Good Eats in Astoria

June 29, 2007


By Ashley Moran

Welcome to the Travel Oregon staff's monthly "Good Eats" blog! This month, we're exploring the dinning scene of Astoria, located on the Oregon Coast. Astoria has so many great sites to see, including the Astoria column, Flavel House and Columbia Maritime Museum, you are bound to work up an appetite!

My mother, sister and I recently visited Astoria, and had the opportunity to dine at a number of restaurants in Astoria- all of which received rave reviews in our book!

Check out a few of our staff's favorite Astoria restaurants:

Continue reading "Good Eats in Astoria"

4th of July Weekend in Oregon

There's a lot going over the 4th of July weekend in this zany and wonderful place we call Oregon.
From soaring over blue skies and watching bumper to jazz by the waterfront and of course fireworks, there won't be a dull moment here this holiday weekend. Here is a smatterig of what's happening this 4th of July weekend....of course, for a whole bunch of more events & experiences, be sure to check out our event calendar or our collection of one-of-a-king Oregon experiences, 365 Extraordinary Days in Oregon (www.TravelOregon.com/365)

Portland Metro
- June 25, 2007 - July 29: Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival, Portland
- July 4, 2007 - July 8: Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland
- July 1, 2007 - July 4: Clatskanie Heritage Days, Old Fashioned 4th of July , Clatskanie

See all Portland Metro: Events | Subscribe

Oregon Coast
- June 27 - September 3: Live Like Lewis & Clark, Astoria
- July 4: Fireworks Over Yaquina Bay, Newport

See all Oregon Coast: Events | Upcoming Events | Subscribe

Willamette Valley
- June 30 - July 4,: St. Paul Rodeo, St. Paul
- June 30 - July 1 World Beat Festival, Salem

See all Willamette Valley: Events | Subscribe

Mt. Hood/The Gorge
- July 1 - July 4: Cherry Celebration, Hood River
- July 4 - July 8,: Old Fashioned 4th of July BBQ , Hood River

See all Mt. Hood/Gorge: Events | Subscribe

Continue reading "4th of July Weekend in Oregon"

What's Going On In Oregon This July?

This summer in Oregon, we’ve got a few ideas to help you cool down. How about two nights at gorgeous Wallowa Lake in Northeast Oregon?

Or perhaps some chilled Sabayon with fresh raspberries paired with a glass of King Estate Vin Glace?

Maybe you’d prefer to just get out and splash around. In Oregon, we’ve got water coming out of our ears: 363 miles of ocean, legendary rafting rivers, lakes, and windsurfing waters. We’ve even got waterfront golf courses if you dare
to dip in between drives.

See you in Oregon, where we’re off taking surfing lessons.

~ The Editors

Siltcoos River Trail by Kayak

June 21, 2007


By Amy Nyberg

On a recent gorgeous Oregon morning, I found myself sitting in a bright yellow kayak on Siltcoos Lake near Florence, Oregon. It had just stopped raining and the sun was starting to peek through the clouds. Having only been in a kayak once before, I was feeling a bit shaky and nervous to make any big or sudden movements. And as I sat in this colorful watercraft, wiggling around trying to keep my balance, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am to live in the great state of Oregon, where fantastic recreational activities are no more than a tank of gas away.

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A Phenomenal Hip Hop Show in Eugene, Oregon

June 18, 2007


By Ashley Moran

I have always admired the cultural diversity of Eugene. Not to mention the arts around every corner- it's like heaven to be surrounded by theater, music and art. I recently had an opportunity to see such culture in action, at Phenomenon Hip Hop Company's "VIP" show. This show was held at the Hult Center, a well-known venue in the Eugene area.

What I enjoyed most about this show was the variety of ways hip hop dance was shown and expressed. Some of the dance pieces told a specific story, while others focused on the history and evolution of hip hop dance, or were solely created for entertainment purposes. The phenomenon dancers started off the show by jumping along the isles near the audience, dressed in bright green jungle attire. This piece was very entertaining, especially since the dancers interacted with the audience.

Continue reading "A Phenomenal Hip Hop Show in Eugene, Oregon"

Inside Scoop: Behind the Scenes of an Oregon Ad

June 15, 2007

By Ashley Moran

Oregonians love to work hard, and play hard- you might even say that some of us are overachievers. The Travel Oregon team recently explored the life of a typical Oregon overachiever, by pairing with Wieden & Kennedy (our ad agency) to create an ad. Jordan Kent, one of the University of Oregon's football, track and basketball stars was chosen to model in the ad, which was shot on Hayward Field. Jordan had spent many-a-track meet at Hayward Field, as he studied at the University of Oregon. Recently drafted to the Seattle Seahawks, Jordan was clearly the perfect example of an Oregon all-star.

Join us as we take a glimpse behind the scenes of this exciting Oregon ad shoot.

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Good Eats Over Graduation Weekend: Corvallis

June 14, 2007

By Mo Sherifdeen

College graduation is just around the corner, and students and families all over the state are getting ready to celebrate. If you’re heading to Corvallis for the graduation ceremony at Oregon State University, here are some ideas to get you started on the hunt for that perfect place to celebrate and chow down in style.

Sahalie Wine Cellar/Wine Bar/Restaurant – Located along the waterfront, Sahalie is a cozy place to swirl, sniff, and sip away a pinot over brie with a group of friends while debating the complexities of life. They focus on featuring wines from Oregon’s south Willamette Valley and also offer a diverse menu featuring other wine regions, wine varietals and styles; they also have a good selection of Northwest microbrews.

