Destination - Portland, Oregon and the Columbia River Gorge

"The freedom of travel opens the mind to unlimited possibilities." unknown

Portland, with Mt. Hood

I grew up just up the Columbia River from Portland.  It was an hour drive to the “big city” where my grandmother lived.  We visited her often, and did a lot of our shopping in Portland.  Every summer my sisters and I spent 2 weeks with her, which gave our parents a well-deserved vacation.  But the Portland I grew up with has changed, and in the past few years, when I have visited, I have been more of a tourist in Portland.  It is a really nice city to visit.  I still get up that way almost every year, although I don’t always go into the city.  We have a cabin that is not far from Portland, and tend to spend most of our time on the river.  But Portland is a city worth visiting.

Rose Test Garden - Portland

Yes, it rains in Portland, but there is lots of good weather, particularly in the summer months.  And it is in many ways an outdoor city.  There are lots of parks to visit and walk through.  One of Portland's nicknames is the "City of Roses", and is famous for the Rose test gardens.  If you visit from April through October you can walk among 7,000 luscious rose bushes; June is when they're most bountiful, and they celebrate by having the Rose Festival, with a parade and other festivities. The garden is free, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Forest Park just outside Portland

If you are a hiker, then Forest Park is a good place to go.   It is the nation's largest urban wilderness. This nearly 5,000-acre park has miles of hiking, jogging and mountain biking trails.  Autumn sees the park's mostly evergreen forest dotted with vibrant fall color. This is the perfect time of year to escape to the quiet solitude of the woods — and all within a 10-minute drive of most downtown hotels.

A peaceful oasis in the midst of the city, The Grotto is set among 62 acres of botanical gardens. The Grotto offers a place of quiet reflection with peaceful ponds, spectacular cliffside vistas and award-winning architecture. It has a religious theme, but the gardens are beautiful and it is open to everyone.

Pittock Mansion

High in the West Hills of Portland, Pittock Mansion soars 1,000 feet above the city’s skyline. A century-old symbol of Portland’s dramatic transformation from a small lumber town to a bustling city, it’s an architectural wonder. With picture-perfect views of rivers, forests, bridges and mountaintops, and rooms teeming with treasures. No other place in town offers a more breathtaking view or a more revealing glimpse of Portland’s past.

Powell's Book Store

One place we never miss going to when in the city is Powell’s City of Books.  It is one of the world’s great bookstores.  It covers an entire city block and contains more than 1.5 million books.  They sell both used and new books and if you can’t find it there, then it is not available.  My husband knows that whenever he loses me in a bookstore he just has to go to the travel section and there I am.  Powell’s has a very nice travel section.

Some other places to check out in Portland are the zoo and OMSI.  The Portland Zoo is quite nice.  I grew up going to it, so I still find it to be one of the better zoos, although now that I live in San Diego, I have to say it is not as good as our zoo.  OMSI is next door to the zoo and stands for Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and is a great place for adults and kids.  There are five halls that bring science to life with hundreds of interactive exhibits and displays.  And there is an IMAX theatre and a planetarium.

Pioneer Courthouse Sqiare

Portland has a very nice downtown area.  In the heart of downtown is Pioneer Courthouse Square.  It is known as the city’s “living room.”  The Portland Visitor Information Center is located here.  The square hosts quite a few of Portland’s outdoor events each year, and the Portland Farmers Market operates from the square every Monday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June-Oct.  It is considered one of the best markets in the states.

Enjoy a distinctive experience at Portland’s Saturday Market, the nation’s largest weekly open-air arts and crafts market. Stroll down row upon row of unique creations made by the people who sell them, and enjoy live music and international snacks. It is located at the Waterfront Park and is open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March through December 24.  It is free and open rain or shine. 

Multnomah Falls

And if you go to Portland make sure you set aside a day to drive up the Columbia River Gorge.  I may be prejudice, but I think it is one of the prettiest places in the world, and I have traveled quite a few places.  Head east out of Portland on Interstate 84.   Make sure you get off the interstate and get onto the Historic Columbia River highway, there are several exits after you leave Portland.  The historical road is a 2 lane road that leads you past several waterfalls, including Multnomah Falls, the largest of the falls along the road.  All of the falls are worth a stop to look at.  You can actually climb all the way to the top of the mountain where Multnomah Falls is just a creek before it plunges off the mountain.   It is quite a steep climb, but when I was a kid we stopped there and climbed it at least once a year. 

Crown Point Lookout and Columbia River Gorge

Make sure you stop at the Crown Point lookout, you can’t beat the views from there.  Other stops along the Columbia River gorge include Bonneville Dam where you can go inside and watch the fish going up the fish ladders.  And there is a paddlewheel boat you can take from Cascade Locks that will take you upriver.  They actually do a decent dinner cruise, if you are interested.  I would suggest going as far as Hood River, which is only 60 miles east of Portland.  Go across the bridge here and then head back down river.  The area near Hood River is where I grew up, and it is known as the “windsurfing capital of the world.”  The Columbia has quite a few white caps on it in this region.

Beacon Rock

Mt. Hood and Hood River

Coming back down the north side of the river you will see a pull out for Beacon Rock. This huge rock has a trail that goes to the top, and if you feel like stretching your legs, this is a nice climb with some good views. After leaving Beacon Rock you will start climbing and will get to the Cape Horn area, which is quite high up.  There is a lookout point here where you should pull over and look at the view.  From there you descend into the Camas and Washougal area   Once you reach Vancouver you can take the bridge that crosses the Columbia and head back into Portland.  Or if you still had time you could head north up Interstate 5 and spend some time at the Mt. Saint Helens Interpretative Center, which tells the story of what happened when St. Helens erupted.  You could also save that for another day trip.

Rose Gardens in Portland

Portland is a city where almost anyone can find something to do.  It has many outdoor activities, such as hiking, bicycling, fishing, golf as well as being close to winter sports – such as sledding and skiing.  It has many museums, and performing arts venues.  It has become famous for its micro-breweries and is a haven for foodies.  The food trucks in Portland have become quite popular and there are many varieties of them.  They cluster in pods throughout the city.

And every year the city has their Rose Festival.  It takes place in early June and there are quite a few festivities held in its honor.  There is the Starlight Parade as well as the famous Rose Parade.   There are Dragon Boat Races, and the coronation of the queen ceremony.  Usually US Navy ships come to town and dock, and you can tour them.  We always looked forward to the festival when I was growing up, and made a point to go to the parade.

Windsurfer on the Columbia River

**Pictures taken from the internet