A Great Weekend in the Gorge

August 30, 2007


By Carole Astley

I was so pleased to receive an invitation to some good friends’ wedding in one of the most beautiful places in the state, the Columbia River Gorge. The Gorge is just a 40 minute drive from Portland, so is a quick and easy day trip, which has usually been all the time I’ve spent in the Gorge. I was excited to be able to spend a whole weekend in a place that offers so much to do and see!

The wedding was on Thunder Island in Cascade Locks (follow signs to the Marine Park) which doesn’t look like an Island when you drive by it, but once you walk across the bridge and are on the Island I quickly realized why the lovebirds chose such a beautiful spot. Breathtaking views of the Columbia River, the Gorge and the Bridge of the Gods can be had from this ‘secluded, but yet just a few steps from the parking lot’ Island. Pack a picnic lunch or pick something up at the Char Burger Restaurant in town and have a nice, romantic, scenic and stress-free stop while you are in the area!

Continue reading "A Great Weekend in the Gorge"

Travel Oregon at Hood to Coast Relay

August 29, 2007


(The Travel Oregon team crosses the finish line at Seaside)

As outdoor enthusiasts and Oregon lovers, a team from Travel Oregon has been part of the annual
Hood to Coast Relay for several years now. The event is the "largest running relay" in the world and stretches 197 miles from the top of Oregon's majestic Mt. Hood down to the beautiful Oregon Coast town of Seaside.

This year, we invited sports writer George Schroeder of the Eugene Register-Guard to run on our team (we figured a sport writer could improve our time!). Check out George's column on the Hood to Coast relay in today's Register-Guard and read the back story on his blog about the experience.


(The Travel Oregon Hood to Coast team...31 hours, 16 minutes & 13 seconds later)

Huckleberry Fever – and Two Surprises

August 22, 2007


By Dawn Tryon

Ahh, mid-August. ‘Tis the time to enjoy the bounty of Oregon both in the Willamette Valley and up in the mountains. Oregon’s higher altitudes are home to a multitude of wild berries, from salmon berry to thimbleberry and the much-sought-after huckleberry. Smaller and more flavorful than their domesticated cousins, wild huckleberries can be found probably close to the 4,000-5,500 elevation in the mountains. Before going on a berry-picking excursion, though, make sure you can properly identify the berries – as there are many look-a-likes out there that might be poisonous or definitely make you sick.

Today we set off on a huckleberry excursion that wasn’t that far of a drive – just to the west side of Mount Hood. Our trailhead was the Burnt Lake Trailhead, and the road to our starting point can be reached off of Hwy 26. Just 1.5 miles past the village of Rhododendron, you will want to take a left on Road 27. This is a busy traffic corridor, so you’ll want to be very alert and start signaling well in advance of your turn.

Continue reading "Huckleberry Fever – and Two Surprises"

Behind the Music of Oregon Bounty

August 16, 2007

By Amy Nyberg



You know when you get a song stuck in your head. No matter what you do, it doesn’t seem to go away. Well, that is what happened to me when I heard the new Oregon Bounty songs. Except they’re not annoying, they bring a smile to my face every time I hear them and kind of make me want to do a little jig. Maybe I am so fond of the songs because I am partial to Oregon Bounty. Or maybe it is just fun music. About a month ago I met up with the crew from Wieden & Kennedy (Travel Oregon’s advertising agency), at the production studio Digital One and witnessed first-hand how the Oregon Bounty songs were recorded and produced.

Continue reading "Behind the Music of Oregon Bounty"

Come and See Us at the Bite of Oregon!

August 10, 2007

Looking for an activity to add to your weekend agenda? Stop by the Travel Oregon booth at the Bite of Oregon, located at Portland's Waterfront Park. Taste delicious menu items from restaurants around the state, including Artisan Sausages with Pinot Noir Braised Cabbage from Rafati's Elegance in Catering in Portland, Lobster Quesadilla from La Rosa Authentic Mexican in Bend, Oregon Huckleberry BBQ Lamb from Foley’s Station in La Grande, and so much more. A variety of Oregon wineries and breweries will also be present at The Bite. After you've savored your first round of treats, stop by and chat with a Travel Oregon employee, pick up a copy of our magazine, and learn about all the great things there are do to around the state. We'd love to meet you!

