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As a child, Savina Darzes would wander down to the San Francisco wharf near the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory. The scent of chocolate wafted over the piers, mixing with sea salt and the noise of the docks. Little wonder that when Ms. Darzes grew up and moved to Portland, she organized a gourmet twist on the old-fashioned sightseeing tour with the Portland Chocolate Walking and Tasting Tours.
On a recent business trip I experienced an unexpected perfect day that snuck up on me like serendipitous rain shower during a forest fire. When I first heard about my assignment to Portland, Oregon, I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting much, since the only thing I knew about the city was that Clyde Drexler could dunk a mean basketball, and that apparently the last census had proven Portland as the “least ethnically diverse city in America”.
Warning: this spectacular loop drive is responsible for tens of thousands of visitors deciding to sell the house, quit their job and move to Oregon! Done as an overnight adventure or a long day trip, this classic 165-mile road tour takes you past many of the state’s most iconic features: towering waterfalls, fir-draped basalt ramparts, abundant fruit orchards, a one-of-a-kind historic lodge, and Oregon’s tallest glacier-carved mountain.
You’re never alone in the Gorge. Whether it’s the Columbia River surging toward the sea, or basalt cliffs soaring like magical beings, the Gorge is alive. Towering conifers add to its majesty. Its wild beauty is a treat for the eye, and human life has pulsed here for thousands of years. People lived in the Gorge before there was writing. They left their stories in rock etchings called Petroglyphs, and rock paintings called pictographs. Read More
Lake Oswego is not just a southern suburb of Portland. This small lakeside city of approximately 36-thousand residents features a vibrant downtown, wonderful restaurants and numerous shopping options. A visitor to this gem of a city will also find an emerging arts scene and plenty of natural areas and beautiful parks worthy of exploring.
A dense fog-blanketed morning gives way to rain. The Northwest wind pulls at Douglas Firs. It is the kind of day most people imagine who haven’t been to Portland, Oregon and know it mostly for its weather statistics. Officially known as the city of roses, Portland boasts much more than blooms and rain. This people-friendly city is a sophisticated urban playground best known for its microbrew beer, Stumptown coffee, bridges, bikes and books.