Mikey and Lauren
Our Local Favorites
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
A seasonal favorite, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is an impressive array of color as you walk through a vast field of blooming tulips. The festival dates vary by season but generally run late April to mid-May. Check the website to see if it is still available when you're in town!
Woodburn Premium Outlets
No mainland trip is complete without outlet mall shopping. Check out this massive outlet mall and enjoy tax-free shopping.
International Rose Test Garden
Check out more than 10,000 varieties of roses, varying in color, size and smell. The most impressive array of roses we've ever seen.
Waterfront Park Trail
Our favorite city running trail. Run/walk a dedicated path along the Willamette River.
Eem - Thai BBQ & Cocktails
A great sit-down thai fusion restaurant with fun drinks and creative dishes.
Pip's Original Doughnuts & Chai
Lauren's favorite donuts. Stylistically similar to Love's powdered donuts, but with a gourmet twist. There are now two locations, one near our home in Beaverton for those that may be staying nearby.
Ken's Artisan Pizza
Portland was ranked one of the nation's best pizza cities. Ken's is our favorite sit-down pizza shop.
Din Tai Fung
High-end dim sum. Known for their soup dumplings which are pretty good.
Apizza Scholls
Portland was ranked one of the nation's best pizza cities. Perhaps our favorite pizza shop in all of Portland.
Cheese & Crack Snack Shop
Best soft-serve ice cream in town! Get the matcha.
Ranch PDX, NW 21st
Portland was ranked one of the nation's best pizza cities. Ranch specializes in thick-crust square style pies.
Eb & Bean NW
Lauren's favorite dessert! There are multiple locations all across town.
Khao Moo Dang
Lauren and Mikey's favorite local Portland eatery. This restaurant serves Northern Thai cuisine, different from the usual Standard/Southern Thai cuisine.
Historic Columbia River Highway
This historic highway is the access point to a number of scenic sites including Multnomah Falls and Vista House. Along the drive are a number of other easily accessible waterfalls that require little to no hiking/walking.
Vista House at Crown Point
Vista House is an old rest stop overlooking the Columbia River Gorge along the historic Columbia River Highway. Stop here for 300 degree panoramic views of Portland and the Gorge. It's a great spot for sunset.
Multnomah Falls
The most-famous waterfall in Oregon. This waterfall tops every Oregon/Portland "to-do" list. You can stop along your drive through the Gorge to view this 120 foot waterfall. Stop for lunch at the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge at the base of the waterfall. A short paved hike takes you to the top of the waterfall for those more adventurous.
Bonneville Dam
You cannot miss this large Hydropower dam on the Columbia River as you drive through the Gorge. You can tour and learn more about the Hydropower dam, fish ladder, and history of the Columbia River. There is also a local salmon and sturgeon hatchery where you can view adult sturgeon and learn more about the salmon runs and hatcheries here in the Columbia River.
Eagle Creek Trailhead
Another M&L hiking favorite. A long but fairly mild trail that takes you through a beautiful cliffside looking down into Eagle Creek. Seasonally there is also salmon spawning at the base of the creek near the parking lot. This trail takes you past a number of beautiful waterfalls including Punchbowl and Tunnels Falls.
Eastwind Drive-In
Kristen visited Mikey and Lauren in May of 2021. Of all the places she visited, Eastwind stole the show. Stop by on your way through the Gorge for their soft-service ice cream, Kristen's favorite. The small or kid size is more than enough for most!
pFriem Family Brewers
This is Mikey's favorite craft brewery. The town of Hood River has "open-bottle" laws. A trip out to Hood river is not complete without walking the waterfront with a beer in hand.
Double Mountain Brewery
Lauren and Mikey's favorite Hood River pizza shop. Many afternoons have been spent sitting here with Harley with pizza and beer. Get the Truffle Shuffle!
Hood River Fruit Loop
A unique rural farm experience that takes you through the beautiful Hood River Valley, where you will encounter 27 on-the-farm fruit stands, wineries, breweries, cideries and fields of flowers, a few of which we have listed below. In May flowers are in full bloom. While it may unfortunately be a bit too early for U-pick fruit, the fruit orchards should be in full flower bloom, providing a beautiful foreground for a Spring drive.
Grateful Vineyard & Mt. View Orchards
Grateful winery opened shortly after Lauren moved to Hood River for her first "big-girl job" in 2018/2019. To this day it remains our favorite winery, mostly for the breathtaking views of Mt. Hood, it's laid-back atmosphere, and Lauren's favorite, locally-sourced pear-pizza. More recently they've opened Mt. View Orchards, a pear and apple orchard where you can walk the grounds and get locally grown apples, pears and assorted flowers.
Hood River Lavender Farms
Hood River Lavender Farms has been a locally owned and operated, organic lavender farm since 2003. They produce 100% pure, steam-distilled essential oil of the highest quality. Their gift shop has a variety of products perfect for adding a little more lavender to your life.
Twin Peaks Drive In
A delicious old school drive-in with a great view! Great burgers and shakes. A great lunch stop whenever we're in Hood River!
Dog Mountain Trail
A M&L favorite. This is a strenuous, yet rewarding hike with panoramic views of The Gorge and Mount Hood. The hillside in May glows a vibrant yellow color as it is peak season for wildflower blooms, particularly yellow Balsamroot.
Coyote Wall Trailhead
Down the road from Dog Mountain with similar panoramic views of The Gorge and Mount Hood. May is perfect time of year to view the mountainside covered in Balsamroot and other wildflowers. M&L took Kristen on this hike when she visited in 2021.