Jennifer Burns Bright

Some people look out at the ocean, and some people look down at the rocks. I realized I was the rock type after moving to a small town on Oregon’s South Coast and taking endlessly long beach walks that ended with my pockets pounds heavier. Scanning the gravelly sand for treasures fulfilled a deep craving I didn’t even realize I had. Part thrift shopping, part meditation, hunting for beach finds somehow gave rest to troubled th...

With soaring cliffs, views of Mt. Hood and a rolling landscape that evolves from golden hills to craggy, forested cliffs with cascading waterfalls, the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge region is one of Oregon’s most sublime natural areas. Though simply experiencing the thunderous power of water tumbling down into rushing rivers or hiking through alpine forests are luxuries, you can elevate any experience with special tours, restaurants and accommodations to make the trip even more unforgetta...

We all love supporting local businesses on the Coast and eating succulent, freshly caught seafood from Oregon-based fishers and crabbers. But sometimes it’s hard to tell if a fish is caught locally and sustainably. We’ve developed some tips to help you select the catch of the day. [For Oregon Coast Visitor Assn.]

Sample the best oysters -- influenced by their habitats and cultivation methods -- in Oregon and Washington.

If you love the ocean, any getaway to the Oregon Coast can make you feel like a million bucks. Breathing in the salty air, catching a whale spouting from a cliffside trail, digging clams for an impromptu dinner over a campfire: All these experiences are Oregon luxuries with little to no cost. But for special occasions or just an unforgettable experience, the state’s 363 miles of coastline provide many ways to splurge.

Pacific Northwest natives know that almost any ecosystem in the region — flowing rivers and living estuaries, lush valleys and orchards, forests and sea — produces great food. Those who move away realize their mistake when they inevitably yearn for native delicacies like huckleberries, wine grapes and razor clams, and those who are just passing through want to keep coming back for more of these...[Appeared in AAA's Journey magazine print version Jul/Aug '21.]

Alaska's fish aren't the only wild foods gathered for centuries. This article investigates berries, seaweed, and other summer delights, and how the visitor might access them on hills, shores, and at restaurants.

Explore long stretches of gorgeous beach and fresh local shellfish on this sandy spit, particularly striking in winter's stormy weather. [Print article appeared Nov. 2021.]

Accessiblity is more than wide paths and railings. This feature focused on national, regional, and local parks (including playgrounds) and was based on the recommendations of experts, advocates, and builders who are creating the next generation of friendly, public open spaces for all abilities.

In Amsterdam, a popular street snack of brined herring comes with chopped onions and a side of sour pickle. The history of Dutch trade, too, is buried under those onions.
The salt used in preserving both the herring and the pickles enabled sea travel for hundreds of years. The salt trade is credited with building a foundation upon which the Dutch consolidated wealth and power in the 16th century. Dominating the seas for over three hundred years, they were able to establish colonies in tropica...

Nothing beats freshly caught seafood on the Oregon coast, but without knowing which restaurants support local fishermen and farmers, diners may be surprised that dinner has traveled farther than they have. Although the last year of the coronavirus pandemic has impacted business along the coast, several restaurants, bars, and breweries continue to serve Pacific-Northwestern-caught seafood to locals and day-trippers. This guide highlights 15 outstanding restaurants along coastal Highway 101 fro...

I take Chef Maylin Chavez on a wild mushroom foraging trip to find the Oregon coast's beloved king boletes. [For Visit Tillamook Coast]

The simple canning jar might have seemed like one of the more unlikely supplies to be hoarded by consumers and profiteers over the long pandemic summer, but I wasn’t surprised to see the canning shelves gutted, picked clean except for flotsam like a lone box of liquid pectin and a crumpled twin-pack of silicone sippy cup tops.
The disappearance of jars—or more specifically, canning jar lids—happened just as the summer harvest was coming on. Though jars can be recycled for years, lids can’t be...

The Olympia oyster boasts a flavor so intriguingly odd, so unlike other oysters, it has aficionados searching for words. Chef Maylin Chavez, who owns Olympia Oyster Bar in Portland, Oregon, calls it "sweet like a carrot," but also "savory like a shiitake or chicken bouillon" and, most quirkily, "sneaky like a radish."

All of Oregon’s wine regions produce lively rosés, each with their own distinct character and appearance — ranging from pretty pink tones to pale apricot to robust ruby. Next time you’re swirling your glass on a sunny tasting-room patio, think about the incredible journey the grapes took from the vineyard.