Make a Reservation

Go camping on an island in the middle of the Columbia River in St. Helens!

Here's your plan for camping, boating, hiking, cooking, playing games, and enjoying river views

Camping on an Island in St. Helens ⛺️🏝️

Camp on Sand Island in St. Helens for river views, outdoor fun, and peaceful nights under the stars. Activities include hiking, games, and campfire cooking.

Island Camping

✅ Before you go
• make your reservations here https://www.sandislandcampground.com/camping-reservations
• There is no running water! I recommend bringing a pack baby wipes and 2 gallons of water per person. 
• Bathrooms are on the island and showers are on the mainland

💪 Pro tips
• The courtesy shuttle is at the Marina Boat Launch
• Each site has a fire pit and picnic table
• They have horseshoes, corn hole, and disc golf on the island 
• You can take the boat shuttle back to the mainland to buy food at St. Helens River front district 
• You can purchase bundles of firewood on the island 
• We cooked pasta, curry, sandwiches, breakfast items.
• We booked site 52! 

Escape from the city to Sand Island 

Catch me by the campfire at Sand Island Campground,

an affordable campground that's on an island in Saint Helens,

They have a pontoon boat that will ferry you and your group across the channel,

and they also have a tractor on the island

that will bring your stuff to your campsite.

We chose Spot 52 because it's close to the shore,

and you get a good view of Mount Saint Helens and Mount Hood.

They have a fire pit at each site to cook and warm up your meals.

My friend and I chose to bring along a stove as well to help with all the cooking.

It was really beautiful and peaceful to be surrounded by the Columbia River

If you want to escape the city and lay amongst the stars,

There’s nothing better than listening to live jazz + eating good food on a Friday night! You’ll have to check out The 1905 Jazz Bar located on Mississippi Ave to share in all the goodness.

Here's your plan for enjoying live jazz, tasty Italian food, and a stroll on Mississippi Ave

Listen to live music at 1905 Jazz Bar 🍷🎷

Enjoy live jazz at The 1905 in Boise, Portland, with great Italian food in an intimate setting—a perfect spot for a stylish night out with friends or a date.

Live jazz music

✅ Before you go
• Buy your ticket ahead of time as shows tend to sell out closer to the date. 

💪 Pro tips
• The vibe is pretty swanky, so feel free to dress up a little or wear a fun outfit. 

The 1905

There's truly nothing better than listening to live jazz

You'll have to check out 1905 Jazz Bar located on

Mississippi Ave to share in all of the goodness.

Tickets are around $25 for a 90 minute show.

While you are seated and listening to some smooth jazz,

you can order from their Italian kitchen,

which has great pasta options like this gemelli

pasta with white cream sauce and sausage.

They also have pizza by the slice and desserts too.

This band was called The Balmer/Radsliff Experience,

It was so great to hear them riff and play off of each other.

There were only about 50 people in the venue,

which makes this a perfectly intimate yet cool option

You also can't go wrong with walking Mississippi

Ave afterwards with tons of options for shopping,

Highly recommend this unique way to spend your next weekend night!

Head to NE portland to u-pick at a gorgeous, community-oriented urban flower farm!

Here's your plan for leisurely u-picking flowers, attending workshops, and enjoying a community farm vibe

U-pick In the City 💐

Enjoy u-pick flowers and community events at Sunblossom Farm, a hidden gem in NE Portland with pay-what-you-can options and seasonal workshops.

Flower Picking

✅ Before you go
• their u-pick hours for the 2025 season are Wednesdays 6pm-sunset and Saturdays 10am-1pm
• check out their upcoming events: https://www.sunblossomfarm.com/workshops
• if you’re paying full price for a bouquet, expect it to be around $30-$45!

💪 Pro tips
• follow their instagram to stay most up to date with their offerings and events! https://www.instagram.com/sunblossomfarms?igsh=MXVoMTZqbzQ4bjRheA==
• want a free bouquet? go for one of their volunteer days, which they usually announce on their insta!

Head to Sunblossom Farm

This is your plan to u-pick at a local urban flower farm.

and it's tucked away inside a neighborhood in Northeast,

making it feel like such a gorgeous hidden gem.

Their u-pick season lasts from around June to early October,

and they also have tons of other offerings

like plenty of events throughout the summer

and also some great ones in the fall and winter like floral wreath making.

One of my favorite things about Sunblossom is their

efforts to make the farm accessible to everyone.

They have a bouquet window where you pay what you can

for a bouquet and the proceeds go to a local charity,

u-pick days, and they host volunteer days where you can swing

by to help out and take home a free bucket of flowers.

I went with a group of friends and we had such a good time just hanging out,

and I really loved getting to see what different

flowers everyone picked and how they arranged them.

though they do recommend bringing your own vase to minimize waste.

There are tons of vases in their gift shop and

a lot of other great locally made goodies as well.

I'll put more info below so you can plan your visit soon!

Next time you’re craving a chill night out, head to WonderLove for drinks, good food, games, and views from the rooftop!

Here's your plan for drinks, food, rooftop views, dog-friendly seating, games, and community events at WonderLove

Games + Rooftop Views @ a Food Cart Pod

Enjoy rooftop views, food, drinks, and games at WonderLove in Buckman. Check out their events, including concerts and comedy nights, for a fun night out!

Games & Rooftop Bar

✅ Before you go
• check out their upcoming events (some of them tend to be free!): https://wonderlovepdx.com/event-venue/

Head to WonderLove 

This is one of our new favorite food cart pods in Portland.

plus indoor seating for when it's a little bit chilly outside,

but one of the best parts is their rooftop,

We really enjoyed our food and loved the variety that they had to offer.

but clearly I struggled a little bit more,

You can tell that this spot is meant to be a community hub,

and it's the kind of place you don't want to leave.

They also host lots of events like concerts and comedy nights.

Cruise up and down the Willamette and check out all of Portland’s bridges and skyline! 

Here's your plan for cruising the Willamette River, sightseeing bridges, and enjoying a relaxing pontoon boat ride

Pontoon Boat Rentals in Oregon City 🚤

Cruise the Willamette River on a pontoon boat with S&P Water Rentals, admiring Portland's skyline and bridges—perfect for groups up to 10.

Pontoon Boating

✅ Before you go
• Book your reservations here https://booking.spwaterrentals.com/
• You will have to put down a security deposit and you’ll need to pay for fuel 
• Arrive 30 mins before your booking to fill out paperwork and go through orientation 
• Public parking lot at Sportcraft Marina
• They encourage carpooling or ride share

💪 Pro tips
• We went down to St. John’s bridge and back to Willamette Fall
• The boat can fit up to 10 people
• We stopped for a bathroom break at Riverplace Marina. They have cafes and shops on the south waterfront

Enjoy the views from the river with S&P boat rentals 

We're going to get out on the river and cruise in style 😎

I booked a pontoon boat with S&P Water Rentals,

a local owned,small business in Oregon City.

You walk down to the dock and follow the jet ski sign,

Max and Audrey were the captains of our boat,

But it is an option to have the whole boat

You can bring anything you want on the water like some snacks and drinks,

to check out all of Portland's bridges and skyline.

We turned around at St John's Bridge and before ending the ride,

Max went past the dock to show us the Willamette Falls.

So if you're looking to make some unforgettable, fun summer memories,