Many people have a strange relationship when it comes to Labor Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer, even though school isn’t quite out, and Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, even though school isn’t quite back.
Some swear Memorial Day is both in May and September, some claim Labor Day is in May and Memorial Day is in August (no), and some can’t tell you what part of the month they fall in, just that they are looking forward to them.
It doesn’t matter which holiday you are looking forward to before the school year starts. If you are like us, the holiday will come right after the first week, which is only four days long, making it easy for kids and parents to keep track.
Whoever said consistency is key never had a schedule for school-age children to work into something resembling sanity for their weekly plans.
With the school year starting in three weeks or less, depending on which side of the schedule you fall under, either way, you need an end-of-summer plan. And that plan needs to go into effect today, so you don’t miss out on the last chance to get out of your regular routine before the summer ends, and it will be the winter holidays before you know it.
If you live in the Portland area, you are a stone’s throw away from so many options. And if you live outside the area, chances are you are just as close to more than a few as well.
Hood River is an easy escape because of the number of hotel options, outdoor activities, and it’s only an hour away. You can daytrip if you want, but staying a night to grab breakfast at one of their local spots (Egg River Cafe is our preference) and grab coffee at Doppio or Stoked then letting the kids check out the waterfront or killing time at children’s park before taking the scenic route home (which also happens to the fastest way, thanks columbia river!) is always fun. You can stay for the whole weekend, maybe work in a movie or one of their many breweries or wineries, and get all those steps in wandering the local wilderness or just the town and its many shops and hills.
Sunset dinner at the coast is also a great way to toast your summer coming to a close, and you can’t miss with some fantastic views like the ones you get at Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay, or Fathoms in Lincoln City, or just some amazing fish and chowder at the Silver Salmon in Astoria. All of these are quieter towns with a lot of neat shops and scenic walking areas to keep you on your feet while getting some relaxation at the same time. If you wander over to Pier 39 in Astoria, you can find Coffee Girl, which offers some amazing beverages and quick eats as well as stunning views of the bay from their windows or their dockside patio. Salt in Lincoln City has something for everyone (they were previously called Mojo for those wondering what happened to the popular drive-up spot). It is ideally located in the outlet mall in case you need to get some last-minute back-to-school items. If you stay in Depoe Bay, make sure to get some quick breakfast and excellent cafe beverages at C’est La Vie – the only Parisian cafe you will find on that side of the coast.
If everything is booked or you’ve visited the coast or Hood River too many times, don’t forget about the mountain.
You can camp in a tent or an RV, or if you prefer the outdoors without the sleeping arrangements, you can rent a cabin or a condo for the weekend. There are too many lakes to count (Trillium, Timothy, and Lost are great if you need names, but they are extremely popular), and so many great restaurant options to name. Credit where it is due, make sure to give a shot to Zig Zag Inn, Huckleberry Inn, and Crooked Tree Tavern. If you don’t pack your breakfast, you could do so much worse than Baseline Biscuits. From Ski Bowl’s adventure park to wandering Timberline or any of the hundreds of trails from the base to the peak and beyond, there is something for everyone. From kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hiking, or biking, this place has everything.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, make sure it’s somewhere you aren’t sitting or standing right now. Your summer – whether it’s been an insane amount of work and juggling schedules like ours has been, or full of travel, or somewhere in the middle, you deserve to send it off properly. You waited all year for summer to get here, don’t wait all summer to give it the “so long” it deserves.
Celebrate summer in style and give yourself and the kids one last memory in the sun before the school year takes over.
Casey Mabbott is a husband and parent first, and also an experienced and dedicated writer and researcher. Born and raised in the Portland area, when Casey is not spending time with his family gallivanting around Portland and the surrounding areas, he genuinely enjoys helping people (especially families) find the “hidden gems” in the Pacific Northwest. In today’s world of lightning fast information at our fingertips, it’s truly a wonder to stumble across a place, an experience, or an activity you’ve never heard of.