Oxbow Regional Park
By admin | August 19, 2008
What’s to Love: One of my favorite things about writing these articles is the shocking surprises that often occur while on different adventures. The biggest surprises happen when I think a place is just going to be awful, and it turns out being the exact opposite. It’s happened several times this summer, and it definitely happened on my visit to Oxbow Regional Park. This park is a MUST visit during the hot days of summer! Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Beaches, Campgrounds, Columbia Gorge, Fishing Spots, General Info./Homepage, Hiking | No Comments »
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
By admin | August 19, 2008
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What’s to Love: Cape Perpetua Scenic Area is just south of the coastal town of Yachats, Oregon. The scenic area offers many of the amenities of a state park including a campground with piped drinking water, flush toilets, fire rings, and tables, a visitor center offering interpretive programs, and plenty of picnic areas in the day-use area. While these features are a boon to the average visitor, parents will be pleasantly surprised by something else. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Beaches, Campgrounds, General Info./Homepage, Hiking | No Comments »
Wahclella Falls
By admin | August 4, 2008
What’s to Love: In my opinion, Wahclella is the Columbia River Gorge’s most beautiful waterfall. I realize that’s a pretty bold claim considering all the great waterfalls. However, Wahclella’s massive canyon walls filled with lush-green vegetation will make you think you’re in Hawaii, and it’s only 40 minutes from downtown Portland. Spend the day, half a day, or even a couple hours, and you too will become a believer. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Columbia Gorge, Hiking, Waterfalls | No Comments »
Cannon Beach
By admin | July 23, 2008
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What’s to Love: Cannon Beach is the “ace in the hole” when it comes to Portland getaways. It’s a clean town with excellent surrounding beaches, parks and camping. Plus, for a hefty price, you can usually find good food and lodging. It’s a bit predictable for us, but we always seem to stumble onto something new each time.
Many people don’t like the Disney-like-foot-traffic that plugs the walkways, restaurants, beaches, parks and playgrounds. Others think it’s a bit sterile and/or upscale for their tastes - they prefer a getaway with a little more character such as Manzanita or Oceanside. While I like the gritty towns, I also like many of the upscale amenities that Cannon Beach has to offer. And, if you take the time, you will find that Cannon Beach has something to offer almost any visitor. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Beach Towns, Beaches | No Comments »
Champoeg State Park
By admin | June 11, 2008
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What’s to Love: If you want to experience some great biking on safe, paved-paths, or play 15 holes of frisbee golf, then by all means head to Champoeg State Park. It’s well worth the 30 mile drive from Portland, even with gas being $4+ per gallon. It is also the perfect destination for a family camping trip, especially for first timers. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Fishing, Hiking, State Parks | 1 Comment »
Salmon Creek Park/Trail
By admin | May 26, 2008
What’s to Love: When we moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1999, we couldn’t find affordable rent in Portland, so we ended-up in Vancouver. After hanging out in Portland, we realized that it was a much better match for us. Thus, we left Vancouver after about 3-4 months with a pretty unfavorable impression of the area. Indeed, Vancouver (the ‘couv’) takes quite a bit of punishment from Portlanders. However, in terms of outdoor recreation (specifically bicycling on paved-paths), Vancouver has many opportunities that mirror Portland’s excellent reputation as a “biking town.” Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Fishing, Fishing Spots, Fountains, Parks Playgrounds Pools, Vancouver | 2 Comments »
Oneonta Falls (Middle)
By admin | May 18, 2008
What’s to Love: Adventurous parents will love this hike - it offers a bit of excitement with some stiff climbs (short), steep drops (careful! No barrier), but it’s still pretty safe for most kid-hikers. At 2.7 miles round trip, the distance on this hike is just right for most family members. Plus, there are many options, if things don’t work out with the longer hike. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Columbia Gorge, Hiking, Waterfalls | No Comments »
Commonwealth Lake Park
By admin | May 18, 2008
What’s to Love: What’s to love? How about my first “highlight video!” Wooohooo! I can’t believe I actually got this up and running finally. You’ll see most of my new posts with a short video clip. Anyway…Commonwealth Lake Park…hmmmm…weird place, I must admit. However, I don’t mean that in a negative way. As far as parks go, let’s just say it’s somewhat unique. Basically, it’s a man-made lake surrounded by an upper-middle-class neighborhood.
