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City Cast Portland

Ben McBee

For thousands of travelers heading up Interstate 5, Tualatin is just one of several exits before you reach Portland, but for about 28,000 or so, 

. Sure, the suburb may not quite have the culinary pull of Beaverton, or the walkable downtown of Tigard, but it does have beautiful forested neighborhoods and a charming sense of community.

Why You Should Visit This Week: Ya 'Gatta Be There

 welcomes an armada of monsters and fast-movers for a day of splish-splash-squash. It’s the 

, the annual race to see which costumed captain can paddle their vessel — in this case a gargantuan, hollowed-out gourd — around the fountain and back to the finish line fastest.

Join the cheering crowds on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and take in all of the other fall fun. There’s plenty of entertainment, from the 

, professional pumpkin carvers, and an array of pumpkin-based games (bowling, golf, tic-tac-toe, and checkers), concessions, face painting, and more. High attendance makes parking in the area challenging, but a 

Admission is free. Plus, there are two other lead-up events:

Enjoy wood-fired pizza and craft beer at 

 compete for cash prizes with their oversized vegetables in the Terminator Weigh-Off.

 to help support Tualatin Rotary’s scholarships and community programs. Strollers and four-legged friends are welcome.

Looking to grab a bite before or after the festivities? Here are a few nearby options.

☕ Embrace the art of afternoon tea at Doja Tea Lounge by dining on delicacies like finger sandwiches and scones. This 

 includes a pumpkin spice panna cotta and sweet potato crostini.

 is anchored in the Tualatin community and should be your first port of call for tasty burgers, sandwiches, and pub bites.

🥖 Recently opened and serving up Vietnamese cuisine, 

 makes a mean bánh mì in addition to a breakfast sandwich, BBQ pork buns, curry chicken, and beef stew soup. Grab an iced coffee while you’re there, too.

In 1992, a beautiful stretch of wetlands and oak savanna along Highway 99 was protected from urban growth thanks to a dedicated group of local residents. Their efforts helped establish the 

, a diverse ecosystem that’s home to more than 200 species of birds among many other animals, including bats, salamanders, and otters.

Today, the Visitor Center offers educational programs for children, and hikers can walk a network of picturesque paths (the Wetland Trail is closed May 1 through Sept. 30 to safeguard wintering waterfowl, but the River Trail is open year-round). Whether you have 15 minutes to peer from the observation deck or half a day to explore, it’s well worth a stop.

 through David’s Chair, available Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to Noon.

Tualatin recs

📲 Your Tualatin Recommendations

Don’t rock the gourd or you’ll miss Tualatin’s West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta when it returns Oct. 18. Join the fun and see what else the suburb has to offer.

Your Guide to Tualatin, Oregon

Your Guide to Tualatin

The Weekly Wander

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The Weekly Wander newsletter is your neighborhood guide filled with hidden gems and unexpected ways to explore Portland, OR. Get it in your inbox every Sunday.

The Weekly Wander by City Cast Portland

McKenna Harford

If you’ve got holiday travel coming up, we’ve got your back. While we can’t stop delays or cancellations, these hacks will help take your airport experience from miserable to enjoyable.

If you’re traveling for a short trip, it sometimes is really worth it to pay to 

park at the airport garage or economy lot

, especially if you are considering taking a ride share otherwise.

You can also schedule your rides ahead of time through Uber and Lyft so when you land, you don’t have to wait for a car or worry about surge pricing.

Or skip the hassle of ride shares and parking, and instead take the MAX.

With so many good options at the airport, we turned to you, our readers, who shared some of your can’t-miss spots in PDX:

 (even if we're not flying somewhere), after TSA — 

 kiosk for their roaming mixologist flight.” — Lila

“I love grabbing a small gift for those I'm going to visit from 

“I love grabbing a journal, some new pencils, compact art supplies, and some sassy cards from 

. They have a giant pink mailbox too!” — Kelley

And we aren’t gatekeeping our favorites. For a hearty meal, we recommend trying the bowls and burritos from 

. Or, if you’d prefer a quicker grab-and-go option, look for sandwiches from local chain 

 (it’s right after security, so don’t miss it) or a cocktail from 

Happen to have some time before you need to board? Chill out in the sensory room in Concourse D, which was co-designed by the Autism Society of Oregon and features fidget puzzles, comfy seating, and a quieter atmosphere. Or catch a short film at PDX's 

One last pro tip — cut down on the amount of time you have to spend in worse airports and find travel destinations without layovers by going to 

Explore PDX with us!

Tips and tricks to making the most of airport travel.

Hacks for Enjoying Your Time at PDX International

Tips and tricks for living your best Portland life, by locals, for locals.

Portland Life Hacks

People often overlook Vancouver as little more than a suburb of Portland. There’s no disputing it; more than a quarter of the people living in Clark County crossed the state line for work before the pandemic hit. But some traffic is heading the other way, at least for recreation.


The 'Couv has been shaking off its dreary, lesser-city rap 

 and began attracting dining and drinking spots from out of town. (It’s more fashionable to 

 these days.) Here’s some spots to check out the next time you visit:


 offering of adobe-roasted pork and nopal tacos or brisket and oyster-mushroom tortas. Try their take on fruit margaritas. Full yum at 114 W 6 St.



Like much of the new waterfront spots, it’s a chain, in this case one featured on reality TV. It makes up for that with extra sugar, specializing in decadent milkshakes and sundaes. Buyer beware, prepare to spend close $15 for a sundae that is called the Unicorn, and does indeed look like one. It costs even more for some milkshakes. 656 Waterfront Way,


 of the Land Bridge, designed by architect Johnpaul Jones and Vietnam War memorial designer Maya Lin, guides you from the waterfront to Fort Vancouver, an old hub of the fur trade. Learn about the life of Indigenous peoples and the arrival of settlers. See the native plants planted along the way. Old Apple Tree Park, along S/Southeast Columbia Way.

Get to Know Vancouver

Everything to know about Portland neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

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Your Guide to Tualatin

Hacks for Enjoying Your Time at PDX International

Get to Know Vancouver

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Your Guide to Tualatin

Hacks for Enjoying Your Time at PDX International

Get to Know Vancouver