SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY
Leave your Blackberry or iPhone at home and head to one of Oregon’s many resorts and lodges for a weekend of priceless family bonding. Which resort would you like to visit?

Wallowa Lake Lodge
This winter take the family to northeast Oregon’s Wallowa Lake Lodge, at the south end of beautiful Wallowa Lake. Stay in the 1920s lodge or rent an entire cabin to yourselves. Either way, get ready for some snowy fun adventures in an area known as Oregon’s Alps. >>more

Out ‘n’ About Treesort
Spend your nights as Swiss Family Robinson in one of 14 family-friendly tree houses, and enjoy hiking, horseback riding and swimming while on the ground. >>more

Timberline Lodge
Stay the night at this historic WPA-era lodge located at 6,000 feet on Mt. Hood. Sign the kids up for a ski or snowboard lesson (lifts are literally right outside the rooms) then soak in the heated outdoor pool before dinner in the historic lodge. >>more

Salishan Spa & Golf Resort
Located near Siletz Bay at the central Oregon coast, Salishan has a stunning spa that features an open-air pebble-lined spa pool and Brazilian walnut plank floors—a great spot to take older children. When you’re not relaxing at the spa, you can swing a club at their championship course, or take a walk on a nearby sandy beach. >>more

Sunriver Resort
Just south of Bend in Central Oregon, Sunriver Resort is a huge playground for the whole family. Rent a luxury house or condo or reserve a room in the beautiful lodge. Take the kids ice skating at the outdoor mall, or drive the short distance to Mt. Bachelor Ski Area for a day on the slopes. Then come back when the snow thaws for the resort’s three, 18-hole championship golf courses. >>more

Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard
This is a great spot for families with older kids (as, in over 21) as this nine-suite, luxury inn sits in the heart of Yamhill Valley wine country, close to well-known wineries including Erath, Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene and dozens of others. >>more

Diamond Lake Resort
Winter recreation at Southern Oregon’s Diamond Lake Resort brings a snowy playground perfect for snowmobiling, snow cat skiing, cross-country skiing—there’s even a tubing hill with an uphill tow. The resort has 91 guest lodging facilities, a café, and a snow-cat pizza shuttle, which zooms guests to the nearby (3 miles) South Shore Pizza Parlor. >>more

After the rush of the holiday season, what better way to relax than a breathtaking hike to waterfalls that offers sweeping views of mountains, deserts, and lakes, a getaway to one of Oregon’s many day spas, rustic natural pools or indulging in the decadent delights of an specialty artisan chocolate maker?

Hike Among Waterfalls.
The Columbia River Gorge has the Pacific Northwest’s highest concentration of waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, which is the second-highest year-round waterfall in the country (and, yes, you can hike to the top, although this trail is not for beginners). Other hiking options in the area include trails that take you past Latourell Falls, Horsetail Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the list goes on. Over in the Willamette Valley east of Salem is Silver Falls State Park, Oregon’s largest state park. Its Trail of Ten Falls is a seven-mile hiking route that leads you to views of 10 different waterfalls.
>>Go hike to a waterfall…

Book a Weekend Spa Trip.
Choose from Oregon’s dozens of destination spas, including Avalon Hotel and Spa in Portland, which is home to Spa Chakra and offers more than 60 health and beauty therapies for him and her. Or book a stay at Shibui Spa at FivePine Lodge in Sisters, whose Asian-inspired design has endless tranquil elements (indoor ponds, stone and woodwork).
>>Go get a massage…

Go on an Oregon Chocolate Journey.
Experts say that chocolate can be good for your health—it provides antioxidants, can improve skin, and even lower blood pressure. It’s a good thing, then, that Oregon is home to more than a dozen artisan chocolate shops. So, cheers to your health—go ahead and taste a wild huckleberry truffle from Moonstruck, or a bing cherry infused dark chocolate ganache from LillieBelle Farms. And did we mention the sipping chocolates from Cacao, and the exotic flavors (salted lavender caramel, habanero caramel crown) from Alma?
>> Go on a chocolate tour…

SEE SOMETHING SPECTACULAR…
From Crater Lake to Painted Hills and the Rose Garden to Cape Perpetua, there are plenty of spectacular places to explore in our beautiful state.

