That Oregon Life · Stories & discoveries
Earlier stories from the Central Oregon archive. Return to the latest stories →
There are places in Oregon that feel like destinations. And then there are places that feel like adventures. The kind where you arrive with a rough plan, only to completely abandon it an hour later because…
There are certain moments in Oregon that feel almost unreal. The first warm evening on the coast. The smell of pine after rain in the Cascades. Sunlight breaking through vineyards in wine country. And then there’s…
Odell Lake is a deep, high-elevation Cascade lake near Willamette Pass, best known for kokanee, trophy-size lake trout, forest campgrounds and big mountain views. It is a strong choice for anglers and boaters who do not…
For years, the hike to Tamolitch Blue Pool has been one of those rare Oregon experiences that still feels raw, natural, and earned. Planning a visit? Read our complete Blue Pool Oregon hiking guide for the…
If you’ve ever pulled over on the side of an Oregon highway because a shiny rock caught your eye, there’s a good chance you already understand the magic of Central Oregon rockhounding. Out in the high…
We're going a bit out on a limb here at That Oregon Life. This story began as a sort of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" compilation, but after a giant list of my own and a slew…
If you’ve ever driven through north-central Oregon and thought, there’s gotta be something out there, you’re right… there is. And it might just be one of the most underrated places in the entire state. Cottonwood Canyon…
Some restaurants serve burgers. Others dare you to prove something. At Giant Burger, larger than life burgers have been part of their identity for generations. This old school burger joint in Springfield, Oregon has been turning…
There’s a moment when you reach the top of the staircase at Lava River Cave and feel the air rising from below. It’s cold, steady, and carries that faint mineral scent that tells you this isn’t…
Every town has a legend. Some have haunted bridges. Others have mysterious lights in the woods. Bend, naturally, has a rock in a parking lot that eats cars for sport. Locals call him B.O.B.Short for Big…
BEND, OR — Despite what the calendar claims, residents say autumn didn’t truly begin until a smug Bend man in Patagonia over flannel strutted through Drake Park this weekend, clutching a $7 latte like it was…
This place is like Halloween meets a wild west showdown, and it's the hoedown you didn't know you needed.