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Fishing, Fishing Spots, Parks Playgrounds Pools, Wildlife Viewing | 5 Comments »
Tualatin Hills Nature Park
By admin | May 8, 2008
What’s to Love: Tualatin Hills Nature Park (THNP) can seem like Nike’s trail running course - it’s literally in the company’s backyard. I’m a bit leery of a “Nature Park” in the middle of a giant suburb. However, our visit to Tualatin Hills Nature Park was perfect! The weather was fantastic, the trails were immaculate, the biking was fun and just right for a 4 year old without training wheels, and the picnic area was relaxing and quiet. I invite your comments on this wonderful park. Read more… Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Biking, SW Cities, Wildlife Viewing | No Comments »
Hebb Park
By admin | May 6, 2008
What’s to Love: For Willamette River access, Hebb Park cannot compare to the beauty and cleanliness of Willamette Park, or George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego. However, Hebb Park will certainly provide a more relaxed atmosphere with manageable crowds. Plus, if you’re looking for a casual fishing experience off a dock or the shore, this is a pretty good choice.
Topics: Fishing Spots | No Comments »
Springbrook Park/Uplands Elementary
By admin | March 8, 2008
What’s to Love: My son and I stumbled upon this little gem while touring (outer) SW parks and playgrounds. We were headed to see “Springbrook Park,” but ended up pulling into Uplands Elementary School. We were pleasantly surprised by the awesome playground structures (see pictures). Lucky for us, there were two trailheads at opposite ends of the playground that led directly into Springbrook Park.
Topics: Hiking, Parks Playgrounds Pools, SW Cities, Wildlife Viewing | No Comments »
Tualatin River Wildlife Refuge
By admin | March 7, 2008
What’s to Love: Right off the very busy highway 99W in Sherwood, OR is a very pleasant surprise. The first thing you’ll notice when pulling into the Refuge is the beautiful new interpretive center. The interpretive center houses exhibits, restrooms, a small gift shop, a spotting scope, and some very helpful and friendly volunteers. Because of traffic, getting to this place can be a real pain, but it’s definitely worth the trip.
Topics: Hiking, Sherwood, Wildlife Viewing | No Comments »
Oceanside, Oregon
By admin | November 26, 2007
What’s to Love: This tiny, down-to-earth coastal town has maintained a great deal of integrity and local flavor despite being a popular tourist destination. The beach is gorgeous, there are plenty of rental homes for reasonable rates, and your family can walk along the streets without having to worry about traffic. There are several decent restaurants in town, but I prefer the little coffee shop (Brewin’ in the Wind) right next to the beach parking.
Your kids will love the tunnel cut right through the cliff - you’ll see it, and it’s well worth a stroll through to the other side where you’ll see some amazing sea stacks. If the tunnel is too scary, wait until low-tide, and the way should be clear to walk around the cliff alongside the water.
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Topics: Beach Towns, Beaches | No Comments »
Latourell Falls
By admin | November 20, 2007
What’s to Love: An easy 2.3 mile loop brings you past two picture-perfect waterfalls (lower and upper) with viewing bridges at each spot giving you a close-up view. On the return portion of the hike there is a spectacular viewing area that gives a great view of Rooster Rock and the Gorge. The hiking length is just right for a family outing, and the terrain is adventurous but never risky or questionable. The best part about this hike is that it’s the closest waterfall-hike to Portland. There is also a picnic area on the return trip. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Hiking, Waterfalls | 2 Comments »
Kruger’s Farm
By admin | November 20, 2007
What’s to Love: OREGON STRAWBERRIES ARE ABOUT 1 WEEK AWAY at Kruger’s Farm. These are NO SPRAY berries, and we invite you to taste the difference and support Don Kruger’s effort to keep fungicide off his farm!
Kruger’s is by far my favorite farm in the Portland area, and in the summer it’s one of my favorite spots with the family. There are three things that make it hard to beat: 1) Don Kruger is such a friendly guy; 2) The berries are incredible and NOT sprayed, and the farm does not use chemical fertilizers or fungicides; and 3) In the summertime, this is THE best music venue in Portland.
