With more than 100,000 attendees, this benefit for the Oregon Food Bank is the largest blues fest west of the Mississippi. With 100-plus performances on four stages on the grassy banks of the Willamette River, it's by far the best bang for your buck.
Don't Miss Headliner Etta James, the R&B funkiness of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, and the Zydeco Swamp Romp stage, where you can booty-shake to Creole blues all day long. $10—plus two cans of food—per day; waterfront­blues­fest.com.
Intermission End your trip with a half-day Class IV rafting trip on the Middle White Salmon ($60; whitesalmonriver.com).
Crash The swank Heathman Hotel, whose chef is James Beard winner Phillippe Boulot (doubles from $230; portland.heathmanhotel.com).
Also This Weekend High Sierra Festival, Quincy, California.