Hi, we are spending a few days in the Portland area. Will see the city itself but we're also renting a car to drive around the surrounding area including the coast, the parks and surrounding vineyards. Does anybody suggest any wineries/vineyards (I already have Drouhin and Serene on the list) as well as parks that have great hiking trails? Especially looking for old-growth forests that really evoke the Pacific NorthWest. And always open to hearing about good places to stop by (stores, food, sights). We are actually flying out west tonight, can't wait!
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Posted on Sep 28, 2012
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If you have any time in Portland and want a wonderful place for dinner, check out Paley's Place. It is a restaurant that resides in a nicely restored house. Reservations are ideal, but we simply walked in and sat at the bar for dinner. As for wineries, I think you have picked two of the best. If Terri is working at Drouhin, ask for her, she is fantastic (she and my wife discussed having a broken foot). Another winery that is small, but has some nice views and unique wine is called White Rose Estate. We didn't do any hiking on our trip, but I know that Multnomah Falls is a local attraction that is mentioned a lot. Have a fantastic time, we will definitely be back soon. :)
http://www.oregon.com/attractions/multnomah_falls
Posted Sep 28, 2012
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The Columbia River Gorge is a my favorite place for hiking. It's really got it all--waterfalls, old growth forests, views of the river, etc. Multnomah Falls is famous and impressive, but also very crowded. I might recommend stopping by for a photo at the bottom of the falls before heading off to a different trail for the actual hiking. This site has information about all the hikes in the gorge, as well as the rest of the Portland area: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Columbia_River_Gorge_Hikes . Portland is also blessed to have awesome hiking trails inside the city. Forest park is beautiful and I've heard that Tryon Creek State Park is beautiful this time of year because all the maples are changing colors (I'm planning to head there pretty soon myself).
If you've read anything about Portland or talked to anyone about Portland you've probably heard of this but I have to say it: you must go to Powell's. It is possible the greatest bookstore in the world. It's heaven on earth.
We're pretty religious about brunch in this city. I love Bakery Bar and Tasty n' Sons. For other meals, I recommend checking out some of the food carts (foodcartsportland.com has a map) and 24th and Meatballs, which opened recently and is a new favorite in my family.
Posted Sep 28, 2012
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