Winter is coming: Portland’s top seasonal spots for those who miss the sunshine

Hoodline
Mississippi Records.

The shortest day of the year arrives Dec. 21, which means winter is about to take hold.

Sure, the sun basically disappears for months and in most parts of the county it’s cold and dreary, but not everything is grim. Winter’s a time to appreciate family and friends and the cozy side of life. We’re here to help.

Hoodline put together a list of winter solstice-related activities in Portland, from board games and entertainment to tanning, using Yelp data and our own methodology. Here’s to enjoying the indoors — or at least forgetting about the season for a while.

There's something about playing records in the winter, when the analog pops mix with crackles from the fireplace, that just equals cozy. Pay a visit to one of Portland's most popular record shops to stock up on vinyl, both old and new.

1. Mississippi Records

<b>Photo: Keith V./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/mississippi-records-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>

Topping the list is Mississippi Records. Located at 5202 N. Albina Ave. in Humboldt, the spot to score vinyl records and more is the highest rated vinyl record spot in Portland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 77 reviews on Yelp.

2. Clinton Street Record & Stereo

<b>Photo: Jared W./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/clinton-street-record-and-stereo-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>

Next up is Hosford-Abernethy's Clinton Street Record & Stereo, situated at 2510 S.E. Clinton St. With 4.5 stars out of 42 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score vinyl records has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Music Millennium

<b>Photo: Kate W./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/music-millennium-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>
Photo: Kate W./Yelp

Kerns's Music Millennium, located at 3158 E. Burnside St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the spot to score music and DVDs and vinyl records 4.5 stars out of 152 reviews.

Board games let you immerse in fantasy — no matter how frightful the weather outside. Here are some popular tabletop game spots in Portland worth checking out.

1. Cloud Cap Games

<b>Photo: Swanky M./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/cloud-cap-games-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>
Photo: Swanky M./Yelp

Topping the list is Cloud Cap Games. Located at 1226 S.E. Lexington St. in Sellwood-Moreland, the spot to score tabletop games and more is the highest rated tabletop game spot in Portland, boasting five stars out of 78 reviews on Yelp.

2. Guardian Games

<b>Photo: Sara C./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/guardian-games-portland-2?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>
Photo: Sara C./Yelp

Next up is Buckman's Guardian Games, situated at 345 S.E. Taylor St. With 4.5 stars out of 147 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score tabletop games has proven to be a local favorite.

3. The Portland Game Store

<b>Photo: Julie M./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/the-portland-game-store-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>

Humboldt's The Portland Game Store, located at 922 N. Killingsworth St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the spot to score tabletop games and more 4.5 stars out of 24 reviews.

Let's face it, the sun is in hiding and your skin craves Vitamin D. A visit to a local tanning salon can give your body the fix it needs. Here's a list of the best tanning salons in Portland.

1. Woodstock Tan

<b>Photo: Mark S./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/woodstock-tan-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>
Photo: Mark S./Yelp

Topping the list is Woodstock Tan. Located at 4326 S.E. Woodstock Blvd. in Woodstock, the tanning spot is the highest rated tanning spot in Portland, boasting 4.5 stars out of 22 reviews on Yelp.

2. Bask In The Sun Tanning & Airbrushing

<b>Photo: Brant P./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/bask-in-the-sun-tanning-and-airbrushing-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>

Next up is Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill's Bask In The Sun Tanning & Airbrushing, situated at 7117 S.W. MacAdam Ave. With five stars out of 80 reviews on Yelp, the tanning and skincare spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Revolution Hair & Body Salon

<b>Photo: Jennifer H./<a href="https://yelp.com/biz_photos/revolution-hair-and-body-salon-portland?utm_campaign=631f8740-dbed-443a-837e-8705a32ad380%2C7d1df66f-bc5f-4fb4-900b-1ef4b153de5d&utm_medium=81024472-a80c-4266-a0e5-a3bf8775daa7" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Yelp;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Yelp</a></b>

Multnomah's Revolution Hair & Body Salon, located at 8525 S.W. Barbur Blvd., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the hair salon and tanning spot four stars out of 24 reviews.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.