This Free Oregon Coast Festival Will Fill the Sky With Giant Kites This Summer
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Oregon Coast come alive with color, movement, and pure joy, this is your weekend. On June 27–28, 2026, the skies above Lincoln City will once again transform into a breathtaking display of soaring shapes and vibrant designs during the annual Summer Kite Festival at the beach near Chinook Winds Casino. And the best part? It’s completely free. This isn’t just another day at the coast. It’s a full-on visual spectacle where the ocean breeze becomes part of the...
TRAVEL
Oregon is a beautiful destination for travelers who enjoy exploring the great outdoors. With its diverse landscape of mountains, forests, waterfalls, and coastline, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Police Say Oregon Woman Used Driftwood As Weapon In Fight Over Glass Float
What started as a peaceful morning treasure hunt on the Oregon coast reportedly turned into something a lot more chaotic. A Corvallis woman is now facing assault charges after police say she struck...
The 42 Best Oregon Mom & Pop Restaurants to Eat At in 2026
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 of recommendations...
This Hidden Hobbit-Style Airbnb in Oregon Feels Like Stepping Into a Tolkein Book
There are places you book for a night… and then there are places that feel like you’ve stepped straight into another world. Tucked quietly into the rolling hills above the Columbia River Gorge near...
FOOD & DRINK
Explore Oregon’s food and drink scene – from locally sourced ingredients to craft brews and award-winning wines. Plan your culinary adventure now!
This Tiny Oregon Burger Joint Has Been a Favorite Since 1987 And Now I Get Why
There’s something about driving through Eastern Oregon that resets your expectations a little. The towns get quieter. The roads stretch longer. And when you finally stop somewhere to eat, you’re not...
Locals Love This 24-Hour Oregon Diner, And The Strawberry Cheesecake Waffle Is Just One Reason Why
There’s something comforting about a place that never seems to close its doors. The kind of spot where the lights are always on, the coffee is always hot, and no one looks twice if you walk in at...
This Old School Astoria Gem Has Been Dishing Out Rich Frozen Custard For Decades
There are certain places on the Oregon Coast that feel stitched into your memory. For me, one of those places is Custard King. Every time I find myself in Astoria, whether it is a windy spring...
Beloved Enchanted Forest Creator Roger Tofte Has Passed Away Peacefully At 96
Oregon lost a true original on February 13, 2026. It is with deep gratitude for his life and legacy that the Tofte family shared the passing of Roger Tofte, the creator of Enchanted Forest. He passed away peacefully with family by his side, leaving behind his loving...
Corvallis Student Claims Living In A Construction Site Porta Potty Is “Cheaper Than Rent”
CORVALLIS, OR — In what housing experts are calling “a troubling but financially sound decision,” a 20-year-old college student has reportedly moved into a construction-site porta-potty near campus after calculating that it was still significantly cheaper than renting...
Oregon’s Hunting Ban Measure Now Just 20,000 Signatures from the Ballot
Oregon progressives are once again pushing one of the most extreme ballot measures the state has seen in years, and this time it is closer to reality than many people realize. What began as a fringe sounding proposal is now reportedly within roughly 20,000 signatures...
Ancient Oregon Cave Reveals 12,400-Year-Old Garment That Could Be the Oldest Clothing on Earth
There is something about Oregon’s high desert that changes you. Maybe it is the silence stretching for miles. Maybe it is the way sagebrush bends in the wind like it has seen everything and is not impressed. Or maybe it is the staggering realization that people were...
Early-Morning Crash Into Tree on Highway 58 Near Oakridge Claims Two Lives
According to Oregon State Police, a single-vehicle crash just east of Oakridge claimed the lives of two young women in the early hours of February 8. Troopers were called out around 1:30 a.m. to milepost 40, where an eastbound Toyota Tacoma had left the roadway and...
A Woman’s Routine Costco Trip Ended in a Violent Robbery in Salem, Suspect Later Arrested
It happened in the middle of the day. Not late at night. Not in some deserted alley. But in a busy Costco parking lot in Salem, with people around and normal life happening just a few feet away. On February 6, just after noon, a woman finished her shopping, loaded her...
House Bill 4145 Is Measure 114 in Disguise, and Oregon Gun Owners Should Be Alarmed
If you felt that familiar knot in your stomach when Oregon’s lawmakers officially returned to Salem, you’re not imagining it. For gun owners across the state, the start of a new legislative session rarely signals calm. More often, it means another round of proposals...
Oregonians Rank Tina Kotek Among America’s Most Unpopular Governors
Sixth most unpopular governor in America Alright, let’s drop the polite, laminated-newsroom tone and call this what it is. According to new polling from Morning Consult, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek now ranks as the sixth most unpopular governor in the entire country. And...
Oregon Beachgoers Discover a 46-Foot Whale Along the Shoreline
Early Saturday morning, the Oregon coast woke up to a heavy and sobering sight. A 46-foot fin whale washed ashore just north of Sunset Beach Recreation Site, near Warrenton, sometime around 6:30 a.m. According to Seaside Aquarium, the whale had actually been on...
Pedal Through The Valley Or Enjoy Brunch On A Relaxing Santiam Excursion Train Ride
Date Night On A Willamette Valley Train Ride? Yes Please. If you’ve ever driven through the Willamette Valley and caught yourself staring a little too long at the railroad tracks, wondering where they go and what they’ve seen, Santiam Excursions is basically that...