Also at The Bite, you will find excellent entertainment, including performances from a number of artists such as Stumptown Jug Thumpers, Patti Smith, a fireworks show and performances especially for kids, by Radio Disney and more. You will be sure to leave this event entertained, full and happy.

Admission to The Bite of Oregon is $7 for adults, and children 12 and under are free. Information on special passes and discounts can be found at www.biteoforegon.com/visitor_info.html.

For more information on culinary events in Oregon, please visit our Upcoming Events section.

Oregon Hiking Tips: How To Be A Smart Hiker

August 8, 2007

By Dawn Tryon

One of the things about hiking in Oregon’s rugged areas is that sometimes you can find yourself far away from civilization and resources. If you are in the middle of the wilderness, and let’s say your hiking boot suffers a “manufacturing meltdown” - the boot separates from the sole – what would you do? It’s a long way to hop back to the trailhead. And going barefoot might not be a comfortable option either, given the rocky terrain. What to do now?

Enter in your best friend in the wilderness: duct tape. This every day product doesn’t deserve its lowly reputation, because when you need the stuff, it can be a lifesaver. Here’s a tip: If you don’t have any hiking poles, get some. They help stabilize you when hiking on uneven terrain and can help cushion the shock on your knees when heading uphill or downhill. But these poles can be handy carrying caddies as well. Take some duct tape and carefully start winding it over itself (like a spool) on a spot on the upper part of the poles (don’t tape over any joints of the poles). A good thickness to have is about ¼ “ - that should be plenty of tape to take care of practically any emergency need – from fixing gear to putting together a temporary splint. Got a hole in your tent that’s letting mosquitoes in? Duct tape. Did your hydration bag spring a leak? Duct tape. Sunglasses break? Duct tape. Yes, it’s not pretty but it can do the job and at least patch things up to keep you on your way!

Stay tuned for Dawn's hiking blogs, coming soon!

For more information on hiking in Oregon, please visit our Outdoor Recreation section.

Tell Matt Where to Go in Oregon

August 3, 2007


A “road trip” is most definitely the quintessential American travel experience. From wandering through idyllic scenic byways to dining on local cuisine and taking in quirky roadside attractions (humanoid rabbit, for example), the memories of a bygone road trip are fondly etched into our memories.

We’ve been following the adventures of Matt Gross, a reporter of the New York Times who has been trekking through the country on a journey from New York City to Seattle on a mission to “make new friends,” and stumble onto “new vistas and obscure cuisines” along the way. Next week, Matt will trek through Oregon and would love to know what roadside attractions, unique events and interesting places he should visit. Please visit his road trip site and tell him where you think he should go.

~ Happy Friday, Mo

A Gorgeous Summer Afternoon in Lincoln City

August 2, 2007


By Ashley Moran

During a scorching July afternoon, my friend Christina and I decided to beat the heat by roadtripping to the Oregon Coast. Our destination of the day was Lincoln City, and we had food, sun tanning and shopping on our minds. We packed the cooler full of snacks and popped in a cd we could sing to, and we were off! The weather on our drive was fairly overcast, but once we reached our destination it was as if the clouds had opened up- it was absolutely GORGEOUS outside.

Our first stop was the Tanger Outlet Mall, where we purused a variety of home and clothing stores. After that, we stopped for lunch at a quaint little pizza shop called Humble Pie. We shared a yummy meatball sandwich with gooey mozzarella cheese and marinara sauce, and an Italian sub with pepperoni, salami, veggies and Italian dressing.

Continue reading "A Gorgeous Summer Afternoon in Lincoln City"

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