Friday, August 1, 2008

Things to do while in Oregon

My cousin, Patrick, is visiting us for a week from Indiana. This is Patrick's first trip to Oregon, so we've been doing all the obligatory touristy things.

Wednesday we had lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory on the waterfront. Mizithra cheese, yum!! Patrick and I caught up on the happenings of our lives while we ate, and generally just enjoyed each other's company. Afterward, we rode the tram up to OHSU to get an aerial view of the city, which is pretty amazing. You can see as far south as the Sellwood bridge, and the most recognizable thing to me in the north was the Kaiser Permanente building, or the Rose Garden Arena, though I think they're equal in their northness. Finally, we took a walk down to Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Salmon Street Springs, then rode the streetcar back.

Thursday, Mom, Patrick and I headed out to Gresham to see where my mom and Patrick's dad lived, along with their 3 other siblings and our grandparents. Afterward, we headed to Lloyd Center and then took MAX across the river. We walked around downtown a bit, took some pictures in Pioneer Square, and then took the streetcar up to NW 23rd. We had sushi for lunch (Patrick's first time - and he liked it!), a Moonstruck Chocolate to cleanse the palate, and a small gelato each from Alotto Gelato. Mmmm!

Friday Ricky, Patrick, Jacko and I headed to the beach. We made a short stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for cheese tasting and ice cream, and then continued on to Seaside. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't all that great, so we walked the boardwalk, buying a few souvenirs and a stunt kite, and then headed to the Del Rey beach access. We were able to drive down onto the beach, where we had some lunch, attempted to fly the kite (Dear God, if you aren't going to make it sunny at the beach, could you at least make it windy enough to fly a kite?!), and played in the ocean. Then we drove north on the beach - yes, literally on the sand - to Fort Stevens and the wreckage of the Peter Iredale* for some exploring and more pictures. And finally, we ended our beach adventure with a trip to Cannon Beach for some Moe's clam chowder. Yum!

We still have lots more planned for Patrick's trip. I'm afraid his vacation isn't very relaxing, but at least he's getting a good taste of what Portland is all about.

*The Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel sailing vessel that ran ashore October 25, 1906, on the Oregon coast en route to the Columbia River. It was abandoned on Clatsop Spit near Fort Stevens in Warrenton about four miles (6 km) south of the Columbia River channel. Wreckage is still visible, making it a popular tourist attraction as one of the most accessible shipwrecks of the Graveyard of the Pacific.

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