Colorful stained glass windows, intricate masonry, and wide verandas—I’ve always admired the beautiful Victorian buildings that fill Portland’s tree-lined avenues. Their owners, the Rose City’s original entrepreneurs, put a lot of pride into their homes. They employed the best architects, used the best materials, and hired the most talented artists to create dramatic, stately homes […]
A Visit to Chinatown to Celebrate the Year of the Rooster
The Chinese New Year is upon us and I’m all set to enjoy the rich culture found in one of Portland’s oldest communities, the Northwest District’s Chinatown.
Shopping at 3 of Portland’s Best Artisan Markets
Clothing, furniture, food and, of course, beer! The Rose City is home to thousands of creative artists and artisans, making it one of the Pacific Northwest’s favorite shopping destinations. Many of these artists show off their wares at the great markets you’ll find around the city. Last weekend I visited three to get a jump […]
Polar Express Brings Holiday Magic to the Hood River Valley
This time every year, the magic of Chris Van Allsburg’s classic Christmas story and the North Pole are brought to life on the Mount Hood Railroad’s Polar Express Train Ride. Recently, my family and I made the scenic, 62-mile drive east from Portland to Hood River, where we began our round-trip journey to the North […]
Portland’s “White Stag” Sign Puts on His Red Nose for the Holiday Season
Every year during the holidays Portland’s famous neon “White Stag” sign transforms from the prancing deer we love into Santa’s famous red-nosed reindeer, Rudolf.
Cranberry Harvest on Washington’s Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is well-known for many things: one of the longest public beaches in the world, an oceanfront boardwalk, two 19th century lighthouses, ridiculously fresh seafood (such as Willapa Bay oysters) and growing cranberries. In fact, one of the area’s unofficial nicknames is the Cranberry Coast, so when my family and I visited […]