Portland in September can be one of the hardest months to plan for! September can be one of the best months to visit Portland. Because the shoulder season of good weather and less crowds. In the last five years though, almost every September has been marked by wildfire season. 2020 being the worst so far, causing the most devastation throughout the state in recent history. And air quality…
August in Portland is the busiest and hottest month of the year. Locals and tourists are out making use of every spare second of nice weather. Hiking, biking, patio dining and drinks – everything moves outside in summer in Portland. August can also bring some too hot weather. Most daily highs average in the low 80s though, but there are always 90-100s days sprinkled throughout the month. So…
7 Best Mt Hood Lakes for Kayaking, Hiking, & Camping
July 3, 2024Mt Hood National Forest is full of gorgeous lakes. From hiking to kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, camping, backpacking and more Mt Hood lakes are some of my favorite destinations – in all seasons. So here are my favorite lakes near Mount Hood. And a map that includes a bunch more obscure lakes in the Mt Hood National Forest. Best Lakes on Mt Hood: While there are dozens of lakes,…
July in Portland is peak summer! It’s one of the best months of the year, for good reason. Summer is in full swing, berry season is here, and the rivers, lakes, and hikes are calling our names. And it’s usually before the heatwave and smoky season of August and September. Ah, the sweet spot of summer! The weather in Portland in July has an average high temp of…
2 Best River Floats in Portland: The Sandy & Clackamas River
June 21, 2024This week marks the official start to summer! As the weather heats up – yes, it gets into the 100s in Portland – city folk run for the Oregon coast and the nearest rivers. It’s time to river float Portland! If you’ve been dreaming of a leisurely day on the water, here’s everything you need to know to get out on one of our many rivers. TL;DR –…
June in Portland is one of my favorite months of the year! Summer is just starting, roses are blooming, berry season is on the way. And we’re already counting down how to best use our 91 days of summer. So June holds a lot of promise and long-awaited summer weather. No pressure, June! Plus, since most of June is still technically spring (summer solstice is June 20, 2025),…
May in Portland can feel downright summery and great shoulder season, travel-wise. Depending on the year, it feels like a summer preview with way less spring rain and growing daylight hours. The average high temperature in May is 68°, but there are always a few 80° days scattered throughout the month. But be warned, it can still drop down to freezing at night! May is a month to…
12 Best Hikes IN Portland, Oregon for Views, Forest Trails & Urban Walks
March 6, 2024Portland is a city with more green space and parks than most urban cities. And as a city sitting on dormant volcanoes, vast forests, and multiple rivers, this makes urban Portland a great place to hike! You don’t even have to leave the city limits in Portland to find exceptional hiking opportunities. So here are the best hikes in Portland for mountain views, forest wanders, and streams and…
Portland Beer Festivals by Month: 43 Can’t-Miss 2024 Events
December 28, 2023Portland is home to amazing breweries and quite a few annual beer festivals. While summer is prime beer festival season, you can find a beer festival almost any month in Portland, Oregon! Here’s the full list of Portland beer festivals and a few other notable Oregon beer festivals, by month. 2024 Beer Festivals in Portland, Oregon by Month The following list includes current Portland beer festivals and a…
One Day in Portland: Itinerary for 24 Hours in the Rose City
October 15, 2023With one day in Portland, you’ll have your work cut out for you! Here is my Portland itinerary – 24 hours in Portland, Oregon. More often, visitors will have a weekend in Portland, which gives you a bit more time for Friday night and Sunday morning add-on. But with one full day, here’s where I take visitors. A few of my favorite things to do in the Rose…
23 Things to Do in Sunriver, Oregon: Best Year-Round Activities!
August 16, 2023Sunriver, Oregon is a charming vacation town in Central Oregon. And while the Sunriver area may not seem like much more than a resort community, there’s a lot to see and do when you’re basing your Central Oregon explorations from here. In any season – from summer to winter, here’s a list of fun things to do in Sunriver, Oregon. Sunriver is just a twenty minute drive south…
15 Epic Waterfall Hikes Near Portland within an Hour Drive
April 14, 2023There are so many gorgeous waterfalls near Portland, Oregon. The highest concentration of waterfalls is in the Columbia River Gorge, followed by the Mt Hood area. And what better way to see waterfalls than to go on a waterfall hike! So here are my 15 favorite waterfall hikes near Portland within a 1-ish hour drive, plus the best waterfalls for easy hikes or accessible hikes, and the best…