Today we begin announcing our winners, one per day, based on the following schedule:

Monday, September 28: Winemaker (David K from N. Hollywood, CA)
Tuesday, September 29: Fisherman
Wednesday, September 30: Chocolatier/Cheesemaker
Thursday, October 1: Distiller
Friday, October 2: Rancher
Monday, October 5: Brewmaster
Tuesday, October 6: Chef

We will notify the daily winner via email by 8:00 a.m. on the day that their Cuisinternship is announced. You can check TravelOregon.com/Bounty each morning for the winning entry.

Also, don’t forget we are featuring a ”Fan Favorite” award that recognizes the highest rated video; the winner will receive a custom Oregon Bounty Flip Mino Video camera. So, if you haven’t already done so, be sure to forward the link to your video to all your friends and contacts, and ask them to vote by Tuesday October 6th. We will announce the ”Fan Favorite” on Friday, Oct. 10th.

Again, thanks for taking the time to submit an Oregon Bounty Cuisinternship video we really appreciate. Win or lose, we hope to see you in Oregon where we’re hopping, skipping and road-tripping across the state’s culinary delights.

Ingredients Movie - Play Trailer

You’re invited to be among the first to see the locally made film “ Ingredients” at the Bagdad Theater. This feature-length documentary reveals the people who are leading the movement to bring good food back to the table and health back to our communities.  This film illustrates how people around the country are working to revitalize the connection between food and the land, while celebrating the farm to table movement with vibrant cinematography and exploring solutions for creating a community based on seasonal food.

Meet the filmmakers at the Sept. 25 screening on Friday. The movie will be followed by a panel discussion with chef Greg Higgins and Anthony and Carol Boutard of Ayers Creek Farm in Gaston. All proceeds will benefit the Multnomah County Sustainability Program.

And most importantly, follow us on Twitter or Facebook for a chance to win tickets later this week!

Credit: OregonLive.com

Oregonians already know that our communities are extremely “bike friendly”; in fact, the cities of Ashland, Bend, Beaverton, Corvallis, Eugene and Portland have all been designated as “Bicycle-Friendly Communities” by the League of American Bicyclists. But when the New York Times, writes about and publishes a video about Portland’s bike friendly culture, it looks like the word is getting out!

For a list of trails and roads to ride your bike in Oregon, check out “Bike Oregon” section of TravelOregon.com. And what’s more, later this spring, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be unveiling a brand new cycling website devoted to celebrating all that’s great about bicycling in Oregon.

Love the Cascades? Tell Us Why!

Those of us who’re lucky enough to live in the Northwest know that the region is blessed with awe-inspiring views and truly remarkable natural areas and spaces.

But what are those places that are truly special for those of us who live, work and play here? We’ve partnered with our friends at Experience Washington and National Geographic’s Center for Sustainable Tourism to gather your stories about places and experiences that you would like to see included on a printed and online Geotourism MapGuide.

Help us in our quest to find the best destinations for travelers to experience and learn about the unique culture, heritage, environment and scenic beauty found only in the Central Cascades. We know you live, work and play here – now you have a place where you can share your experiences and tell your stories about why this place is special to you and like nowhere else in the world. So head over to TheCentralCascades.com and give us your best hiking trails, fishing holes or whitewater rafting stretches; your favorite quaint towns, or those unique local venues offering music, dance, or theater.

Happy New Year

As we fondly bid “adieu” to 2008, and relish the opportunities of the coming year, we love to share with you our “Top Ten” most read stories.   Over the past year, we’ve enjoyed bringing you tales of the places and people who live in this magical place we call “Oregon” and we couldn’t do it without your support, appreciation and suggestions. Thank you!

Have a wonderful New Year! ~The team @ Travel Oregon.

On the Road with Oregon Bounty – “By sampling our elixirs, you become part of the cadre, the insiders to a secret world.” I have to admit, when I read this mantra of Sub Rosa Spirits, I was intrigued. I’ve seen and read the “Da Vinci Code,” and know a little bit about ancient secret societies, so I figured I’d do my own investigation into this mystical spirit world.   So, I begin my “On the Road with Oregon Bounty” journey today…(full story)

Siltcoos River Trail by Kayak – 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. (full story)

Oregon’s Grand Canyon – Hidden away in the southeastern corner of Oregon is a little known natural wonder. A place where golden eagles soar alongside massive cliffs tinged pink and red with the rising sun. Where Indian paintbrush and desert primrose provide a colorful contrast to the stark landscape. Where a long-deserted pioneer home stands lonely and neglected, defying the harsh elements – a testament to the hardy folk who carved out a life here.  These are the canyons of the Owyhee River – Oregon’s Grand Canyon. (full story)

