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Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
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| Columbia River Gorge |
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| Columbia River Gorge at Multnomah |
Just to the east of Portland is Columbia River Gorge, From the airport we drove the scenic highway along the
river. We visited small towns along the way and watched kiteboarders zip across the water.
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| Multnomah Falls |
The most dramatic sight was Multnomah Falls, which you can actually see from
the six lane highway. At 620 feet, Multnomah Falls has the second tallest drop in the country (behind Yosemite
Falls at 1,430 feet). We hiked up to the bridge over the lower falls and enjoyed the view and the spray.
Portland
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| Pioneer Square |
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| Keller Memorial Fountain |
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| Portlandia |
We stayed for three nights in downtown Portland and the Benson Hotel. The Benson is an old hotel near the center of town
with a lot of classic charm.
Portland itself is a very casual, clean, and walkable city. We followed a walking tour of the abundant
public art. We visited museums, shopped and had some great meals. When your feet can't carry you anymore, the trolleys
are free in the main downtown area.
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| Rose Garden |
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| Rose Garden |
The Portland Rose Festival features lots of crowds and activities. Most activity is centered at the
Willamette River which flows right through the center of town. Sitting at a restaurant above the waterfront we saw
the drawbridge raise for a couple of Navy ships. The fireboats were shooting red, white, and blue water streams as the sailors
waved from the deck and the tugboats slowly turned them around.
We visited the Rose Garden which sits in the hills above the town. There was not nearly enough color
and fragrance to enjoy in the fine weather.
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| Pittock Mansion bath |
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| Pittock Mansion |
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| Pittock Mansion |
We also enjoyed touring the Pittock Mansion (1914) which is perched in the hills above downtown Portland. Note the view
from the bathroom. Following the oval entry and and staircases, most of the interior and exterior walls were curved,
giving this place an elegant but comfortable feeling.
We escaped Portland just as the Rose Parade was starting in the rain. We drove up to Woodinville, Wa. which is a small
town east of Seattle. We visited our friends Kent and Crindy who moved up there a few years ago.
We enjoyed a three night visit with them in their spacious (but cozy) home.
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| Robinson Point Light |
We toured the local countryside together, including a ferry trip to Vashon Island. We had a picnic at Point Robinson
Lighthouse, which as you can see is "personal size".
The channels in Puget sound are very deep. As we were standing on the beach a giant container ship lumbered by so close
you might hit it with a rock.
Oregon Coast - Astoria
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| Astoria, OR |
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| Fort Clatsop |
Heading south, we crossed the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific, at Astoria. We toured Fort Clatsop, a replica
of the fort build by Lewis and Clark at the end of their westward journey. The Fort has actually burned down since our visit.
We also visited Flavel House mansion for a dose of more recent architecture and history. Then we drove on to our destination
for the night, Seaside.
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| Flavel House |
Oregon Coast - Seaside & Cannon Beach
Entering Seaside we were amused by the tsunami warning sign. This resort town reminded us of Seaside, New Jersey. But
here the hotels occupy the beach promenade while the amusements and restaurants are located on the streets leading to
the beach.
We had a nice Italian dinner and were settled in on the beach waiting for what promised to be a very dramatic sunset.
Sirens! Someone from the hotel notified us that there was an earthquake off California. A tsunami would be here in 15
minutes. We packed our stuff and headed for higher ground.
It turned out to be their first ever tsunami warning and a false alarm.
Heading south the next morning, we stopped in a much more upscale resort, Cannon Beach. The beach here was much
more dramatic.
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| Cannon Beach |
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| Cannon Rock |
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| Cannon Beach |
Oregon Coast - Newport
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| Lincoln City Beach |
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| Yaquina Head rocks |
The drive south to Newport included some dramatic overlooks and beach stops.
Newport itself was not the quaint seaside town we were expecting. The drive into town had all the standard shopping centers
with national chain stores. Closer to town the businesses were local but a bit on the shabby side.
We eventually discovered a more scenic way to get us from our hotel to the older, more scenic parts of town and
the port.
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| Yaquina Head Lighthouse |
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| Newport harbor |
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| Devil's Cauldron overlook |
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| Sea Lion Caves |
Leaving Newport the next morning we enjoyed more dramatic vistas including Yaquina Lightouse where we climbed up into
the light itself. Just beyond, the Sea Lion Caves provided an unusual experience. The caves are at sea level but to get there
you take an elevator over 200 feet down. We didn't stay long since the elevator was the only way back up (unless we wanted
to swim).
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| Heceta Point & Lighthouse |
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| Heceta Lighthouse |
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| Fresnel lense |
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| Dunes below Florence |
Our last night on the coast was at Florence. We stayed in the old part of town and the surroundings were much more what
we had expected of a coast town. Just south of Florence, there is 50 miles of coastline with dramatic sand dunes. What we
had not expected was that the dunes extend miles inland, mixing with the pine forests.
Oregon Wine Country
Our last stop was the Willamette Valley wine country for two nights. We stayed in Newburg which was close enough
(1/2 hour) to Portand for us to catch an art festival there. We spent the next day touring the absolutely gorgeous wine
country. While the California wine country is rolling hills of golden grasslands, the Oregon wine country is a sea of green.
We spent most of our remaining time in a neighboring town, McMinnville where a revived downtown had restored hotels,
stores and restaurants. We heard some great live music there.
Journey's End
But all good things must come to an end. On absolutely clear day, we waved farewell to snow-capped Mount Hood on
our right. Mount Saint Helens loomed ahead of us as we turned left into the airport.
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