Water Safety

Heading to a Swim Hole? It Might Not Be Safe Right Now

Warm spring weather doesn't mean it's time to hit your river spot.

05/30/2023 By Sam Stites

Summer Fun

Floating Hot Tubs Offer Novel Way to Get Out on the Willamette River

Rentable floating hot tubs from Yacht Tubs offer novel way to relax on the river, with no boating license required.

04/26/2023 By Sam Stites

Swimming

Portland's Regional Government Wants to Give You a Life Jacket

A Metro naturalist breaks down his best pieces of advice staying safe near water, including the Sandy River, the Columbia River, and Blue Lake Park.

04/21/2023 By Sam Stites

Outdoors

Hidden Gems among Oregon's State Parks

From a sleepy spot on the Minam River in Eastern Oregon to a so-close-yet-so-far island in Portland on the Columbia, these parks are off the beaten path.

03/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Oxbow Loop

Explore 12 miles of trails through towering old-growth forest and the glacier-fed Sandy River just minutes from Portland.

02/14/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Light a Fire 2022: Caring for the Planet

Friends of the Columbia Gorge Helps Protect a National Treasure

The ‘citizen watchdog’ helps keep development in check in the national scenic area that lines the Columbia River in Oregon and Washington.

01/06/2023 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Travel

10 Grand Lodges of the Pacific Northwest

For every season, there’s a dream destination. These retreats in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho invoke the mythic best of the Northwest.

09/13/2022 Edited by Ramona DeNies By Benjamin Tepler, Margaret Seiler, Amy Martin, and Kelly Clarke

Transit

Frog Ferry: Dead in the Water

The recurrent fantasy of a Willamette River commuter ferry is back to being just a pipe dream, after local boosters give up on its latest iteration.

09/06/2022 By Margaret Seiler

Swimming

Portland Is a Beach Town. It's True.

But which in-the-city river beach or dock—Poet’s, Audrey McCall, Sellwood, Cathedral, Tom McCall Bowl, or Duckworth Dock—is right for you and your crew?

07/27/2022 By Margaret Seiler, Michelle Harris, and Matthew Trueherz

Travel

This Tiny 'Cocoon Cottage' on the Oregon Coast Isn't Quite Open Yet, But It’s Already TikTok Famous

The owner’s other handbuilt Airbnb rentals include a giant potato in Idaho, a hobbit hole in Washington, and a treehouse in Hawaii.

07/21/2022 By Julia Silverman

Summer Fun

The Big Float Is Bringing the Party to the Willamette River for One Last Hurrah

A summer tradition in Portland, this year is both the 10th anniversary and the final installment for the flotilla of unicorn floaties, big yellow ducks, and more.

07/05/2022 By Michelle Harris

Real Estate

Property Watch: A Charming Floating Home on Sauvie Island

Classic cabin vibes meet nautical themes on this wood-lined two-story river house on the Willamette's Multnomah Channel.

07/05/2022 By Melissa Dalton

Get Out

19 Great Swimming Holes within 3 Hours of Portland

Drive to Hagg Lake, the Wilson River, Rooster Rock State Park, and more swimming holes near Portland, Oregon.

06/29/2022 By Benjamin Tepler, Rachel Ritchie, Margaret Seiler, Caleb Diehl, and Kasey Cordell

Swimming Holes

Take a Hike to a Swimming Hole

Combine water and a walk, short or long, with a visit to Lacamas Park, Mosier Creek Falls, Metzler Park, or lakes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

06/08/2022 By Michelle Harris and Margaret Seiler