Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

I recently boarded the “Spirit of Magic” and though I’ve cruised the Portland Spirit before, there were a few surprises. Add a little magic and a touch of comedy to the well-loved experience and you’ve got a whole new night out, with the same great service Portlanders have come to expect from their cruise line.

“Spirit of Magic” runs through April 27th. As always, you’ll get some of the best city views possible and amazing photo opportunities, including photos upon boarding — don’t worry, the selection of props includes masks!

Prefer to cruise sans magic? Take a look at the full list of cruises offered by Portland Spirit. To find out more and to purchase tickets, visit www.portlandspirit.com.

This photo from Portland Kayaking shows one of the views we enjoyed -- but there were no clouds the day we were out!

A couple of weeks ago, a coworker and I went on Portland Kayaking’s Ross Island tour. It was my first time in a kayak, and it was a lovely introduction to the activity!

The tour leaves from the RiverPlace marina, just minutes from any downtown hotel (or office, in our case). After a quick safety review and general paddling how-to, we got in our boats, then eased into the pleasantly cool Willamette River.

The air temperature on the water was cooler than on the city streets, and the occasional splashes from the oars offered additional refreshment. It took me a while to get the hang of paddling, but we eventually found our stride and were able to look around and enjoy the views of forested Ross Island; lots of birds (great blue heron, osprey, eagles); picturesque boathouses; and, as we returned to the dock, the postcard-perfect skyline. (more…)