< PreviousCOMMUNITIES & EVENTS THINGS TO DO IN MT. HOOD TERRITORY COMMUNITIES 30 W I L L A M ETT E R I V E R Minutes from Portland International Airport PORTLAND (9 MI / 14 KM) SEATTLE (180 MI / 290 KM) SAN FRANCISCO (615 MI / 990 KM) AIRPORT (11 MI / 17 KM) END OF THE OREGON TRAIL WILLAMETTE FALLS BERRY FARMS TAX-FREE SHOPPING FARMERS MARKETS ALPACA FARMS FLOWER FARMS WINERIES HOTEL MOLALLA CANBY OREGON CITY WEST LINN WILSONVILLE LAKE OSWEGO MILWAUKIE GLADSTONE 99 5 C L A C K A KK M A S R I V E R 20531 COMMUNITIES & EVENTS W I L L A M ETT E R I V E R C L A C K A KK M A S R I V E R TRILLIUM LAKE HIKING CYCLING KAYAKING FISHING 26 HAPPY VALLEY SANDY CLACKAMAS ESTACADA GOVERNMENT CAMP SKIING VILLAGES OF MT. HOOD TIMBERLINE LODGE MT. HOOD32 MILWAUKIE & GLADSTONE COMMUNITIES & EVENTS T he former mill town of Milwaukie is a friendly, food-forward community with a walkable riverfront downtown. It’s also an easy 30-minute ride from central Portland via the MAX Light Rail Orange Line. In spring couples stroll under the pink and white blooming dogwood trees that have earned Milwaukie its title of “Dogwood City of the West.” Get your bearings with a walk in the 8.5-acre Milwaukie Bay Park before browsing the nearby downtown shops. Grab a cool T-shirt or hat designed by a local artist at Made in Milwaukie, then pick up loose-leaf tea and ceramics from Cloud Pine Tea + Culture and chocolates from Enchante Chocolatier for yourself or for a gift. A one-mile blossom-filled stroll will bring you to Milwaukie Floral & Garden, which regularly offers events, from cocktail and crafting classes to Creators and Curators Markets. For a romantic meal for two, Ovation Bistro & Bar uses ingredients from local farmers markets to create fantastic French-inspired lunches and dinners. You can literally smell the heavenly aroma of baking bread from Highway 224 in front of Bob’s Red Mill. Visit its on-site Whole Grain Store and peruse every single Oregon-made product Bob’s sells — from granola to alternative flours. Then grab a bite at the on-site Restaurant and Bakery, where menu items are created using Bob’s Red Mill products, of course. Afterward, shop for a modern paint-by-numbers kit from elle crée, which recently moved from downtown. Walk off those waffles on the Trolley Trail — a six-mile, multiuse trail that takes you to an old truss bridge that’s been converted to a walking-and-cycling-only bridge crossing the Clackamas River at Gladstone. Whether you walk, bike or drive the six miles to Gladstone, stop by the family owned Tiger Fruit and recharge with a kiwi-strawberry smoothie, or treat yourself to a handcrafted Hawaiian shave ice made with aloha at nearby Menehune Murph’s. Need something a little stronger? Grab a cup of small-batch coffee from Happyrock Coffee, an award winning microroastery. Next hunt down a few more unique souvenirs at Gladstone Mercantile. Enjoy Gladstone’s beautiful outdoors at Gladstone Nature Park and its must-see gems — Pollinator Hill with its multiple butterfly species, StoryWalks for kids and the Hiroshima Ginkgo Peace Tree. In warmer months, no trip is complete without tubing the Clackamas River from Cross Park to Dahl Beach. The one-mile float takes about an hour, so eNRG Kayaking’s two-hour rentals provide plenty of family time to swim and play. Plus, they offer return shuttles every 30 minutes. Refuel with Masala Box’s Southern Indian cuisine. Top: Bob’s Red Mill Above, from left: Tiger Fruit; Milwaukie Trolley TrailHAPPY VALLEY & CLACKAMAS COMMUNITIES & EVENTS F amilies and foodies flock to Happy Valley and Clackamas for the elevated yet casual food scene and epic views of Mt. Hood. Both flavor-packed communities are located about 30 minutes from Portland and near Mt. Hood National Forest, making them an ideal place to grab a bite before or after a long day of outdoor adventuring. If you’re with a group, pop into Happy Valley Station. This sprawling food cart pod offers a covered industrial-chic seating area that’s open year-round, with carts that serve everything from Japanese noodles and