Tag Archives: portland

Dachshund to the Rescue (Right in my Backyard!)

Posted on by

I heard it on the radio this morning: a heroic little dachshund named Annie brought help to her elderly owner. And it happened just a few miles from the Portland, Oregon suburb where I live. It was around one o’clock in the morning this past Tuesday. Residents in the Lake Grove neighborhood of Lake Oswego, Oregon called police to complain about a barking dog. The head of the Lake Oswego police canine unit responded to the calls, expecting to find a huge, menacing dog on the loose. Instead, Sergeant John Brent found a nine and a half pound dachshund. The … Continue reading →

Enjoy a Spring Fling in Oregon

The Beaver State. The Web-foot State. The Sunset State. Oregon’s list of nicknames is seemingly endless and if you have ever visited the Pacific Northwest you know the state lives up to them all. Oregon is home to vast forests, fertile valleys, and an incredibly rugged coastline. What’s more, the views of the Pacific Ocean from one of the state’s many cliffs are some of the most photographed in the world. If you are looking for an affordable place to take the entire family this spring consider heading to Oregon. To help persuade you hotels in the Portland area are … Continue reading →

Fall Festivals From Coast to Coast

There’s more to Labor Day than just the MDA Telethon (as noble a cause as it is). The long holiday weekend gives you one more chance to get out and enjoy the last remaining days of late sunsets and warm temperatures. Around the country major cities are gearing up for fall with noteworthy family-friendly festivals. Here are just a few: PORTLAND, OREGON The city’s 11th annual Art in the Pearl is a three-day extravaganza, which fills Portland’s streets with art, theater, music and hands-on activities for adults and children. More than 100 vendors pack the area with paintings, photography, glass, … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: Places You’ll Need a Car

Portland is a great place to visit on foot or by bicycle. But unless you bring your vehicle, you’ll miss some of it. Split your trip if you can, doing a day or more by car and another day or two (or four) on foot. Traffic can be horrendous in the downtown area or on any freeway during commute hours. Try to plan your vehicle trips between nine and four, or after 7 pm. Here are some places to visit by car: Lloyd Center – This is a huge shopping mall with an ice skating rink and a movie theater. … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: Where to Stay

It’s always the big question, isn’t it? Where to stay in a city that you’re new to. Being part of a chain will give you some idea, but all hotels are not created equally. First read the blog about bidding for travel. If price is your primary concern, that’s the method to use. It’s the lowest price you’re going to get, but you can never be sure which hotel you’ll end up with. We like Portland and go there frequently. My husband also goes a lot for his music. Together, we have a lot of experience with the area hotels, … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: Put on Your Walking Shoes!

Portland is one of our favorite day trips. It’s about three hours from us, and worth the drive. It’s even better when we take the train and don’t have to worry about parking or traffic. The City of Roses is one of the cleanest cities in the United States. Part of that is because it’s nearly impossible to drive downtown. Almost everyone bikes, walks, or uses the free public transportation. That’s not a bad thing, but you should plan it into your day. Parking can be quite expensive, generally more than a dollar per hour. It’s best explored in 2 … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

One of our favorite Portland destinations is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, more often known by its initials OMSI. OMSI is geared toward the 6-12 crowd, but children of all ages will enjoy it. There are tons of hands-on displays demonstrated different aspects of science. Chemistry, physics, and computer labs are manned by professionals who help children explore their interests. Upstairs is a paleontology lab and reptile room (yucch!). There are static and changing displays to challenge and ignite your child’s mind. My favorite permanent exhibit there is one on reproduction and fetal development. The babies are real. … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: Ground Kontrol

Around the corner from Backspace is The City of Roses’ favorite arcade, Ground Kontrol. It’s a huge collection of classic pinball and arcade games. What a find! Eons ago, when I was in high school, every Friday night my sister and I would go hang out at The Castle. Miniature golf, go-karts, bumper boats, rides, and, of course, a huge arcade to eat your quarters. We’d take our money and save the last quarter. After we’d spent the rest, we took that last quarter and headed over to Eight Ball Deluxe, our favorite pinball machine. We knew we’d be able … Continue reading →

Portland, OR: Backspace

We make frequent trips to Portland, sometimes for a cultural activity and other times just to play. It was on one of these play trips that we discovered Backspace. They bill themselves as Portland’s “hip, uncool place”. It’s a 4000 s.f. space that reminds me of the beatniks of old. Yes, this conservative, Bush-loving, gun toting Christian mama likes a hotbed of insurgent thought. I just look past the anti-W stickers, the slogans of disillusioned youth, and the propaganda of the left, knowing that as they grow and have families, they’ll recognize the error of their ways ;-). Seriously, though, … Continue reading →