Now that the sun seems to be sluggishly making appearances around campus again, there’s no excuse for all the ghostly pale, vitamin-D-deprived Portland State students to not get outside. Luckily for Portlanders, there are quite a few amazing options available that are scenic, inexpensive and close enough to take advantage of after classes.
Sunshine and the great outdoors
Now that the sun seems to be sluggishly making appearances around campus again, there’s no excuse for all the ghostly pale, vitamin-D-deprived Portland State students to not get outside. Luckily for Portlanders, there are quite a few amazing options available that are scenic, inexpensive and close enough to take advantage of after classes.
One of the greatest outdoor adventures waiting for students here also happens to be completely free of charge. All around our hectic urban lives of textbooks, crowded parking garages and fast food await trails, hills and hikes for us to explore.
For students who have a gap between classes, Council Crest is located just south of campus and can be accessed via the Marquam Nature Park Shelter Trailhead. Within only a couple of hours, hikers can walk or jog up to a gorgeous panoramic view of downtown Portland and Mt. Hood.
Other city trails boast awesome vistas, including Forest Park near the Pearl District. After a tough morning course, students can hop onto the streetcar for free and go wander one of the numerous trails. Perhaps this park’s greatest features are post-hike: Stop by Salt and Straw for ice cream and pet all the neighborhood puppies out for sunshine strolls.
For those more interested in a relaxing ride, Portland is also a beautiful place for bicycling when the rain finally decides to take a break. Even locals without the gear can rent what they need at local bicycle shops for under $10 an hour. Places like Waterfront Bicycles include with every rental a helmet, a lock for when you need to stop for a cold beer and a map to figure out where all the fun stuff is.
Students can also relieve stress after midterms or a particularly difficult project by renting one of the crazy contraptions you always see around the Waterfront. Whether it’s a specialty cycle or a covered something—called a “surrey”—you can rent with a buddy, places like Kerr Bikes, just north of the Hawthorne Bridge, have options for quick
afternoon frolicking at affordable prices.
Students who somehow didn’t get enough water from the half-year of rain can also tour the Willamette River. If you need to, you can rent kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards from local Portland Kayak Company. Get out on the river and race around Ross Island, and don’t forget to get an up-close and personal view of all the beautifully bizarre houseboats lining the water. Since recreational kayak rentals start as low as $10 an hour, most students can skip a day at the pub and afford to try something new
and exhilarating.
The Academic and Student Rec Center also offers awesome options for students who want to rent equipment or join an outdoor excursion with others. From sleeping bags for $8 a day to mountain boots for $10 to sea kayaks for $30 for four days and inner tubes for $6, the ASRC’s extremely affordable rental rates are perfect for students looking to get out in the sun.
The Outdoor Program gives us burnt-out folks access to planned and coordinated trips, like the Opal Creek backpacking trip the weekend of April 27, a whitewater rafting trip on May 4 and a bunch of other outings involving canyons and mountains and caves, oh my! The best part is how affordable these mini-quests are for PSU students, especially considering the equipment that we have access to. Students interested in participating can visit the PSU website for a list of rental prices and activities, or stop by the Outdoor Program’s office on Southwest Harrison Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Even those more adventurous in spirit than in fitness can take advantage of the sunshine and hit up one of the many local patio bars. A tiny trek over to Momo’s on Southwest 10th Avenue and Yamhill Street will get you a nice walk and a pleasant outdoor space in which to enjoy inexpensive cocktails.
Whether you’re looking for a quick Waterfront break between your morning and evening classes or a weekend getaway, Portland is a miracle city that shouldn’t be wasted. So get out there, start working on those freckles and get active!