Korean barbecue to classic Philly cheesesteak. Be sure to explore the indoor beer hall, featuring over 40 taps pouring local beer and wine. Or grab a seat on the kid and pet friendly outdoor patio by the toasty fire pits at Valley Public House. This spacious and modern eatery serves up enticing bites from local standouts Tamale Boy and Ranch Pizza, plus 70 taps of cocktails, wine and, of course, beer. For tasty Mexican fare, hop over to Clackamas Town Center’s Mezcaluna for stellar fajitas and a curated mezcal menu with over 50 different options. Couples love de Fuego, which serves its South American and Texas-fusion eats with standout whiskey and nightly live music at its subterranean speakeasy, The Underground. Beer lovers can spend a low-key afternoon on the porch at Little Beast brewery taproom, located off Highway 212 in Clackamas. Cider fans can talk adventures — and apples — at the artisanal Happy Valley Ciderworks, or savor the 18 taps and gourmet English pub fare at the award winning Portland Cider Co. For something sweet to top it off, the popular FAT Cupcake is not to be missed. Order the Charlie cupcake, a decadent chocolate– peanut butter treat that put the baking company on the culinary map. Independently owned Elka Bee’s coffee shop is a great place to grab an air-roasted espresso to cleanse the palate before driving on to wherever your Oregon adventures take you next. Right: Little Beast Brewing Bottom: Clackamas Town Center mall34 LAKE OSWEGO T ranquil farmland meets upscale shopping, sophisticated art and gourmet restaurants in this Portland suburb that sits along the shoreline of the city’s 405-acre namesake lake. Grab a friend and start your day at NOLA Doughnuts with an espresso and a beignet piled so high with powdered sugar that it resembles Mt. Hood, or Lola’s Cafe for the those wanting a gluten- free breakfast. If you’re interested in perusing some award winning art, you’re in the right place. Gallery Without Walls exhibits more than 80 sculptures scattered about town. Visit the Arts Council of Lake Oswego website for a self-guided walking tour, plus information about the pieces and artists, or walk into the new gallery in City Hall next to BOOKtique. History buffs can hop aboard the Willamette Shore Trolley and take a ride along the Willamette River aboard a vintage trolley car on a rail line that dates back to the late 1800s. While the trolley takes a break, you can too. Breakside Brewery has 16 beer taps and a small-bites menu, and Stein Distillery, Domaine Serene, Freeland Spirits and Willamette Valley Vineyards have downtown tasting rooms that are vibrant for their views and variety. Portland-based restaurants often look to Lake Oswego when launching satellite locations, so head to Mercato Grove’s “restaurant row” and take your pick of diverse eateries when you start to feel peckish. Pair your steak frites with a glass of Oregon pinot noir at Lac St. Jack, or complement your spaghetti carbonara with a craft cocktail at Grassa. The specialty pizzas at Oven and Shaker go down easy with a frosty local beer. Tasty has a large outdoor patio and a Pacific Northwest-inspired menu. Sunday music at Fills with an Aperol spritz tops off any weekend. Downtown is also brimming with top-notch restaurants. Bamboo Sushi offers sashimi, rolls and nigiri made with sustainable fish, and if it’s busy, walk a few blocks to Kurata or Tada Sushi. If you’d like views of shimmering Oswego Lake, Five Spice has impeccable Asian-inspired seafood and a Pacific Northwest-centric wine list, and Pizzeria sul Lago directly below crafts pizzas with ingredients purchased directly from farmers at the market across the way. How about pasta and a play? Riccardo’s, Tucci and Nicoletta’s Table all bring big Italian flavors, and if you take in a show at Lakewood Center, a partnering performance-themed dinner at Nicoletta’s is a must. Top: Selfie at the Gallery Without Walls Above: Willamette Shore Trolley COMMUNITIES & EVENTSWEST LINN T ucked between the Willamette and Tualatin rivers on the southern outskirts