And what’s more, through April 30, incredible views at Oregon’s hundreds of day-use and overnight parks come at great values with special “Discovery Season” rates and packages.

Got a hankering to explore Oregon’s spectacular scenery? Here are some ideas to get your started….

Crater Lake National Park
Home to the deepest lake in America, Crater Lake National Park is an 183,224-acre vacation wonderland. Visit and experience the awe-inspiring first look from the edge of the six-mile wide caldera into the lake that is known for its azure waters. Hike the old-growth forests, take a boat ride to Wizard Island, fish and camp—or stay and dine at Crater Lake Lodge (open May to October). See Crater Lake…

Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Part of the Siuslaw National Forest at the central Oregon coast, Cape Perpetua sits high above the Pacific Ocean and offers stunning views all around. More than 20 miles of forest-view and seashore-view trails weave through 2700 acres of preserved land. Here, you can hike to see a 500-year-old Sitka Spruce Tree, among other spectacular specimens of nature. Visit Cape Perpetua…

Painted Hills & Fossil Beds
Trails running through the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument in Eastern Oregon offer up close looks at the colorful hills and huge collection of fossils in this area. Nearby, the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center has nearly 40,000 fossils on display, including early cousins of Rhinoceros, Saber Tooth Tigers and other exotic animals. Experience the Painted Hills and Fossil Beds…

International Rose Test Garden
From May through October, you can see for yourself why Portland is called the Rose City. Venture to Washington Park to experience the huge spectrum of colors and splashes of fragrant blossoms from more than 10,000 rose plants. On a bright and sunny day you can see the cityscape with Mt. Hood, Oregon’s tallest peak, as backdrop.

Giddy up…you’ve got some exploring to do!

With a new year comes new resolutions and we’ve got a load of ideas for 2009. This year, we’d like your help in narrowing our list. Should we learn to snowboard or golf? Should we road trip to Painted Hills or Crater Lake?

This is a four part series reflecting on how to make a “fresh start” in 2009. Of course we need your help. Tell us about your own Oregon resolutions or simply vote for your favorite resolutions!

LEARN SOMETHING NEW….
Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’ve always wanted to: swoosh down a powdery slope, play golf or cook a gourmet dinner”? Resolve to make it happen in Oregon this year! With plenty of powdery slopes, over 200 public golf courses, a variety of no-stress cooking classes, Oregon is chock-full of opportunity to learn something new in 2009.

Hit the Slopes! Learn to Ski or Snowboard
Picture this: fresh mountain air, spectacular views and the sound of skis swooshing through fresh powder. What are you waiting for? The hot chocolate is brewing and the lifts are open at Oregon’s dozen ski resorts. Most offer equipment rentals, as well as private and group lessons taught by patient pros.
>>Learn to Ski or snowboard in 2009…

Learn to Boil Water – (Take a cooking class)
Whether you’re a budding chef or can’t seem to make toast, Oregon has a variety of no-stress cooking classes. You may opt for cooking demonstrations where you sit back, sip a glass of wine and watch someone else illustrate the art of braising. Or, there are classes where you’re expected to pull your weight—the chef might have you chopping carrots or blow torching the top of a crème brûlée.
>>Learn to cook in 2009…

Improve your Golf Swing
Oregon has more than 200 public courses, many of which offer private lessons and practice facilities to improve your short or long game—or both. And once you’ve warmed up, you can swing through spectacular stretches of sand dunes perched high above the Pacific Ocean or play alongside the mountain views of Central Oregon’s high-desert courses (just steer clear of the volcanic red-sand bunkers).
>>Learn to golf in 2009…