Beaverton, OR Outdoor Activities

Come late July, plumes of lavender-scented steam arise from Mountainside Lavender’s still and drift through the cool mountain air. As the season winds down, the farm’s experts set to work extracting the essential oils from their sole crop via the millennia-old practice of steam distillation. With more than 20 varieties of french and english lavender dotting the side of Chehalem Mountain, farmers have more than enough buds to choose from for their small batches of oil, which many prize for its calming effects. What doesn’t end up bottled may debut in the farm’s selection of handmade soaps, massage oils, and eye pillows.

In addition to incorporating the potent herb into therapeutic goods, farmers open their fields to visitors, who can gather bunches of english and french lavender varietals that burst into purple, pink, and white blooms. They also welcome guests to pause from plucking, smelling, or explaining the concept of private property to bumblebees so they can savor a picnic lunch while soaking up views of Mount Hood and Saint Helens.

With more than 25 years of maritime experience, Shane St. Clair captains Scovare Expeditions' fleet of sailboats, unveiling the windblown channels of the Willamette River to budding sailors and sightseeing passengers. During sailing tours, passengers can bob across the river while taking in the views of the volcanic caldera of Elk Rock Island or feast on three-course meals as the sails fill up with wind like a balloon ruining its dinner. On frosty winter days, a heated Norwegian Harbor launch vessel or a cozy, covered Hunter 260 sailboat keeps guests toasty. Those interested in learning the ropes can sign up for sailing lessons, where savvy instructors teach novices how to command the helm, guide the lines, and barter with miserly seagulls.

Sprawling within the bustling confines of a shopping center, the Lloyd Center Ice Rink invites skaters of all pirouette proficiencies to careen across its slick surface, carving intricate lines through the thick, frozen layer of ice. Open-skate sessions allow amateur ice-dancers to hammer out routines, or frolicking families to test theories of friction. The seasonal vista can be rented out for private parties, and guests can amp up their Olympics resume during skating lessons for all ages.

Having reeled in 25 years of experience as a licensed fishing pro, Steve Roberts shares tricks of the trade during half-day and full-day fishing trips, welcoming avid anglers and beginners alike onto his fully equipped fishing vessels. Throughout the year, Steve and company track down seasonal targets. Winter trips focus on chinook, or winter steelhead, and autumn trips chase after coho salmon—a feisty fish notorious for fighting under water and starting bar brawls on land. No matter what the target, every trip with Steve includes all the necessary gear and an endless stream of expert advice.

The nine-hole golf course zigzags across former farmland and crosses McKay Creek twice, showcasing bucolic scenery and water hazards that come into play on numerous holes. Split evenly into par 3s, 4s, and 5s, the par 36 course stretches 2,761 yards and presents a gauntlet of greenside bunkers and hoarding tree boughs hoping to add golf balls to their collections of eggs. Prior to a round, players can conduct swing experiments by sending Nike range balls toward target greens on the driving range. Players take shots in one of 22 covered, heated stalls, and can continue bombardment under the cover of night thanks to the overhead lights that stay illuminated until 9 p.m.

Course at a Glance:

• 9-hole, par 36 course
• Total length of 2,761 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 66 from the back tees
• Course slope of 111 from the back tees
• Two sets of tees per hole

Pet lovers congregate inside the Portland Metropolitan Expo Center’s 72,000-square-foot expanse for the 11th annual Northwest Pet and Companion Expo, featuring a weekend's worth of pet-centric exhibitions and more than 120 vendors. Now entering its second decade, the locally owned event entertains kids with face painting, bounce houses, and demonstrations by pet experts, while adults enjoy live entertainment and informational resources about adoption opportunities. Pets can accompany their owners through the fair's walk-through aviary and exotic animal display, and a truffle-dog tournament lets canines test their sniffing abilities in discerning pinot noir from chardonnay.