So you’re in the Portland area for NASCAR at Portland International Raceway. You don’t need to limit yourself to the racetrack. The Portland area is full of fun things to do in the summertime. Here are six to get you started.
Picnic among the roses at Peninsula Park
Portland’s Peninsula Park is an underrated gem. The rose garden here is stunning and vast, with a beautiful fountain in the middle. But that’s just the beginning. There are fields for playing, paths for walking and a large playground for kids of all ages. In later summer, the outdoor pool and splash pad open to people who need to cool off, but those amenities don’t need to be open for you to get together a picnic and spend some quality times with Portland’s favorite flower.
Watch the wildlife at Smith and Bybee wetlands
Not far from Portland International Raceway is a hidden wildlife gem: Smith and Bybee wetlands. You can find herons, egrets and eagles here, plus non-winged creatures like turtles. Smith and Bybee has a paved mile-long trail plus bathrooms, water and a picnic area. This natural protected area is a perfect escape from the sounds of a race track.
Open daily from sunrise to sunset.
Enjoy Vancouver’s waterfront
You may be surprised to learn that Washington State is closer to Portland International Raceway than a lot of places in Portland. Just across the Columbia River is a nice little city with plenty of places to eat and drink along its newly revitalized waterfront. Try a wild milkshake at The Yard or grab a pizza and a beer at Ruse Brewery. While you’re in town, take a walk through Fort Vancouver, one of the most popular National Park sites in the Pacific Northwest.
Take a walk up Northeast Alberta Street
If you’re looking for a street to walk down, with plenty of options for food and shopping, Portland has multitudes. Try Northwest 23rd Avenue, North Mississippi Avenue or Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. For our money, though, Northeast Alberta Street is one of the top strolling streets in town. First, there are the food choices. You can get pretty much anything you want on Alberta, from Matt’s BBQ tacos at Great Notion Brewery to a white chocolate coconut muffin at Proud Mary Cafe to garlic shrimp at Grind Wit Tryz. Then, there’s the shopping. Look for second-hand Nike or Lululemon at Revive Athletics or handmade skincare products at Blendily. Pick up a crafting project at Collage. And that’s just the beginning – you could easily go on a DIY bar crawl if you start at the Bye and Bye at Northeast 10th Avenue. Fair warning: If you start there, on the patio on a sunny day, you might not get much further.
Explore Washington Park
Portland’s Washington Park is the perfect place to start if you aren’t sure what to do. While some of the attractions at the park – including the Oregon Zoo and the Portland Japanese Garden – have an entrance fee, the International Rose Garden, the children’s playground and the shuttle that will take you from place to place, are free. Just pay $2 to park or take the MAX to zoo, hop off and spend a day exploring Portland’s biggest park.
Open daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., explorewashingtonpark.org.
Eat ice cream on the banks of the Sandy River
If you’re willing to go for a bit of a drive, head to Glenn Otto Park in Troutdale on the Sandy River. The Sandy is one of the Portland area’s most swimmable rivers if the weather is right. Lifejackets are available and recommended at Glenn Otto, where the water can be fast and cold. Go for a dip, or just dip your toes in the water, and then head up to the parking lot and get yourself some lunch or soft-serve from Sugarpine Drive-In, where the ice cream is always smooth and delicious and the toppings are perfectly created for summer bliss.
Sugarpine Drive-in is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Monday, 1208 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy., sugarpinedrivein.com, 503-665-6558.
— Lizzy Acker
503-221-8052; lacker@oregonian.com; @lizzzyacker
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