Yes, you read that right. I booked my plane ticket to Portland, Oregon at 11:00am, and it left at 2:30pm. Spur-of-the-moment decisions are sometimes the best, and this turned out to be a memorable one. Three of my friends joined me on this adventure, and we flew to Portland with the intention of renting a car, and driving to Seattle before flying back to Denver. One of the first places we went to in Oregon was the Edgefield-McMenamins Hotel on our way to Multnomah Falls, only a 20 minute drive from downtown Portland. Edgefield opened in 1911 as the poor farm, and is now a destination resort with beautiful, yet whimsical grounds. The original buildings have been carefully restored, with extensive gardens surrounding the property. The Black Rabbit Restaurant inside Edgefield had an antique charm, but also had a very modern menu with a unique twist. I got the Butternut Squash Truffle Grilled Cheese, and wow! I still dream about how delicious it was.
We spent the morning chasing waterfalls, more specifically – Multnomah Falls. This 611 foot tall roaring, magnificent waterfall is located only 30 minutes outside of Portland. According to Native American legend, Multnomah Falls was created to win the heart of a young princess who wanted a hidden place to bathe. For an even closer view, walk another several hundred feet up the paved trail to reach Benson Bridge, which spans the falls at the first tier’s misty base.
Multnomah falls is located at the beginning of the historic Columbia river highway. Vista House is nearby, and it was originally built as a rest area for motorists. We spent some time in the first-floor gallery, where historic photos and panels give a detailed history of the scenic highway, which has a waterfall corridor, boasting a variety of stunning waterfalls tumbling down looming cliffs. We then took the famous Oregon 101 to the coast, and enjoyed the beautiful drive, stopping every so often to take photos, ending at Tillamook to frolic around the beach, dipping our feet into the Pacific Ocean, before heading back to Portland.
Portland is a truly literary city, so take this time to breakaway from your kindle and Barnes & Nobles to explore the local bookstores. Hands-down one of the best is Powell’s Books, with over one million books on their shelves. You can find something about anything, with used and new books filling up the store, providing an abundance of options. They have an actual map to find your way around the store, so grab one and go explore with a cup of coffee on a dreary afternoon.
We were able to hit up a number of bars when we were in Portland, and while they were all fun, there were clear winners. First up, Loyal Legion with 99 taps with local Oregon beer poured the best way possible (they’ll tell you all about it). Of course, Ground Kontrol was the funky, two-story arcade bar with 87 games and a full service bar. It was lots of fun and a great way to start out the evening. For a classic Oregon brewery, Deschutes Brewery is a must. Do yourself a favor and order a flight of beer to enjoy before you leave town. Don’t forget to grab a doughnut (or a dozen) from the original Voodoo doughnuts too.
Seattle is a mere three-hour drive away from Portland, so after a few days in Oregon, we hopped in the car and made our way to Washington. Of course, Mount St. Helens is on the way, and who would want to miss out on seeing an active volcano? We stopped at the visitor center, and drove up to the highest point we could access (the actual viewpoint was closed due to snow accumulation). It was quite the adventure!
Sometimes planning is necessary, but sometimes the best days are unplanned, random and spontaneous. Be more spontaneous and travel more. That’s what I do. Tell us about your spontaneous adventures, and keep an eye out for Part Two: Seattle, next week!
XOXO,
Lexi
