Portland, Oregon-August 2009

I just love to travel and be on vacation and, once again, I had a great time in Oregon. There are quality restaurants, cultural sites, nature parks, and lots of artsy things to see. My favorite thing was that within an hour, give or take, you can be hiking at Multinomah Falls, Mt. Hood, and Mt. St. Helens, or just taking it easy at Cannon Beach or elsewhere on the coast. I felt like there was way too much to see in a week. I'll just have to go back!

My "base camp" was in Portland at the Red Lion, Janzen Beach (still not sure where the "beach" was...) on the Columbia River. A good hotel not a bad location if you will be renting a car. It is about 20 minutes to downtown Portland via car. Now that I'm more familiar with the area, next time I would stay at a neighborhood B&B. There are some cool hotels downtown but they are not for those traveling on a budget. If you opt to stay downtown, make sure the hotel has free parking. Every street has fee based parking usually with a 1hr limit. It's a bummer.


Highlights:

Washington Park: International Rose Test Garden/Japanese Garden/Hoyt Arboretum-I didn't go but there is also the Zoo, Forestry Center, Holocaust Memorial and other attractions in this nature-lovers haven. Tons of tall evergreens everywhere. All together, the area covers about 130 acres. There are plenty of walking paths and much of it is free. There is a fee for the Japanese Garden but it was a very peaceful stroll through this traditional garden. You may consider parking by the zoo and taking a bus to the top where the gardens are because parking can be tricky here.

Multinomah Falls-This is one of the tallest year round falls in the US. Mesmerizing liquid drops over 600ft from the top of the cliff. You can also follow it's path above the falls and into the mountains. There is a steep trail from the bottom of the falls to the top. I also continued hiking past the top of the falls to follow the stream bed upward. It is strenuous going up and you need good shoes for the way down as it's steep. If I saw one more person wearing flip flops on the way down, I was going to yell at them for their poor foot atire. This place gets packed so get there early.

Mt. Hood-We drove from Multinomah Falls, through the Columbia Gorge, and around Mt. Hood. You can spend days alone exploring the scenic beauty of this area and hiking opportunities are in abundance.

Mt. St. Helen's-It is amazing to see the destruction made by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens almost 30 years ago. However, new life is covering the mud and ash. Planted noble fir trees and wildflowers and grasses have covered most of the landscape. I was just able to make out the rim, crater, and cone from Johnston Ridge as it was rainy and cloudy that day. Don't forget to watch out for Bigfoot and stop at the gift shop where he stands tall.

Cannon Beach-At least stop there to see the "Haystack". It is one of the most well known geological features of the Pacific Northwest plus it is just plain beautiful and mysterious. The town itself is very touristy with expensive shops and galleries. I suggest checking out other beaches along the coast if you want to just relax or check out one of the many hiking trails. The coast is stunning and a must see. And make sure your gas tank is full! No gas station at Cannon Beach so we had to drive on and almost ran out.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden-Imagine gardens and ponds scattered with traditional Chinese-style buildings surrounded by 4 walls. It is a peaceful oasis in downtown Portland. If you have the chance to visit, make sure to have tea and a snack at the teahouse. The building is beautiful an you can challenge yourself by drinking a cup of fine tea the Chinese way!

Mother's Bistro and Bar-You must try this place for some gourmet, home-style cooking. I wish we had a chance to go back for dinner as their breakfast was phenomenal. My friend had the Stuffed Frittata and I had the Wild Salmon Hash. Check out their online menu.

Kennedy School-Those McMenamin brothers really have some great ideas having opened up several hotels and breweries around the vicinity of Portland. This particular jewel is an old school transformed into a hotel and brewery with banquet rooms, restaurants, a movie theater, and a great beer garden where I enjoyed sampling their fine assortment of micro brews. The food was good and our waiter was quite a character.

Portland Saturday Market: If you want a souvenir, don't get a "I heart Portland" t-shirt. Instead, go to the Saturday Market and pick out something unique from one of the 100+ local artists and craftspeople. You can get original artwork, jewelry, glassware, ceramics, clothing, etc. Most of the wares are hand crafted and some are even made from recycled materials. Oh, and tie dye doesn't appear to be dead in Portland! It also has a festive air with street performers and an impressive variety of healthy fair type food. I had a delicious falafel pita.

Recommended Books: 60 hikes in 60 Miles, Secret Portland