Every Thursday starting in July the farm opens up the lawn to families and wild-dancing kids. The concerts have always been the highlight of the week for me and my family. It’s like being on vacation. Bring your Crazy Creek chair and/or blankets, a big picnic, and kick back and enjoy some great tunes! You’ll be set for the evening. Let the kids run wild in the berry patch or play frisbee in a big open field. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Farms | 2 Comments »
Tamanawas Falls
By admin | November 18, 2007
What’s to Love: The hike to Tamanawas Falls is a relatively short (3.8 miles round trip) and easy hike, and the reward is a striking waterfall in a beautiful, amphitheater-like setting. There are several bridges to cross, and your kids will get a kick out of crossing them. As you get close to the falls, you’ll have to walk through a large rock/scree slide, which my son loved! This was one of the best parts of the hike for us. Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Hiking, Hood River, Waterfalls | No Comments »
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge - Hiking Loop
By admin | November 14, 2007
What’s to Love: A great 2 mile loop-hike right in the heart of the Westmoreland area, and right in the heart of a beautiful Wildlife Refuge. Many hard-working people have transformed this entire wetland into a wonderful destination for hiking, biking, bird watching and exploring. For the most part, it is now very clean and safe. Historically, that has not always been the case (see Caveats). Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Hiking, Parks Playgrounds Pools, Wildlife Viewing | 1 Comment »
Tryon Creek State Park
By admin | November 11, 2007
What’s to Love: The fact that
Topics: Hiking, Parks Playgrounds Pools, State Parks | 2 Comments »
Rasmussen Farm - Hood River, OR
By admin | November 8, 2007
What’s to Love: Rasmussen’s farm store has many varieties of pears and apples, many of which, you may never see in a local grocery store. The store also contains many specialty food items, plants and gifts. We picked-up some Huckleberry Jam, which according to my wife, was incredible. The staff was very kind and helpful.
The farm has a hay-bale maze for young children. My 4 year old enjoyed walking through it with a new friend, but quickly wanted to move on to bigger and better things. Rasmussen has a large pumpkin field where you can gather assorted pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns. My son enjoyed playing on the old tractor near the pumpkin patch. There are some amazing views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams.
However, the main attraction appears to be their corn maze and their “Pumpkin Funland,” which, as stated on their website (see below) is a “…unique world of characters crafted by the Rasmussen staff with creativity and humor from pumpkins, vegetables, squash, gourds and other items from the farm and greenhouse. It truly is something to see…quirky…I don’t think I could explain it in words. You have to see it to believe it. 
My son enjoyed checking it out, and my wife and I would describe it as “classic.” Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Farms | No Comments »
Promontory Park
By admin | November 7, 2007
What’s to Love: Make no mistake, you’re not going to catch a 10-pound salmon at this location. However, it’s almost guaranteed that your kids will catch fish. “Small Fry Lake” is stocked with trout, and there is a general store close by if you forgot something. After parking (see link below for directions, etc.), you’ll need to only walk a short distance (within 1/8 of a mile) down a hill to the fishing hole. The trail is well kept, and there are some nice ledges for storing your gear and relaxing. There is plenty of shade. Click “more” to see a short clip and read more.
Topics: Fishing, Fishing Spots | No Comments »
Oswald State Park
By admin | November 6, 2007
What’s to Love:
This could easily be a unappealing place to bring your kids - it’s overcrowded with terrible parking issues along a very busy highway. However, Oswald State Park does not disappoint! This is an amazingly well-kept beach with plenty of room for all, despite too many people and difficult parking. What makes this particularly appealing to families is the spring-fed, shallow river that feeds into the ocean. This is a great place for kids to play! They can skip rocks, swim, or just splash around in a relatively-safe area. Take a beautiful hike along the beach - there are plenty of tide pools to explore! Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Beaches, State Parks | No Comments »
Cape Lookout State Park
By admin | November 3, 2007
What’s to Love: After a beautiful, 1 mile, all downhill hike you’ll end-up on one of the most breathtaking beaches on the Oregon coast. Plus, the hike back uphill is just enough to deter large crowds of people from visiting this spot. With the large cliffs, sweeping views of low dunes, and a totally wooded backdrop, this beach has it all, except 80 degree+ water. This may look like a beach right out of a Hawaiian guidebook, but the water temperature will definitely tell you it’s all Oregon. There will be plenty of room to find a lunch spot in the perfect white sand. On my first visit, my son Rhys (3 years old) and his little friend Jasmine (2 1/2 at the time) took off running all over this beach buck naked - they loved it! Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Beaches, Hiking, State Parks | No Comments »