SELLWOOD-MORELAND — If you’re new to Portland, discover one of Portland’s trendy neighborhoods, where you can shop to your heart’s desire for antiques. The neighborhood attracts many visitors to antique malls and indie stores. According to www.travelportland.com, “vintage vendors stock both mid-century treasures and flea market finds.” Plan a visit to Stars Antiques Mall, which houses nearly 200 dealers and is open 7 days a week. R. Spencer Antiques offers furniture and fine antiques. For more information go online (www.travelportland.com).
TOM MCCALL WATERFRONT PARK — The perfect location to enjoy a book or to eat your lunch on a warm summer day is this 36.59 acre attraction located in Downtown Portland. Visit the Battleship Oregon Memorial and take in the Founder’s Stone, which honors city founders William Pettygrove and Asa Lovejoy. For those new to Portland, those two men flipped a coin way back when to determine if this Portland would be named Portland or Boston. The park also contains Salmon Street Springs, a fountain where youngsters frequently congregate to escape Portland’s sometimes blistering heat. Go online for more info (www.portland.gov).
OAKS BOTTOM — For nature watching, try out Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge Natural Area. It’s located just north of the Sellwood Bridge at S.E. Seventh Ave. and Sellwood Boulevard, on the east bank of the Willamette River. Portland Parks and Recreation’s Oaks Bottom Refuge is a 163-acre complex containing meadows, woodlands and wetlands. Biking and hiking trails are available at the natural area. You might just be lucky enough to see a hawk, a mallard or a woodpecker. Find more information online (www.portland.gov/parks/oaks-bottom-wildlife-refuge).
PITTOCK MANSION — Visit this historic mansion in Portland’s West Hills. The house is operated by the Pittock Mansion Society in collaboration with Portland Parks and Recreation. According to the society, “The mission of the Pittock Mansion Society is to inspire understanding and stewardship through Pittock Mansion, its collections, and programs.” If you want to see a stunning view of the city skyline and surrounding neighborhoods at a height of nearly a thousand feet over Portland, bring your cameras or recorders to the back of the house. Go online for more information (www.pittockmansion.org).
BLUE LAKE — A summer day just wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a lake. And Fairview, Oregon has just the ticket, Blue Lake Regional Park. This is a natural lake fed by underground springs. Relax on a sunny day or enjoy the spray ground, discovery gardens, sports facilities, and a wetland with a viewing platform and trail. The park also offers a gold-level disc golf course. Blue Lake Regional Park is open seven days a week. From May 1 through Sept. 14, hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 31, hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on this park go online (www.oregonmetro.gov/metro-parks-and-natural-areas).
BEAVERTON FARMERS MARKET — If you are hungry for some fresh produce and a lot more, stop by this market, open every Saturday, April through Nov. 19, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market is located at 12375 S.W. Fifth Street. It features community events, cooking demonstrations and food drives. On Sept. 10, there will be a chef demonstration with basic culinary mentor Sam Maggi. Music is performed throughout the summer months, featuring performances from the Beaverton Community Band, Sandy Saunders, Mae Day, Barrio Mestizo, and many more. For a complete listing of the musical events, this summer go online (www.beavertonfarmersmarket.com/).
LANGER’S — When in Sherwood, visit Langer’s Entertainment Center, located at 21650 S.W. Langer Farms Parkway. Kids of all ages will enjoy many attractions at the complex, including a rock wall that’s specifically designed after Smith Rock in Central Oregon. Langer’s offers an arcade for kids of all ages, with over 50 racing, redemption, and video games. Try your hand at basketball or play a fun game of Skee-Ball. Laser Tag is offered along with a high ropes course. Call 503-625-1800 or go online (www.langersfun.com/).
EASTBANK ESPLANADE — Those new to the area will get a glimpse of how beautiful Portland is by visiting the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade, a pedestrian and bicycle path along the east shore of the Willamette River. The 1.5 mile stretch extends north from the Hawthorne Bridge, past the Morrison and Burnside bridges, to the Steel Bridge. Named after a former mayor of Portland, the Esplanade offers a stunning view of Downtown Portland and provides a great location to enjoy summer sunshine. To learn more go online (www.portland.gov/parks).
OMSI — Science and technology lovers will love the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Located at 1945 S.E. Water Avenue, this famed museum features three auditoriums, a large screen theater, a planetarium and exhibit halls. Take your family through the Natural Sciences Hall. A Life Lab, paleontology lab and earth lab are at the ready. Visit the Turbine Hall, the Space Science Hall and the Kendall Planetarium. Venture outside the museum to tour the U.S.S Blueback, where you can learn how to live underwater in a real submarine. OMSI was founded in 1955 and was once located alongside the Washington Park Zoo. Find info online (www.omsi.edu/).
HOYT ARBORETUM — At scenic Washington Park, bring the family to the Hoyt Arboretum, known as a museum of living trees. According to their website, “Hoyt Arboretum is a living museum, a historical landscape, an outdoor laboratory, and a curated woodland — all in one park.” The arboretum hosts over 2,300 tree species from six continents. 12 miles of hiking trails are available to those who want to enjoy nature on a beautiful summer day. The attraction is free and open all year. Find more information online (www.hoytarboretum.org).
THE GROTTO — If you want to relax, meditate or just enjoy the beauty of a sanctuary, visit The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, also known as The Grotto. This is an outdoor Catholic sanctuary located in Northeast Portland. The Grotto features a gift shop and over 62 acres of beautiful gardens. The non-profit center hosts 300,000 visitors of all faiths each year, including the Christmas Festival of Lights in December. The main entrance is located at Northeast 85th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard. For more information go online (www.thegrotto.org/).
WILDWOOD TRAIL — Whether you are new to hiking, or an experienced hiker, you will instantly fall in love with this trail, located in Portland’s Forest Park. It will be hard to believe you are in a forested surrounding within a metropolitan area that is edging closer to 3 million people. Wildwood Trail is a 29.5-mile point-to-point trek and takes, on average, 12 hours and 7 minutes to complete. But no worries, you can also hike portions of the popular attraction. The trail is popular for birding, hiking and trail running. Wildwood Trail is open all year. Dogs are welcome, but they must be on a leash. Go online for info (www.alltrails.com/).
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