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When they’re in season, picking your own fruits and vegetable on Sauvie Island, located minutes from Northwest Portland, is a favorite local activity.
Credit: Clayton Cotterell for Travel Oregon

Near the City

Get out of the city to explore these offerings around the Portland region.

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When they’re in season, picking your own fruits and vegetable on Sauvie Island, located minutes from Northwest Portland, is a favorite local activity.
Credit: Clayton Cotterell for Travel Oregon

From zip lines to whitewater rafting and horseback riding to pioneer history, these attractions are worth the (short) trips outside Portland. Choose from multiple cities to explore, each with their own unique landscapes and history; grab a tent and experience some of the best camping in the country; or settle in to a pint of Oregon-made craft beer at a nearby brewery. Read on for our top picks for things to do and places to explore near the city.

Region

Nearby Cities

These nearby towns offer their own unique food, drink, culture and communities.

Sunset’s orange glow bath Mt. Hood’s snow capped peaks, Oregon City’s homes and Willamette Falls’ frothy waters.

Oregon City

The final wagon stop on the Oregon trail, Oregon City welcomes visitors with food, drink, museums and outdoor activities.

Boats on the river at dusk with a bridge in the background

Vancouver, Washington

Though similar to Portland in many ways, Vancouver, Wash., a Pacific Northwest suburb in Southwest Washington is located just across the Columbia River. It can also feel like it's a world away.

floating homes and house boats on the water

St. Helens

St. Helens pairs outdoor experiences with antique shops and Twilight souvenirs.

Breweries Near Portland

The City of Roses doesn’t have a monopoly on amazing ales! Several nearby towns are home to their own fabulous brewpubs and breweries.

Take a sip

Regional Activities

Get out of the city to explore these offerings around the Portland region.

A snow-capped mountain is reflected in a lake with autumn foliage in the foreground

Camping Near Portland

To truly appreciate the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, you can spend a memorable night under the stars at these scenic campsites -from rustic tent camping to cabins and yurts- all located within an easy drive from the city.

a Native American woman greeting a farm goat

Farm Loops Near Portland

Only 15–45 minutes from Portland, three self-guided tours let you choose your own farm-to-table adventure amid bucolic gardens, ranches and vineyards.

a large vat of apples on a sunny day

Apple Picking Near Portland

Freshly-picked Pacific Northwest apples are a local favorite, and many Portland-area orchards allow visitors to pluck the fruit right off the branch.

Happy swimmers spend a hot summer afternoon in the cool, clear waters of Punchbowl Falls.

Swimming Holes Near Portland

Stay cool all summer long at these serene swimming spots, surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest — and all less than an hour away from Portland.

people on the Wildwood Recreation Site Wetland Boardwalk Trail.

Spring Hikes Near Portland

There’s something special about the first spring hike of the year. Enjoy wildflowers, bird watching and breathtaking scenery on these springtime rambles.

person standing at the base of Latourell Falls

Waterfalls Near Portland

Some of the most picturesque waterfalls line the Columbia River Gorge, just a short drive from Portland. But these cascading natural wonders are even closer to Portland from the Willamette River to the Cascade Mountain Range.

a bicycle leaning against a sign that says \"City of Gresham\"

Exploring Gresham by Bike

Gresham, an east Portland suburb, offers a bevy of bike-friendly businesses and stellar views of Mount Hood.

a field of wildflowers

Wildflower Viewing in Greater Portland

Feast your eyes on the many wildflower patches around the region for natural beauties you won't find anyplace else.

Cyclists riding towards trees beside a field on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail

Bicycling the Banks-Vernonia State Trail

The small logging town of Vernonia has become a central hub for bike routes through the surrounding state forest.

a person kayaking on glassy water with puffy clouds reflected in it

Outdoor Adventure in Columbia County

With an emerald backdrop and riverside paths, outdoor adventure awaits from bird-watching on Scappoose Bay, or exploring the historic community of St. Helens, Columbia County offers countless family-friendly activities.

A helmeted person navigates a path of logs suspended from cables high above the forest floor at Tree to Tree Adventure Park.

High-Flying Fun West of Portland

This aerial obstacle course combines the childhood thrill of tree climbing with zip lines, rope and tire swings, trapezes, ladders and tightropes.

Kid-Friendly Regional Attractions

Trips outside the city promise all-ages entertainment. Here are four must-see attractions within two hours of downtown Portland.

Learn more

More Regional Attractions

Discover more interesting landmarks and institutions near Portland.

roses in early settler garden with a large scale wagon train in the background

End of the Oregon Trail

At the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center and Historic Site visitors can discover what it was like to travel the Oregon Trail with hands-on exhibits where costumed interpreters describe the challenges of packing for the cross-country trek.

A wooden lookout tower at Fort Vancouver

Fort Vancouver

The Portland area's only national historic site is centered around a complete replica of Fort Vancouver, a fur-trading camp founded in 1825.

Sauvie Island

Sauvie Island, the Manhattan-size isle is one of the largest river islands in the country just north of Portland, is where families can find an entire day’s worth of adventures with swimming, hiking, birding and local farms.

Head to the beach

Annual Events

Not far from Portland's city limits, these annual events draw locals and visitors alike.

A person sitting inside a large pumpkin paddling across a lake

West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

This annual race series consists of paddlers piloting a gaggle of gigantic gourds through a watercourse.

A woman and three children find their way through the tall corn at the Corn Maize at The Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island.

The Corn Maize on Sauvie Island

The Corn Maize, located on Sauvie Island north of Portland, offers visitors eight acres of physical and mental challenges in a cornfield.

a tractor sits among rows of blooming tulips on a farm

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Colorful fields reminiscent of Holland burst with acres of tulips in full bloom at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn.