This winter’s Pacific Northwest snow season has been a serious bummer. Rainy, slushy conditions plague many of the ski resorts in both Oregon and Washington, if they have snow at all. And Mt. Hood Meadows’ stops and starts don’t inspire a ton of confidence. This year, opt for an impromptu ski weekend at Alta, atop Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. Round-trip tickets from PDX to Salt Lake City International, the nearest major airport, rarely pass the $300 mark, and the flight time clocks in under two hours. Once you’re there, you can take private or public transit to the mountain, which has 2,600 skiable acres and enough powder to make Scarface blush. A few quirks: Alta is a ski area and doesn’t allow snowboards (yes, seriously); it’s also far from fussy, so those used to the luxury of Jackson Hole or Big Sky should be prepared for old-school chair lifts and utilitarian day lodges. But true alpine loyalists will be rewarded with fluffy snow, remarkable run variety, and arresting views of Mount Baldy. Stay nearby at the nurse’s barracks turned ski-in all-inclusive, Alta Peruvian, or hang out in Salt Lake, starting with aprés-ski cocktails at Water Witch. —Brooke Jackson-Glidden

Everyone and their mother has been planning trips to Mexico City (and rightfully so). But Guadalajara, a quick direct flight from PDX, is a culturally rich sister city of Portland that’s comparatively off the beaten track. It's rife with architecturally stunning cathedrals, like the city’s nucleus, the Cathedral of Guadalajara, and you’ll find just as many superb museums, like the Museum of the Arts University of Guadalajara (MUSA) and its mind-bending murals by noted political artist José Clemente Orozco. Evenings can be spent at internationally celebrated cocktail bars like El Gallo Altanero or De La O Cantina, or at cerebral tasting menu restaurants like modern Jaliscan spot Alcalde or moody maíz palace Xokol. But even simply strolling Guadalajara, you’re bound to stumble across head-turning street art and nose-turning street food (this is the birthplace of birria, after all). An influx of investment means lots of new hotels for those who enjoy a chaise lounge by a pool (see: AC Hotel Guadalajara, JW Marriott Hotel Guadalajara, Hyatt Regency). But we love the lush courtyard and romantic interiors of Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel, or the edgy minimalism of Bellwort. —BJG

Every year, southeastern Oregon’s Malheur National Wildlife Refuge sees the migration of thousands of birds, representing more than 300 species, along the Pacific Flyway. And (almost) every year since 1981, the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival has drawn hundreds of bird-loving humans to the area for tours, workshops, and giddy socializing. Last year, major floods in the county seat of Burns led to the fest’s cancellation, but it’s back on the calendar for 2026; registration opens February 14. (This year also marks a decade since the refuge’s takeover by armed occupiers.) Stay in Burns at the historic, nicely renovated Central Hotel, which sits across the street from a taproom and food cart pod known as the Palace, or post up at the southern tip of the refuge, where the even older Frenchglen Hotel offers quaint rooms and family-style meals. When you’ve had your avian fill, detour for hot springs: Crane sits just a half hour from Burns, while Alvord is about two. —Rebecca Jacobson

There are plenty of reasons to head to Hood River right now—the new Lightwell Hotel & Spa, the recent New York Times applause for tasting menu restaurant Votum—but we’ve been enjoying the recent developments in its sibling across the river. The opening of glampground Under Canvas and the hygge revamp of the Inn of the White Salmon, not to mention the terminally charming Rubyjune Inn, have made a weekend trip infinitely more comfortable than it was pre-2020. The relative hospitality glow-up mirrored a similar groundswell in its food and beverage scene. Gourmands from around the region joust for spots at Rubyjune’s “chefs collective” dinner series, featuring James Beard nominees like Avery Adams of Orcas Island’s Matia Kitchen. Wine bar Soca hums on Saturday afternoons with crunchy-cool thirtysomethings snacking on pretty seasonal tartines, glass of Beaujolais in-hand. Dinners at Pixán involve Christmastime chiles en nogada or lamb barbacoa tacos topped with quail eggs. And at Gander & Goose, bartenders shake drinks with housemade grenadine and pour amari flights. Spring wine tasting at nearby vineyards gives way to summertime outdoor sports: Adventure cyclists and bikepackers can begin the 197-mile Loowit Tier (of the famed Orogenesis trail) in White Salmon, finishing in Packwood, and river rafters have several local options for guided trips. —BJG

With the return of the World Cup, cities around the globe are preparing for a colossal influx of soccer fans. While the nearest games to Portland will take place in Seattle, a larger city may be better positioned to accommodate the tourist tsunami. Consider heading to LA, with eight scheduled matches at SoFi Stadium. To avoid a traffic headache after the final whistle, stay in Inglewood on the night of your game, maybe at the Lum Hotel with its umbrella-encircled pool; if you have time for dinner, you’ll want to book a reservation at Two Hommés, celebrating the flavors of the African diaspora with Senegalese lamb dibi tacos or root beer–braised short rib (or opt for a late lunch of pescado zarandeado and ceviche at Coni’Seafood). The next day, make a pilgrimage to Randy's Donuts for glazed raiseds and wander Inglewood Park Cemetery to see the gravestones of people like Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald. Extend your trip by migrating to another area before or after your game, maybe nearby Manhattan Beach, a mellow-ish beach town. I’d head to Los Angeles’s Koreatown—book a plush room within the Line LA or the Hotel Normandie, grab soul-reviving bowls of knife-cut noodles at Hangari Kalguksu, zip down Wilshire Boulevard to spend the day at LACMA, and sing late-night karaoke at one of the neighborhood’s several karaoke bars. Take the Coast Starlight train for a scenic, leisurely ride back home. —BJG

