Last Weekly Update of 2011: 11/17/2011

Winter weather is fast approaching as peak  fall color winds down throughout the state. Oregonians will spend the week watching the first snow fall in the mountains and uncorking wine in preparation for Thanksgiving weekend winery open houses. With the onset of wintery conditions in some areas, visit tripcheck.com before taking off on your adventures around the state.

A big thank you to all our leaf peeping friends around the state who helped report on color changes throughout the fall foliage season. We’ll see you again next year!

Eugene, Cascades & Coast
The fall color change is starting to fade in the lower elevations of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region, and the leaves have fallen at higher elevations. Find a special gift and pet an alpaca at Fleece Navidad, or treat your taste buds to an assortment of winter beers at the 2nd Annual Eugene Winter & Strong Ale Festival. Work off some calories on the Kidical Mass: Giving Thanks Ride or run for a good cause at the 5^th Annual EWEB Run to Stay Warm. Start planning ahead by checking out our favorite winter adventures.

Beautiful fall day in Seaside

Coast
The fall color change is starting to fade along parts of the Oregon Coast. Hike along Marys Peak or Shore Acres to take in the final signs of fall. Fuel up the car and enjoy the Shore Acres Festival of Lights, and bring the beauty of the forest home at Holiday Wreath Making at the Tillamook Forest Center. Spend the holidays in Seaside at the annual Yuletide Parade of Lights and Gingerbread Christmas Tea at the Butterfield Cottage.

Willamette Valley
The fall color change is at peak and fading fast in the Willamette Valley. Enjoy the beauty of fallen leaves as you wrangle up some family fun at the Thanksgiving Thunder Rough Stock Rodeo. Spend Thanksgiving weekend in Oregon Wine Country at the Heart of Willamette Wineries or on the Territorial Wine Trail.

Image courtesy Kelly Smith.

Greater Portland
The fall color change is at peak in the Greater Portland area. Catch the best views when you wander through Bald Peak State Park or Benson Lake State Park. Try to solve a holiday mystery at Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol or mingle with artisans and winemakers at the 22^nd Annual Holiday Art, Wine & Music Festival.

Mt. Hood/ Columbia River Gorge
The fall color change is almost over in Mt. Hood Territory and along the Columbia River Gorge. Winter is right around the corner and Mt. Hood Ski Bowl, Timberline Lodge and Mt. Hood Meadows all provide a surplus of snow activities including snowshoeing, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding and more.

Southern Oregon
The fall color change is starting to fade in Southern Oregon. Patches of peak color are still visible in Roseburg, though the leaves are steadily falling. Catch the holiday fever at the Nutcracker Ballet or A Christmas Carol. Tickle your taste buds with a tour of the Umpqua Valley Wineries before appeasing your eyes at the Festival of Lights.

Central Oregon
The fall color change is almost over in Central Oregon. Though chilly temps and stiff winds have knocked most of the leaves down, Bend is a hot spot for winter activity. Augment your adrenaline kick at Mt. Bachelor or Hoodoo Ski Area for snowboarding and downhill skiing, or explore the area’s expansive Nordic system. Slip on your skates and let the music guide you at Seventh Mountain Resort’s Cosmic Skate.

Eastern Oregon
The fall color change is fading in Eastern Oregon.  Check out the Historic Family Weekend on the Oregon Trail or investigate the haunted Geiser Grand Hotel at Ghost Hunters Weekend.  Find holiday gifts for the family at the Condon Fall Festival before enjoying the upcoming Twilight Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting. Discover why Baker City was once known as “The Queen City of the Inland Empire” at the 27^th Annual Historic Baker City Holiday Homes Tour.

Weekly Update 11/11/2011

Strong winds and steady rains have made way for winter, though Oregon’s fiery fall foliage is still abundant in several portions of the state. Gain an early start on your Christmas shopping at holiday bazaars or relax and enjoy the late autumn ambience on art walks and wine tours. Honor our Veterans at a variety of parades and patriotic events across Oregon. With the onset of wintery conditions in some areas, be certain to visit tripcheck.com before taking off on your adventures around the state.