Netarts, A Crabbing Story – What is so wonderful about crabbing in Netarts Bay is that you always find yourself among friends! The bay is unique in Oregon as there is no major river feeding into it. Because of this, the salmon fisherman head elsewhere and the bay is left to those who chase an elusive creepy, crawly bounty called the Dungeness crab. (full story)

Five Favorite Fishing Spots in Oregon – 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. (full story)

Yurtin’ It on the Oregon Coast – I’ve always loved camping, but cold temperatures and the task of setting up camp have made me a bit reticent to plan a trip. That is, until the sun poked through the Oregon clouds and my boyfriend and I scored a yurt reservation at Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast. (full story)

Lights, Camera, Action! Movies Filmed in Oregon – Oregon has long been a filming destination for Hollywood movies, from classics like The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop (both filmed at the Oregon coast) to not-yet-released films starring the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Dakota Fanning, and Woody Harrelson. Even scenes from Sean Penn’s Into the Wild were shot in Astoria, Mt. Hood and the Portland area. (full story)

Five Favorite Paddle Trips in Oregon – The allure of the John Day—one of America’s longest undimmed rivers—can be found in its solitude. With the sound of rushing water in the background, one might awake in their tent in early May to the sound of a colorful Bullock’s Oriole working the tops of the pine trees for food as the morning sun shines off of the basalt canyons. The John Day is prized by those seeking a multi-day river journey on one of Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rivers. (full story)

“Create An Oregon Bounty Cocktail Contest” Finalists Announced - The results are in. Our “Create an Oregon Bounty Cocktail” contest began with nearly 200 submissions. After two rounds of judging, seven regional finalists have been selected. The recipes are a creative and enticing collection of cocktails using Oregon’s artisan distilled spirits and ingredients from throughout the state (see their recipes below). (full story)

OMSI’s Bodyworlds 3 Exhibit – My little brother Nick and I rarely have time to bond, so we decided to hit the road to Portland and check out OMSI’s latest exhibit: Bodyworlds 3. I would highly recommend this exhibit to both science lovers and those who are interested in learning more about the human body, because you will truly be wowed by what you see. (full story)

OregonWineCountry.org

– OregonWineCountry.Org: If it’s Oregon wine you’re after, you probably already know about the Willamette Valley. However, you may not know that the Willamette Valley Visitors Association has recently revamped its website, OregonWineCountry.org, to make it even easier to plan your next trip to Oregon Wine Country.

Packed with photos and information galore, this online resource is a fantastic tool for learning about new Willamette Valley vacation options. And what’s more…the site also allows you to view their travel guide, ask questions via the blog see upcoming events in the wine country and sign up for quarterly e-mail alerts.

- DiscoverPortland.net – Hankering for even more information about the shopping, dining and arts scene of the greater Portland area? Check out DiscoverPortland.net for the inside scoop on Portland’s eclectic neighborhoods, shopping, restaurants and culture. Don’t forget to sign up for their e-newsletter for timely information and deals on all things Portland!

Mushing in Central Oregon

A howling symphony saturates the crisp morning air. Sled teams of Alaskan huskies, their soulful blue eyes tilted skyward in a call of the wild are ready to run across a field of fresh powder through the picturesque hills and valleys of Central Oregon. >>Read Story

Our friend Terry Richard from the Oregonian recently wrote an interesting story about the wonderful experience of “mushing” (dog sledding). This one-of-a-kind experience is offered by Oregon’s only commercial sled dog operation, Trail of Dreams, operated and owned by Jerry Scdoris and his daughter Rachael, who was the first blind athlete to compete and finish in Alaska’s legendary Iditarod race in both 2005 and 2006.

This ride starts at Mt. Bachelor and takes you thorough miles of spectacular through snow country with jaw-dropping views of snow-covered Broken Top, the Three Sisters and Mt. Bachelor.

To book a spot, please call Mt. Bachelor’s reservation staff at 800-829-2442. For day-of-ride reservations, check with the information center inside the Sunrise Lodge.

Of course, while this sort of weather makes life difficult for travelers, there are a few folks out there who relish in these conditions….skiers and snowboarders, kids who’re sledding, animals at the Oregon zoo, and of course the ever resilient cadre of Portland cyclists!

Here’s a video of the animals enjoying the snow from our friends at the Oregon Zoo:

Portland cyclists…neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep me away from my bike! Thanks to BikePortland.org for the video!