Travel & Outdoors

Blazes

The Wildfires We're Watching Closely, and Where to Avoid

Air quality has improved around Portland, but areas in Central Oregon and the Cascade Mountains are still on fire.

09/02/2023 By Sam Stites

Swift Movement

Vaux’s Swifts Are Early This Year: Where and When to Watch

The birds are back, by the thousands, in a chimney near you. Go see the largest roost in the world, which happens to be at an elementary school.

08/31/2023 By Dalila Brent and Julia Silverman

Outdoor Films

A New Documentary on Black Outdoorsmen Premieres in Portland

The film, which delves into the lives of five men in the predominantly white industry, premieres in Portland on August 26 with star Chad Brown.

08/24/2023 By Sam Stites

Getaway

Unlimited Flying on Frontier's GoWild Pass? We Investigated

We had some questions about the program offering a month of travel from PDX for just $49.

08/22/2023 By Sam Stites

Trails

Hike of the Month: Forest, Wildflowers, and Sea at Two Rivers Trail

Just south of Pacific City, you can enjoy 2.7 miles through wildflower meadows and lush woodland on this peninsula at Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

08/21/2023 By Sam Stites

Water Watch

Cyanobacteria Spreads across the Willamette River and Sauvie Island as Temperatures Spike

It looks like algae, but it’s not. Swimming is banned for people and pets, according to the Oregon Health Authority, just as Portlanders need to cool off.

08/16/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Heat Wave

It’s Hot AF in Portland This Week. Will We Break All-Time Records?

Temperatures are forecasted for 100–108 degrees for three consecutive days.

08/15/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Get on the Bus

Yep, You Can Take a Bus There: Expanded Bus Service Comes to Oregon

New bus routes and expanded service emerged from a partnership between regional carrier Pacific Crest Bus Lines and national conglomerate Megabus.

08/11/2023 By Sam Stites

Wildlife Watch

This Week in Cougars, Raccoons, and Wolves in Oregon

Cougars, raccoons, and wolves, oh my. Residents are confronting a new normal with carnivorous wildlife in Portland and on the coast.

08/09/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Perfect Plans

Doe Bay Resort: What to Do, Where to Stay, and What to Eat

Don't be misled by "resort" in its title, says our writer, who has visited for 30 years. Nestled in the San Juan Islands between mountains and water, this spot offers something for everyone, from campers to hikers to luxury seekers.

08/07/2023 By MaryRose Denton

State Parks

Silver Falls State Park Solves Its Popularity Problem

The park, which gets 1.3 million visitors a year, unveiled the first part of renovations with new parking, two trails connecting to popular hikes, and a kids' nature play area.

08/04/2023 By Sam Stites

America's Best Airport

Photos of PDX’s New Terminal Are Here, and It’s Glorious

Portland travelers will set foot under the nine-acre wood ceiling of the new PDX terminal in May 2024.

08/04/2023 By Sam Stites

Getaway

Perfect Plan: Where to Eat, Stay, and Play (with or without Kids) in San Francisco

Reports of the city’s death have been greatly exaggerated.

08/03/2023 By Dalila Brent and Margaret Seiler

Cycling

Get Naked: Pedalpalooza’s Essential August Rides

The bike festival’s most famous ride, the World Naked Bike Ride, is back, plus four other recommended rides featuring lizards, gravel, freeway history, and ice cream.

08/01/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Destination Golf

Oregon, Golf Hotbed? 8 Courses Soar into US Top 100 Ranking

Eight golf courses recently landed in a nationwide ranking of public courses, five of them at Bandon Dunes.

07/28/2023 By Sam Stites

Review

Okta Is Now Oregon Wine Country’s Greatest Restaurant, Ever

One year after opening, Michelin-starred chef Matthew Lightner and wine curator Ron Acierto deliver a new definition of food, wine, and Oregon on McMinnville’s main drag.

07/27/2023 By Karen Brooks

Wildlife Watch

This Week in Unusual Oregon Cougar Sightings

Big cat sightings continue at Nehalem Bay State Park, and one was spotted for the first time ever on Haystack Rock.

07/20/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

This Stinks

Your Favorite Oregon Coast Beaches Have a Poop Problem

Sh*tty news from scientists, who say that fecal contamination levels are not low on Oregon's ocean beaches.

07/14/2023 By Dalila Brent

Alpine Adventures

Don't Miss Two Cascades Trips, Newly Open for the Season

It's time for excursions into the mountains, which aren't accessible during snowy months or wildfire season. McKenzie Pass and Crater Lake boat tours just opened for 2023.

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

Portland Monthly