of Portland, West Linn is a small town with big-town culinary chops. You can easily pass a delightful day noshing, sipping, shopping, or just kicking back and enjoying the sweeping mountain and valley views. Start your morning with your best friends and a frothy cappuccino and flaky croissant at Lark Café, a bright and inviting local spot in West Linn’s historic Willamette neighborhood. If you’re looking for a caffeine-free start, Para Juice Bar right down the street offers energizing green juices and smoothies. After fueling up, pop into nearby Morrow’s Flowers & Interiors for smartly curated home decor and World HeARTs Fair Trade for ethically made jewelry and gifts. Next up: the vineyards on Pete’s Mountain, located in the hills of West Linn. This lush area overlooks the Willamette River and Mt. Hood, which means stellar wine flights paired with equally spectacular views. At Campbell Lane Winery, enjoy a glass of pinot gris and gaze out at Mt. Hood from your spot on the welcoming lawn. Tumwater Vineyard & Barrel House Tasting Room, located across the way from the Oregon Golf Club, offers Sunday pinot noir and chardonnay tastings and events throughout the week. And no trip to Pete’s Mountain is complete without a stop at Pete’s Mountain Vineyard & Winery, which offers Sunday pinot noir, pinot gris and rosé tastings on the panoramic outdoor patio. On your way back into West Linn, stop at the family owned twill cellars for one more flight of organically grown pinot noir or chardonnay on the heated patio, and give the friendly vineyard dogs a pet. For dinner Ale & Cider House in Willamette is the largest social-gathering space in West Linn and considered a historic landmark. The 16,500-square-foot building was built in 1915 and renovated in 2018 into a traditional English pub house. Order a bite from the rotating lineup of on-site food trucks and sit back with a glass of its very own Queen Orchard hard cider. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, grab a table at (five-0-three), where you can watch the care taken with each locally sourced ingredient in its open kitchen, or Bugatti’s Ristorante for fresh-made Italian pasta dishes. And in the warmer months, the patio at (five-0-three) is the place to be for live music. Your West Linn wine and culinary adventures have come full circle. Below: Lark Cafe Bottom: Tumwater Vineyard & Barrel House Tasting Room COMMUNITIES & EVENTS36 COMMUNITIES & EVENTS J ust 15 miles southeast of Portland and located next to the second-largest waterfall in the country by volume, historic Oregon City once served as the final wagon stop on the fabled Oregon Trail. The fascinating town is just as welcoming today, thanks to recent historical restoration projects and a thriving shopping, food and craft brew scene. The city’s compact downtown area recently received the Great American Main Street Award and can be easily explored on foot, but you’ll also want to check out uptown and midtown. Take the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, the only vertical street in the country, to reach midtown for delicious breakfast options. The Hive Social offers dishes with hyper local ingredients from their scratch kitchen. For vertical-garden ambiance, try local favorite Singer Hill Cafe and sit on the garden patio. From there stroll along the McLoughlin Promenade, a nearly eight-acre linear park overlooking downtown. History buffs will definitely want to poke around the McLoughlin Conservation District, which is home to over 300 architecturally and historically significant properties, some of which have been converted into museums and are open to the public. Pop into the McLoughlin House and the Ermatinger House, the oldest house in Oregon City, and you’ll see authentic furnishings, artifacts and photos from the old American West. Next head about a mile south of downtown and count the rare Oregon white oaks and camas wildflowers on the hiking trails of Canemah Bluff Nature Park. The fertile volcanic bluffs are home to a wide range of indigenous plant and animal