Health and fitness are not hard to find in Portland, Oregon, particularly if you're traveling to the Rose City during the month of May. Temperatures are mild, rainfall is minimal and the city's many outdoor activities make it easy to get in a workout while enjoying your vacation. Take advantage of the city's proximity to water by going fishing; head to one of the many markets that offer fresh, healthy foods; explore Portland on a hike or a run; or hit one of the city's many golf courses.
Fishing
Fishing is a popular outdoor activity in the Northwest, and the Portland area offers plenty of fishing opportunities in the month of May. The Willamette and Columbia rivers converge at the north end of Portland, meaning you won't have to travel outside the city limits to fish for sturgeon, salmon and rainbow trout. Don't fish the Willamette at the Portland Harbor; studies have shown that fish living at the harbor can pose health threats due to toxins. Instead, fish along the banks of the Willamette north of downtown or along the Columbia, or join a fishing charter from one of the Portland area's many fishing guide services to get out on the water.
Running
Portland's average annual temperature in the month of May ranges from a low of 42 degrees Fahrenheit to a high of 68, with an average rainfall of just over 2 inches. This spring climate, along with Portland's many paved running trails, make for ideal running conditions. You can cover a three-mile run alongside the Willamette River by running from the fountain at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland to the Steel Bridge and back again. Or head to the other side of the Willamette and run the 1.5-mile paved Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade, which stretches from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge. You can also run the two routes in one big loop—crossing the bridges at each end—that will put your run at more than five miles.
Golfing
The Portland area is home to dozens of public golf courses, and May is when that famous Oregon rain typically begins to give way to sunshine, allowing the courses to dry out and encouraging golfers to hit the links. Among the options within just a few miles of downtown Portland are Broadmoor Golf Course, a 6,404-yard, par-72 layout in northeast Portland, and Heron Lakes, which features two 18-hole courses—the 6,615-yard Greenback Course and the 6,902-yard Great Blue Course—in north Portland.
Hiking
You won't have to travel outside the city limits to find a rugged hike in Portland. The city's Forest Park, which covers more than 5,000 acres of wooded parkland, has a handful of hiking trails, including the five-mile Pittock Mansion loop, which begins at Lower Macleay Park and ascends 900 feet through the forest to Portland's famous Pittock Mansion, which was built in 1909. For an easier hike, try the Lewis & Clark Park Nature Trail, a three-mile loop in northeast Portland that ascends 100 feet through the park.
Farmers Markets
Portland Farmers Market has six locations throughout the city, but only four—Portland State University, Shemanski Park, Buckman/Sunnyside neighborhood and King neighborhood—are open in May. The Pioneer Courthouse Square and Northwest 23rd Avenue markets don't open until June. The markets' vendors include local produce and dairy farmers, with foods that include fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and cheeses. The Portland Saturday Market, which operates on Saturdays and Sundays, opens for the season early in March. The market features a variety of food booths, with cuisine from local vendors, as well as fresh produce, dairy and baked goods.
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