The Covered Bridges Scenic Bikeway in Cottage Grove

Eugene, Cascades & Coast
The fall color change is at peak in the lower elevations of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Leaves are starting to fade and are completely gone in some higher elevations. Spark your holiday shopping while enjoying some tasty treats at the 16^th Annual Holiday Food & Gift Festival or take advantage of pre-season sales at the Holiday Open House.  Sample over 20 coffee infused beers at the 16 Tons Coffee Stout Fest, including a local favorite from Oakshire. Bound your way through the brisk November air at Run with the President. Highway 126 and the Aufderheide still provide scenic drives though Highway 242 will be closed once it sees a bit more snow or ice.

Fall colors and blue sky in Astoria

Coast
The fall color change is at peak along some portions of the Oregon coast, while other parts are near peak. Bring back the sounds of summer by catching the Beach Boys in concert at Chinook Winds Casino Resort.  Before the holiday rush kicks in, women can savor some downtime at the Women Only Weekend. Tantalize your taste buds at Lincoln City’s Seafood and Chowder Cook-Off or sample some fine wines at the Seaside Downtown Wine Walk. With winter on the horizon, mark your calendars for festive family fun along the coast. Ring in the holiday season at the Shore Acres Festival of Lights or start your shopping at the Astoria Winter Market.

Willamette Valley
The fall color change is at peak in parts of the Willamette Valley, while the colors are starting to fade in other areas. View the work of over 30 artists at the 20^th Annual Coastal Hills Art Tour. Start your holiday shopping at the St. Mary’s Holiday Bazaar or treat your ears to the sophisticated sound of Italian concert pianist Mariangela Vacatello. Treasure your freedom at Albany’s Veterans Day Parade, the largest Veterans Day parade west of the Mississippi.

Greater Portland
The fall color change is at peak in the Greater Portland area. Come in from the cold and experience some the area’s great museums including The Rice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro. The Portland Art Museum provides interest for all ages including The Artist’s Touch, The Craftsman’s Hand – a Japanese wood block print exhibit – or the LEGO Castle Adventure. Photographers and leaf peepers alike should take advantage of Free Admission Day at the Portland Japanese Garden where the colors are truly popping. Wander through Washington Park or Tryon Creek State Park for additional flourishes of stunning fall foliage.

Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge
The fall color change is at peak in Mt. Hood Territory and along the Columbia River Gorge. Reds, golds and oranges are exploding from the branches while easterly winds have started to knock down leaves. Find a sense of calm at Benson Lake State Park or watch the salmon swim upstream Eagle Creek Fish Hatchery. Spice up your holiday décor with a trip to the Country Christmas Bazaar.

Central Oregon
The fall color change is almost over in Central Oregon. Shuffle through an assortment of leaves at Drake Park or walk through downtown Bend where a few trees are still hanging on to their color, despite the early emergence of winter. Bend has a surplus of sites to enjoy the snow including Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, which offers downhill and Nordic skiing, while numerous sno-parks offer terrific terrain for snowshoers, Nordic and back-country skiers and snowmobiling.

Eastern Oregon
The fall color change is starting to fade in the higher elevations of Eastern Oregon. Take in the last bits of fall color along the Elkhorn Drive Scenic Byway or add some culture to your day with a performance from the Grande Ronde Symphony. Find some holiday stocking stuffers at The Art of Giving before prepping your investigation skills for the upcoming Ghost Hunters Weekend.

Southern Oregon
The fall color change is at peak in Southern Oregon, though more leaves are falling with each day’s rain. Catch the Southern Oregon Concert Band’s opening show of the season at the Veterans Day Concert “John Phillip Sousa: An American Patriot” or enjoy a variety of patriotic numbers while finding fresh vegetables and fruits at Kruse Farms. See some of the year’s best international flicks at the Archaeology Fest Film Series.

Weekly Update 11/4/2011

Shorter days and chillier nights signal winter steadily approaching, though fall foliage is still at or close to peak in many areas of the state. Surround yourself in Oregon’s bountiful beauty from art walks and hilly hikes to relaxing strolls through stunning parks, gardens and college campuses. With the onset of wintery weather conditions in some areas, be certain to visit tripcheck.com before taking off on your adventures around the state.

