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Almost overnight the temperature has dropped, the clouds have rolled in and rain has doused the city. T-shirts get traded in for turtlenecks and sandals are swapped for boots. Pumpkin patches and haunted houses pop up at random around Portland in preparation for Halloween. Summer has quickly drawn to a close, and the next six months loom ahead dreary and dismal. It’s enough to drive any sun worshipper screaming for sunny California.

But before Seasonal Affective Disorder sets in, let me debunk some common misconceptions. Oregonians are renowned – some may even say notorious or fanatical – about their love of the outdoors. Portland and its environs are at their most beautiful during the autumn months. The trees are just starting to sport tinges of yellow on their leaves, and soon they will be blazing torches of reds and oranges marking the horizon. Despite popular belief, we do not have a monsoon season, and the sun does peek out from behind the clouds from time to time to shine down on the dazzling color changes transforming the Willamette Valley’s naturally rugged terrain. And the scattered showers leave the air smelling sweet, cool and refreshed.

Autumn is a great time to take day trips away from the city and explore the Willamette Valley or the Columbia Gorge. Climb Multnomah Falls without dying from heat stroke. Hike through the miles of trails snaking around Mt. Hood. Go salmon fishing on the Sandy River. The months of September and October are prime times to catch salmon and steelhead. Some bait and tackle shops even offer guided fishing trips along the Sandy, Willamette, Columbia, Molalla and Tualatin Rivers.

Harvest season is upon us and wine lovers pack the tasting rooms at many local wineries. Wine tasting has become a popular past time in Oregon during the last 20 years. Local wine makers have been fostering a growing wine-producing industry that some would say even rivals California’s Napa Valley. Some wineries even offer live entertainment and a full spread of meats, cheeses and bread. I recommend a Cabernet from Cuneo Cellars or a Pinot Noir from Erath Vineyards. Check out Yamhill County Wineries for maps and a listing of other wineries.

But on those days when the gray skies just don’t inspire a journey into the wilds of Oregon, or you just feel like staying in the city, Portland offers plenty of indoor entertainment. Catch Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” at Newmark Theatre this month, or discover Irish music and dancing at the third Friday Ceili Dance. On Saturdays, join college football fans at any sports bar to cheer on the University of Oregon Ducks or the Oregon State Beavers. (Ducks rule, of course.) And many of the local night clubs will be sponsoring Halloween parties at the end of the month; some even offer free cover if you show up wearing a costume.

In short, don’t let a little rain dampen your spirits. If you have an adventurous spirit and you’re not afraid of getting wet, or if you remember to bring an umbrella, the Willamette Valley will open up numerous possibilities for adventure in the great outdoors. And the pubs and cafes will be waiting to warm you back up on your return. It’s the best of both worlds.

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