Don't Miss Multnomah Falls!

Multnomah Falls is one of the most famous natural wonders in the PNW. It is a short drive east of downtown Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. At 620 feet tall, it is the second-tallest waterfall in the US.

It's not an easy hike to the top, but the view is incredible: you can stand at the top of the waterfall and look straight down! The walkway is paved, so even in rainy weather, you can get to the top safely.

On a nice day you can bring a picnic lunch to eat at the top, or enjoy breakfast or lunch at the restaurant in the historic lodge next door. I recommend the huckleberry pancakes!

Portland Rose Festival

Did you know that Portland is called "the Rose City?" Every summer there is a big festival to celebrate this beautiful flower. The Portland Rose Festival kicks off on May 31 this year. This the the 100th year of the festival, and there will be a lot of festivities around town, from parades and contests to concerts and races. Some of the highlights are:

• The Grand Floral Parade on Sunday, June 10, at 10 a.m. in downtown Portland

The Starlight Parade on Saturday, June 9, at 9:00 p.m. in downtown Portland. This parade happens at night, so the floats light up the dark sky!

• Waterfront Village at the Waterfront June 1-June 10 from 11:00a.m.-11:00 p.m. This is a big festival with carnival rides, food, music, and lots of people-watching!

These photos are from openphoto.net

Hiking Season Awaits!

All right, it does rain here occasionally. Rather often in winter, actually. But once we get to mid-May, things start to change. Flowers, trees, and plants are all blooming like crazy right now, or have been for the past month.

This is the camas flower which blooms in late April or early May. It has edible parts and was named by Native Americans. You can see it growing wild at Bridal Veil Falls in the Columbia River Gorge, among other places.

This is a great time of year to dust off your old hiking boots and get out there on the trails!

Bridal Veil Falls is an easy hike that takes about an hour if you do the trail down to the waterfall itself and also the scenic loop adjacent to the parking lot.

Keep an eye out for these beautiful lilacs!

Welcome!

Have you ever heard someone say that it rains all the time in Portland and Seattle? I think there is a reason why...the people who live here perpetuate this myth so that more people DON'T move here.

Life in the Pacific Northwest is one of the country's best-kept secrets!

Using my blog, I hope to introduce the rest of the world to the wonders that are the Pacific Northwest....are you ready?

Let's go!

P.S. The photo is Mt. Hood, which greets all visitors arriving by plane to Portland.