A perfect three-day escape to Portland, Oregon

By Mia Bertelsen

Oregon is a popular destination to visit in the summer. Portland does not disappoint those who seek to see spectacular green trees, mountains, rivers, city views and more. I must share that Portland has a piece of my heart as I grew up in Oregon and miss it a lot.

I hadn’t been in Portland for a long time and I was excited to rediscover the city. I knew that I had to renew my link with nature. Hiking was top on my list.

Day 1: Our first stop was Multnomah Falls. It is located east of Portland on I-84. The drive is easy and is about 32 miles from downtown Portland. You can see the iconic falls from the freeway and I am embarrassed to admit that I have never stopped and properly admired its beauty. I am so glad that we did this trip. If fact, Multnomah Falls is the most visited natural recreation site in the Pacific Northwest with more than 2 million visitors annually.

There is parking right in front of the entrance, but we decided to take a shuttle and bypass the stress of finding parking. It can be very busy, especially during the summer. The Waterfall shuttle, 60984 NE Frontage Rd. Cascade Locks, OR, was easy and affordable. You can even rent an ebike from the shuttle parking lot and ride it to the entrance to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

The falls are fed by underground springs from Larch Mountain. There are three separate drops (upper falls, main falls and lower falls) for a total of 635 feet, making it the tallest waterfall in Oregon.

Our favorite part was just enjoying the views and listening to the water. Once you hike up a bit, you are rewarded with a huge panorama of the powerful Columbia River. If you can’t hike, the main part of the entrance is paved and very accessible. We saw people of all ages enjoying the scenery and the awe inspiring beauty of the power of nature.

Day 2: The Pittock Mansion hike was a wonderful day. The Tunnel Trailhead starts just a short drive from downtown Portland. The hike was 3.7 miles and had us walking under a blanket of lush green trees and winding trails. We stopped to study the plants and animals and were surprised to see the biggest slug ever. Oregon is home to many species of slugs and snails.

We emerged to an opening in the forest to find a Victorian-era mansion that has huge gardens and an enormous view of the Portland skyline and Mount Hood. The mansion was built in 1914 for Oregonian publisher Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana Burton Pittock. You can enter the mansion and tour it for $12, but to walk around the grounds it is free. The roses bloom in abundance and the view can take your breath away. At one point the mansion was abandoned and damaged from a serious storm in 1962. Developers wanted to tear it down and build a subdivision of houses. Portlanders saved the mansion and preserved it for future generations.

Day 3: Downtown Portland is still a great place to visit. Its reputation has taken a beating lately, but I still enjoy going there. The homeless population and other ugly downtown city issues that don’t go away are visible. Yet, the energy and vibrancy that makes Portland unique is still there and thriving.

Powell’s Books, 1005 W Burnside St, is a great place to get lost and appreciate the independent book store. The store is huge and it boasts to be the world’s largest new and used bookstore. It has a section for everything and you can find something that speaks to you. I really liked how there were so many suggestions on what books to read. The reviews came from employees and customers too. There is a café and many inviting places to sit and read.

You may have heard the saying that Portland is weird. It is true. There are many strange things going on. Voodoo Doughnuts, 22 SW 3rd Avenue, lives up to that name. It was founded in 2003 and strives to create a doughnut experience that doesn’t fit the traditional mold. You can even get married in the shop. They offer unique doughnuts like the voodoo doll that has a pretzel stabbing her heart. Some doughnuts feature the male anatomy. Often there is a line to go in the store and get your dozen. The doughnuts were delicious and made us laugh with their creativity.

We were sorry to leave Portland. On the last day we were reminded that rain is the one constant in the Pacific Northwest. We woke up to the gentle sounds of water hitting the roof and keeping all those plants healthy, vibrant and green.