Continue reading "Good Eats Over Graduation Weekend: Corvallis"

Good Eats Over Graduation Weekend: Eugene & Monmouth

June 13, 2007

By Ashley Moran

College graduation is just around the corner, and students and families all over the state are getting ready to celebrate. The staff at Travel Oregon would like to help you plan for this exciting day, by providing a list of fantastic, authentically-Oregon restaurants, perfect for your grad’s party. Traveling to Eugene or Monmouth? Be sure to check out these great restaurants along the way!


Good Eats Near the University of Oregon:

Café Lucky Noodle
Lucky Noodle is located only a few blocks away from campus, near Fifth Street Public Market. They serve a combination of delicious Italian and Asian-fusion dishes, along with a wide array of cocktails and desserts. I would recommend their three cheese tortellini- pecorino, romano and parmesan cheese stuffed organic pasta sautéed in a pesto cream sauce, topped with grilled chicken. Their almond chicken is also delicious, and includes chicken encrusted with herbs, toasted almonds and garlic breadcrumbs, finished in a light, lemon butter cream sauce with linguine pasta and sautéed vegetables. To top it off, finish your celebration meal with some Italian gelato.

Continue reading "Good Eats Over Graduation Weekend: Eugene & Monmouth"

Five Favorite Sailing Spots in Oregon

June 11, 2007


Jill Andrick lives on a 25’ sailboat in North Portland, and is always ready to go boating on Oregon’s world-class waterways - whether by sail or canoe.

The Columbia around Portland
Portland has the largest population of sailboats in Oregon, and many Portland sailors like to cruise back and forth from the Interstate Bridge to the east end of Government Island. The summer prevailing winds, out of the northwest, are ideal for sailing upstream; you can tack all the way home. There are awesome views of Mt. Hood on a clear day, and Government Island has several good anchorages for overnight stays and lunch stops.

Continue reading "Five Favorite Sailing Spots in Oregon"

Five Favorite Fishing Spots in Oregon

June 6, 2007


Henry Miller is the outdoor editor for the Salem Statesman Journal. He has been fishing the rivers, lakes and coastline of Oregon for 20 years; his biggest fish to date is a 44 pound ling cod caught on a charter out of Newport.


Wallowa Lake
Flanked by the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Wallowa Mountains, there arguably is no more scenic fishing lake in Oregon than Wallowa Lake near Joseph. Its crystalline waters are stocked with rainbow trout during the tourist season, but also has a good self-sustaining population of kokanee—a landlocked variety of sockeye salmon. If you’re at Wallowa around Labor Day, you can watch the kokes in full scarlet and green spawning colors swim out of the lake and up the Wallowa River.

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Inside Scoop: A Chat With Donna Quinn, of the Cannery Pier Hotel

June 4, 2007


By Ashley Moran
I recently had the opportunity to visit with Donna Quinn, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Cannery Pier Hotel. This chic, modern-style hotel opened in 2005, and is one of the most elegant places I have had the opportunity to stay. Not only were the accommodations excellent, but Donna and the hotel also went out of their way to provide lunch reservations at a local hot spot. Below you will find a brief history on the Cannery Pier Hotel, as well as guest services and exciting news regarding the hotel's latest project, the Red Building.

Continue reading "Inside Scoop: A Chat With Donna Quinn, of the Cannery Pier Hotel"

The Scoop on Cannon Beach and Seaside…

June 3, 2007

Seaside and Cannon Beach are two of the most popular North Coast destinations in Oregon. The Lewis and Clark trail ended at what is now Seaside, a resort town famous for its promenade. A few miles south is Cannon Beach, a charming community known for its art galleries, tide pools and sunsets behind Haystack Rock. If you’re planning a trip out to either Seaside or Cannon Beach this summer, be sure to read the following blogs by Terry Richard of OregonLive.com. (Photo above: Travel Oregon's Holly with her son at Ecola State Park)

Terry has been blogging from Seaside and Cannon Beach for the last week and has the scoop on a variety of fun topics such as: Ecola State Park, The North Coast Land Conservancy, Cannon Beach’s arts scene, the one-of-a-kind Seaside Promenade, Seaside Aquarium, family fun in Seaside and where to eat and where to stay in both towns.

~Cheers!
Mo
Editor's Note: For more North Coast trip ideas, read Holly's Sugar Cones, Sand and Sun in Cannon Beach blog from 4/5/07 or Ashley's Mother-Daughter Adventure in Astoria blog from 5/2/07.

What's Going on in Oregon This June?

June 2, 2007

Happy June! As the days get longer and brighter, we’re dreaming of the Oregon outdoors. Camping, hiking, biking, rafting- it's all on our list of things to do this summer.

This month, one of you lucky subscribers will win a grape-stomping vacation to Willamette Valley wine country during fall harvest. Ready to get your feet dirty?

Also, we’ve got a crowd-pleaser recipe from Ashland’s Larks Restaurant that stars Oregon-fresh berries and nuts. Impress dad with it on Father’s Day.

See you in Oregon, where we’re planning our next hike…

~ The Editors

The Mountain Bike Oregon Story

June 1, 2007


By Randy Dreiling

People have asked about the best way to see the trails in the Oakridge/Westfir area. You could buy a guide book or call Oregon Adventures for shuttle and/or guide services. For this blog, however, I am going to shamelessly plug one of the events I promote: Mountain Bike Oregon (MBO).

Before you hit that “home page” button, please read on and find out what this event does for our community and mountain biking in general.

Continue reading "The Mountain Bike Oregon Story"

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