Summertime activities in Portland
By Jordan Devlin ‘25
Photo Courtesy of Rachel Cohrs ‘25
As summertime approaches and the weather gets warmer, a multitude of outdoor activities become available throughout Portland and beyond for teens to enjoy. From the Rose Garden to mini golf and farmer’s markets, there is a wide variety of adventures, with a range of prices and distances from the city.
Engaging in different and exciting activities can allow teens to form new connections and memories, a break from the long summer days that blend together. While some adventures can be costly, there is a diverse selection of lower-priced activities around Portland.
With expansive fields and beautiful architecture, the Portland Rose Garden is the perfect half-day activity when the sun is out. Entrance to the Rose Garden is completely free and open to anyone. In addition, the garden makes the perfect spot for a picnic, and outside food is permitted in the garden, though food is available for purchase should you forget.
Portland Rose Garden. Photo Courtesy of Bill Reynolds.
The garden is decorated with different sizes and colors of roses, leading to beautiful views and perfume-like scents. There are “10,000 rose bushes representing more than 600 varieties,” according to Matt Wastradowski, a travel writer.
This setting lends itself to a beautiful picnic or leisurely walk, meaning it is more suited for an afternoon visit than a full-day excursion. Tara Khoshnevis ‘27, who has gained expertise from frequenting the Rose Garden often, said, “It's like half a day…unless you're really into the flowers.”
Within the garden, there are a multitude of different activities that teens can take part in, such as picnicking, walking, and taking beautiful photos. According to Khoshnevis, her favorite activity is “smelling roses,” because “there are so many, and they all actually smell distinct and different, which is really cool.”
Tualatin Island Greens
Mini golf can make a perfect summertime adventure, and Tualatin Island Greens, with its gorgeous views and entry-level holes, lends itself well to the perfect half-day activity.
This mini golf course is set in the middle of a small forest, with greenery around every corner and a river running through the center. Additionally, all of the holes are beginner-friendly, meaning this course is open to everyone.
Given the beautiful location and accessible courses, this activity is relatively inexpensive. At only $7, the low price makes this an accessible option for a summer day. There is food available for purchase; however, eating beforehand could lower the added costs.
Tualatin Island Greens Mini Golf Course. Photo Courtesy of Jordan Devlin ‘25
One downside of this activity is the crowds that can sometimes be drawn into the forestry setting, as there is a limited number of holes. However, the greens are spread out, allowing for each group to have their own space to chat and converse.
Although mini golf is traditionally seen as an activity for younger children, the beautiful course of Tualatin Island Greens blurs that line, offering a welcoming space for all ages to enjoy on a summer day.
Cannon Beach Day Trip
The Oregon coast offers a beautiful escape from the city and the perfect day trip for any age. Located only 1.5 - 2 hours away from Portland, the drive is the perfect amount of time for a day trip, and the change of scenery is much to be appreciated.
Though the ocean water can be cold and the wind can be strong, a sunny day makes up for any frigid temperatures and harsh weather conditions. The smooth sand can warm your feet while also giving way to beautiful shells that are perfect for collecting.
Haystack Rock is a major attraction of Cannon Beach, and the tidepools are the perfect sightseeing location. Located in one small stretch down the beach, the pools are filled with starfish and other small ocean creatures.
Photo courtesy of Pexels. Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach.
Additionally, there are many other attractions at Cannon Beach that add to the fun, such as Bruce’s Candy Kitchen. This candy shop, with its striped awning and candy-lined walls, is popular for anyone looking for a nice treat after a day in the sun. Additionally, Junior Campbell Young, who loves day trips to Cannon Beach, mentioned many other activities such as “volleyball, walks, swimming, sun bathing, [or] picnics.”
Between the sandy shores and inland attractions, Cannon Beach is the perfect day trip for any Oregon teen or family to enjoy on a sunny day.
Beaverton Farmers Market
The Beaverton Farmers Market is a beautiful place for a morning of fresh food, local crafts, and a lively community atmosphere. On any given Saturday morning from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, the market is filled with people and shops to explore, along with delicious food for purchase.
Located on 5th St. in Beaverton, it isn’t far from Portland, meaning it is easily accessible with any form of transportation. The market is outdoors, meaning walking is a large part of the adventure, which could limit the accessibility of this option.
According to Daeja Paschoal-Thiem ‘26, this activity is “free, plus whatever you want to buy,” meaning it can be as inexpensive as a person makes of it.
According to the Beaverton Farmers Market website, there are over 100 vendors that sell a wide variety of items. From food stalls to jewelry to skincare products, this market offers everything needed for a day of engaged and fun browsing. In addition to smaller businesses, large companies, such as Portland Cider Co. have stalls set up, so there are many offerings for anything a person could want.
Whether you come away with a shopping bag full of items or not, this market offers an unforgettable shopping experience that is perfect for a summer day.
The areas around Portland offer many unique and engaging experiences for students to explore on a summer day. If these activities aren’t enough inspiration, here is a compiled list of recommended activities from other CGS students. These activities range from “biking in Tryon Creek,” a recommendation from Aston Selly ‘26, to getting salt and straw or going on hikes.
Although summer days can be long and lack routine, which makes it hard to get out of the house, there are a variety of activities with different amounts of accessibility for anyone to enjoy. If anyone is looking to get out of the house for a day, these activities offer a fun way to engage with the outdoors and take advantage of the summer weather.