The winters in Portland can be harsh. Not in the romantic sense of an old-fashioned tale with vast drifts of snow and frozen rivers, but rather in the dull, rainy, gray sky, wet-socks way.
Lewis and Clark detested Oregon for a reason.
Long before white people were on the world, one strategy to fight the gloomy winters was to warm up your body.Sweat lodges were used for both religious and recreational sweating in Chinook cultures.
An increasing number of people in the Portland region are learning about such leisure and spiritual advantages for themselves. Additionally, a growing number of new spas attest to the practice’s increasing appeal.
I therefore went to three of those new locations to kick off 2025. The first is a chic new hotel-spa-restaurant complex on one of Portland’s trendiest avenues. Another is a cozy Finnish sauna in Milwaukie’s downtown. And lastly, Vancouver’s outdoor forest-spa-wonderland.
SaunaGlo
Inside Milwaukie’s SaunaGlo.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
Milwaukie, 1915 S.E. Jefferson St., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. A day pass costs $19 on Sunday at sunnaglo.com.
I genuinely adore my neighborhood, but every year or so I consider moving to Milwaukie at least once.
The newest establishment to raise this query is SaunaGlo, located across the street from Wunderland in charming downtown Milwaukie.
In addition to being spanking new (having opened in December), this place is incredibly cozy, warm, and friendly.
A large, frank, and gorgeous hot sauna, a cold plunge, a cold shower, and a cold bucket dump—all of which I was far too afraid to try—are available for $19.
Kids are welcome here, unlike most spas in the area, especially those with saunas. While their parents perspired in the sauna during my visit, two children played with Legos in the sunlit hangout area. One of them, who couldn’t have been older than ten, entered the sauna by himself at one time.
As parents themselves, SaunaGlo’s owners, Katie and Michael Calcagno, place a strong focus on community—a community that includes children. They host various family-oriented events and, once more, present a strong case for relocating to at least this one area.
Given the price, this is among the least expensive sauna alternatives available. Additionally, because the locker room is small and communal, you cannot simply take off your clothes wherever you want, and you must bring your own towels (one for drying and one for sitting in the sauna).
But really, when your main purpose is to work out with pals, who needs a large, opulent changing room or towel service? And SaunaGlo is ideal for that.
Milwaukie is home to SaunaGlo.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
Connect Wellness
Vancouver’s Connect Wellness.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
Vancouver, 4301 N.E. 59th Ave. Hours vary based on the type of session; check out connectwellness.biz; two hours cost $40.
Guys, if you have visited Connect Wellness since it opened three years ago, I have a grievance: why didn’t you inform me about it? Every every story I write ends with my email address.
Were you attempting to be silent? If so, I apologize and understand, but I’m here to yell loud and clear: Go to Connect Wellness!
When you locate Connect Wellness in a Vancouver residential area, you will discover the following: A soaking pool, cold plunge tubs, and saunas are scattered around an open, outdoor fairyland.
It has an atmosphere that is most similar to my favorite spa, Everett House in Portland. Even I have to confess that the freestanding wood-fired saunas here are far nicer than those at Everett House, and there is more outside area.
A changing room in a shipping container with a pellet burner and a quiet woodfired sauna in a trailer with a lovely view are examples of the eclectic aesthetic. A yurt for entertainment.An Airbnb on-site. Cold plunges in wooden barrels, plastic containers, and clawfoot tubs. The list might be endless. Even a separate private area is available for rental.
The various areas are connected by wooden walks and stone paver roads through verdant grass, which lend the entire area a mysterious feel.
Although I appreciated the saunas, I particularly relished reading a book while sitting in the warm pool with steam rising. I could have easily stayed longer than the two hours I had allocated.
A visit to Connect Wellness in Washington is unquestionably worthwhile.
Note: Although there are occasions when attire is optional and reservations are necessary, it was swimsuit season when I visited. To learn about all of the numerous things they have to offer, visit their website.
Vancouver’s Connect Wellness has a private spa room.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
Cascada
Northeast Portland’s Cascada refuge.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
1150 N.E. Alberta St., Friday–Wednesday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m., 7 a.m.–9 p.m. $100 for three hours on Thursday (the last soaking appointment starts at 7 p.m.),cascada.me.
Across from the Radio Room, on Northeast Alberta Street between Northeast 11th and 12th avenues, a block has been occupied for years by a major building project. Although development is still ongoing, the public can now access the underground hot springs that have been advertised on billboards across the town.
The Spanish term for waterfall, cascada, is pronounced kas-kah-da, which is different from how you’ve undoubtedly been speaking it. It’s an ah sound added to the English word cascade.
Additionally, there are waterfalls here, or at least fountains that resemble them and are accessible without hiking.
A lovely, open conservatory with daybeds and a nice pool for relaxing in makes up the pool area. In addition to drinking the provided water and herbal tea, you are free to chat with friends here.
The sanctuary, an underground collection of four pools with different temperatures as well as a sauna and steam room, is located beneath the conservatory.
As much as I enjoy a quiet sauna or quiet place, the sanctuary area’s policy of prohibiting talking is one of the few things I would modify about Cascada. If you and a buddy or partner spent $100 each and wanted to hang out, it would be a shame if most of the room was silence.
What would I advise management to do? Turn off the lights for a few hours or the sauna. But always not the core of the matter.
However, aside from that, the facilities, which opened late last year, are in perfect condition. All of the pools have clean, clear water, ranging from cold plunge to hot.
Even though I’m not a cold plunger, I would gladly spend an hour floating about in the mineral pool, which has a wall of water fountains and captivating light reflected on the roof. particularly if I was permitted to engage in gossip with a companion during that time.
The sauna is big and nice, but the buckets of water and the signs warning against putting water on the rocks could confuse guests. By some miracle of science, the steam room maintains a large amount of steam while operating silently.
And on a wet day—or even better, a snowy one—I would like going to the conservatory to sip tea and soak in the 82-degree water.
In addition to branded sandals and a wristband that locks and unlocks your locker, towels are given. Body and hair products that smell good are available in every shower.
There are lots of spots to sit and read or browse through your phone while you wait for a friend, and Alberta Street Coffee is available in the lobby if you want to linger out before or after your appointment.
Although a night at the hotel section of Cascada costs around $300 and does not include access to the pools, staying overnight does result in a pass discount.
A word of caution, Knot Springs. Cascada is on her way to you.
Cascada’s Alberta Street Coffee in Northeast Portland.Acker Lizzy/The Oregonian
Lizzy Acker writes the advice column and studies culture and life. Why, Tho?You can contact her at [email protected] or 503-221-8052.
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