Portland is a river city, so there are plenty of kayaking and SUP opportunities close by. And we’re surrounded by mountains with lakes and forests, rivers, and the ocean. There are great places to go kayaking and paddle boarding (and canoeing) all over Oregon! So whether a day on the water means kayaking and wildlife spotting, or a hot summer day in your swimsuit paddleboarding one of Oregon’s…
As Portland bids adieu to another glorious season of sunshine, here are 87 reminders of why Portland is still a great city to be in autumn. Since the transition back to rainy season can be tough for even the most seasoned Pacific Northwesterners, I’ve put together a list of reasons to embrace the rain autumn yet another year. In no particular order, here are 87 things to do…
Visiting a pumpkin patch and corn maze (ahem maize) on Sauvie Island is just one of those fall things I love about Portland. It doesn’t quite seem like October until you’ve been to a pumpkin patch. So here’s a round up of the best Portland pumpkin patches and a look at our visit to Topaz Farm. Topaz is the new Kruger’s Farm and Market on Sauvie Island, which…
One of the best things about Portland is how close it is to a diverse amount of scenery. Beaches, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, forests. Oregon has some of the most wild and beautiful outdoor experiences, and jaw-dropping views. There are a lot of amazing places in NW Oregon and SW Washington that you can reach in a day’s drive from Portland. But to most of us, the point of…
Almost every night in September – just before sunset – you’ll find people flocking to Chapman Elementary School in NW Portland. They’re watching the sky for the Vaux Swifts. And every night of the migration, like clockwork, the swifts dance through the sky above the old smokestack chimney, before darting into the chimney just after sunset in one big funnel of a dark cloud. Watching the swifts flying feels…
I keep a running list of all the breweries in Portland and which ones I still have to visit. The list is constantly growing as new breweries open and close. At one point in 2016, I was 1 away from completing my quest to visit all the breweries in Portland, Oregon. So here’s my Portland Beer list, freshly updated for 2021. Including: ALL the currently operating Portland breweries…
This month, we welcome another autumn into our lives. As a thoroughly predictable human being, every September I fight the changing season, and then start warming up to the idea after reminding myself of all the things to love about fall. I finally give in (short of relocating, what’s a Portlander to do?). This years autumnal equinox is September 22, so as the rains arrive, I’ll be re-reading…
Portland in September can be one of the hardest months to plan for! September used to be one of the best months to visit Portland. Because the shoulder season of good weather and less crowds. In the last five years though, almost every September has been marked by wildfire season. 2020 being the worst so far, causing the most devastation throughout the state in recent history. And air…
Wahclella Falls Trail is a short 2 mile out and back hike in the Columbia River Gorge near Cascade Locks, Oregon. Technically 1.9 miles (with a lollipop loop at the end) the Wahclella Falls hike is a quick and easy waterfall hike, and makes a nice day trip from Portland. The trailhead is only a 40 minute drive from Portland. I consider this waterfall hike to be a…
August in Portland is the busiest and hottest month of the year. Locals and tourists are out making use of every spare second of nice weather. Hiking, biking, patio dining and drinks – everything moves outside in summer in Portland. August can also bring some too hot weather. Most daily highs average in the low 80s though, but there are always 90-100s days sprinkled throughout the month. So…
July in Portland is peak summer! It’s one of the best months of the year, for good reason. Summer is in full swing, berry season is here, and the rivers, lakes, and hikes are calling our names. And it’s usually before the heatwave and smoky season of August and September. Ah, the sweet spot of summer! The weather in Portland in July has an average high temp of…
This week marks the official start to summer! As the weather heats up – yes, it gets into the 100s in Portland – city folk run for the Oregon coast and the nearest rivers. It’s time to river float Portland! If you’ve been dreaming of a leisurely day on the water, here’s everything you need to know to get out on one of our many rivers. TL;DR –…