Daddoo! » Local

Must-see Portland, OR (Portland/Vancouver Metro)

daddoo — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:38:45 +0000

I used to have a fantastic list that I gave newcomers to the Portland area of places to see. Here’s a start at a new list with my old favorites.

Within the Metro Area

Powell’s Books | The bookstore so large you need a map…which they provide for free.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

Washington Park | If you’re from San Diego you can skip the zoo, unless you think the SD zoo is too big. Otherwise, here are a few things to do here

Oregon Zoo
Japanese Garden
International Rose Test Garden (especially May-July)
The Children’s Museum
Western Forestry Center

OMSI | Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Day-trip or part day-trip to the east

Columbia River Gorge One of my favorite places in the world, especially in the fall. Here are some of the attractions within the lower gorge:

Multnomah Falls
Crown Point : an amazing vista/overlook
Bonneville Dam : you can tour the dam, fish ladders, fish hatchery, and see really huge, old, sturgeon, even feed the fish
Hood River : visit a fresh fruit stand in the fall and get the best apples and pears
Nearby is the Pittock Mansion

Day-trip or part day-trip to the west

Drive on Hwy 30 from downtown Portland and see Sauvie Island, St. Helens, a great drive, and end up in Astoria for tons to do

Ack…I want to get this list out for a friend so I’ll publish this and add more info later….

the West Hills

Winery Loop

Portland Aerial Tram

Waterfront Park / East Bank Esplanade

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Vintage Trolley

Portland Saturday Market

Portland Farmer’s Market

Esther Short Park/Vancouver Farmer’s Market

Forest Park

South Park Blocks

Council Crest Park

St. John’s Bridge

A night alone at the Vancouver Land Bridge and Waterfront Park

daddoo — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:01:00 +0000

There’s a fantastic way to walk from the Vancouver side of the Columbia River to the Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve. It’s over the Land Bridge. I wish I had brought a ‘real’ camera instead of my lowly BlackBerry.

Before I get to my photos, here’s some information on the Land Bridge, part of the Confluence Project.

The land bridge is a real link connecting back to the Klickitat Trail, Lewis and Clark, and the development of the Northwest. It completes a circle that’s been broken.

—Johnpaul Jones, designer

Fort Vancouver’s information on the Land Bridge, http://www.fortvan.org/pages/walking-trails-and-land-bridge

The Confluence Project site, http://www.confluenceproject.org/project_sites/fort_vancouver/

Magazine article from Aspire, “The Concrete Bridge Magazine”, http://aspirebridge.org/pdfs/magazine/issue_11/vancouver_land_bridge_sum09.pdf

Here are some photos from the Vancouver’s Waterfront Park

…and from the and Land Bridge:

That’s it. Daddoo!

A Letter to Penelope

daddoo — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:36:02 +0000

Penelope,

You asked Daddoo to write you a note, so here goes.

What a great week we’ve had! You’ve had time with your Mama and your Daddoo, both together and separately.

Monday morning, you were sleeping so well…on my side of the bed. This is from when I left for work:

A couple of days ago, we went on a fun walk and played at the school playground. You’re so much fun and your sister is trying so hard to keep up with you:

Thank you for a fun time! I’ll write more soon.

Love, Daddoo!