life, making them a peaceful place to spend an afternoon. Refuel in uptown, where you’ll find lots of local craft beer, cider and restaurant options. The HiVe Taphouse is home to both Shattered Oak and New Ancient Brewing as well as Oregon City’s OREGON CITY Top: Oregon City Municipal Elevator and Mt. Hood Above: Coin Toss Brewing first food cart, the Perky Pantry, serving food with a nod to the owner’s Philly roots. Down a pint of history at Coin Toss Brewing, named after the famous event at the Ermatinger House that determined Portland’s name. For cider fans, 12 Bridge Ciderworks is veteran and family owned with 25 taps of cider, beer and wine. They also welcome outside food, and Lil’ Cooperstown Bar & Grill is across the parking lot. 37 CANBY COMMUNITIES & EVENTS A dmire acres of colorful dahlias — and sample bountiful local wines, farm-fresh cheeses and artisan chocolates while you’re at it. Located less than 25 miles south of Portland, Canby is home to some of Oregon’s richest farmland and has the creameries, dahlia farms (the annual Swan Island Dahlia Festival is held here every summer), wine bars and farm-to-table food scene to prove it. Start your adventure by browsing the lineup of local downtown shops. Visit Dahlia Home & Garden for a beautifully curated collec- tion of gifts, locally made candles, hand-picked antiques and more. Nearby Art-O-Maddic is a local artist gallery that features original, handmade art in almost every medium imaginable. It also offers workshops on fun topics like painting, crafts and sculpture. Next pop into the friendly Baker’s Prairie Bakery and recharge with a handcrafted kolache and creamy golden milk latte, and pick up the daily bread special from B’s Bake Shoppe, owned by a former pastry chef from fine-dining jewel The Painted Lady Restaurant. If you’re a chocolate lover, you will definitely want to make the short drive to Puddin’ River Chocolates, which is named after the real-life Pudding River that flows between Canby and Aurora. Nibble on a few Oregon-wine truffles as you browse the store and grab a bag of Northwest cherry-chocolate bark for later. For savory treats, find your way to the family owned TMK Creamery. This working dairy farm does so much more than sell farmstead gouda, queso fresco and fan favorite chipotle-ranch cheddar curds. It’s a full-on family destination that offers tours, milking events and the chance to meet the local “Cowlebrities.” Stop by the food cart and bite into a masterfully crafted grilled cheese sandwich — one guess where the cheese comes from. After a taste of low-key life on the farm, get your adrenaline pumping at Pat’s Acres Racing Complex, located just outside of town. Hardcore racers and rookies alike can race in go-karts going 50 mph on a half-mile course that winds through a parklike setting. Next wind down with dinner at Wayward Sandwiches, where the from-scratch fried-chicken sandwich is practically local legend, and the wine tastings and trivia nights are an added bonus. Couples will love Siren Song because the lunch and dinner plates are portioned to be shared. Fall in love with the Siren Song charred wings and impeccably crafted cocktails, and recount the memories you’ve made in Canby. Top: Downtown Canby Left: Cowlebrity at TMK Creamery Above: Outdoor dining at B’s Bake ShoppeWILSONVILLE COMMUNITIES & EVENTS J ust south of Portland and right off I-5, Wilsonville is a laid-back community with violet-filled riverfront parks, an adrenaline pumping family fun center and plenty of farms and farm-to-table experiences.. If the kiddos are into friendly fuzzy animals, take them to Frog Pond Farm for a farm safari where they can meet llamas, camels and bunnies. Or head about four miles west and shop for one- of-a-kind birdhouses while the kids pet miniature donkeys at family owned Tollen Farm. With its century-old farmhouse, mature orchards and pastures filled with Mediterranean donkeys, this working farm is a great place to spend an afternoon. Another shopping stop on the farm circuit, nearby Graham & Tooze offers mindfully