Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland

Hells Canyon photo by jotor, via Flickr.

Yet again I am blown away by the beauty of Oregon. Just got back from a mini-vacation driving across Oregon and Idaho to go to a family wedding. On the way back we went to Hells Canyon.

This place should be right up there with all the must-see sights of the USA. The deepest river canyon in the country, it is remote and breathtakingly beautiful. Hells Canyon Adventures has jet boats that take you over the rapids, into the canyon and by petroglyphs, a homestead cabin and the dam.

The road from Hells Canyon to Joseph, Oregon, washed out in June so we had to revise our route and are saving that trip for another day.

But I was in Hell and I was smiling — love those rapids, love that jet boat.

Heavenly Falls at the Portland Japanese Garden.

Near the edge of downtown Portland, perched on the hillside, you’ll find a bit of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Portland’s downtown is similar to most large cities — typical noise from the cars, construction, people and the like. If you’re looking for somewhere to get away from said hustle and bustle and take a moment to simply breathe and see the beautiful sights, then the Portland Japanese Garden is where I recommend you go.

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