Choose Your Own Adventure

It’s short. It’s sweet. It’s summer. And there’s nothing worse than wasting these sun-filled days by logging hours behind the wheel just to reach some far-flung peak. (Plus, with today’s gas prices, who can afford it?) So we give you this: 18 ultimate outdoor escapes less than 90 minutes away. Consider it your guide to the perfect summer. Now what are you waiting for? Edited by Kasey Cordell. Photographs by Mark Gamba

Coming to America

Twice a day, foreign-born Oregonians gather at 511 NW Broadway in order to take the Oath of Allegiance. Before getting there, though, our six narrators scaled barbed-wire fences, witnessed their hometowns being blown apart by bombs, and endured crushing poverty. But all of them share a desire for a better life. By Ted Katauskas. Photographs by Pete Stone

Fathom This

Engineers around the world are designing machines that can tap the energy of ocean waves and transform it into clean, green electricity. And where is this quest for power happening? Right here, on the Oregon Coast. By Rebecca Clarren. Illustrations by Arthur Mount

Hot Spot

Summer may call for a laid-back attitude, but that doesn’t mean your look has to fall apart at the seams. We’ll show you how to pull off a high-style fashion statement–even when temperatures demand that you wear next to nothing at all. Text by Jill Spitznass. Photographs by Rafael Astorga

The Smile Squad

You know the drill: “Can you open any wider?” “You might feel some pressure.” “How will you be paying for this?” Don’t fret! In this annual roundup, you’ll meet the brightest minds in the tooth biz. Plus, our top dentists list for 2008. Edited by Martha Calhoon. Illustrations by Thomas Cobb