert… More

A saw blade of snowy volcanic peaks provides quite the backdrop for the Madras Mountain Views Scenic Bikeway. This 29-mile ride rolls through farm fields and skims along the canyon rim of Lake Billy Chinook. A word of advice from one cyclist to another: the scenery might get distracting, so you’ll want to pull over now and again to take it all in. More

Whether you are traveling in your RV, enjoying the comforts of a cozy cabin or staying in a grass padded tent site, this central Oregon KOA campground is your vacation spot. Enjoy the outdoor salt water swimming pool, playground, peddle bikes, rock garden and dog park. More

Mccubbins Gulch Day Use OHV Picnic Site is located within the McCubbins Gulch Area. The area is wheelchair accessible. More information about Off Highway Vehicle use in the Mt Hood National Forest can be found here. More

Rainshadow Organics is a full-diet farm with dozens of varieties of certified organic vegetables, herbs, berries, flowers, pork, chicken, eggs, turkey, beef, and grains on 200 acres. They are located 15 miles northeast of Sisters and 10 miles west of Terrebonne in Central Oregon. The farm is family owned and operated and has been here since the early 1970s. Sarahlee Lawrence grew up on the land and started Rainshadow in 2010. All of the crops they grow are distributed within 50 miles of the farm... More

For years, visitors had access to the secreted-away and astoundingly beautiful House on Metolius 200-acre estate only by way of temporary rental of a few rustic cabins. This year, the resort reinvented itself with the opening of the Main Lodge, which offers seven gorgeous private rooms and lovely common dining and living rooms appointed with… More

Most weekends find Elena Pressprich on the road, heading out from her home in Central Oregon in search of fresh powder, unexplored trails and wide, sandy beaches. But no matter where she’s going and no matter what time of year, this avid outdoor enthusiast never leaves home without three essentials: Baya, Rio and Millie. More

What is it about Oregon’s rivers? There is nothing like a cool, restful moment along the shady shoreline of a Oregon river. That sentiment is shared for an exciting outdoor adventure, fishing or paddling along one of our prized waterways. All this is especially true near Camp Sherman, where the Metolius River bubbles from the ground to curl… More

Chockstone Climbing Guides offer personalized, professional rock climbing instruction and guiding services at Smith Rock State Park and other great Central Oregon locations.  Choose from a private, family or group program for beginner, intermediate or advanced levels. Chockstone Climbing Guides has seasoned, AMGA certified and experienced Smith Rock climbing guides and instructors to ensure a fun, memorable rock climbing adventure for you and your family. All gear is provided. More

Curious travelers planning an adventure to this wild pocket of the Pacific Northwest should pack boots and cowboy hats — you’ll need both while exploring this arid side of the Cascades. The region is rich in history (hello, prehistoric fossil beds) and also offers incredible opportunities to soak up the high-desert sunshine, something that newcomers might not believe exists here in Oregon. Here are the top stops from my weekend road trip. More

Smith Rock draws climbers from across the globe, and it's considered by many to be the birthplace of American sport climbing. But there are many ways to see the high desert of Central Oregon. Here are a few of our favorite ways: Ride: Central Oregon is a cycling and biking paradise. Mountain bikers will love… More

One interesting thing about Smith Rock: For something with such a monolithic name, it’s far from the only thing you want to look at when you’re there. While its sheer walls, unique structure and picture-postcard setting make it one of the top draws in the world for rock climbers, it’s just one part of a Central Oregon outdoor playground that offers myriad possibilities. More

Smith Rock State Park, también conocido como el lugar de nacimiento del alpinismo como deporte en Estados Unidos, es uno de los destinos turísticos más icónicos de Oregon, amado por su sorprendente geología y accesibilidad para quienes van en busca de aventura en el desierto alto del centro de Oregon. More

How to explore this world-renowned destination after peak-season crowds have gone. More