Heceta Head Halloween Haunt Cancelled Due to Historic Keeper’s House Renovations
Oregonians hoping to spend Halloween night listening to ghost stories beneath the beam of Heceta Head Lighthouse will have to make other plans this year. The Heceta Head Halloween Haunt scheduled for October 31, 2026, has been cancelled due to ongoing preservation work at the historic Keeper’s House. The cancellation comes just days after we reported on the planned event here at That Oregon Life, which had generated plenty of excitement among readers looking for one of the more unusual ways to...
THINGS TO DO & EVENTS
Festivals, concerts, seasonal celebrations, and memorable Oregon adventures worth putting on your calendar.Fresh ideas for getting out and enjoying Oregon, from upcoming community events to unforgettable places and experiences around the state.
Oregon’s Lavender Season Is About To Explode And These Summer Festivals Smell Like Pure Magic
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....
This Massive Gem & Mineral Event in Prineville Is a Rockhound’s Dream Come True
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...
Brookings Bursts Into Bloom During Oregon’s Beloved Azalea Festival This Memorial Day Weekend
There’s something magical about late spring on the Southern Oregon Coast. The rain begins to ease. Rhododendrons and azaleas erupt into impossible shades of pink, red, orange, and white. Ocean air...
Oregon State Capitol Unveils Kate Brown Portrait In Iconic COVID Christmas Snow Globe Mask
SALEM, Ore. — Oregon officials gathered at the State Capitol Monday for the unveiling of former Governor Kate Brown's official portrait, revealing what many historians now consider the most...
Portland Celebrates 10 Years Of Solving Mental Health By Ignoring It
PORTLAND, Ore. — Standing alongside state and federal law enforcement partners at a packed press conference Tuesday morning, Multnomah County officials proudly announced the successful completion of...
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 Old School Eugene Burger Spot Is Still Serving Up Some of the Best Comfort Food Meals Around
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....
A 1911 Oregon Poor Farm Now Holds One Of The Dreamiest Soaking Pools In The Northwest
There are some places in Oregon that feel like they should be much farther from the freeway. McMenamins Edgefield is one of them. You can be rolling along Interstate 84 one minute, surrounded by...
Paul Bunyan Still Welcomes Coast-Bound Travelers To This Legendary Oregon Roadside Pizza Stop
For a lot of Oregonians, the drive to the coast has never just been about the destination. It's about the traditions. It's the excitement of packing up the car before sunrise. The smell of Douglas...
These Oregon Place Names Sound Completely Made Up, But They’re 100% Real, And Here’s Why
Only in Oregon can you road trip from Boring to Drain, make a detour through Idiotville, and somehow end up in a place called Riddle before sunset. If you’ve spent enough time exploring the Beaver State, you already know Oregon has a personality all its own. We’ve got...
This Tiny Oregon Gold Rush Town Might Be The Most Charming Getaway In The State
There are places in Oregon that feel beautiful, and then there are places that feel like stepping into another time entirely. Jacksonville is one of those places. Tucked into the rolling hills of Southern Oregon just outside Medford, Jacksonville somehow manages to...
Family Searching For Missing 15-Year-Old Last Seen In Springfield Sunday Morning
UPDATE 5/13/2026: Alexa has been found and is home safe with her family. A Springfield, Oregon family is asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Alexa Ausmus, who was reported missing to the Springfield Police Department after she was last seen Sunday...
Hike Oregon’s Most Fascinating Secret Trail Through Catwalks, Pipelines, And Forgotten Ruins
Tucked into the forest above the Columbia River Gorge is one of the most unusual hikes in Oregon, and there’s a good chance you’ve driven past it without ever knowing it existed. The Penstock Flume Pipeline Trail near Hood River isn’t your typical waterfall trek or...
This Massive Gem & Mineral Event in Prineville Is a Rockhound’s Dream Come True
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 desert around Prineville, the obsession runs deep. Every year,...
Portland Could Hit 90 Degrees Tomorrow As Oregon Braces For Sudden Heat Spike
After weeks of cooler spring weather, western Oregon is about to get a quick taste of summer. A strong ridge of high pressure is moving into the Pacific Northwest, setting the stage for a dramatic warmup Monday and Tuesday. Forecasters say temperatures across much of...
The Oregon Coast’s Most Colorful Spring Celebration Is Back In Florence This May
Every spring on the Oregon Coast, the town of Florence bursts into color as thousands of blooming rhododendrons transform the area into a coastal garden paradise. Streets fill with parade floats, carnival lights flicker along the waterfront, classic cars roll into...
Prescribed Burn Near Bend Escapes Containment, Turns Into Growing Wildfire
A planned fuel reduction burn southeast of Bend took a dangerous turn Thursday after flames crossed containment lines and sparked spot fires outside the intended burn area, prompting officials to reclassify the incident as a wildfire. What began as a prescribed burn...
This Peaceful Oregon Coast Park Might Be the Best-Kept Secret Between Yachats and Florence
There are places on the Oregon Coast that draw crowds with their fame. And then there are places that quietly steal your heart the moment you arrive. Carl G. Washburne Memorial State Park is the latter. Tucked between the rugged cliffs just south of Yachats and the...
The Heartbreaking Story Of Keiko, The Real Orca Behind Free Willy And His Time In Oregon
For millions of people who grew up in the 1990s, Free Willy was more than just a movie. It was emotional, unforgettable, and for many kids, it was the very first time they questioned whether wild animals truly belonged in captivity. At the center of that movement was...