Washington’s capital is perched on the southern tip of Puget Sound, surrounding Budd Inlet, at a crossroads. Head left up 101, and you’re in an adventurer’s paradise, the Olympic Peninsula; head right up I-5, and you’re in the state’s cultural capital, the Seattle metropolitan area. But Olympia is more than a pit stop. Quieter than its northern neighbor and more accessible than tourist stops along the Sound, this Pacific Northwest college town is a destination, with a little taste of both areas. The quality of Olympia’s water leads to exceptional baked goods, so visit 6th Borough Bagels for some of the finest bagels in the region, per our restaurant critic, Jordan Michelman, or cross the West Bay for fresh pastries at the Owl’s Nest. Then, head around the corner to peruse Browsers Bookshop, visit the local boutiques, and take in the many murals downtown. Overlooking Olympia is the palatial capitol, including the domed Legislative Building, which offers regular guided tours. For dinner, the historic Olympia Oyster serves briny delights with a view of the West Bay, while Punjabi Boy, on the southern outskirts, is a favorite of Portland Mercury critic Andrea Damewood. Adventurers can explore the Capitol State Forest for hiking and camping, or book a sunset paddle with South Sound Kayak Tours. —Alex Frane

The main goals of the Klamath River dam removal project, the largest in US history, were the restoration of salmon habitat and the reclamation of tribal lands. A not-insignificant bonus? The opening of a 45-mile stretch of river for whitewater expeditions. (Perhaps you also caught the coverage about the dozens of young Indigenous kayakers who paddled the entire length of the river last summer.) Several new access sites are now open on both sides of the Oregon-California state line, and outfitters—including Indigo Creek Outfitters, Momentum River Expeditions, and Noah’s River Adventures—have added a variety of trips to their rosters, ranging from one to three days. It’s a rare opportunity to run some novel whitewater, glide between dramatic columnar basalt walls in the previously hidden Kikacéki Canyon, and watch environmental restoration in real time (because pssst, the salmon are already leaping). —RJ

Since the efforts to save the Owyhee Canyonlands by creating a national monument failed in late 2024, the fate of this staggering geological marvel—2.5 million acres of basalt canyons, volcanic lava domes, twisting rivers and creeks—is far less secure under the current administration, and is vulnerable to industrial development. In other words, get out there while you still can (or get involved in its grassroots campaign). Set up camp at Succor Creek to hunt for thunder eggs and hike the Painted Canyon Loop, then drive to Leslie Gulch to hike the Juniper Gulch trail before setting up camp at Slocum Creek. Or, take a weeklong river raft trip down the Owyhee River via Momentum River Expeditions. This is some of the wildest country in the United States, which means awe-inspiring dark skies, abundant wildlife, and plenty of tricky roads, so plan ahead in terms of gas, spare tires, and emergency supplies. —BJG

A mere six-hour drive to a foreign country is reason enough to visit Vancouver, BC, especially if you like to eat. Michelin launched its Vancouver guide in 2022, and two Vancouver-area spots made the World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ inaugural North America list last fall. Published on Main—modish, à la carte, serving local game and ferments—is the most internationally celebrated; it’s one of 12 Vancouver restaurants with one Michelin star and is number 28 on the 50 Best list. Baan Lao, number 12, serves a tasting menu based on the extremely refined cuisine of Thai Royal courts and gives a sense of the truly global city’s diversity. Vancouver’s significant Chinese and Chinese Canadian population (19 percent as of the 2021 census) means certain pockets are almost completely immersed in Chinese culture; Richmond, a southern suburb, is said to serve the best Chinese food outside of China. Dim sum at Fisherman’s Terrace, inside the pan-Asian mall Aberdeen Centre, is a good place to start. —Matthew Trueherz

Now that the city has gone all-in on its redevelopment of the Riverfront Triangle, Missoula is very clearly entering a period of transition. But you can get in ahead of the boom by visiting this year. There are relatively new cutesy boutique hotels like the Wren, luxe wine-centric restaurants like the Stables or Boxcar Bistro, and subterranean cocktail lounges like the Grotto. For a taste of classic Missoula, however, catch live music and dancing at the historic Union Club, recently named one of Esquire’s best bars in America. Missoula remains an easy fit for Oregonians, with lots of options for the things we like to do: hike, float down a river, or wait in line for ice cream (a scoop of huckleberry at Big Dipper, in this case). Or, use it as a jumping-off point to camp within Rattlesnake National Recreation Area or Glacier National Park. Hop on a 90-minute flight from PDX or make it a fall road trip. —BJG