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 town, and families gather for one of the most beloved traditions in the Pacific Northwest. The 119th annual Florence Rhododendron Festival returns May 14 through May 17, 2026, bringing four days of flowers, food, music, carnival...
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.
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...
This Small Town Oregon Rock Shop Feels Like A Mini Museum Of Natural Wonders
Tucked away in the charming small town of Brownsville, Oregon is a place that feels equal parts museum, treasure hunt, art gallery, and roadside wonder. At first glance, you might think Living Rock...
Step Inside This Oregon Coast Apothecary Where Crystals, Curiosities, And Victorian Magic Collide
There’s something wonderfully strange waiting on Newport’s historic bayfront, and it's not Ripley's. Between the salt air, barking sea lions, and fishing boats rolling in with the tide, you’ll find...
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 Charming Log Cabin Café in Oregon Is the Pizza Stop You Didn’t Know You Needed
There’s a stretch of Highway 26 on the way to Mount Hood where the air feels a little fresher, the trees grow a little taller, and if you time it just right, you’ll stumble onto one of the coziest...
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 Beloved Tigard Restaurant Has Been Serving Comfort (And Legendary Pie) Since 1979
There are restaurants you try once… and then there are the ones you grow up with. The ones where the coffee is always hot, the booths feel like they’ve heard a thousand stories, and the pie case...
Tufted Puffins Are Back in Oregon and Haystack Rock Is the Place to Spot Them
Spring on the Oregon coast brings more than just sunshine and wildflowers. It also marks the return of one of the region’s most beloved seabirds. Tufted puffins have begun arriving once again along the shoreline, drawing attention from visitors eager to catch a...
Southern Rock Legends Lynyrd Skynyrd Set Eugene Concert Date at Cuthbert Amphitheater
If you’ve been waiting for a night of classic Southern rock under the Oregon sky, this is it. Legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd is officially headed to Eugene for a huge live show at the iconic Cuthbert Amphitheater, bringing decades of hits, guitar solos, and that...
Swarm of Earthquakes Hits Offshore Washington Waters, Largest Reaches 4.2
A burst of earthquake activity deep beneath the Pacific Ocean has caught the attention of scientists monitoring the Pacific Northwest—but officials say there’s no reason for concern on land. According to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, a series of tremors began...
Oregon Man Convicted of Raping Intoxicated Woman Re-Arrested by ICE in Salem
A man who was previously convicted in a high-profile sexual assault case in Oregon is once again in custody following a recent federal arrest in Salem. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Cristobal Felipe-Sarmiento was taken into custody on April 9,...
Winter Storm Watch Issued for Oregon Cascades With Up to 15 Inches Possible
If you thought winter was done with us, think again. The National Weather Service in Medford has issued a Winter Storm Watch for parts of the southern Oregon Cascades, and it could bring a pretty serious return to snowy conditions just as many of us were settling into...
Oregon Leaders Urge Homeowners To Set Firearms Aside And Kindly Talk Things Out With Intruders
SALEM, OR — In what officials are calling a “more compassionate approach to unexpected late-night visitors,” Oregon leaders this week urged residents to set firearms aside and instead engage in calm, respectful dialogue with anyone breaking into their homes. “At the...
In-N-Out Is Coming To The Portland Area, But Traffic Might Be The Bigger Story
If you’ve driven through Tanasbourne lately, you’ve probably noticed it taking shape. The long-awaited In-N-Out Burger in Hillsboro is nearly finished, and for a lot of Oregonians, that means one thing. The burgers are coming. And not just any burgers. For years,...
This Surreal Blue Glow On Oregon Beaches Looks Like Something From Another Planet
There are moments along the Oregon coast that don’t feel real. Not the kind you photograph and move on from. The kind that stop you mid-step, make you question what you’re seeing, and stick with you long after you’ve left the shoreline. This is one of those moments....
Shameless Portland Shoplifter Sues Albertsons For $10,000 After Fleeing With Full Cart
There are stories that make you stop, reread the headline, and wonder if it’s satire. This is not one of them. In what might be one of the clearest examples of everything that is wrong with the world in 2026, a Portland man who allegedly tried to walk out of an...
Trump Gives Portland 48 Hours to “Figure It Out” Before “We Push the Big Button”
PORTLAND, OR — Calling the situation “very concerning, very chaotic, frankly a mess,” President Donald Trump issued a firm 48-hour ultimatum Tuesday demanding that the city of Portland “figure it out” or face what he described as “the big button—everyone knows the...