Win a Trip to Oregon's Wine Country

April 10, 2008

Our friends in Oregon's wine country are giving away a weekend vacation for one lucky family! This three-day, two-night getaway provides the perfect weekend escape, giving your family the opportunity to experience everything the region has to offer--from enchanted forests to a Venetian theatre. View complete details and enter to win by April 15 at www.oregonwinecountry.org/contest/.

Before you pack up the car, make sure to check out video of other families exploring Oregon Wine Country and let us know what kind of activities you and your kids love the most! Your adventure idea could be featured on an upcoming Willamette Valley blog!

Over the River and Through the Woods, to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm We Go!

December 10, 2007

Photo by Andrea Hartman

By Andrea Hartman

Eager to jump in to the highly-anticipated holiday season, my roommate and I decided that December 1 would be the day we headed out in search of the perfect Christmas tree.

On Saturday afternoon, a fine Oregon day that threatened rain at anytime, we headed out to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm in Pleasant Hill, accompanied by our enlisted help. After scoring a car large enough to swallow my modest hatchback from my parents’ house, we took the back roads through the woods to the farm. We eventually crossed the Willamette River and soon arrived at our destination.

Continue reading "Over the River and Through the Woods, to Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm We Go!"

Pure Pleasure...A Relaxing Hike 10 Minutes Outside of Eugene

November 14, 2007

Photo by Donna Compton

By Andrea Hartman

If you’re like me, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that finding time for a fun outdoor adventure on a weeknight just seems impossible. But at the challenge of my ever-adventurous mother, my theory was put to test. She told me to be in my hiking gear and on my porch by 5:15 p.m., and she’d be there to whisk me off to Spencer’s Butte for an evening hike.

Fortunately for us, living in the Willamette Valley (namely Eugene), means a beautiful hike in the woods is just a hop and a skip away. Up, up, up the road roared my mom’s Trailblazer as we traveled a mere 10 minutes from where I live (in the middle of town!) to the Spencer Butte Trailhead. It was an excellent fall evening, clear and beautiful, a fact reflected in the full parking lot.

Continue reading "Pure Pleasure...A Relaxing Hike 10 Minutes Outside of Eugene"

Fall Pleasures: Afternoon Drive Nets Unexpected Treasure

October 23, 2007

Photo: Partners in crime, Breanna Grover and Andrea Hartman

By Andrea Hartman

After sitting in the office all week listening to my co-worker (also known as the human behind our Fall Foliage Hotline) describe the seasonal beauty currently surrounding our nearby scenic byways, I decided it was time to see some of it for myself.

I talked my best friend into taking a Saturday afternoon drive, and as luck would have it, the weather was on our side! We headed due East on highway 126, snaking along the McKenzie River with the tunes on, sunroof open and the sun beating down on our heads. Our destination: milepost 45, the turn off for Aufderheide Drive National Scenic Byway, and all the fall foliage we could spy.

Continue reading "Fall Pleasures: Afternoon Drive Nets Unexpected Treasure"

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"

Memorial Day in the Oregon Wine Country

May 28, 2007

Happy Memorial Day!
As you're out and about today celebrating Memorial Day in the Wine Country, we hope you take this chance to meet the winemakers, explore the smaller, quaint towns of Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine growing region, and to experience the area’s charming restaurants and inns – all the while getting to know that tasty but cantankerous little grape that has made Oregon so famous.

And as you swirl, sniff, sip and savor tastes of Oregon's best pinots, you might want to write down (in a 100 words or less) why you love Oregon Pinor noir. Our friends at the Willamette Valley Vineyards are giving away a trip for two during September to Oregon's wine country that includes airfare, a rental car, great restaurant meals, friendly tasting room staff, and special tours of Oregon’s top wineries. For rules, last year's winner and to enter, visit Willamette Valley Vineyards' contest page here

Cheers!
Mo

WOU’s Annual Spring Dance Concert

May 16, 2007

By Ashley Moran and Amy Nyberg

Ballerinas, tap dancers, and breakers oh my!

This year’s Spring Dance Concert took place at Western Oregon University, in the Rice Auditorium (a cozy venue with a great view no matter where you sit). The concert itself consisted of approximately twelve separate dance pieces, choreographed by both professors and dance students at the university.

As a former WOU student, I was ecstatic to visit the same stage I had the pleasure to dance on once upon a time. Although I enjoyed all of the dances, my favorites consisted of “Wired for Sound”, choreographed by Sharon Oberst; “Limit Break”, choreographed by Samuel Hobbs; and “Man of My Dreams”, choreographed by Valerie Bergman and Darryl Thomas.

Continue reading "WOU’s Annual Spring Dance Concert"

My 1st Real Spring Ride in the Willamette Valley

May 10, 2007

By Randy Dreiling

Spring in Oregon is always interesting and our first ride of the season proved that. Sure we have ridden the fun trails close to Oakridge- trails that are a short distance from our houses (like Salmon Creek and Flat Creek). But today we wanted to hit Alpine Trail, my personal favorite. This was going to be a fun ride because we had a fun group together. It was nice out and we had some brand-new, giant demo bikes provided by Collins Bike Shop in Eugene. They had provided these bikes to me for their customers to test ride, and also for my Oregon Adventures tour clients to demo if they wished. John and Jake help me out with tours so I wanted to make sure they had a chance to get a feel of the bikes.

Continue reading "My 1st Real Spring Ride in the Willamette Valley"

Newsletter

Sign up for news:


Add to Technorati Favorites


Order your free Travel Oregon magazine

Travel Oregon features unique travel ideas and information that can inspire your own Oregon adventure. And it's free!