Big adventures are great. Ditto whirlwind vacations to faraway places, or weeklong excursions into the wilderness. But when summer rolls around, there’s something to be said for the humble day trip. Leave home in the morning, see something great, have a little fun, eat a couple delicious meals and make it back to sleep in your own bed: that’s the day trip ethos, and sometimes it’s the perfect (or only) way to get out and explore. As we gear up for the summer, consider taking one of these smaller trips close to home (“close” for those of us who live in the Portland metropolitan area, anyway). When we live in such a beautiful part of the world, you don’t always need a big budget or lengthy itinerary (or even a car!) to have a great adventure. Follow the link in our bio for a list of eight summer day trips from travel reporter halejamesb #oregon #oregonexplored #pnw #pnwonderland