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Mountain Biking Trails in Oregon

March 30, 2007

By Randy Dreiling
*This entry is a continuation of Adventures in Mountain Biking, posted on 3/28/2007

Randy Dreiling, one of our resident mountain biking gurus, has decided to share his favorite biking trails in Oregon. Read on to discover a new trail- and start ridin'!

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A Weekend at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival

March 29, 2007

Rosalind (Miriam A. Laube, left) and her cousin Celia (Julie Oda) observe the love games in the Forest of Arden. Photo: David Cooper.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival was founded in 1935, and is one of the oldest and largest professional non-profit theatres in the nation. The staff at Travel Oregon recently spent a weekend in the beautiful town of Ashland, and had the opportunity to experience this amazing festival first hand. Courtesy of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, each of us had an opportunity to view four extraordinary plays, including "As You Like It", "The Cherry Orchard", "On the Razzle", and "Rabbit Hole". "The Cherry Orchard" was both directed and adapted by outgoing Artistic Director, Libby Appel. The Travel Oregon staff felt very fortunate to be present during Ms. Appel's final season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Read on to hear staff reviews on each of the four plays- and be sure to swing by the Shakespeare Festival- it is an experience unlike any other!

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Adventures in Mountain Biking

March 28, 2007

By Randy Dreiling

This is my first attempt at a blog, and I guess the first entry should start by giving you a
little background about myself. I am 39 years old and live in Oakridge, Oregon.
I grew up in Kansas until I was 12. We arrived at our new home in Cottage Grove, Oregon, on Friday the 13th of July, 1979. I guess you could say I started mountain biking right away, as the hill by our new house was bigger then most mountains in Kansas (the tallest point in Kansas is Mt. Sunflower at a whooping 1,200 feet).

My brother David and I immediately rode and pushed our bikes up the hill, while my little brothers Jeff and Tim were too tired. David and I rode down the hill, and it scared the hell out of us but excited us at the same time, so of course we did it over and over again, going higher and faster each time up. We could tell we were going faster because the speedometers on our bikes looked exactly like the ones you would find in an old car. We had contest to see who could lay the longest skid mark. I have now learned as an adult mountain biker, however, that skidding is a bad idea. But hey, we were on pavement. As we got faster, it got more painful, because we started to crash. Mom and dad were not too happy about their bloodied, skinned-up kids.

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Fishing on the Nestucca River

March 24, 2007

By Lisa Richardson

On a cold, dark morning, we arose at 4:30 a.m. to head out on a grand outdoors adventure! The huge yellow moon was shining down on us, and for a change the sky was so clear you could see the stars…and your breath (that sounds so romantic: just remember, I’m not an outdoorswoman…yet).

We dressed warm, and stowed our rubber boots (mine were brand-spanking new!) in the trunk, and set off with hot coffee in hand. Through Salem, and out Hwy 22, over to Hwy 18, and we turned off to go to Hebo. Our guide would be meeting us at the Nestucca Valley Sporting Goods Store, and that was all I knew to expect.

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Sylvia Beach Hotel- A Literary Sanctuary

March 23, 2007

By Jessica Collins
The Oregon Coast offers hundreds, if not thousands of fun-filled activities and places to stay. For the avid reader and book lover, however, there is one specific hotel that stands out. Our very own Jessica embarked on an Oregon Coast getaway this past weekend to the very serene Sylvia Beach Hotel. Read on to hear about her exciting weekend!

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Skiing Central Oregon - Road Trip!!

March 22, 2007

Skiing Central Oregon - ROAD TRIP!!
3 Days, 3 ski areas

The three ski areas in Central Oregon (Mt. Bachelor, Willamette Pass and Hoodoo Ski Areas) make for a perfect long weekend road trip. They are approximately 65 - 75 miles apart from each other, and together offer a wide range of skiing terrain, friendly employees and spectacular views; from the lifts, ski trails and on the drives to and from each area.

First stop was Mt. Bachelor and the Bend, Oregon area.

Day 1: Mt. Bachelor
Friday, March 16, 2007
Portland to Mt. Bachelor - 180 miles

This would be my first sunny day skiing/riding at Mt. Bachelor (3,683 total acres), meaning my first day to take in the spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and my first day to ride the Summit lift that gives skiers and riders access to the highest point at the Mt. Bachelor Ski Area (9,065 foot elevation), with a total vertical drop of 3,365 feet.

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Good Eats in Salem

March 13, 2007

As you may have heard, Oregon’s incredible bounty has inspired a growing list of chefs and culinary artists who have embraced the idea of creating Oregon Cuisine ---- savory food using local wine, fruits, vegetables and meats. These Oregonians have elevated the act of dining into an exuberant gastronomical adventure, be it a simple roadside meal of fresh hazelnuts and aged cheese over wild greens or succulent fresh crab cakes at a fine dining establishment on the coast.

We at Travel Oregon are committed to eating our way through Oregon to bring you our take on the very best Oregon has to offer. Each month, we'll pick a different city and opine on our "Good Eats" column about where you can sit down for that next great meal - based on our staffs' dining experiences.

