Got back last night from my 4th or 5th trip to Portland, Oregon, for some work I'm doing out there. I used to be able to enjoy trips like this a little more, but being a dad now, I've been trying to limit my nights away from home and I've really been rushing the trips. Leaving Milwaukee at 6 a.m., getting out there at 11 a.m. (Pac. time), meeting that afternoon, meeting the next morning and flying back that afternoon to get home late in the evening. People say, "Oh, that area is beautiful, how do you like it?" All I've seen is the inside of a conference room all day and a couple of nice restaurants in the city at night.
Anyway, yesterday morning we got done earlier than expected, the 6 a.m. meeting was over at 8 and my flight didn't leave until 11:30. I took a chance that I'd have time to drive out to Multnomah Falls. It's in the Columbia River Gorge that separates Oregon and Washington. It worked out nicely and, even though I was only able to spend about 20 minutes there, the drive was beautiful and the falls itself was really like nothing I've seen. Over 600 feet high, it is allegedly the 2nd tallest, year-round falls in the U.S. (most of them run during the ice melt and rainy seasons then dry up part of the year). I still believe Wisconsin's lakes and Northwoods and Great Lakes are beautiful, and they are. Still, for a Midwest flatlander boy, standing at the foot of this thing just really takes your breath away for a minute. All I could think of was how fun it would be to spend a couple weeks hiking, camping and fishing in the Pacific Northwest with my son when he's a little older. (Okay, I will also admit that I also had a thought that the falls might be even cooler if I were high.)
4 comments:
TK. The Columbia River Gorge where Multnomah is is unbelievably gorgeous. I was able to vacation there in August and took a ton of pictures of a number of the falls in the Gorge. The fact that you can get to that waterfall in 45 minutes from Downtown Portland is great.
Net time you are there, head to the coast. Some of the most beautiful coastline I have been too.
I put up a bunch of pictures on Facebook if you want to see em.
Nice, I will check those out.
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Good choice, Multnomah is the site to see out here (yes I live in Portland). Mt. Hood is another great side trip. Go up and see Timberline Lodge. It's at about 7500 feet up and was built in the 30's. Absolutely amazing and the filming spot of the shining.
The coast is great. Go to Astoria or Cannon Beach. Just right out Hwy 26. More farther but worth it is St. Helens. The main visitor center is right up in front of the crater which still smokes cause it's an active volcano. If you are here for longer, got to see Crater Lake. It will blow your mind.
If you want to see some things in the city, check out the rose garden. It's up in Washington Park and
has a great view of the city and the mountains. 23rd avenue is a pretty cool area. And anything east of the river is hipsterville. McGarnagle can attest to that.
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