slides: 25 Things You Must Do This Fall
Saturday, October 24, 2015
GoLocalPDX Lifestyle Team
As Travel Oregon explains it "There isn’t a single amazing thing about Oregon. There are about ten zillion. So start poking around and figure out what to put at the top of your list."
"From the bounty of harvest to the festive colors of the foliage, autumn in Oregon is a feast for all of your senses. And with surprisingly sunny days and crisp evenings, there’s no end of ways to enjoy the season," Travel Oregon writes. "In Portland, nosh through the Eastside’s artisan corridor. Tour the scenic South Willamette Valley wineries. Embark on a fly-fishing expedition. Sample the sweetness of local honey. And escape into the remote Owyhee Canyonlands."
Does all of that seem a bit overwhelming? Well, don't worry, GoLocal is here to help you out. Our lifestyle team has compiled the definitive list of 25 things that you must do before autumn ends.
From hayrides to haunted houses, these are the events you won't want to miss this fall.
See the 25 Things You Must Do This Fall below
Related Slideshow: 25 Things You’ve Got to Do This Fall
Take A Hay Ride
Before the fall season ends, make sure you get yourself down to one of the area's local farms and take a hay ride! It's great fun for the whole family.
Head down to Olson Farms for a classic horse-drawn hayride through their farm. There's no charge, and guests can also check out the apple slingshot or pick out a pumpkin.
Where to Do It: Olson Farms, 2255 SE Borges Rd., Damascus, OR
Get Lost In a Corn Maze
There may be no event more synonymous with fall than corn mazes. Take the whole family and enjoy wandering through the stalks of corn and finding your way out!
The Maize at the Pumpkin Patch on Sauvie Island is one of the best around. Open through November 1, this year’s theme is Dream Big! Guests can also take a tour of the farm, grab a bite to eat, or enjoy many other attractions at the Pumpkin Patch
Where to Do It: The Pumpkin Patch, 16511 NW Gilihan Road (On Sauvie Island)
Take a Brewery Tour
Visit one of Oregon’s many craft breweries and get a peek into how your favorite fall libations are crafted.
One of Oregon’s most famous brewery tours is Brewvana, where guests hop on a bus (don’t worry about having to find a designated driver) and see some of the area’s best breweries. Guests that prefer non-motorized transportation can also take a walking tour!
Where to Do It: Brewvana, 2580 NW Upshur St, Portland
Go Pumpkin Picking
Everyone knows that pumpkin is the season’s signature food. From pumpkin beers to pumpkin coffee to classics like pumpkin pie, everyone seems to love the orange gourd this time of year.
To pick out a few of your own, check out Bella’s Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery. Find the perfect pumpkin for your baking or carving needs, and then relax with a glass of wine or get lost in their corn maze.
Where to Do It: Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery, 16205 NW Gillihan RD.
Go for A Hike
Oregon is known for its beautiful hikes, and there may be no better time than fall to go exploring. Get a look at some of the best fall sights in the area while enjoying the crisp temperatures that are just right for a hike.
Check out Bonny Lakes, which, according to Travel Portland is great for families because they offer low altitudes and shorter milage to keep those little legs from getting too tired. They trails offer great mountain views and spots to camp.
Where to Do It: Bonny Lakes
See Some Fall Foliage
The season’s best feature may just be the natural changing of the trees and leaves. Oregon has plenty of great forests to watch as they turn from green to a fall display of orange, red, brown and more.
Some of the best foliage can be found at the Canemah Bluff Natural Area in Oregon City. Its a wonderful place to explore and marvel at not just the changing leaves, but seasonal birds and wildlife.
Where to Do It: Canemah Bluff Natural Area, 815 4th Avenue
Taste Some Pumpkin Beer
Everyone loves a good pumpkin beer this time of year. It seems nearly every brewery has their own twist on the seasonal favorite.
To sample your favorites and try out some new kinda, check out the end of Killer Beer Week this weekend. They'll have the best beers-pumpkin or otherwise-flowing for guests to enjoy.
