They Came, They Saw, I Took Pictures
Jenn - Another repeat visitor, Jenn was here July 2000. Highlights included Mt. St. Helen's where we toured the visitor centers and saw alot of cool video footage commemorating the 20th anniversary of her May 18, 1980 explosion. I highly recommend Johnson's Observatory for the best views. Jenn and I also mastered the art of knot-making while kite flying at Cannon Beach (where we also found a jellyfish and lots of bulky starfish). Had fun jumping on the trampoline - kinda hard to do with five people.
Diane - Long-time friend from Evansville, Diane visited May 2000. Highlights included hiking the gorge falls where we discovered a new trail, Wahclella Falls Trail, and the wrong way back from Wahclella Falls. It was my first hike with an umbrella (wimpy, but necessary). We broke in my new picnic basket with a breakfast picnic at the Rose Gardens. We also had a good time wandering Cannon Beach and hanging out at Mark's for a Memorial Day BBQ (good dip Diane!).
Monte - My first international visitor (Monte lives in Spain). Unfortunately it rained his entire visit - typical Feb weather for Oregon. But we hiked anyway. He was a trooper, must have been the Jasper wildcats sweatshirt. We went shopping for our significant others (and I remember asking him if he thought I should get Mark something more than the salad dressing... tee hee). We also checked out Bridgeport Brew Pub so he could get ideas for his dream of opening a microbrew in Spain.
Francie and Andy - My first repeat visitors. Highlights included hiking to Triple Falls, showing off my new home and my new Mark, fancy dining at Jazz de Opus (almost The Heathman but they kicked us out) and driving Andy up to Seattle for some yummy burgers.
Margo - Highlights included tip-toeing through the tulips, baking bread from scratch, Saturday Morning Market (finding pottery like a French butter dish that ages your butter beyond belief), planting flowers, hiking and picnicing at the Gorge waterfalls and hanging out at Cannon Beach.
Ali and Mark - Highlights included Saturday morning Market, carving pumpkins while Ali slept, finding our car at Latoural Falls (after my shortcut), winery touring and You Don't Know Jack (except when Ali's key kept sticking!)
Stephanie - Highlights included going to the Christmas party at Mark's house, watching the TrailBlazers game from the Rose Garden Arena suite on Wes' bday, hiking the falls in the mist and Stephanie practicing her interview skills.
Francie and Andy - Highlights included Francie sliding around my backseat since there are no seatbelts, the fancy French restaurant, hiking with Andy and his heart monitor and finally losing that crazy tourist lady who wanted to have dinner with us and stay at my place (until Andy saw her at the aiport that is).
Mom and Dad - Highlights included Ancient Egypt at the art museum, the floating seafood dining, me hobbling along on my bum ankle at Cannon Beach as we searched for sand dollars (but only found a stray dog), wandering the Rose Gardens just as the buds were opening, finding Pittock Mansion and still getting them to the airport just as the sun came out (and their original flight departed).
Amy - Highlights included a trip to Corvalis to see her long-lost, organic cousin, water noodle olympics at dawn, and smelling the roses in the Rose Gardens (of course we visited the Shakespeare Garden).
Julia - Highlights included watching the waves crash at Cannon Beach, introducing her to Costco deals, viewing the Gorge falls in a trashbag and finally from inside the dry car.
Jenn - Highlights included visiting the Orca Whale "Keiko," a snowball fight on Mt. Hood (in July), body wraps (don't ask), Happy Trails cowboy concert in the zoo and the crazy day of going from Newport Bay to the falls at the Gorge to Mt. Hood to see the sunset (yes, all in one day) - now that's a grand tour!
Jane and her friend Nicole - Highlights included belly-dancing lessons at the Crystal Ballroom, cinnamon bread at the Bajou Cafe, barefootin' at Cannon Beach, lots of ice cream to help heal Jane's broken arm, hiking the falls til sundown and of course daring to enter the 24 Hour Elvis Wedding Chapel when COPS was on tv.
Love living in the great northwest with its great outdoors. So much that I've become a tour guide on the side. I feel it my mission to show off:
- Beautiful Columbia River Gorge with its stretch of 11+ waterfalls in 11 miles and the famous Vista House at the lookout point where you can see the Gorge from on high.
- Mt. Hood with its many ski runs including Timberline Lodge. A huge lodge with fireplace and views - good place to hang out above the clouds and watch the sunset or .
- My Cannon Beach--a quaint town, crafty shops (not touristy) and beautiful Haystack Rock. Recommend the seafood market for clam chowder in a bread bowl and the Local Scoop for ice cream.
- The NE Hawthorne District is a fun place to hang out. Lotsa coffee shops and eclectic restaurants and shops to browse plus a great Brew-n-View restored theater "The Bagdad" for cheap second-run movies. Also lots of great eats all around town, from "Casablanca"--a Moroccon restaurant, set in a tent, with eastern music--to waterfront seafood restaurants.
- The largest bookstore in the country, Powell's Books on 10th & Burnside. New and Used books, a labyrinth of color-coded rooms, fun to browse.
- Several renowned vineyards are located right here in Beaverton, OR. Ponzi vineyards, famous for Pinot Gris and Copper Mountain, are on an extinct volcano. You can go wine tasting or just wander around and check out the views.