The time has come to say goodbye to another year. 2009 brought us a plethora of Oregon adventures and we’re excited to embark on another year of exploring Oregon. Whether we’re  sipping the perfect Oregon pinot, skiing fresh powder, or casting a line to catch dinner; we’re thrilled to have our fantastic readers to share these experiences with.

Hidden Gems in Oregon’s Small Towns: So many of Oregon’s “hidden gems” can be found in its small towns. From birding in Klamath Falls to sandboarding at Sandmaster Park to enjoying local fare at Silverton’s Silver Grille Cafe, there is a smorgasboard of options to plan one last summer getaway. (full story)

Pick a Site and Pitch a Tent: Camping in Oregon – Camping in Oregon is a feast for the senses. There’s the smoky smell of campfire, the sweet taste of sticky marshmallow S’mores, the sound of chirping birds and babbling creeks, the sight of green trees and colorful wildflowers, and the feeling of your cozy sleeping bag at the end of a glorious day spent in the outdoors. (full story)

Recipe of the Month – Each month, we feature a recipe that uses local, fresh ingredients from a local restaurant. Some of your favorites (and ours, too!) were Morel Mushroom and Asparagus Soup, Basque Community Tomato Salad, Roasted Pork Tenderloin with White Bean Pancetta Ragu, and Arugula Salad with IPA-Honey Marinated Salmon and Citrus Vinaigrette. (find more recipes)

Road Trip! – This spring, take advantage of stable gas prices and hit the Oregon road. These three scenic drives offer displays of Oregon’s brilliant spring colors, from vibrant fields of tulips to soft pink and white cherry and pear blossoms. Hurry… (full story)

Wildlife Viewing: Whales & Birds – Spring in Oregon is a great time to spot wildlife, from migrating gray whales to hundreds of bird species resting and feeding along the Pacific Flyway. (full story)

Let’s Brunch – Oregon’s culinary scene is one of the nation’s most exciting places to eat thanks to all the fresh, available ingredients and creative talent. In Portland alone, you can spend an entire vacation eating your way through just one neighborhood. And it doesn’t have to blow your budget. Many of Portland’s stellar dinner spots offer just-as-delicious daylight hour menus—and the tab at the end won’t give you heartburn. Now let’s brunch! (full story)

Get Back to Nature: Urban Hikes – In Oregon, you can have an exciting city experience and get back to nature in the same trip – often in the same day. Most, if not all, major cities in Oregon offer nature trails and forested hiking areas close-by. Here are a few to get your wheels spinning. (full story)

Gone Yurting... – The price is right! From around $27 to $39 per night, Oregon State Parks have yurts and cabins available to rent at some of the most scenic areas in the state, from Beverly Beach State Park at the coast to Champoeg in the Willamette Valley. (full story)

Grant’s Getaways: Shore Acres Holiday Lights – The Oregon coast is a many splendored place boasting unique sights and sounds that will amaze you anytime of the year. In this week’s “Grant’s Getaways,” we go to Shore Acres State Park along the southern Oregon coast for a unique holiday light extravaganza. (full story)

Grant’s Getaways: Clamming & Crabbing – On this Grant’s Getaway, all you need is a rake, a bucket and a spirit of adventure to try raking bay clams along the Oregon coast. Summer mornings along the coast are often met by folks in hip boots with shovels or rakes – but they’re not there to work, rather they’ve come to play; especially on a minus low tide on Tillamook Bay at a place where clamming is king. (full story)

Happy New Year from the team at Travel Oregon! (and be sure to tell us what your favorite post from this year is!)

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)