Where to Do It: Killer Beer Week has events all around the Portland area. Check out their website for more info.
Visit a Haunted House
With Halloween right around the corner, everyone could use a good scare. Portland has plenty of ghostly and ghoulish haunted attractions to keep your heart racing even after the holiday has past.
For an especially scary good time, check out the Haunted Yard at the Davis Graveyard in Milwaukie. And the best part-it's free!
Where to Do It: Davis Graveyard, 8703 SE 43 Ave
Get a Halloween Costume
Every Portlander needs a good Halloween costume to get in the holiday spirit. Whether you prefer a sexy, scary or funny costume, make sure yours is one to remember.
Residents in the know get their costumes at Helen's Pacific Costumes. They offer the best in Halloween haberdashery.
Where to Do It: Helen's Pacific Costumes 7501 NE Gilsan St.
Carve A Jack-O-Lantern
Who doesn’t have fond memories of carving up a pumpkin into a spooky jack-o-lantern? The sight of illuminated pumpkins is a classic fall staple.
See the very best, scariest and spookiest jack-o-lanterns at the Portland Nursery this weekend during their first ever annual pumpkin contest, held today and tomorrow at the nursery. While you’re there, check out the nursery’s kids hay maze and haunted playhouse.
Where to Do It: Portland Nursery, 5050 SE Divison.
Go To a Costume Party
After you have you costume picked out and ready-to-go, you’ll need a place to strut your stuff. Head to a costume party and get down with all of you fellow ghosts ghouls and monsters.
For an exciting twist at this year’s costumed festivities, check out the Halloween Cruise with Portland Spirit Cruises. The night features a cruise from 11 PM to 1 AM, complete with live music from quintet Dear Drummer and a costume contest.
Where to Do It: Portland Spirit Cruises, launching from 1000 SW Naito Parkway
Warm Up At a Bonfire
When the sun sets in fall, the temperatures can dip to down right frigid numbers. In order to keep warm and still enjoy the great outdoors, check out a bonfire. Enjoy a bite to eat or a sip of a beverage next to the pleasant roar of the flames.
Bella’s Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery offers a free bonfire every weekend along with their haunted corn maze. Relax before getting scared by the monsters that lurk inside the maze
Where to Do It: Bella Organic Pumpkin Patch and Winery, 16205 NW Gillihan RD.
Celebrate Apple Harvest
Along with pumpkins, everyone loves a good apple in the fall, when they are crisp and freshly harvested. From ciders to pie to cakes to pastries, there’s no limit to the amount of apple-flavored treats that are around this season.
Try your favorites and sample some new treats at the Heirloom Apple Celebration at the Hood River Fruit Loop.
Where to Do It: Plenty of farmstands will offer special events along the Hood River Fruit Loop; check their website for more details
See Some College Football
There may be no sporting event more idyllic than a fall college football game. Betwen the mascots, crowds, chants, fight songs and the action of the field, it's always fun for the whole family.
Portland State's Viking football team are off to a hot start-why not cheer on the local team? Their next home game is on Haloween at Providence Park
Where to Do It: Check out the schedules for Portland State, the University of Oregon and Oregon State Univesity and pick out a game.
Run in a Race
Fall is the busy season for Portland's joggers and runners. The cool temperatures provide the perfect weather for running a few miles, or maybe even a marathon or half-marathin.
Want to lace up your shoes and go for a run? Check out the Veterans Day 5K Run at Mt. Tabor Park in Portland. Proceeds from the run are donated to local veterans outreach organizations
Where to Do It: Portland National Veteran's Day Run, Mt. Tabor Park
Catch Basketball
The NBA regular season tips off on , but the preseason is already well underway. Check out some of the best athletes in the world as they kick off another season on the hardwood.
Portland's Trail Blazers are full of new faces to see this year, and fan favorite Damian Lillard hopes to lead the team to another playoff run. The Blazers tip off their season at home on October 28 against the New Orleans Pelicans
Where to Do It: Check out the Trail Blazers' full schedule here, and find a date to cheer on your home team.
