Samantha Bakall

One of Oregon’s most distinctive features is its rugged, mountainous landscape. Those peaks, forged in large part due to volcanic activity and converging fault lines, have helped form one of the West’s most alluring — and elusive — attractions: hot springs. Those steaming pools, whether naturally formed or piped into luxurious private tubs, offer visitors and Oregonians alike a chance to relax and recharge in some of the state’s finest mineral-enriched water. Many as far back as the earliest Native […]

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What’s traveling when you have to leave your best friend at home? Thankfully, options abound for our furry friends across the state, where dozens of hotels, resorts and state parks do much more than simply allow your good girls and boys to share your room. From personal, proportionally sized pet beds to psychic readings (really), here are some favorite places to stay with your best bud on your next Oregon road trip. Suttle Lodge by Robbie McClaran Waterfront Stays We […]

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Sometimes after a long, grueling day on the trail or cruising through pounding rapids, the last thing you want to do is set up a tent. For those outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a cushy bed over a sleeping bag, we’ve rounded up a host of accommodations from luxe properties and cozy bed-and-breakfasts to only-in-Oregon resorts and timeless lodges. These lush spots are perfect for complementing your springtime adventures —no construction required. Rogue River by Nate Wilson / Northwest Rafting Co. Rafting/Jet […]

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You may have studied or heard bits of lore about the Oregon Trail, but how much of the rest of Oregon’s history do you think you know? A new 7,000-square-foot permanent installation at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland aims to give visitors a much broader look at the Beaver State and its storied past. “Experience Oregon” opens Feb. 14, 2019, the state’s 160th birthday, and will showcase thousands of years of history through original documents, interactive displays, a panoramic theater, […]

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that America’s oldest tofu house calls Portland home. Starting in 1880, thousands of immigrants from Japan came to Oregon in hopes of finding work and a better life. Many came through Portland, and it wasn’t long before a Nihonmachi, or “Japantown,” formed in the city’s Old Town neighborhood. A growing number of young Japanese men, and eventually their wives and families, populated the area between Northwest Second and Sixth avenues. This new community created demand […]

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While Sherry and her twelve-year-old niece, Sobeyda, were living in shelters across Portland and Vancouver, Sherry’s car was broken into and hundreds of dollars of clothes and medication were stolen. Both she and her niece contracted influenza B and needed to be hospitalized. They were harassed by a man also staying at one of the shelters. “We were sleeping there in the middle of a hundred people. I wanted to make sure we never got used to people living like […]

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Winter is a magical season in Oregon, when much of the state slumbers beneath glistening powder, and the majestic mountains gleam like icy beacons. Skiers and snowboarders famously flock to the slopes of Mt. Hood as soon as the white stuff starts to fall, but winter fun doesn’t stop at the bottom of the hill. At nearly two dozen “Sno-Parks” (aka designated winter-recreation parking areas) around Oregon’s iconic peak, winter transforms alpine lakes, rivers and passes into new worlds of […]

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“Have you ever tried kohlrabi before?” the tall, lean man asked over his shoulder, excitement growing on his face. Arthur Shavers looked like a schoolboy as he pushed his half-rim glasses up and focused his attention on the row of leafy greens waving in the breeze. He bent over, his fraying straw hat almost grazing the tips of the shimmering plants, and swam his hands through the crunchy leaves. His partner, Shantae Johnson, was already elbow-deep in greens, on the […]

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Portland is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest food cities, but that’s due in large part to what lies beyond city limits: Oregon’s farm-fresh abundance. Home to evergreen forests, arid deserts, snowy peaks, grassy prairies, rocky coastlines and almost every ecosystem in between, this sprawling state is a wonderland of potential ingredients. Our bounty — from grass-fed beef in Eastern Oregon to sweet Dungeness crab harvested from beds of eelgrass off the Coast —feeds an ever-evolving and growing dining […]

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