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🪨 We’re sedimental about this road trip
Hop in the car, we’re going on a Central Oregon adventure. | Photo by Ben McBee, PDXtoday
In Portland, we’re used to seeing natural wonders, from lofty Multnomah Falls to Mount Hood on the horizon, but when you venture over the Cascades to Central Oregon, you’ll find a whole different world to explore — and it rocks.
Using Bend as your base camp, there are several geologic marvels of varying distances that lend a choose-your-own-adventure feel to this trip. Tackle them all — prepare to fill up the tank a few times — or pick and choose the destinations that make sense for you.
Each of these Central Oregon destinations will blow your mind — and that’s no boulder-dash.
Photos by Ben McBee, PDXtoday
🏔️ Sights to see
Newberry National Volcanic Monument An eruption that started 500,00 years ago created lava flows covering 1,200 square miles; today you can discover a variety of unique features. Go spelunking in an underground lava tube, admire the Big Obsidian Flow, or take the spiraling bus ride to the top of Lava Butte.
Smith Rock State Park Whether you prefer hiking, mountain biking, or rock climbing, this outcropping of basalt cliffs stands out even among the high desert’s other stone structures.
Painted Hills Like a multicolored record stretching millions of years into the past, this unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument deserves to be on everyone’s bucket list. While the red, yellow, and black stripes are already a work of art, revisiting at different times of the year will reveal different beauty, like spring wildflowers and layers of snow in the winter.
Fort Rock State Natural Area As you venture toward this island of rock in an otherwise flat expanse of the Oregon Outback, try to imagine the prehistoric sea that once covered your surroundings. Waves used to lap the shores of this now-horseshoe-shaped behemoth, which served as a waypoint for Indigenous Peoples as they canoed across ancient waters; sandals were found in a nearby cave, thought to be around 9,350-10,500 years old.
Crack-in-the-Ground This will be your most hard-earned excursion, so only attempt to reach this remote destination if you have a vehicle with four-wheel drive. You’ll be rewarded with an awe-inspiring trek inside a miles long volcanic fissure, which reaches 70-ft deep in places.
Bob Ross Paint Night | Thursday, Oct. 17 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Slabtown Square | $40 | Put some happy little trees on the canvas and remember to tell your friends, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents.
Portland Film Festival | Thursday, Oct. 17-Sunday, Oct. 20 | Times vary | Kennedy School Theater | $8+ | Bring the popcorn for “one of the coolest film festivals in the world,” where audience members get to enjoy 90 works across diverse genres.
Friday, Oct. 18
Kickstand Comedy Presents Spill & Chill | Friday, Oct. 18 | 7 p.m. | Kickstand Comedy | $5+ | Got problems? Bring ‘em to the show, where improv artists will work toward a hilarious solution on stage.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz | Friday, Oct. 18 | 7 p.m. | Moda Center | $5+ | The team gets one final tune-up before the real deal begins.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Howloween | Saturday, Oct. 19-Sunday, Oct. 27 | 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Oregon Zoo | $19+ | Costumed trick-or-treaters will learn about healthy wildlife habitats on a scavenger hunt ending with treat bags filled with items from companies using deforestation-free palm oil.
Intel, Oregon’s second-largest private employer, has notified state officials it will lay off approx. 1,300 employees who work at the company’s Aloha and Hillsboro campuses. The two-week period of layoffs will start Friday, Nov. 15, with those selected given either a four-week or 60-day notice. (KGW)
Plan Ahead
After a 6-0 win against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, the Portland Thorns have booked a ticket to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Champions Cup on... *squints*... May 22, 2025. While you wait, give this story about Christine Sinclair’s first ever professional club football match played in her hometown a read. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live + Stumptown Footy)
Travel
Security at Portland International Airport will now involve a lot more smiles, scowls, or blank stares after TSA’s introduction of a new facial recognition technology that takes a photo and confirms a match with the passenger’s ID image. People can opt out and photos are not stored or used for other purposes. (KGW)
Gallery
Before clouds crashed the party, plenty of Oregon photographers captured stunning images of recently discovered comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as it traced a gossamer path across the night sky. Your next chance to see this particular piece of space ice from Earth? In about 80,000 years. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Try This
Portland’s pizza scene has a new player, but they only appear once a month. Pizza on Oak, the pop-up at Southeast Portland cider taphouse Bauman’s on Oak, is making some of the tastiest pies around in a famous brick oven. Watch the cidery’s social media pages for the next date. (The Oregonian/Oregon Live)
Sports
When the Trail Blazers took the court against Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm in yesterday’s preseason game, they faced two likely first-round NBA Draft prospects in Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue. Get the biggest local basketball stories every day from the local experts with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Category
Seasonal
⛸️ A cold encore on the waterfront
Construction on the Portland Winter Ice Rink will start on Monday, Nov. 4. | Photo courtesy of Portland Winter Ice Rink
It’s hard to believe it, but the holiday season is speed skating its way right at us, and with it comes the return of a new tradition — the Portland Winter Ice Rink.
Following a successful first season, Prosper Portland is planning an icy encore in the same spot, next to Tom McCall Waterfront Park at the west end of the Morrison Bridge (499 SW Naito Pkwy.), from Saturday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Jan. 5.
Visitors will be able to rent skates and do their best Michelle Kwan during 90-minute skate sessions, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day (the ice is resurfaced between each session). Afterward, pay a visit to the Winter Village, where you’ll find art, music, food, and cozy warm beverages.
Parking is available on site for $4 per hour or $9 for the whole day.
The Buy
The Buy
This Tommy Hilfiger men’s faux leather jacket — it’s a warm layering option perfect for date nights + evening get togethers during the changing seasons.
Portland-based musician Steve Drizos has a new music video out for his song “shadow life” off his sophomore album “i love you now leave me alone.” It’s got a moody, psychedelic vibe suited for the coming gray days, and plenty of locally filmed shots to boot. Check it out.
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