This month, we're off to Salem, the state's capital. I grew up in this area, which gave me the opportunity to taste a large variety of authentic, Pacific Northwest cuisine. I recently teamed up with some fellow foodies in the Salem area to begin searching for the city's hidden "gems".

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An Afternoon Touring the Wineries of Lane County (Southern Willamette Valley)

The mild winter sun shone brightly down on me as I gazed past the peacefully dormant vines on the slopping hills overlooking the lush Briggs Hill Valley. It was a beautiful Thursday afternoon and I was with fellow Travel Oregon cohort Michelle and our good friends from the Convention and Visitor’s Association of Lane County Oregon (CVALCO) Natalie and Josh at the Sweet Cheeks Winery (yes, there’s a story to the name…but you will have to read on), located approximately 20 minutes outside downtown Eugene.

When it comes to wine, place matters. And when you think Pinot noir, no place is probably more famed than Oregon’s storied Willamette Valley. On this particular afternoon, Natalie played tour guide as we toured some of the Southern Willamette’s finest wineries for an afternoon of swirling, sipping and savoring!

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Wine Tsunami

March 12, 2007

Inspired to get away from the city, I decided to brave the coast and encounter massive wind, rain and (surprise!) wine. Lots of it. Trying to indulge in some quality time with myself, I encountered a downpour of spring in more ways than one. With a new season comes a new vintage and I happened upon a few wineries showing off their latest wines at various restaurants, galleries and shops during my day away. I hadn’t been to Cannon Beach in awhile and I had forgotten about the quaint wine shops in the downtown area.

To keep dry, I stepped inside The Wine Shack and chatted with owner Dean Reiman about his success in the wine biz while perusing his impressive collection. I was also happy to meet Brad McLeroy who was pouring wine from Ayres Winery. Brad was doing a tasting of two different Pinot Noirs, which were strikingly different and inspiring. My favorite was definitely his Estate Pinot Noir, which had some surprising yet lovely floral notes and an even more impressive presence in the mouth, expressing balance and integrity. Brad, unlike most men, is a multi-tasker (just kidding…sort of). He plays the role of vineyard manager and winemaker on top of promoting his charming wines.

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Show Oregon Your Love at GoSeeOregon.com!

March 9, 2007

Valentine’s Day was Oregon’s birthday, which may have something to do with the way people feel about visiting and playing here. But why wait for a Hallmark holiday to show your love? Now you can declare your devotion anytime at www.GoSeeOregon.com.

Released to the public last month, www.GoSeeOregon.com allows locals and visitors alike to share their Oregon experiences, to recommend places they enjoy and connect with like-minded travelers. It is the first social networking web site just for people who love Oregon.

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Spring skiing and riding in Oregon

March 5, 2007

It’s March, and once again we are sittin’ pretty with deep snowpacks and new snow in the forecast. The latest storms dropped over five feet of new snow at some of our Oregon Ski Areas, giving us the thick snow bases we will use to ski and ride well into April at most areas, and throughout the entire summer on Mt. Hood!

Spring skiing and riding has given me some of my best experiences and memories in the Oregon Mountains. From the sunny, smiley faces in the parks to laying down fast cruisers, to riding light, knee-deep snow in April; all of it happens throughout spring in Oregon and I am excited!!

Spring also brings many great events, competitions and celebrations to our ski areas, giving all of us fun reasons to head uphill. Here are some suggestions:

Screamin' Tele Lizard Classic
Mt. Ashland, March 10, 2007
Includes two giant slalom runs with a tele-twist for all ski levels. Contestants are judged on costume creativity (Abe Lincoln, Nordic Viking, Elvis), big air and speed. And it's all in the name of telemark skiing. For more information: www.mtashland.com or 541.482.2897.

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March in Oregon

Oregon days are getting longer and brighter, cherry blossoms are washing the sky pink and we’re in the mood to celebrate!

This month, one of you will win a fabulous getaway to Portland to hang out with Oregon’s artisan winemakers at the Portland Indie Wine Festival.

We’re also excited about our brand new issue of Travel Oregon Magazine, a fabulous seafood recipe, waterfall hikes, tulip festivals and so much more.

See you in Oregon,
~ The Editors

Step into Spring! (Spring break ideas for the kids)

March 4, 2007

Spring Break is a time for exploring and new experiences. Check out these exciting Spring Break events, deals and ideas to entertain you and the kids.

Become a Junior Ranger at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Spend this spring break at the newly remodeled Thomas Condon Paleontology Center Museum at John Day Fossil Beds, located in the Sheep Rock Unit near the town of Dayville. Here, kids can take guided tours, investigate fossil specimens through microscopes and touch tables, and they can sign up to earn their very own Junior Ranger badge. The Thomas Condon Paleontology Center is open daily, 9am to 4pm, year round.

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A Weekend Full of Wine, Seafood, and Creatures of the Deep in Newport

March 1, 2007

By Carina Reed

My mother, my daughter and a friend all trekked to Newport for the weekend. We stayed at the Inn at Yaquina Bay in Newport in a King size suite with a microwave and fridge in the room. On Saturday, after stuffing ourselves on complimentary muffins and coffee/tea/cocoa, we decided to explore Newport. My daughter and her friend wanted to go to the beach but it was raining pretty hard so we chose some indoor activities instead.

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