Travel & Outdoors

Month Ahead

What to Do in Oregon in December

Make crafts at Silver Falls, hunt for ornaments in the forest, hop aboard a Christmas train, and spot gray whales swimming south.

11/26/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Margaret Seiler

Get Lit

11 Must-See Holiday Light Displays in Portland and Beyond

It's twinkle time. From Peacock Lane to Zoo Lights to dazzling shows across the state, here’s how to make the season extra bright.

11/25/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Glide Time

Where to Cross-Country Ski in the Pacific Northwest

Find tranquil trails, big volcano views, and a glittering ice cave.

11/24/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson

Mountain Highs

Where to Ski in Oregon and Washington

From Timberline and Meadows in Portland's backyard to road-trip getaways across the Northwest, here are the slopes to seek out.

11/20/2025 By Margaret Seiler and Portland Monthly Staff

Holidays

Where to Get a Christmas Tree Near Portland

Oregon leads the US in Christmas tree production. Here are our favorite farms and stands to get your Tannenbaum on.

11/20/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Portland Monthly Staff

Transit Trip

A Fall Day in Troutdale via TriMet’s 77

Find celery lore, lots of happy dogs, and no line at Sugarpine.

11/17/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Soak Spots

The Best Hot Springs near Portland

Let off some steam in nature's hot tubs.

11/11/2025 By Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Rebecca Jacobson, and Margaret Seiler

Toe pick!

Where to Go Ice-Skating in Portland and Beyond

Total beginner? Wannabe Winterhawk? Aspiring Olympian? We have the rink for you.

11/10/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Pinball Wizard

Next Level Pinball Museum Is Oregon’s Finest Arcade

It's not just about the games—Next Level is a temple of pop culture and a nerdy parent's dream.

11/07/2025 By Jordan Michelman Photography by Michael Novak

PDX Index

A Closer Look at Oregon’s Owl Attacks

Portland hikers are getting dive-bombed on Leif Erikson.

11/03/2025 By Amelia Arvesen

Q&A

Ripping the City with Gabbi Thomas

The solo camper and herbalist shares her Pacific Northwest adventures, from healing and foraging to winter camping and her scariest moment in nature.

10/30/2025 By Dalila Brent

Get Out

What to Do in Oregon in November

Taste olive oil in Dayton, dance to Celtic music in Yachats, gorge on sausage and kraut in Forest Grove, and celebrate Thanksgiving in wine country.

10/29/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson and Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Best of PDX

Your Quintessential Portland Bucket List: 50 Things to Do in Town

These are our city's can't-miss activities, whether you’ve lived here all your life or are just passing through.

10/27/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Oregon Trails

The Boom-and-Bust Tales of 8 Oregon Ghost Towns

Hopeful homesteaders, gold mining boomtowns, and resorts that slid into the sea.

10/15/2025 By Rebecca Jacobson Illustrations by Jordan Kay

Rent a Roost

11 Pacific Northwest Treehouse Rentals for a Sky-High Getaway

The air really is better up there.

10/13/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Gearing Up

Meet the Outdoor Store Designed for Latinx Adventurers

BaseCamp, from the outdoor education nonprofit Loco por la Aventura, wants to make gear shopping more accessible.

10/06/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen

Hit the Trail

9 Sublime Fall Hikes In and Around Portland

Head to these trails in Oregon and Washington for misty waterfalls, migrating birds, and golden-needled larches.

10/06/2025 By Isabel Lemus Kristensen and Portland Monthly Staff

Transit Trip

We Rode from Portland to Seattle on City Buses

Pro: It cost $7 total for seven buses. Con: It took seven hours.

10/02/2025 By Margaret Seiler

Halloween

Visit These Portland Haunted Houses For Halloween Pregaming

Haunted manors, zombie graveyards, and spooky drive-ins to get you in the most frightful of moods.

10/02/2025 By Portland Monthly Staff

Restaurant Review

Hayward Is Oregon Wine Country’s Destination Restaurant

The Willamette Valley’s most decorated upstart is no longer the underdog. Can it shine in the limelight?

10/01/2025 By Jordan Michelman Photography by Thomas Teal

Portland Monthly