Jaunted - OR

Toast Your Thanks In Oregon

egw — 2008-11-19T13:00:16-05:00

To deal with holiday stress, some of us reach for the bottle. Turn stress-induced drinking into a learning experience with the Willamette Valley Wineries' Wine Country Thanksgiving.

Over a hundred wineries are throwing open their doors over the holiday weekend for wine snobs and "Sideways"-watching amateurs alike. How to choose? Check out the incentives some vineyards are offering: At Carabella Vineyard in Newberg, you can buy wine "futures" to get a great deal on next year's vintages along with this year's bottles; Stag Hollow Wines in Yamhill promises chocolate pairings with your vino.

Remember: Be safe and use a designated driver. Try sweetening the deal by offering to get them a Black Friday treasure like a Blu-Ray player!

[Photo: themarioblog]

Oregon Is for Beer Lovers

BS — 2008-10-13T10:30:44-05:00

While the attraction for most ale-heads at this weekend's Great American Beer Festival was the 1,800-plus brew list, the festival's not just about getting sloshed: There are also a bevy of awards handed out, and they can reap serious dividends for small breweries.

The prestigious awards span 75 categories, from best fruit or vegetable beer to best coffee flavored beer. The big winner this year: Oregon's hop-heavy breweries, who walked across the podium in Denver again and again. The Beaver State beat out almost all of its larger competitors by taking home nine gold medals and 19 overall.

For those looking to get a taste of just what these Oregonian brewers have going on, the state's Fresh Hop Beer Tastivals offer a chance, coming up in Portland on October 18 and in Eugene on October 25.

Related Stories:
· 2008 GABF Winners [Official Site]
· 2008 Fresh Hop Beer Tastivals [Official Site]
· Fall Travel: Say "Scumps" at the Great American Beer Festival [Jaunted]

[Photo: inajeep]

Oregon Coast Embracing the Web, User-Generated Content

pbb — 2008-09-11T16:45:26-05:00

One major problem with tourism board websites is that the content on them can be a little thin--and a little cliche. So how is Oregon spicing up its effort to lure travelers to its coastal cities? By having locals and visitors alike submit photos and stories about the great times they've had there.

The coast's new site--at the easy-to-remember URL VisitTheOregonCoast.com--has dozens and dozens of photos from Flickr along with Google Maps, recommendations of stuff to do from real people and extensive listings of places to stay, complete with links to property websites.

True, we could just search Flickr on our own for, say, Yachats, but then we wouldn't learn that it's actually pronounced YAH-hots!

Related Stories:
· Oregon Coast Visitors Association [Official Site]
· Oregon, the People's Coast [Travel 2.0]
· Tourism Board Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Summer Vacation With An Edge: Stick To Your Ribs In Oregon

egw — 2008-06-25T16:30:05-05:00

Don't bring ketchup to this sauce show: Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs may get all the glory when it comes to competitive eating for its Fourth of July contest, but in order to get to New York City you'll have to out-eat your neighborhood at one of several qualifying events. (It's like "American Idol" for the stomach!)

Bragging rights come easier at one of many other events sponsored by the International Federation of Competitive Eating, like the Chinook Winds World Rib Eating Championship held in Oregon on July 13.

In rib-eating contests, contestants are judged by the amount of meat consumed in pounds when their pile of bones is accounted for. Nathan's defending champ Joey Chestnut will be there to strap on an industrial-sized bib. (Prepare yourself: He ate 8.4 pounds of meat at the contest in 2006).

Even if you don't win, you can still chow down at the Smokin' at the Ocean event at Chinook Winds all weekend. Related Stories
· World's Easiest Event Registration Page [IFOCE]
· Smokin' at the Ocean Rib-Eating Championship Belt [Flickr]
· Nathan's Famous and More at Coney Island [Jaunted]

[Photo: donita-reason]

Missed Connections in Southwest Oregon: Patriotic Nudity Edition

egw — 2008-06-20T14:30:01-05:00

Planning to spend your Independence Day in Oregon now that you found out Ashland, Oregon's Fourth of July parade will include a naked lady?

You need to get out more! Try dating someone instead of just ogling them in a parade. Find your big love in this small corner of Oregon at one of these hot spots:

Rogue Valley Growers & Crafters Market :: As far away from a bar as possible, pick up peonies or produce or "forget [your]self. Completely." 1420 E. Main St., Tuesdays only

One World :: Cheap incense and world music await you at this knicknack store, along with the girl for you "if you routinely use words like caboose." 1600 N. Riverside Ave., Medford

Bambu :: Visit this Asian fusion restaurant if you're hungry for coconut lime soup and pad thai and find yourself "starved for a connection." 970 N. Phoenix Rd., Medford

Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Ashland Hotels [HC]

[Photo: eternal_exemption]

Fourth of July Travel: Parade Nudity

kjb — 2008-06-19T10:01:52-05:00

The town of Ashland, Oregon has a classic Fourth of July celebration planned. The day starts with an early-in-the-morning six-mile run, then continues with food and game booths, arts and crafts and even a reading of the Declaration of Independence before the fireworks. The all-American festivities in Ashland have been about the same for more than a century, but when the parade kicks off at 10 am this year, one thing may be a bit different.

Jen Moss, known as the "the naked lady," plans march this year, wearing nothing but a hemp G-string. She moved to the town recently as she was intrigued by its nudity laws. Apparently the town only requires that genitalia be covered in public, leaving her "bottoms only" approach perfectly acceptable.

Understandably, the town's chamber of commerce is a little concerned about her participation, but we hope freedom-lovers will sit back and enjoy as the parade passes by.

Related Stories:
· Oregon Woman Plans to Parade Topless on July 4 [AP, via Google]
· Topless Parades Continue in New Zealand [Jaunted]
· Fourth of July coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: eob]

Fourth of July Travel: St. Paul Rodeo

kjb — 2008-06-18T14:00:01-05:00

If you're looking for something a little different than fireworks this Independence Day, then look no further than Oregon. The 73rd annual St. Paul Rodeo is riding into town July 2. In addition to the usual rodeo festivities, there's a Western showcase featuring artisans selling jewelry, paintings, home goods and clothing.

If you come hungry, or are just a great backyard chef, July 5 offers a BBQ cook-off. The judges are looking for creativity, a fun team name and, of course, melt-in-your-mouth ribs. Prizes up for grabs are tickets to the rodeo, trophies, bragging rights and a trip around the rodeo ring as champion.

The cheap seats start at $12 each night. And, yes, even though they aren't the main attraction, there will be fireworks every night.

Related Stories:
· St. Paul Rodeo [Official Site]
· Fourth of July coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ReneS]