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Rebecca Meyers<\/strong> | Lifestyle Editor<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a well-known fact to Oregonians that Pacific Northwest residents often complain about the rainy seasons, but as soon as summer starts to get real we look for ways to cool down. One way to do this is to find a nice spot to swim or float down one of the miscellaneous rivers in our state. Here\u2019s just a few places to find such as spot. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Willamette River in Corvallis<\/strong><\/p>\n True, the Willamette isn\u2019t known to be the cleanest \u2014 particularly near Salem. Fortunately, there are a few places that are upstream of the State Capitol. The distance from Willamette Park to Michael\u2019s Landing in Corvallis is a nice 30-45 minute float, and a short drive from one end to the other to make it easier. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Mary\u2019s River in Corvallis<\/strong><\/p>\n For a small, out of the way spot that the locals love to swim in, the Mary\u2019s River runs right behind Avery Park. One entry point features a rope swing into one of the deep ends of the river. The rest of the river is fairly shallow and easy for the less-confident swimmers to navigate. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The McKenzie River in Eugene<\/strong><\/p>\n For a longer float, and a bit of a longer drive from Western, Eugene is home to, among other things, the McKenzie River. With a starting point of Island Park in Springfield and an endpoint in Alton Baker Park in Eugene, this float route is a few hours long. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Deschutes River<\/strong><\/p>\n Perfect for a weekend trip in Central Oregon, the Deschutes River in Sunriver is a popular scenic place to float. Start at Harper\u2019s bridge and get off at Benham Butte for a ride of about three and a half hours, or get off at Sunriver Marina for half the time. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n