Mountain Highs

Where to Ski in Oregon and Washington

From Timberline and Meadows in Portland's backyard to road-trip getaways across the Northwest, here are the slopes to seek out.

11/20/2025 By Margaret Seiler and Portland Monthly Staff

Soak Spots

The Best Hot Springs near Portland

Let off some steam in nature's hot tubs.

11/11/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Rebecca Jacobson, and Margaret Seiler

Oregon Trails

The Boom-and-Bust Tales of 8 Oregon Ghost Towns

Hopeful homesteaders, gold mining boomtowns, and resorts that slid into the sea.

10/15/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

Maximum Fun

The 22 Best Summer Events in Oregon

When it comes to festivals and fairs, our state doesn't mess around.

05/30/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Davide Comai

Oregon Trails

8 Geologic Wonders of Oregon

Caves to canyons to cracks in the ground, our state rocks.

04/22/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

Oregon Trails

9 Historic Oregon Cemeteries That Offer Clues to Bygone Eras

Find stories of shipwrecks, range wars, and prominent Portlanders.

10/02/2024 Illustrations by Jillian Barthold By Rebecca Jacobson

Feature

The Death of the Wolf in Oregon

Last year, state permits sentenced nearly one-fifth of wolves in Oregon to death. Animal lives aren’t the only ones at stake.

08/20/2024 By Juhea Kim

Hear Here

Three Songs Shaped by the Pacific Northwest

Black Belt Eagle Scout, Laura Veirs, and Laura Gibson took inspiration from cedars, the sea, and haunted hotels.

07/09/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Green Gold

How a Tiny Town in Eastern Oregon Became a Destination for Weed

Marijuana is booming in Ontario. But the town itself doesn’t reap the bounty.

06/18/2024 By Tim Neville Photography by Sarah Miller

Starstruck

Southeastern Oregon Is Now Home to the World’s Largest 'Dark Sky Sanctuary'

The rugged and remote part of the state known as the Outback boasts some of the most pristine night skies on Earth.

04/26/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Ski Trips

Beyond Hood: Eastern Oregon’s Ferguson Ridge Is the Gosh-Darn Cutest

The first rule about Fergi is we don’t talk about Fergi.

01/19/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Ski Trips

Beyond Hood: Is Anthony Lakes Worth the Drive?

Find a beer yurt, a rollicking saloon, and the highest base elevation in the state at this laid-back Eastern Oregon ski area.

01/05/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Real Estate

Property Watch: Be a Designer Hotelier for $3.2 Million

The buzzy Jennings Hotel in Joseph, Oregon, with all of its art, craft, and cool furniture, is for sale.

11/13/2023 By Melissa Dalton

Q&A

PhD in Pop? No-No Boy Weaves Asian American Tales on Postdoc Album

Singer-songwriter Julian Saporiti started No-No Boy as part of his dissertation at Brown University.

09/29/2023 By Matthew Trueherz Illustrations by Max-O-Matic

Back Off, Idaho! A Visitor's Guide to Eastern Oregon

A Cheat Sheet to Enjoying the Counties Voting for ‘Greater Idaho’

Without places like Burns and Baker City, Joseph and the Alvord Desert, Oregon just wouldn’t be Oregon.

09/04/2023 Edited by Sam Stites

Back Off, Idaho!

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on a Road Trip to Eastern Oregon

Who knew La Grande was such a shopper’s paradise? A rodeo in Pendleton, vintage bling in La Grande, biscuits and gravy in Baker City, a historic hotel in Burns, plus hot springs.

09/04/2023 By Margaret Seiler and Sam Stites

Back Off, Idaho! A Visitor's Guide to Eastern Oregon

Wild Times at Silvies Valley Ranch

Make the 6-hour drive for the golf, stay for everything else at this retreat and golf resort.

09/04/2023 By Sam Stites

Back Off, Idaho! A Visitor's Guide to Eastern Oregon

5 Crucial Tips for Camping in the Alvord Desert

We caught up with experienced playa-goers for their critical advice on visiting this otherworldly terrain.

09/04/2023 By Sam Stites