A couple of weeks ago, I had a perfect day. I joined an all-day snowshoe tour with Pedal Bike Tours, which took us from downtown Portland up to Timberline for about an hour of downhill snowshoeing through some gorgeous and varied terrain, followed by a ski-lift ride up the mountain (what a view!), and a lavish [...]
Okay, so maybe you won’t go wine tasting every day, but in Oregon, you could go wine tasting on any day. The winter is one of the best times to do it, because the tasting rooms are quieter, and you’re likely to find the winemaker around during their slow season to chat about their wines. [...]
All year down in Portland we look up at Mount Hood’s beautiful snowy peak. In the wintertime it’s at its brightest, covered in a blanket of powder. Of course there’s skiing and snowboarding for all of you speed demons, but snowshoeing is such a peaceful way to spend time with friends on the mountain with [...]
I was charmed and surprised by a recent walk through downtown Troutdale. Often overlooked by those zooming through the Gorge, or overshadowed by nearby McMenamins Edgefield, this section of the Historic Columbia River Highway feels like an old-time Main Street, and is a picturesque holiday shopping destination. Here’s what I found: 1. Troutdale General Store: [...]
They say chefs are the new rock stars, and while they live and work alongside many musicians here in Portland, I can’t think of another place where the saying is more true. A new calendar (which makes an excellent travel souvenir or holiday gift to savor Portland’s food scene all year long) was created to [...]
That’s right — Greater Portland. Within about a 40-minute drive from downtown Portland into Clackamas County, you’ll find Dream Ridge Stables, heaven for anyone who wants to ride a horse, whether they have a lot of experience, or none. The owner, Karen, makes everyone who walks into her stable feel calm and comfortable with a [...]
… that make me love this city. Like this bike rack, in front of the new Saint Cupcake Galore shop downtown. It’s a giant whisk! With frosting! The owners designed it with Oregon’s own Creative Metalworks (who’ve built most of the fun racks around town), and replaced the old basic bike rack that used to [...]
Like many others, when I first moved here, I noticed bumper stickers all around town printed with the words, “Eat a Lime.” Curious, but writing it off as one of those quirky “Keep Portland Weird” things, I didn’t think much about it. It turns out that this is the slogan for local “pirate rock” band [...]
Summer has arrived in Portland, and I’ve made my list of the top ten things to do while the sun is shining and the weather is warm. 1. Ride the Banks-Vernonia Trail — this is the first summer that all 21 miles are fully paved. 2. Take in a movie under the stars, either in [...]
Am I the only one who’s been listening to the Decemberists’ latest album nonstop since it came out in January? The Portland band’s most recent record, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, is filled with songs at the same time fresh and nostalgic, channeling musicians like Tom Petty and R.E.M. in the band’s distinctive style. [...]
