Water World

The Best Swimming Holes Within 3 Hours of Portland

From hidden gems to trusty stalwarts, here’s where to cool down when the mercury soars.

06/30/2026 By Portland Monthly Staff

Real Estate

Property Watch: Two Floating Homes for Double the Fun on the Willamette

Rent one and live in the other. Or just throw the best summer parties with your friends.

06/18/2026 By Melissa Dalton

Jump In

Columbia River Swim Spots and Beaches Within 90 Minutes of Portland

Postcard perfect? Not always. But the mighty Columbia is big enough for everyone.

06/16/2026 By Katherine Chew Hamilton, Margaret Seiler, and Julia Silverman

Eat Stay Play

A Summer Traveler’s Guide to Mount Hood

Huckleberry milkshakes, family-friendly hikes, and the ultimate weekend backpacking trip.

06/10/2026 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Big Picture

When a 1905 Heat Wave Sent Swarms of Naked Boys into the Willamette

Can you blame them?

06/05/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Eat, Stay, Play

A Summertime Guide to the Wallowas

The hidden gem hikes, detour-worthy restaurants, and cutest cabins near the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

06/01/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Thermophilia

Portland’s New Riverside Saunas Invite a Proper Cold Plunge

Warm up, then take a brisk dunk.

02/11/2026 By Rebecca Jacobson

Bucket List

Our Top 10 Trips to Take in 2026

The plane tickets to nab, the ultra-cute inns to book, and the meals to reserve around the country and beyond.

01/12/2026 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Portland Monthly Staff

Travel

9 Grand Lodges of the Pacific Northwest

For every season, there’s a dream destination.

12/09/2025 Edited by Ramona DeNies By Portland Monthly Staff

Real Estate

Property Watch: This 1976 Cabin Is a Total Time Capsule

Knotty fir paneling, an orange enamel fireplace, and a wraparound deck make for an idyllic perch over the Wilson River.

10/10/2025 By Melissa Dalton

Land Rights

The Fight for Willamette Falls

As tribal communities and local governments imagine a future for the country’s second-largest waterfall, they’ve exposed the long-standing rifts born from the wounds of colonization.

08/18/2025 By Karina Brown Photography by Kari Rowe

Water Ways

How a Jog and a Jump in the Willamette Became My Summer Ritual

I’ve learned to love Portland’s river like a friend.

07/07/2025 By Emily Chenoweth Illustrations by Davide Comai

Editor’s Note

An Argument for Befriending the Willamette

Our river, ourselves.

06/23/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Oar You Ready?

Where to Launch a Paddleboard, Kayak, or Canoe Near Portland

Eight gorgeous destinations, all less than two hours away.

06/20/2025 By Molly Allen and Sam Stites

Paddle to the People

These Kayakers See Climate Justice as Community Work

With a kayak lending library and social paddles, Mosquito Fleet wants to shift how we relate to the Willamette.

06/17/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Where to Live Now

Neighborhood Guide: John’s Landing

Find bungalow-lined streets, cozy cafés, a pirate-themed dive, and top-notch river recreation.

04/28/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Transit Trip

An Escape to Estacada on TriMet’s Southernmost Bus

A lakeshore stroll, murals galore, doughnuts made with love, and shouts of ‘fore!’

04/02/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Real Estate

Property Watch: Floating Home Known as the Aqua Star Is for Sale

The ’80s icon revels in unobstructed views and curving cool after a two-year makeover and a move north from Sellwood.

03/21/2025 By Melissa Dalton

Near & Far

Our Travel Editor’s Top Moments of 2024

Brilliant birds, beautiful beaches, and decked-the-heck-out tiki bars.

12/30/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Heating Up

Oregon’s Sauna Scene Has Never Been Better

Meet the new sauna evangelists changing the way we shvitz.

11/05/2024 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden