Travel & Outdoors

Airport News

Expanded Concourse E Opens at Portland International Airport

Kites, curds, and classic carpet await at PDX—for those who are traveling again.

07/18/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Outdoors

Here’s What You Need to Know about Outdoor Recreation during COVID-19

Should I wear a mask outside? Which trails should I avoid? Here’s our brief guide to outdoor etiquette in and around Portland.

07/10/2020 By Lauren Carlos, Gabriel Granillo, and Julia Silverman

Summer Travel

This Year, Grown-Ups Can Go to Sleepaway Camp, Too

Picture-perfect Oregon overnight camps are pivoting to offer socially distant family cabin rentals.

07/03/2020 By Julia Silverman

Travel

Hotels in the Northwest Are Open, but Things Are a Little Different

Can you swim in the pool? Can you eat in the restaurant? With COVID-19, your vacation mileage may vary.

06/20/2020 By Jordyn Mayer

Outdoors

Going Camping in Oregon in the COVID Era? Plan Ahead.

As Portlanders head for the hills, they’ll find a patchwork of campground closures and limited services.

06/19/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Breaking News

Portland’s Nearby Wilderness Areas Begin to Reopen

As of May 15, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest is back in business.

05/15/2020 By Benjamin Tepler

S’mores Beat

Summer Camp Is in Limbo, Just Like Everything Else

Will it be “Kumbaya” around a virtual campfire this year?

04/14/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Poetry

You Might as Well Write a Haiku About the Columbia Gorge for Poetry Month

We can't go there now/Instead, write of waterfalls/From a safe distance

04/09/2020 By Conner Reed

Birds of a Feather

A New Study Aims to Learn the Impacts of Social Distancing on Birds in the Pacific Northwest

Join in on the citizen science project and reap the cathartic benefits of bird-watching from your own backyard.

04/09/2020 By Gabriel Granillo

A Walk on the Dry Side

Uncrowded Wildflower Walks, German Lagers, and Neon Signs Abound in The Dalles

Take a long weekend on the dry side of the Columbia River Gorge.

04/01/2020 By Julia Silverman

Elephant in the Room

A Closer Look at the Oregon Zoo’s Elephant Breeding Program

Critics—pointing to death, disease, and miscarriages—question who they’re really trying to save.

04/01/2020 By Ciara O'Rourke

Bullfrogs on Parade

In Portland, Bullfrogs Are like the Uninvited Guests Who Crash the Party

Biologists are fighting back with sandwich bags and Orajel.

04/01/2020 By Kat Merck

The Shakedown

What's the Deal with the Earth?

Sizing up our home planet in honor of Earth Day 2020

04/01/2020 By Marty Patail

Buzzfeed

These Native Plants Are Balm to Pacific Northwest Pollinators

Help a bee out, why don’t you?

03/27/2020 By Jennifer Krazit

Coronavirus

The Region’s National Forests, From Mt. Hood to Southwest Washington, Have Officially Closed Borders

The sweeping mandate is meant to keep Oregonians at home.

03/26/2020 By Benjamin Tepler

Coronavirus

Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge “Waterfall Corridor” Shuts Down

State and federal agencies are stepping in to keep crowds away from popular attractions.

03/23/2020 By Benjamin Tepler

Coronavirus

Spring Break In Place: State Parks, Campgrounds, and Forests Are Closing to Overnight Guests

And while we’re on the subject—is it even safe to stay in an overnight rental on the coast?

03/19/2020 By Benjamin Tepler and Julia Silverman

Hostel Takeover

Want to Sleep with Strangers? Here’s a Handy Guide.

The modern hostel has come a long way, baby.

02/25/2020 By Margaret Seiler

Poler Thaw

How Poler Came Back from Bankruptcy Death

Shuttered in November 2018, the #campvibes brand is back in action.

02/25/2020 By Eden Dawn

PDX Index

Wanna Play in Oregon’s Great Outdoors This Spring? It’ll Cost You.

Kayakers, hikers, anglers, and RV’ers: prepare to cough up.

02/25/2020 By Julia Silverman