Enjoy the Fall Harvest
For farmers, fall means only one thing: it's harvest time. The freshest fuits and vegetables are always available this time of year as produce is picked.
Check out the best of what local farmers and growers have to offer at the Portland farmer's market. With an ever-shifting line-up of settings and vendors, there's always something fresh to be found.
Where to Do It: The Portland Farmer's Market operates markets at different locations throughout Portland. Check their website for more info.
Pick Some Apples
Embrace the concept of farm-to-table cooking, even in your own kitchen. Take a walk through an apple orchard and pick out the finest specimens for your pies, candy apples and more.
Mountain View Orchards offers plenty of different varities of apples for all your baking, cooking and eating needs. They also offer a petting zoo and other seasonal activites.
Where to Do It: Mountain View Orchards, 6670 Trout Creek Ridge Road
Go Mountain Biking
Skiiers and snowboarders may be wishing for the quick arrival of winter and plenty of snow on Oregon's mountains, but bikers love fall. Get out on a bike trail before the ground becomes frozen and covered with snow.
Check out Phil's Trails, a smooth, 8.8 mile loop just a few miles outside Bend.
Where to Do It: Phil's Trails is located off Cascades Lakes Highway. For more information, check their website.
Tour a Winery
Fall is the perfect time of year to tour one of Oregon's many wineries. The fall harvest is in full swing, and the vineyards are active preparing for their busiest time of year.
Visit the South Willamette Valley to tour many of the region's best winery, and catch some of the best fall views in the area.
Where to Do It: For a full list of wineries offering tours, visit the Oregon Wine Country website.
Take A Tour of the Columb
The Columbia Gorge is always stunning, no matter what time of year you visit. Fall, however, offers especially fantastic views of the season's wonders.
Try a day trip to Hood River, Cold Springs Creek or Tamanawas Falls.
Where to Do It: For more information and locations for all the best spots, check out the Columbia Gorge website.
Visit The Zoo
The autumn is the perfect time to visit your local zoo. The animals, long kept quiet by the hot summer sun, are typically more active in the crisp temperatures of fall.
The Oregon Zoo offers plenty of fun events this fall, including Howloween, a special Haloween party at the zoo.
Where to Do It: Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road
Visit the Hoyt Arbnoretum
Want to see the beautiful sights of fall foliage but don't have the time to leave Portland? Check out the Hoyt Arboretum. Located just two miles away from Downtown Portland.
Take a guided tour of the beautiful greenspace. They meet at the Arboretum visitor center and leave every 90 minutes beginning at 12 PM.
Where to Do It: Hoyt Arboretum, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd
Haunted Pub Crawl
Can't decide on a bar or party to attend this Halloween? Why not try a few?
The Haunted Pub Crawl will take you to the most haunted and bewitched watering holes in the city. Tours include samplings of more than a half-dozen beers.
Where to Do It: Visit the BeerQuest Walking Tours website for specific tour times and locations.
Northwest Films Festival
Cool autumn nights are perfect for settling in for a good movie or two. It's the perfect time to snack on all the extra Halloween candy you've acquired.
Check out the Northwest Films Festival to see the best new features from the Northwest's up-and-coming directors.
Where To Do It: Northwest Films Festival at the Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue
Take A Hay Ride
Get Lost In a Corn Maze
Take a Brewery Tour
Go Pumpkin Picking
Go for A Hike
See Some Fall Foliage
Taste Some Pumpkin Beer
Visit a Haunted House
Get a Halloween Costume
Carve A Jack-O-Lantern
Go To a Costume Party
Warm Up At a Bonfire
Celebrate Apple Harvest
See Some College Football
Run in a Race
Catch Basketball
Enjoy the Fall Harvest
Pick Some Apples
Go Mountain Biking
Tour a Winery
Take A Tour of the Columb
Visit The Zoo
Visit the Hoyt Arbnoretum
Haunted Pub Crawl
Northwest Films Festival
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