A foggy morning walk in Eugene. Image courtesy Vern Rogers.

Eugene, Cascades & Coast
The fall color change is starting to fade in higher elevations and at peak at lower elevations of the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region. Celebrate the delicious diversity of Oregon’s wild mushrooms at eight participating restaurants during Mushroom Madness Week or acquaint yourself with Eugene’s thriving arts scene on the First Friday Art Walk. Rev up your romantic side with a trip to the Last Resort Players’ Cabaret in Florence or revisit Romeo and Juliet in a performance from the Eugene Ballet Company. Winter weather is rapidly approaching higher elevations, and could cause Highway 242 to be closed soon.

Coast
The fall color change is at peak along some parts of the Oregon Coast, while some locations are near peak. The big leaf maple are at their brightest, while the vine maple have already begun their descent around the Tillamook Forest Center. Find some beautiful stretches of color along Highway 26 to Seaside or make your way to Golden and Silver Falls for some stunning sights. Tickle your taste buds with imaginative dishes at the Oyster Cloyster Festival, find bright works of art at the First Saturday Art Walk in downtown Seaside, or mingle in a mixture of music, poetry, theater and art at the Annual Stormy Weather Arts Festival.

A path in the Coburg Hills. Image courtesy Vern Rogers.

Willamette Valley
The fall color change is at peak in the Oregon Wine Country. Drive along Walnut Road toward Philomath Boulevard to view a variety of oranges, golds and reds painting the hills in the northern end of Corvallis. Savor a scenic drive before taking in an assortment of events at Oregon State’s homecoming. Enjoy a walk along the Willamette University campus or experience physical comedy at its funniest at Foolz! featuring Wells and Woodhead. Warm up with some hot cider and a doughnut at E-Z Orchards.

Greater Portland
The fall color change is at peak in the Greater Portland area. Find the fiery foliage at its finest at Multnomah Falls and the Portland Japanese Garden, where leaf peepers will see a spectacular diversity of plants in an array of changing color. Head to Hoyt Arboretum where maple, ash, larch and dogwood don their harvest hues.

Mt. Hood/Columbia River Gorge
The fall color change is at peak in Mt. Hood Territory and along higher elevations of the Columbia River Gorge. Get your final fill of fall at Rasmussen Farms’ Pumpkin Funland or gain an early start on your Christmas shopping at the sixth annual Holiday Craft Bazaar. Catch a family-friendly performance of Foiled, A Frantic Fairytale about Villains Experiencing Failure at the Historic Barclay Theatre. Sample some savory wines while viewing a variety of unique paintings at Art, Women & Wine or try to solve a murder mystery at Murder In The Gorge.

Central Oregon
The fall color change is starting to fade in Central Oregon, though some spots are still at peak. Take a stroll through Drake Park in downtown Bend or head along the Deschutes River to gain a glimpse of the area’s final days of peak color. Shuffle through the leaves on the First Friday Art Walk or let your eyes wander at the Wildfire Pottery Showcase. Surround yourself with some vibrant colors while watching a sunset at Smith Rock State Park.

Birch trees in historic Baker City. Image courtesy Base Camp Baker.

Eastern Oregon
The fall color change is at peak in the higher elevations of Eastern Oregon, while lower elevations are near peak. Traverse your way through the Blue Mountains Scenic Byway or wander through historic – and colorful – Baker City on the First Friday Art Walk. Catch a glimpse of migrating birds on the fly at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Jeff Jones performing in Lithia Park in Ashland. Image courtesy Southern Oregon Visitors Assocation.

Southern Oregon
The fall color change is at peak in Southern Oregon. Lake County’s aspen are vibrant with reds, oranges and yellows. Highway 140 provides plenty of scenic options either by car or foot. Head west to Cottonwood Lake or take your trek north for a relaxing respite at Aspen Ridge Resort. Bring your appetite to the fifth annual Food & Wine Classic in Ashland before seeing a play during the closing weekend of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.