Travel & Outdoors

Events

What to Do in Oregon in July

Chief Joseph Days Rodeo, a dory celebration in Pacific City, orchestral music on the coast, and more

06/30/2023 By Michelle Harris, Margaret Seiler, and Sam Stites

Fourth of July

Where to Catch Big Fireworks Displays around Portland and Beyond This Fourth of July

Find the rockets' red glare at Portland’s Waterfront Park, Oaks Amusement Park, coastal towns like Astoria and Seaside, and more.

06/29/2023 By Portland Monthly Staff

Alpine Adventures

Don't Miss Two Cascades Trips, Opening This Week

Now's the time for excursions into two mountain regions that aren't accessible during snowy months or wildfire season. McKenzie Pass and Crater Lake boat tours just opened this week.

06/29/2023 By Sam Stites

Getaways

A Secluded Sand Spot: 24 Hours in Gearhart, Oregon

Gearhart’s nearly empty beach is the star of the show in the Oregon Coast town of less than 2,000 residents.

06/27/2023 By Dalila Brent

Swimming

Can't Find a Pool? 6 Portland Outdoor Hotel Pools for Summer Splashing

Book a room with cable and AC and lounge by the pool at University Place downtown, the Holiday Inn at Jantzen Beach, the Monarch in Clackamas, and more.

06/22/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Pool Party

Renting a Private Pool in Portland Has Never Been Swimpler

Swimply has turned Portland into a hotbed for backyard pool and hot tub rentals, from saltwater pools on hilltop hobby farms to backyard hangs.

06/22/2023 By Sam Stites

Get Out

The 2023 Swim Hole Challenge: Which Is Your New Favorite?

We searched far and wide around Portland for the best swimming holes to delight water lovers like you, from families to adventurers to birthday-suit enthusiasts. We challenge you to visit three new ones this summer.

06/20/2023 By Benjamin Tepler, Rachel Ritchie, Margaret Seiler, Caleb Diehl, Kasey Cordell, and Sam Stites

Oregon Coast

You Want to See the 2023 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest Winners

Beachgoers were treated to gravity-defying sand art at the annual event on the Oregon Coast, where some teams built for five hours.

06/16/2023 By Sam Stites

Buzz Off

Why Are Mosquitoes Swarming Portland? For Starters, the County Didn’t Spray.

Mosquito populations are up fivefold this summer—and Multnomah County is giving out free mosquito fish to help limit the spread of the biting insects.

06/14/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Wildlife

Unusual Cougar Sightings Add Nerves to Summer Hikes

Oregon wildlife officials issue a warning, reminding us that Oregon is cougar and bear country.

06/14/2023 By Sam Stites

What to Do in Washington State in July

Outdoor events celebrate summer, including food fests and Scottish Highland games. Here's what to do this week and this weekend in Washington.

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/30/2023

The Tree of Life Is Falling Down

A stunning spruce seems to float above an Olympic Peninsula beach, drawing crowds for its picturesque tree root cave. How will it collapse—and when?

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/28/2023

A Waterfall Road Trip Reveals the Hidden Side of Hood Canal

Three stunning Olympic Peninsula waterfalls make for a memorable drive.

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/23/2023

This Vancouver Spa Brings the Hammam Experience to the West Coast

Hot steam, a brisk treatment, and the softest skin you can get in 30 minutes.

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/16/2023

The Rise of the Portable Campfire

Companies like Solo have reimagined the campfire to be safer and less smoky.

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/09/2023

Vancouver’s Dining Scene Makes a Case for World-Class Status

Vancouver gets the Michelin Guide treatment, with eight restaurants in the city earning stars.

By Allison Williams [email protected]
Published 06/06/2023

Events

Don't Miss These Summer (and Fall and Winter) Annual Oregon Coast Events

Celebrate your inner Viking in Astoria, fly kites in Lincoln City, count puffins in Cannon Beach, and check out chalk art in Seaside!

06/14/2023 By Margaret Seiler

Juneteenth

Black Cowboys in Portland? Yep, the Juneteenth Rodeo Is Here

Mark your calendar for June 17, when the Portland Expo Center hosts the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, where Black cowboys will compete for $60,000 in prize money.

06/12/2023 By Dalila Brent Photography by Ivan McClellan

Rivers

It's Time For You to Meet the Magical Lower Deschutes River

From its beginnings high up near Mount Bachelor to where it flows into the Columbia River, Central Oregon's Deschutes River is a special place.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites and Chad Brown

Adventure

Your Best Ever White Water Trip on the Lower Deschutes

Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River is an Oregon rite of passage, just 2 hours from Portland. A former rafting guide tells us the outfitters, guides, and rapids to know.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites