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The Oregon Zoo

Location = Oregon Zoo. 4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR. Purchase tickets online - and non-refundable. They have a nice variety of things to see. Luckily - and I say that with all sincerity - we missed the newest addition to the Oregon Zoo - the Lamprey from the Columbia River.

This alien creature looks like it came out of some horror movie - and yes, it's a flesh eater. On TV's River Monsters, I've seen them suck onto people. Yeah..... super GROSS. Since I just left the Columbia River a month ago, my heart would've pounded out of my chest if one of those things suckered onto my leg. Did I say gross? I meant freak-show GROSS.

OK, back to business - the fall festival at the end of Sept. is a nice event and includes apple cider & beer (yuck), street vendors & music. We like the Oregon Zoo because they're conservationists. They breed endangered species for introduction back into the wild. What's the sickest creature you've ever seen?

Plan on spending 4-7 days. The Willamette River that runs thru Portland comes alive with activity from May thru September.

Add on this great trip: Lost Home of 7 Dwarfs.

Location = Japanese Gardens. 611 SW Kingston Ave, Portland. Shuttle service is provided from the parking lot.

The Japanese Gardens have a few rules: no pets, cell phone use, smoking, eating, etc.

We do understand why - it enhances the serene atmosphere of the gardens, making it a great soul satisfying & calming place.

As you walk thru the Japanese Gardens, you begin to relax & slow down almost as if you're melting into the environment in total serenity. It's a great place to de-stress.

They also have cultural demonstrations & performances.

The Japanese Gardens is a must see. The summer & fall beauty is stunning.

See the Japanese Maple tree, upper left? It's like an umbrella-blanket around you if you stand underneath. We came back just to catch the fall colors.

The pagoda is really tall, and makes a big statement. The gently flowing water under the bridge is soothing. And, a 2,000 year old Indian tale inspired the Buddha Stone.

Location = Macleay parking lot to Witches Castle. From the Portland downtown area - get on NW Cornell Rd. The Macleay parking lot in Forest Park and the Wildwood Trail parking lot is on the right. If you passed 4300 NW Cornell on the left, you've just past the trail. There's several parking spots off the road - the bigger lot is to the right just beyond that.

To get to the Witch's Castle, take Wildwood Trail, a moderate 1/2 mile hike into the woods. But beware of what might be lingering around..... Dare to venture in the woods and you'll find the remains of an old stone building with a sinister past. Some even say ghosts.

This is what happened - back in the mid-1800's Danford Balch bought a big piece of land and hired Mortimer Stump. HOLD the PHONE. What's a Mortimer? Who would do that to a newborn baby? It's just wrong. Does anyone think Mortimer's a good name? Anyone? I think not. Apologies to anyone named Mortimers out there.

So .Mortimer was hired to help clear the land. Soon after, he fell in love with Danford's daughter and asked Danford for her hand. Danford refused and made a point to tell Mortimer that he'd kill him if they got hitched.

Well, you can't stop true love so they eloped. Wrong move, because true to his word Danford tracked Mortimer down and shot Mortimer dead. In 1859, Danford was the first to be executed in Oregon for his crimes. It wasn't until the 1930's that the stone building was built, next to Danford's homestead.

So the question is: Do the ghosts of Mortimer & his new bride haunt the Witch's Castle? CREEPY!

Location = The Grotto. 8840 Skidmore St, Portland. Tickets online are cheaper. Grotto = a small cave often used as a religious shrine.

The Grotto is a Roman-Catholic ministry that started when a young boy prayed for his mother's life after giving birth in the late 1800's. If she lived, he promised to do a great work for the Church. In 1923, Friar Ambrose kept his promise and bought the property which is now a National Sanctuary.

During construction, they carved a cave out of the 110 foot cliff - measuring about 50 feet high and 30 feet wide. In front, they carved an alter from stone. Behind and above the alter is a replica of MIchelangelo's work: a marble statue of Mary holding the crucified Christ in her lap. On either side of her are angels holding a torch light.

The Victorian Belle

Location = The Victorian Belle. 1441 N McClellan St, Portland.

The Victorian Belle is an 1885 is a Queen Anne elegant estate built by David Cole as a gift for his wife. His wife, Amanada Boone was a descendant of famous Daniel Boone. The cost to build was $8,000. It's believed this house was the first home in Portland to have electricity & hot & cold running water.

An upstairs room was later converted to a museum with some impressive historical pieces & journals/letters, including notices from the White House. Sadly, they're no longer hosting their Christmas extravaganza home tour.

The Victoria Belle has been repurposed as a wedding and special event venue. Plus, they also host their own events like the Burlesque Dinner Cabaret and High Tea in the gardens. I'd like to come back again to see the dinner show - it sounds fun.

Catholic Mass is still held in front of the cave grotto on Sundays.

We visited in December to see their Christmas Festival of Lights. If you’re a believer, it brings a heartfelt sense of adoration as you gaze at the life size Nativity scene.

The Grotto itself is also an awesome display for those looking for a spiritual connection.

Commonwealth Park

Location = Commonwealth Park. There isn't any official parking - park along SW Huntington Ave off SW Butner Rd, and SW Foothill Dr or SW Westdale St, Portland.

This is an enjoyable 1 mile loop around a lake, and one of our favorites to take our elderly dogs for a walk. It's a peaceful stroll and we never fail to encounter some kind of wildlife. There's also a stark difference from spring to fall - both are uniquely picturesque.

