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Primary Menu 31 Events Near Me content loading animation Search
  • Attractions
    • women dances with large fans outside on a city street surrounded by people in colorful dragon costumesView All Attractions
    • Museums
    • Parks & Gardens
    • Family Friendly
    • Shopping
    • On a Budget
    • EVEN MORE THINGS TO DO
  • Culture
    • people dining at picnic tables in front of a food cartView All Culture
    • Arts
    • Beer
    • Biking
    • Cannabis
    • Cultural Communities
    • Craft Spirits
    • Food
    • Makers
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Outdoors
    • Sports
    • Weird
    • Wine
    • MORE CULTURE
  • Neighborhoods
    • aerial view of downtown area with buildings and roadways, bridges crossing a river to a smaller set of buildings that expand into the distanceView All Neighborhoods
    • Alberta Arts District
    • Belmont
    • Central Eastside
    • Division/Clinton
    • Downtown
    • Hawthorne
    • Lloyd
    • Mississippi
    • Northwest / Nob Hill
    • Old Town Chinatown
    • Pearl District
    • St. Johns
    • Sellwood-Moreland
    • Williams
    • ALL NEIGHBORHOODS
  • Region
    • RegionView All Region
    • Near the City
    • Columbia River Gorge
    • Mount Hood
    • Oregon Coast
    • Willamette Valley
    • ALL REGIONS
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    • Light rail train car driving past people shopping at an outdoor marketView All Plan
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i
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
Region

Near the City

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

i
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.

aerial view of deep blue river water at falls on the edge of a verdant cityscape

Oregon City

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

aerial view of a small downtown with about a dozen midrise buildings and a tree-filled park

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.

beer flight on an ourdoor patio table

Lake Oswego

Whether you’re hitting the links, shopping designer consignment or sipping drinks on a shore-side patio, you’ll enjoy the tranquility Lake Oswego affords.

a grape vinyard on a sunny day

Willamette Valley

A short drive from the city, the Willamette Valley wows with lush scenery and delectable wines.

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

Regional Activities

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

four people illuminated by campfire at a dimly lit campsite, backed by a serene lake and a large mountain obscured by mist

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.

a wooden dock in a river with swimmers standing, sitting, or climbing out of the water, looks toward a city center in the fading light

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.

Close-up of wildflowers with Mt. Hood in the background

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.

Two people view a waterfall from a wood deck

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.

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.

a glass of beer on an outdoor picnic table

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.

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.

the vista house is in the distance, framed by brush and tree branches on three sides in the foreground

Crown Point Vista House

Called the crown jewel of the Columbia River Gorge, the Crown Point Vista House is a century-old observatory, rest stop and museum. Enjoy a 360-degree of the gorge and a bird’s-eye view of the Columbia River.

Two Days in the Columbia River Gorge

Savor the views and flavor of Hood River and the scenic gorge with this 48-hour itinerary.

Explore More

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.

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