October in Oregon, to do list
 

Hello! Need your advice please!
We have our second trip to OR late Oct to attend an Oct 29 wedding in Portland. First trip was last Spt and we briefly saw Portland, the Gorge, stayed an overnight in Willamette Valley and drove through Eugene and up the coast. This time, we plan to get in around Oct 22 and have about 4-5 days to explore b4 the wedding festivites begin (we are guests). I feel like we're stuck between summer fun and winter skiing. What can we do the last wk of OCtober in Oregon?
Land in Portland, rent a car and head
to Bend/Sun River maybe? Circle back through Hood river? Shld we hit more wine country? We are pretty active and like to stay busy. We want to take a few days around the wedding to visit neighborhoods as our goal is to move there asap (from Chicago). Thanks everyone!

That time of year you can run into some bad weather - not always - sometimes we get some decent stretches of weather but it will at least be cool - so you might want to consider a few things:

1. Stay in Portland and do mainly inside activities such as art galleries, shopping, just cruising around getting acquainted with Portland's neighborhoods.
2. Take a country drive somewhere to check out the fall foliage - some good places would be the Gorge/Hood River Valley, the Cascade footfills (perhaps around the Silverton/Mt Angel area), the Coast Range, or Yamhill county.
3. Another nice place to check out in the fall is Sauvie Island - close to Portland - about 20 minutes west on Highway 30.
3. Head over to the Bend area - October should be nice over there, although cool.

Developer friends of mine plan for rains to set in around October 15, so rparis is right; hope for sun, but plan for rain. That is, unless you head to Bend, where temps will be in the mid-50's, but dry.

I think you're on the right track. Unless you want to spend time at the coast, maybe do 1-2 days in Portland, 2 in central Oregon, and 1 in wine country. For central Oregon, I'd suggest either Bend/SunRiver area, or Black Butte Ranch, 30 miles NW of Bend. Both areas are great for sightseeing, hiking, fishing, etc.

If you're golfers, disregard all other recommendations and head to Bandon Dunes.

check website for Portland walking tours
phone 503-774-4522
They have several walking tours of the city- one that I have always wanted to do is the "Epicurian Walking Tour" in which they take you to variety of food vendors in the Pearl District - you get to eat and walk at the same time .

Great info, especially like the food tour! :) We'll plan Bend but have a backup for staying closer to POrtland so we can play it by ear with the weather. I like to super plan but won't worry about reserving much ahead those first 4 days as it will depend on the weather where we end up. I don't mind cool/cold, obviously crossing fingers against the rain. I'm also not familiar with Sauvie Island so will check into that. thanks!

Hi eroz! www.sauvieisland.org is a nice website for more info on Sauvie Island. We hosted a couple of shows there in the past. It's gorgeous countryside and in October they have a really cool pumpkin patch. :)

We have only been in the summer months and had lots of fun picking gorgeous bouquets of flowers and berries there. There are few beaches there, Collins Beach is Clothing Optional. Enjoy your trip! ***kim*** ((f))

>>Collins Beach is Clothing Optional. <<

In late October?? Yikes! :-)

Lee Ann

glad your back on line Kimamom. Missed your Oregon postings the past couple of weeks. You were most helpful, when we were planning our Oregon coast trip, last spring.

Thanks, glad to be of help. We get reealy busy in the Fall with back to school stuff (we raised 17,000 for the hurricane victims) water polo games and tourneys and an upcoming wedding next month. DD was nominated for Homecoming Princess, also. :)

We hope to be back in the Oregon area next month to help set up some exhibits at the Maritime Museum for the bi-centennial in Astoria. I miss traveling, but hey I get to go to Rocklin, CA soon and dine at the Horseshoe Grill, what could be better than that, LOL! ***kim*** ((l))

Ahhh, I remember those years, I was Homecoming Queen, it was cool :D

But ! back to the question ... I had no idea that we have nude beaches here in Oregon!! It is so cold! lol..

eroz,
don't know if you are interested but the Portland Art Museum is having some great shows, an exhibition from the Hesse family..
www.portlandartmuseum.org

The Pearl:
http://portlandtribune.com/pearl/

Hope this helps..

