Things To Do
Downtown Portland
Portland, Oregon is a quirky, artsy, food-centric little gem in the Pacific Northwest. Feel like enjoying nature? Hike the many trails of Forest Park, visit the International Rose Test Garden or stroll the beautiful Japanese gardens. For shopping, try out the many thrift stores on SE Division and Hawthorne street, the local artisans at the Portland Saturday Market or visit the largest book store in the US, Powell's City of Books in The Pearl District. Get your brunch on at Proud Mary or Sweedeedee. Roll yourself from brunch to lunch at Por Que No? on Mississippi St. or Lil' Shalom and then finish the day off with dinner at one of the many food carts in Portland. The most popular "pods" or groups of food carts are Rose City Food Park, Prost Marketplace, Cartopia, Slabtown and Hinterland. For a night on the town check out Rum Club, Breakside Brewery, or Bar Bar.
Columbia River Gorge
All within 90 minutes of downtown Portland, the Columbia River Gorge is well worth a visit. Stop first at Multnomah Falls, an easy walk up to a spectacular waterfall. If you feel like hiking, there are lots of challenging hikes that reward you with spectacular views - Angel's Rest, Eagle Creek or Dog Mountain to name a few. Continue on to the little town of Hood River where you can shop on Main St and pick up pizza and icecream, grab a beer at pFriem Family Brewers or take a picnic down to the river front and watch the world famous wind surfing. If you have more time, continue onto the Mount Hood Scenic byway to the "Fruit Loop" and sample local berries and peaches. Then finish your day at the beautiful and historic Timberline Lodge, built and furnished by local artisans during the Great Depression, where you can enjoy a snack or meal and watch year round glacier downhill skiing.
Oregon Coast
Just 90 miles west of downtown Portland is the gorgeous Oregon Coast. For some history, visit Astoria where Lewis and Clark paddled the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. Following the highway 101 south you run into Canon Beach with its famous Hay Stack Rock and tons of little shops and restaurants. Next is Manzanita, a cute little town with a quiet beach to stroll. Lastly is our favorite stop in Tillamook where you can sample their locally made cheese and icecream, on the way to Pacific City. Here you can rent a surf board and wet suit, or hike up the gigantic sand dune or just enjoy a beer while watching the sunset at the Pelican Brewery.
Willamette Valley Wine Country
Just an hour southwest of downtown Portland, there are over 600 wineries to visit. It is one of the premier producing Pinot Noir areas in the world. Some of our favorites include Soter, Stoller, Winderlie, Durant, and Eyrie. It is easy to make a day or two of tasting as there are several "appellations" along with nice restaurants and hotels to stay. If you are interested in hiring a guide and relaxing through a day of tasting, ask us and we can recommend someone.