From Portland Oregon
Sandy, OR
From Portland Oregon
Things to Do in Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is the second-largest city in Washington County, Oregon, located just seven miles outside of Portland within the stunning Tualatin River Valley.
Ideas
Explore McMinnville, Oregon: Heart of Oregon Wine Country
McMinnville, Oregon is nestled in the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range mountains and home to some of the greatest dining experiences in all of Oregon.
More Feature Stories
Leaving Portland never meant leaving it all behind—it just meant trading noise for quiet, pace for pause. I remember slipping out of the city on a gray morning, and by afternoon, I was surrounded by evergreens or listening to waves on an empty beach. I thought, “This is what it feels like to reset without needing a big reason.”
What stayed with me were the short distances that brought big shifts: a soak in a hidden hot spring, a trail that led to wildflower-covered cliffs, a quiet dinner in a town that felt frozen in time. Each getaway gave me something small and needed—space, stillness, or just a new view. I always returned to the city a little softer than when I’d left.
Need Help Planning?
Whether you're looking for coastal calm, forest hikes, wine country charm, or just a change of scenery for the weekend, these guides reflect the places beyond Portland that gave me room to exhale. Sometimes, the most meaningful escapes are the ones you can reach before lunch.
More:
Dundee, Oregon: Things to See, Do and Eat
Cascade Locks, Oregon Travel Guide
Attractions in Pacific City, OR