Yes, Really: Last Summer, Oregon Planned to Fine River Floaters Without a Permit
As Oregon prepares for another summer of floating rivers, paddleboarding, and drifting downstream with friends, many residents still remember the bizarre controversy that made headlines across the state last year. Not because it was funny, although plenty of people laughed about it. But because for a moment, it genuinely sounded like Oregon had reached a point where tying two inner tubes together might require government paperwork. Back in 2025, House Bill 2982 expanded Oregon’s Waterway...
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.
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...
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...
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 Longtime Seaside Restaurant Has Been an Oregon Coast Staple for 40 Years
I don’t remember the very first time I ate at Dooger’s Seafood & Grill, but I do remember the feeling. Cold coastal air outside, that familiar hunger that shows up after time near the ocean, and...
This Classic Oregon Drive-In Has Been Feeding Travelers Since the 1960s
Along I-84, where Boardman mostly registers as a quick exit and a stretch of open sky, sits a place that has quietly outlasted trends, chains, and entire versions of the town itself. C & D Drive...
This Family-Run Portland Deli Has Been Serving Old-World German Flavor for Decades
Some food cravings refuse to be ignored. When you want a sandwich that feels filling in the soul as much as the stomach or a bratwurst that actually tastes the way it should there is one Portland...
Driver Pulled Over for Texting by Officer Actively Navigating Five Screens and a Taco Bell App
SPRINGFIELD, OR — A local woman was issued a citation for texting and driving Tuesday afternoon by a police officer who, according to witnesses, was simultaneously operating five separate electronic screens and finalizing a Taco Bell order with extra fire sauce. The...
Get Ready for Jollibee’s Famous Fried Chicken Coming to Oregon for the First Time
Jollibee’s famous Filipino fried chicken is landing in Hillsboro! Get ready for Chickenjoy, sweet spaghetti, and huge opening day giveaways starting May 30.
Get Ready to Do the Truffle Shuffle! The Goonies 40th Anniversary Bash Is Coming to Astoria
Hey you guuuuys! Fire up your Data-style gadgets, pull out your map to One-Eyed Willy’s treasure, and grab a Baby Ruth because it’s time to head to Astoria, Oregon, for one of the most epic celebrations the Pacific Northwest has ever seen. June 5–8, 2025 marks the...
Welcome to West Coast Game Park Safari, Now With 100% More Firearms, Meth, and Over $1M in Cash
Just over a week after West Coast Game Park Safari in Bandon made headlines for appalling animal neglect and the seizure of over 300 animals, the story has taken an even more shocking turn. New evidence reveals that the park may have been a hub for serious criminal...
Northwesterners Eagerly Await That First Deep Breath of Campfire-Flavored Air
EVERYWHERE, PACIFIC NORTHWEST — As summer inches closer and the scent of dry pine needles crisps in the warming breeze, Northwesterners from Bellingham to Bend are reportedly giddy with anticipation for that magical first lungful of campfire-flavored doom. “Oh yeah,...
Butte Creek Fire Marks Oregon’s First Major Wildfire of 2025 as State Braces for Scorching Summer
WHEELER COUNTY, Ore. — The Butte Creek Fire has become Oregon’s first major wildfire of the 2025 season, erupting Sunday afternoon in northwest Wheeler County and growing rapidly overnight. As of Monday morning, the blaze has scorched an estimated 2,000 acres, a...
Extreme Centrist Portlander Avoids Detection After Perfecting Blank Stare During Political Rants
PORTLAND, OR — In a city where expressing even the slightest nuance can result in immediate social exile, local man Brian Callahan has reportedly survived another week in Portland without being outed as a moderate — thanks to a carefully rehearsed “blank, vaguely...
Americans Discover WNBA Still Exists While Pretending They’ve Always Cared About WNBA
In a truly heartwarming display of performative activism, Americans everywhere have suddenly discovered the WNBA is still a thing—and are now passionately pretending they’ve supported it this whole time. The newfound enthusiasm comes not from interest in basketball...
Florence Erects Statue of Exploding Whale, Immediately Blows It Up for Historical Accuracy
Florence, Oregon – In a heartwarming tribute to Oregon’s most explosive historical moment, the city of Florence unveiled a life-sized statue of the infamous exploding whale on Tuesday—then promptly reduced it to flaming chunks with 20 cases of surplus dynamite. City...
Oregon Officials Propose Setting Fire to Money Directly
SALEM, OR — In a bold new plan, Oregon leaders say they have finally figured out how to fix all the state’s biggest problems: by taking a big pile of your tax money… and setting it on fire. Yes, seriously. Governor Tina Kotek recently announced another big idea to...