Lake Oswego, OR Outdoor Activities

It must be terrifying to watch 20 arrows speeding at you at once. Luckily, the only ones watching this are the yellow targets attached to hay bales in the indoor archery lanes at Archers Afield. The whoops of shooters pierce the air as they examine their targets, congratulating each other on shots well aimed. This pattern of arrow shooting and retrieving continues throughout the day, as archers young and old trying their hand at target practice. In addition to supervising solo pursuits, Archers Afield’s seasoned staff of instructors takes to the floor to bolster shots with private lessons. They teach pupils of all abilities essential archery skills, such as bow handling and how to maintain a passable British accent while robbing from the rich and giving to the poor.

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.

Running between towering buildings and vibrant gardens, Gray Line of Portland's trolley sightseeing tours connect visitors with more than 11 of the Rose City's storied landscapes and buildings. As guides regale them with historic facts, anecdotes, and Herbert Hoover's credit card number, passengers look out onto Pioneer Courthouse Square, Washington Park, Powell's Books, and the Lan Su Chinese Garden. Participants can disembark and re-board at any point along their tour, allowing them to explore each site up-close or grab a bite to eat. Guides also lead combination tours via bus outside city limits to Multnomah Falls and Columbia River Gorge or jet boat along the Columbia River, with both routes tracing the original journey of Lewis and Clark. Operating as a member of Gray Line Worldwide––which leads tours in more than 700 destinations on six continents––Gray Line of Portland donates a portion of all ticket proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundations' efforts in supporting awareness and research.

With party buses equipped with neon club lighting, bench seats, and MP3 stereos, Bishop Limo aims to keep revelers entertained before they make grand entrances at events. Each of their mobile VIP suites arrives equipped with a fog machine, an Xbox 360, and a 47-inch plasma TV in addition to ice chests for drinks and bottled water to keep customers and hitchhiking houseplants fully hydrated. In addition to prom packages and brewery adventures, Bishop Limo organizes winery tours to locales along the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley. The adventures include stops at Marchesi Vineyards, which offers outdoor patio tastings with cheeses and charcuterie, and Naked Winery, which commemorates tastings by supplying visitors with their own engraved glasses.

When Matt Antis was in college, he was introduced to the practice of parkour—an intensely physical sport focused on efficiently navigating obstacles such as walls, bars, and whatever else happens to be nearby. After college, Matt Antis headed off to train for the US Army, then served in Iraq. When he returned in 2010, he married his fiancée, Whitney—and a year later, he took over ownership of Revolution Parkour.

Now, Whitney, who's also a parkour enthusiast, manages the front desk as Matt and his team of instructors teach students the gravity-defying skills of parkour and free running. Within a gym drenched in reds, blues, and spots of graffiti-style artwork, they lead classes ranging from beginner parkour to Parkour Fit, which emphasizes endurance and speed with challenging courses. Students balance on beams, vault over small barriers, and swing across bars, building strength and coordination. The staff emphasizes safety, keeping a watchful eye on students, taking the time to teach proper technique, and positioning cushy pads and magic carpets to break falls.

Every day at 4 p.m., a piece of the city transforms into the beach. At Wok's Up Beach Volleyball, four outdoor sand-volleyball courts host tournaments, pickup games, and open play. An onsite bar pours refreshments and invites those not setting and spiking to rack up at a pool table. Wok's Up Beach Volleyball equips its courts with lights, allowing games to continue even after the daily battle when the moon destroys the sun for rights to the evening sky.