Travel & Outdoors

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

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

Pool Party

Renting a Private Pool in Portland Has Never Been Swimpler

Want to go for a dip? Swimply has turned Portland into a hotbed for backyard pool and hot tub rentals, from saltwater pools on hilltop hobby farms to backyard hangs.

06/22/2023 By Sam Stites

Oregon Coast

You Want to See the 2023 Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest Winners

Teams built for up to five hours to create gravity-defying sand art at the 59th annual competition.

06/16/2023 By Sam Stites

Buzz Off

Why Are Mosquitoes Swarming Portland? For Starters, the County Didn’t Spray.

Mosquito populations are up fivefold this summer—and Multnomah County is giving out free mosquito fish to help limit their spread.

06/14/2023 By Katherine Chew Hamilton

Wildlife

Unusual Cougar Sightings Add Nerves to Summer Hikes

Oregon wildlife officials issue a warning, reminding us that Oregon is cougar and bear country.

06/14/2023 By Sam Stites

Juneteenth

Black Cowboys in Portland? Yep, the Juneteenth Rodeo Is Here

Mark your calendar for June 17, when the Portland Expo Center hosts the 8 Seconds Juneteenth Rodeo, where Black cowboys will compete for $60,000 in prize money.

06/12/2023 By Dalila Brent Photography by Ivan McClellan

Rivers

It's Time For You to Meet the Magical Lower Deschutes River

Whatever your speed—dirtbag to debutante—there is something for you on the Lower Deschutes. From its beginnings high up near Mount Bachelor to where it flows into the Columbia River, Central Oregon's Deschutes River is a special place.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites and Chad Brown

Adventure

Your Best Ever White Water Trip on the Lower Deschutes

Rafting on the Lower Deschutes River is an Oregon rite of passage, just a couple hours from Portland. Our own Sam Stites, a former rafting guide, tells us the outfitters, guides, and rapids to know.

06/08/2023 By Sam Stites

Essay

The Deschutes River Became My Therapist and Healer

"The pain I fought, the darkness I navigated, and the loneliness I endured as a navy veteran fighting PTSD would leave my body the closer I got to the river to fly-fish."

06/08/2023 By Chad Brown