Summer is just over a month old but it’s already starting to feel like it’s winding down. Back to School ads are prevalent on television and in stores, the days are just getting a little bit shorter, NFL training camps have started and the MLB all star game is well behind us. Yes, these are all signs of the impending fall and, while many are saddened by this, in Portland, the fun is just beginning.

Before the Summer is out, make sure you head out to the Oregon Coast. A drive through Portland into Hillsboro, up the jagged mountains of the Cascades and down into the valley floor and, before, a ubiquitous blue ocean, temperate temperatures and frigid waters that still beckon swimmers and surfers. Yes, Oregon has surfing. Great surfing in parts.

Also, be sure to hit up any of the numerous food and drink and music festivals peppering the area this summer. Portland is a hub of creativity and delicious food and creative libations and summer is a great time to keep abreast on the latest music trends, on up and coming chefs and restaurants and on many of the brewery options available here in town. Plus, these festivals are a great way to connect with your local community and your friends and neighbors, whom you may other lose to hibernation during the winter months.

And, don’t forget Saturday Market. This staple of Portland highlights many of the artisans and musicians the region has to offer. Everything from organic spices, cruelty free clothing, free range meats, stained and blown glass, blues and jazz musicians and a plethora of food carts, few things get you into the Portland spirit more than the Saturday market. Locals and tourists alike should make this a point to visit multiple times throughout the Spring and Summer before it shuts down for the winter.

And more than that: Numerous parks and hiking trails make for numerous chances to get outside and soak up some sunshine. Portland may have temperate weather, but we have amazing summers. I like to take advantage of the clear nights by going for a drive to the top of a hill, packing a blanket and spreading it out. I like to lay down on this blanket and gaze up at the stars and marvel at their immensity and even their sheer existence. I like to ponder how small and powerless I am in the grand scheme of things. I like to soak in the beauty all around me. If this something you haven’t done, I recommend it.

Whatever it is, summer is here and get out and enjoy it. In a few months, you’ll wish that you had.