Portland Weekend Activities — Pines and Vines

Don’t worry, we’ve been there. Sometimes a beautiful winter day can take you by surprise. You want to get out and enjoy the day, but you know that everyone else will, too. Here are our suggestions for having a stress-free, lazy-ish Sunday that will still get you out of the house (without waking up at 6 a.m. to beat the crowds!).

Step 1: Wake up whenever you want, preferably late.

Step 2: Eat a leisurely brunch.

Step 3: Hit a local park. This is where the choose your own adventure comes in.

View of Mt Hood seen from Cottonwood Beach

Option 1: Captain William Clark Park in Washougal, WA and 54-40 brewery.

At around 30 minutes from Portland, the Captain William Clark Park is an easy drive east on highway 14. Public parking is plentiful and free, even on a beautiful weekend day. Bring everyone for this one: your dogs, your kids, your friend that always wears the wrong shoes, your friend that loves hiking, and the one that hates it. A trail runs through the park that is straight, flat, and in most parts, wheelchair accessible. There are restrooms near the parking areas and along the trail.

Take the trail down to Cottonwood Beach to walk along the river. If you have kids, we double dog dare them to climb on the stone canoes on the trail to the beach (as if they could resist). Sit on one of the benches overlooking the water and watch for birds from the nearby wildlife refuge. Bring a picnic to the beach, either on a blanket on the sand or using one of the picnic tables with views of the water. Also bring a coat! It can get windy near the river.

They call it the Buenas Noches Sol dark lager. We call it the longing for summer beer.

While alcohol is not allowed on the beach, make the walk a few blocks from the park to the 54-40 brewery for beer or wine. The tables around the corner from the main entrance have a view of Mt Hood and (very likely) a flock of geese in the wildlife refuge.

Option 2: Forest Park and Pairings wine bar.

While some areas of Forest Park may be busy on a beautiful weekend day, starting at a more secluded trailhead can be a good way to escape the crowds. For an easy, quiet 2-mile hike, navigate to 3501 NW Forest Ln to reach the Fireline 1 trailhead. Note that the road to the trailhead is a bit rough, although we did make it in a low clearance vehicle. Parking is free, but limited. There are no restrooms at the trailhead.

Even in winter, Forest Park has plenty of green, from the ferns that line the forest floor to the moss that climbs up the trunks of Douglas firs and maple trees. This hike is great one for both kids and dogs.

Directions on the trail:

From the trailhead, follow Firelane 1 to find some picnic tables. Stop to have lunch in the woods if you come on a warmer day than we did. At the first trail junction, go straight to take the Nature Trail (past the Wildwood trail). You’ll meet up with the Wildwood Trail again, at which point take a left onto it. Follow the Wildwood trail until it meets back up with Firelane 1, then take a right to return to the trailhead.

After your hike, it’s time to stop at a wine bar in town. We went to Pairings, a cozy and offbeat wine bar in Northeast Portland with a laidback vibe. We told owner Jeff about our walk in the cold, and he picked us out a full-bodied Tempranillo that felt like the wine equivalent of a warm sweater. Flights are available as well as some snacks. While you are there, try out a wine-themed card game!