Time Enough For Just One Hike

hey guys,

i'll be out in portland either this weekend or the next checking out the city and trying to sell my wife on the idea of making it our next home... got any recommendations of cool things to check out? parks, museums, restaurants, old neighborhoods with character, etc?

as i'm typing this, i realize how ridiculously open-ended this question is, as it was my original intent to ask something to the effect of...

if you had friends coming into town (portland) and could only do one hike, which hike would you take them on to really knock their socks off? i'll likely only have time to take the wife on one hike, and sorta figured proxy falls was one of the most spectacular sights around... do any of you have any better suggestions? i suppose anything within an hours drive of town is do-able.

so, got any suggestions for spectacular scenery or great things to do in town?

THANKS!
scott

Scott,

I'm sure you and your wife will love Portland. How about making a day of the Columbia River Gorge? Take exit 22 off I-84E (Corbett), and then turn left onto the Old Columbia Hwy. Actually scratch that. If she's the passenger, first drive to the east end of the highway (exit 35 I think), and come back west. That way as you head east, she can see the waterfalls. Hopefully you'll have good weather and enjoy the sunset from oneof the many overlooks around the Vista house.

Kosta

Oh yeah, for hikes, I'd recommend Wahclella Falls (exit #40)

Kosta

I would do the Eagle Creek trail to the Punchbowl. The trail is in the Columbia river Gorge just a little west of Cascade Locks on I 84. Amazing scenery and waterfalls. It's about a 2.5 mile hike to the Punchbowl. You will pass right by Multnomah Falls on the way so make sure you stop at Oregon's biggest tourist attraction.

The tulip fields in Woodburn would be a good choice as well. Wooden Shoe

After the hike, (or before), do a search and/or check out the following in the Downtown area:

Restaurants: Jakes Seafood, Morton's and the Ringside off Burnside for steaks..

Parks: Waterfront Park, Washington Park, (Japanese Gardens), a small park near Reed College and the Eastmoreland neighborhood called Crystal Springs...

Neighborhoods: Irvington, Westmoreland, The Pearl District, (NW Portland near the Ringside and Jakes), Alameda, Eastmoreland, (near Cystal Springs), with great antique shops - and also the Hawthorne district for antiques and other interesting sites.

If I was looking for photography with great little hikes and scenery out the kazoo - it would be the Oregon Coast.. but that is probably because I am so sick of the Gorge....

thanks for all the great suggestions, fellas. i'm surprised that nobody mentioned proxy falls... i was told that was the single prettiest hike around! should be a great trip... made even better for your suggestions.

thanks again,
scott

It really is beautiful, Scott. During the time you come, you would probably have to navigate quite a bit of snow - maybe even on snow shoes to get into there... I'm not sure of the exact elevation, though...

snow in april! toto, we're not in texas anymore!