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1 day ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
SALEM, Ore. -- When you hear the word carousel these days, you might imagine the circular baggage claim area at an airport. But the first American carousels were invented a long time before flying machines. The original revolving merry-go-round machines with model horses were often found at amusement parks. But at Riverfront Parkin in downtown Salem, Oregon, you will find one that has attracted kids of all ages since 2001.
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1 month ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
OREGON COAST -- They head south for the winter and in the spring they turn around and head back north. No, not snowbirds, but giant seagoing mammals. In December and March, gray whales migrate up and down the Oregon Coast. Oregon State Parks celebrates the great whale migration by giving coastal visitors a front-row seat.
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1 month ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
SEASIDE, Ore. -- Some people think it's a movie theater. Some people think it's a restaurant. In reality, they’re both right. The Times Theater and Public House in downtown Seaside, Oregon, is a unique gathering spot that combines elements of a brewery, theater, and community hub. Once the town’s only movie theater from 1940 to 1989, it sat empty until 2016 when new owners transformed it into what is now a one-of-a-kind of venue.
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1 month ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
SEASIDE, Ore. -- Winter time on the Oregon coast. It might not be your first choice for a winter getaway but, this time of year things are pretty quiet. That can work to your advantage. “It’s the best time of year to be here. It’s slow. You can actually take your time and see things. There’s not the crowds. It’s a lot more peaceful,” said Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium spokesperson. That’s for sure. And many forms of lodging have lower winter rates.
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2 months ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
Cannon Beach sits on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles northwest of Portland and 25 miles south of Astoria. A popular tourist destination, it is known for its close proximity to Haystack Rock, quaint shops, great seafood and long, sandy shoreline. Why is it called Cannon Beach, and why was there a cannon here? “There is a whole story to that,” said Liz Scott, executive director of the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum.
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2 months ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
On the northern Oregon coast in Tillamook County, there's a small town—well, a village really—nestled between the Nehalem River and forested foothills. This is Wheeler, population 400. This quaint, relaxed settlement is near Cannon Beach, Rockaway and Manzanita, but it is far less busy than those neighboring towns. Wheeler has a town matriarch who looms large in these parts. "She's been here for a hundred years and she's very well known in the community," Katie B. Brown said.
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2 months ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
If you travel Interstate 84 along the Columbia River, you might have your usual stops for gas and/or a restroom break. And you probably get back in your rig and hit the freeway to make it to your destination in good time. On the other hand, perhaps you adhere to the Ralph Waldo Emmerson adage, “It’s not the destination, but the journey”. Dave Jones heads to another of what he calls “drive-through towns on the Columbia Gorge" - places you might miss if you stick only to the freeway. This is Mosier.
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2 months ago | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
Seaside resides on the northern Oregon coast. The Seaside Promenade, or Prom as the locals call it, is 1.5-mile walkway along the beach. One building has called the Prom home since 1937 -- The Seaside Aquarium. "We have a wide variety of local marine life," said aquarium manager Keith Chandler. "A lot of different kinds of rockfish. Ling cod. Sharks. The most popular thing is probably after our seals is probably octopus.
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Jan 23, 2025 | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
PENDLETON, Ore. -- It seems every town in America has at least one iconic hamburger drive-in. And in Pendleton, locals will tell you theirs is Hal's Hamburgers. They made their first burger in 1952 and they've been sizzling ever since. For more than 70 years, Hal's has been at its location on Pendleton's SE Court Street, serving traditional drive-up food with a side of nostalgia. If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine the Fonz and Richie Cunningham munching on some fries here.
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Jan 16, 2025 | 
centraloregondaily.com | Dave Jones
The Pendleton Roundup isn't the only western thing in this Eastern Oregon town, but the western lifestyle is not far from everything else Pendleton offers. This town has a vibrant community of craftspeople who create an impressive list of products. Vodka, boots and hats just barely scratch the surface of Pendleton's group of craftspeople with stores in the downtown district. In fact, so many craftspeople that the Travel Pendleton Group created something called the Pendleton Makers Trail.