If you go one week you could see a heron.... and next week a nutria. Nutria look like a smaller cousin to the beaver. They love the water, so you'll likely find them close by. However, if there's babies - give 'em space. Momma's are all business with big teeth if you pose a threat to her little ones. A couple years ago I was on the coast and had to scoop my 2 small furry babies under each arm and run like a bronze medalist to avoid her teeth. It was a narrow trail, and no other way out. If anyone saw me, I'm sure they had a good laugh!

Location = Troll Bridge. 16448 NW McNamee Rd, Portland. Take 30-W, and left on NW Rd for ¼ mile to the bridge.

Troll Bridge doesn't take much time to see - but you'll love it if you.... yes, even the guys. It's wacky, it's adorable, and one of the most original little attractions we’ve ever seen. Some of these trolls have real personality and their owners must be a special kind of hilarious: troll geeks!!!

Next trip to Portland - I'm totally bringing my own troll.... with neon purple hair and a mini-horse to ride. My daughter loved trolls as a child - she probably still has a memorabilia box full of them. Bring your fave and join the Troll Patrol Bridge's Wall of Fame.

Location = Beaver Falls. From downtown Portland area - take 30-West for about 52 miles and right on Beaver Falls Rd for 3.7 miles. Parking is along the road , and the trailhead is on the left. It's in Clatskanie, OR.

Beaver Falls is a gorgeous waterfall and suitable for families & dogs. It’s a short .7 mile to the falls, and starts out with a few switchbacks heading down before leveling out. FYI: You’ll pass a “watch out for poison oak” sign. So please keep your hands & feet inside the moving vehicle at all times!

The trail ends at the pool at the bottom of Beaver Falls. Feel free to explore, then grab your Yogi Bear pic-a-nick basket and set-up lunch. If you want to go wading, river shoes are super helpful on the rocky creek bed. The creek can dry up early if the winter rains were minimal, or by fall, otherwise, it’s a nice wading pool.

DON'T MISS Upper Beaver Falls, photo bottom right. You can view Upper Beaver Falls from the road at a little turnout about 1.7 miles before you reach Beaver Falls. Both falls are on your left if you drove from Portland.

Location = Jet Boats at the OMSI dock. OMSI Planetarium, 1945 SE Water Ave, Portland and next to the USS Blueback Submarine.

Willamette Jetboat Tours offers a fun-tastic ride down the Willamette River. What's that? You want to know if you'll get wet? If you're lucky.....Heck Yeah! We chose the 2 hour ride which includes the Willamette Falls – the largest waterfall by volume in the Pacific Northwest.

During your Jet Boat tour, the driver will fill you in on a little history. One interesting fact is how ships would enter the Locks from the upper level of the river and lowered down to the lower level. I don't even know if a kayak could make it over those falls. Boats travelled from the Eugene OR area north to the Columbia River on the north side of Portland. From there the ship could go west to the Pacific Ocean or east to Canada.

More Fun Activities

• Guided tours, underground tours, dinner cruises, e-bike rentals, and more. For some things, we like to be the "boss" in case we want to "squirrel" off in another direction.

• Multnomah Falls - See my Blog: Columbia River Gorge.

• Northern Coast/Astoria - Drive out to: Astoria, Oregon Coast

• Nature Walks - Rood Bridge Park: beautiful Rhododendron flowers. Hidden Falls Park: waterfall/pond & bridge. Gabriel Park: gigantical trees. Orenco Park: screaming stick faces.

• Washington Park - Includes the Hoyt Arboretum and numerous trails that would take days to explore if you’re on foot. Continue uphill past the Pittock Mansion & Witch’s Castle into another maze of trails.

• Canoe Trip - Besides the big Willamette & Columbia Rivers, we really enjoyed our relaxing canoe trip up the Tualatin River. Rentals: Brown's Ferry Park on the Tualatin.

• The Aerial Tram - Ride up 500 feet to Marquam Hill. On sunny days, you can see Mt. Hood covered in snow about 69 miles to the east.

• OMSI, Oregon Museum of Science & Industry - Includes tours of a submarine & planetarium, special exhibits, a theater, science playground, and After Dark activities.

Vacation Travel Tips

• Average temps high/low = Summer 80/53 degrees F. Winter 50/37. Summer can get rainy. Expect snow in some lower elevations, and will occasionally stick for days in the city. The winter winds can add a chill.

• Backpack essentials - water, bug spray, sunscreen, whistle, flashlight, cell phone, pocket knife, camera, and a light jacket for summer.

• Winter Essentials - thermal blanket, waterproof hiking boots, and extra warm clothing.

• Hiking conditions - trails can be wet & slippery even in summer. Expect 2+ feet of snow in some lower elevations.

• Vehicle safety – Keep a spare blanket, boots, jacket, gloves, and snacks in the car. Winter roads can be icy & covered in snow - use “winter” tires. FYI: If you have "all season" tires, take snow chains.

• Wild animals - rarely seen on trails, but they're out there.

• Trash - Pack out what you pack in.

• Rivers/lakes – river shoes are a must. Heavy winter rains/snow means ice-cold, deep, & fast moving water.

• Poison Oak - it grows as a vine or a shrub, and has 3 or more leaves/group.

• Rattlesnakes - Prefer dry/warm areas, not usually above 6,000 ft.

• Wilderness areas – take a buddy & tell someone your travel plans.

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