With our dogs at Winchester Bay.
I love Oregon and the many things it has to offer. Having lived here most of my life — with the last 19 in south Lane County — I can say without a doubt that my favorite parts of Oregon are its more rural regions. While Portland and Eugene have a lot to offer, I think our rural communities and outlying areas are often overlooked. I created this blog to share my passion for our outdoor areas, our local flora and fauna, our history, and our food.
Cottage Grove is located on the southern edge of Lane County and at the southern tip of the Willamette Valley. We use it as our base to explore the local surroundings, as well as east into the Cascade Mountains, south into the beautiful Umpqua Valley, and west to the majestic Oregon Coast. Occasionally, we also venture up into the Willamette Valley to explore some of its lesser known locations. While most of the areas explored here are within a 1 1/2 hour drive of Cottage Grove, occasionally we get itchy feet and explore other Oregon communities and sights as well.
When I am not out enjoying and blogging about south Lane County, I work as a writer and project coordinator. My skills range beyond writing about local things to do and see. If you are interested, you can see my professional portfolio at colettekimball.com.
If you are new to this website, might I suggest the following blog posts which are among the most popular:
- Stand By Me: Cottage Grove
- Hinsdale Rhododendron Garden: Reedsport
- Upper Trestle Creek Falls
- The Hunt for Wigwam Burners
- History Lost: The Alex Cooley House
- Hiking the North Umpqua Trail
Finally, if you enjoy this blog, you might also enjoy these stories that I’ve written for other publications:
- A well-lived life spreads wide circles of ripples
- Remnants of the past
- Expanding a continuum of care
- Easy rider: Three accessible trails for an active lifestyle
- Connecting with a child: making a difference
I always love hearing from blog users. Please leave comments on the blog posts or send me a message here.
My South Lane 