The Willamette Valley is a region in Western Oregon known for its fertile soil, stunning scenery, and world-renowned wine production. The valley’s cool climate and rich soils make it an ideal place to grow grapes, particularly Pinot Noir, which is considered one of the finest wines in the world. The region is also home to a thriving farm-to-table food scene, with local chefs incorporating fresh ingredients from the valley’s farms and orchards into their dishes. Visitors to the Willamette Valley can enjoy wine tastings, farm tours, and outdoor activities like hiking and cycling. The area’s picturesque small towns, including McMinnville and Newberg, offer charming accommodations, quaint shops, and a welcoming community.
Long before Dolly Parton became one of the most recognizable voices in American music, she arrived in Eugene as a young country singer who was tired, homesick and struggling to make it through the road. It was February 1972, and Parton was touring with Porter Wagoner,...
If your October calendar currently consists of pumpkin patches, football, and wondering why Oregon suddenly decided it was winter at 7 a.m., we have something considerably louder to add to the schedule. Yelawolf is coming to Eugene. The Alabama-born rapper, singer,...
Wine gets most of the attention in this part of the Willamette Valley, but there's another kind of treasure to be found here. Instead of pinot noir, this place deals in things that are millions of years older, considerably harder, and, depending on who you ask, every...
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are returning to Oregon this August, bringing their unmistakable blue-and-gold fighter jets, tightly packed formations and thunderous aerial maneuvers to the Oregon International Air Show in McMinnville. This year’s show is shaping up to be...
There are many perfectly good reasons to visit an Oregon farm. Fresh fruit is one. Wandering through an old orchard is another. Browsing antiques, garden art, cowboy boots, and curious little treasures can easily occupy an afternoon. But let’s be honest. At Tollen...
It started with a million dollar hamburger. Now they sell some of the best steak in Portland. Portlanders have never struggled to find great places to eat. New restaurants open every year, longtime neighborhood favorites continue to thrive, and food lovers will...
While Portland has changed dramatically over the years, Goose Hollow Inn still feels wonderfully familiar. Before Portland became known for trendy food carts, craft breweries, and ever changing restaurant concepts, there were neighborhood taverns where regulars...
If you've spent much time driving between Eugene and Springfield, chances are you've passed this colorful little building more times than you can count. It doesn't necessarily scream for attention. There aren't giant flashing signs or trendy marketing campaigns trying...
The scent of damp earth lingers beneath towering evergreens as winding paths disappear into gardens, wetlands, and groves of trees. Birds chatter overhead. A light breeze moves through the branches. Around nearly every bend, something new waits to be discovered. For...
There are certain places in Oregon that make you slow down without even realizing it. You walk in expecting a meal, but somewhere between the first sip of coffee and the arrival of your food, you find yourself staring out the window, completely captivated by something...
When people talk about Oregon's best breakfasts, a few famous names always seem to come up. But tucked away on a quiet residential street in Salem is a place that has earned a devoted following without flashy advertising, trendy gimmicks, or a prime downtown location....
Updated August 2026: Spencer Butte’s Main Summit Trail is the standard route: about two miles round trip with roughly 700 feet of climbing to Eugene’s 2,058-foot landmark. The West Trail is steeper, includes exposed rock and may require light scrambling. Use the two...