Once summer begins, you have a lot more free time, so here are some ways to have fun without breaking your budget.

During the day you could visit:

The Portland International Rose Test Garden, located at 400 SW Kingston Ave, Portland, Ore. It’s a gorgeous center for exploration and fun! Go and look at the beautiful roses and maybe take a stop at the nearby zoo or forestry center.  

The Portland Art Museum is located at 1219 SW Park Ave, Portland, Ore. The museum’s many exhibits offer a selection for all to enjoy! It is free for students and all you have to do is show your student ID. There’s many different exhibits from sound experiences to paintings and sculptures, so you’ll find something cool no matter what you’re interested in! For more information go to: https://portlandartmuseum.org

The Wilsonville Docks is located at 8100 SW Wilsonville Rd, Wilsonville, Ore. It’s a fun place to go and relax on those scorching summer days. You can take a splash in the chilly Willamette if you’re up to take the polar plunge or just sit on the dock to tan and relax. “It’s a really nice time to lie out on the docks when it’s really hot and your feet end up burning and it’s fun to jump in the cold water, which is freezing, but Oregon is Oregon and when it’s hot you do what you gotta do,” sophomore Kelsie Boschma said.

The Portland Saturday Market located at 2 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, Ore. It’s a fun activity for Saturday mornings. Many vendors set up shops and you can feel free to browse through the shops. For more information on the market go to: http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com

The Portland Waterfront is located at NW Glisan St, Portland, Ore. It is a beautiful place for a stroll and there’s always activities going on throughout the summer. You can walk up and down the sides of the Willamette and cross our famous bridges! Try walking the new Tilikum bridge. “It’s a great place to walk around and an even better place to come upon new people,” sophomore John Freudenthal said.

Hiking in Oregon is truly amazing. If you’re looking for an escape just Google Oregon hikes, pick one, and go explore. Some example of fun hikes are: Abiqua Falls, Smith Rock, Silver Creek Falls, Angel’s Rest and Opal Creek. “The best hike I’ve ever done is Oneonta Falls […], you hike through a river on the way to the falls,” freshman Cedar Crosby said.

In the evening you could visit:

Free summer concerts is located at 8325 SW Nyberg St, Tualatin, Ore. You can enjoy free music and dancing. Also, you can shop by the vendors if you feel the need for a snack! It’s in the Tualatin Commons on Friday nights. For more information go to: https://www.tualatinoregon.gov/recreation/concerts-commons

There’s lots you can do this summer to explore and have fun without spending a lot of money. So be safe, but most importantly have fun!