made clothing, candles, jewelry and more. It’s also known for its farm-fresh eggs, which usually sell out daily. If you’d like a deep dive into the local culinary scene, stop by The Kitchen at Middleground Farms, a recreational cooking school located on a family farm. Perfect your seasonal sauce-making or baking skills during a hands-on two-hour class, then devour the creations you make around a barnwood table while watching Jersey cows and goats frolicking in the field outside. For kids with energy to burn, Bullwinkle’s is the place to go. This enormous amusement park has go-karts, laser tag, bowling and more, and its burgers and pizza hit the spot. For a more low-key meal, head back into town to Dar Essalam. Everything about this Moroccan restaurant — the decor, the aromas and certainly the flavors — is a standout, and there’s a standby kids’ menu with mac and cheese. Snack bonus: The cupcakes and cookie sandwiches at Lux Sucre Desserts are worth crossing the Willamette River for. Before you hit the road, wind down at Graham Oaks Nature Park. Take an easy family hike through the park’s three-mile net- work of trails and look for trillium and violets, western bluebirds, and a massive heritage oak tree. Many of the trails are wheelchair acces- sible, making it easier for everyone to soak up this spectacular landscape. Find more trip itineraries, from arts and culture to Wine Country: Explore Wilsonville.com/ Itineraries Top: Lux Sucre Right: Llama at Frog Pond Farm Bottom: Go-karts at Bullwinkle’s Family Fun Center39 MOLALLA COMMUNITIES & EVENTS L ocated just 45 minutes south of Portland, Molalla is best known for its Buckeroo rodeo grounds and the Molalla River Corridor Recreation Area, which offers fishing, hiking and kayaking. Dive a little deeper, though, and you’ll find activities for everyone, including the foodies, animal lovers and train fans in your group. Start your day at Cowboy Coffee on the lower level of Prairie House Inn, located in the heart of town. Grab a toasted avocado bagel for you and fresh-berry breakfast bowls for the kids and enjoy them in the beautifully restored 1900 farmhouse. If you’re interested in staying overnight, the inn also has comfortable rooms to rent. Keep the farm vibes flowing by heading out to visit Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch, where the kids can giggle their way through feeding the sweet alpacas, and you can browse the farm store filled with super-soft alpaca scarves and hats. In summer and fall, the kids will love trying fresh fruit from Willamette Valley Melons’ stand. The farm also hosts fun events, such as its Watermelon Crawl. Back toward town, Back toward town, meet the baby goats at Out in the Garden Nursery while you browse the impressive selection of specialty shade plants. Something special is always coming around the bend at nearby Molalla Train Park, which sprawls across four acres. Seven incredibly detailed miniature trains will take kids — and grown-ups — for free rail rides. The park also has a snack bar and picnic tables for refueling after your journey. Or take the fun totally off the rails at Splat Action paintball park. Rent gear there or bring your own, then dodge and shoot your way around the towers and bunkers scattered across the park’s 47 wooded acres. Bonus: For families with “kids” over 18 years old, take a tandem jump with Skydive Oregon from 14,500 — or even 18,000 — feet in the clouds. When hunger hits, The Humble Pig Cafe is your go-to for lunch. Specializing in scratch-made Pacific Northwest comfort food, it offers hearty sandwiches and nostalgic sweet treats. If it’s dinnertime, grab an outdoor table at Molalla River Brewing Company, located in Fountain Plaza. Order smoky barbecue from the food carts and pair it with one of the 30 craft beers on tap. Hit the on-site miniature golf course for a quick round with the kids and top off your long list of Molalla adventures. Top: Prairie House Inn and Cowboy Coffee Left: Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch Bottom: The Humble Pig CafeNext >