It's hard to find a place more special than Portland in the summer time. The city looks absolutely gorgeous- all of the trees and plants are lush and green, you get fantastic views of Mt. Hood throughout the city, and the sun lights up the sky well into the late evening. Not only is the city looking its best, but everyone in town is outside enjoying the great weather and wondering how we ever could have talked badly about our city during the winter.

As a Realtor summer is my busy season, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the bright side I get to be outside every day, showing homes and meeting with clients. The only drawback is that sometimes I feel like the summer can pass me by and I miss the chance to do my favorite summer activities!

This year though, I plan to have the most amazing summer ever! I have so many things I want to accomplish, like getting my house and yard to where I want it and helping tons of clients buy and sell their homes. The below list are all of the fun activities I want to do this summer!

Visit The Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden just reopened this April after a 20 month expansion and renovation project. I've only been to the Japanese Garden a few times in my life but at the time I loved the interesting art, history and gorgeous different gardens, pavilions and ponds. I can't wait to check out everything new the Garden has to offer!

Attend at least one Waterfront Festival

In the summer the Tom McCall Waterfront is the place to be. Between the Saturday (& Sunday) Market, the great running, walking and biking paths and all the shops and restaurants, there is no place with more action! The biggest draw to the Waterfront are the numerous festivals that are happening almost constantly during the summer months. From the Blues Festival at the beginning of July to the HUGE brewers festival to multiple different music festivals, there is definitely something for everyone!

Cheer on the team at a baseball game

I'll admit that I'm not the biggest sports fan in the world, but I do loving going to live games. The energy is always great, and with baseball you get the added benefit of sitting in the sun while you watch the game! The Portland Pickles are the newest baseball team in the area, or you can catch the Hillsboro Hops just a short drive out of town.

Spend some time on the Willamette River

Nothing screams summer more than being on the water, be it pool, ocean, lake or river. In Portland one of our best bets is the Willamette River, which features a variety of activities. My favorite ideas are kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, boating, spending the day at the beach on Sauvie's, or participate in The Big Float on July 15!

See a movie or play in the park

It is hard to think of a better way to spend a chill, relaxed night than packing up a picnic and heading to a local park for either a play, movie or musical event. Pioneer Courthouse Square has Flicks on the Bricks, Portland puts on a variety of summer park events, and other neighboring towns like Beaverton or Lake Oswego have their own special events as well!

Spend an afternoon golfing

Golfing is one of the hobbies I've always and wanted to get more involved in. What's not to love about spending a few hours outside, having a few drinks, and hanging out with friends? Especially because I love competitive games (unless I'm not good at them, which could be an issue when I'm just starting off at golf!). I would love to hit up one of the classic spots but would also be interested in visiting Edgefield, TopGolf, or the 19th Hole.

Explore Portland by bike

Portland is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, and summer is the perfect time to experience that! Whether you want to take your bike for a long ride around Sauvies or along the river, or rent a bike through BIKETOWN and stay in the city, Portland has you covered!

Berry Picking

Even though I do this every spring and summer, going out to Sauvies Island or one of the other local farms is one of my favorite outdoor activities. I love the actual act of hand picking, and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Of course, getting to eat and cook with the berries at the end is the best part!

Go wine tasting

Even though the Oregon "wine country" is mostly less than an hour from Portland, I really don't take advantage as much as I should. I'm hoping to change that this summer though, and head out for an afternoon of wine tasting at least a few times. My friends and I are already planning to do Canines Uncorked 2017, a special event featuring dog friendly wineries, with proceeds going to the Oregon Humane Society!