Scarlett--There is also a nude beach in the Gorge at Rooster Rock, lol! That was always a bathroom break on the way to/from college, lol!

LOL, makes me wonder about the girls who know where all the nude beaches are :D

I was looking for a wool sweater to wear out tonight, I cannot imagine going to the beach in a bathing suit in Oct, much less a birthday suit lol.

Then I won't tell you about swimming in the ocean in November at night:D

capecodshanty, I remember reading some of the posts when you were planning your trip. Beachbum was very helpful ..I look forward to seeing Bandon too. A friend of ours has a golfing husband who goes there to play, I want her to go with him next time. What was the place you liked?

Hi Scarlett,
Your right- beachbum was very helpful. Just wish we had had more time, for we discovered so much to do, see and experience! I'm sure you are discovering this now that you are living in Portland also.
We stayed at the Bandon Dunes, where the Hoosier( my DH) played a round of golf. Naturally, that was the only day, in the entire trip that it rained! It is lovely, while he golfed, I wandered around Bandon, the beach, the lighthouse, and had a great time-even in the rain. We had dinner at the Wild Rose Bistro- a small place in Old Town, and run by a young couple from Northern California. The wife is the chef, and he handles the front of the house. Food was wonderful- and, because it is small, people so friendly and helpful. Two local couples, waiting for their table ,pulled up chairs beside ours, and we had great conversation-
We loved Oregon!

Aahhh.... Bandon Dunes. I'm sure your husband would agree it's even good in the rain, capecodshanty.

Does everyone else think Sauvie's Island is worthy of time on a second visit to Portland? I'd lived here years before I went out there. And besides the nude beaches, I'm wondering what the attraction is. When our kids were younger, we used to take them there for Halloween pumpkins, but... Am I missing something?

kimamom, I'm wondering if there's a connection between the "shows" you "hosted" and Collins Beach. Come on.. fess up!

I agree with Beachbum that Sauvie is a lovely place but not sure its worthy of a special trip if you just have a few days to enjoy Oregon.
Havent been to the nude beach though.

Your dates are very close to Halloween and it brings back memories of many years of trucking after the kids in the cold and rain (and brandy flasks)!
So, checking out the neighborhoods and while you're at it, the traffic, our wonderful restaurants (Nuestra Cucina on Division), Mt. Hood, McMenamins and Laurelhurst Theaters for pizza, beer and movies. And marvel at our many parks. I didn't know about the epicurean walking tour that sounds great. Where will you be staying?

I am hoping my friend can come out here soon with her husband when he plays at Bandon again.
Perhaps the nude beach is where some husbands go when the wives are checking out all the restaurants? LOL
Yes, capecod..I am enjoying living here so much. Since we are still enjoying good weather, we tend to walk everywhere all day and eat out for dinner, giving us a nice chance to explore many aspects of the city. Once it starts raining, I know I will be inside more, so I am saving that for now.
eroz,
There will be a wonderful exhibit at the Portland Art Museum when you are here..I think a wine country tour is a great idea..
Speaking of Bend..has everyone heard about the "bump" the geologists have found? lol, I move here and Bend grows a volcano!!

I did read about the "bump" the other day; hopefully it will stay "as is" for many a year!

Beachbum,Hoosier loved Bandon Dunes. it made him more anxious to golf in Scotland! here on the Cape, we have a links course,on the ocean, in the National Seashore, overlooking the Highland Light in Truro. Only 9 holes, but I believe the oldest link course in the States, it is difficult at times to concentrate on your golf game- one is too busy looking from bay to ocean!

Scarlett--Trust me, I think of that "bump" everytime I am up climbing the South Sister! lol! Thankfully I am too focused on the way up, but on the way down when you can see the other mountains and such, it is definitely on my mind.

I am jealous of you people living in POrtland. We are staying at the Paramount hotel on Taylor street and are quite close to the Art Museum.
I've also recently read about Thurs night art walks in Alameda?
We hope to set up some interviews while we are there, want to move there, Spring latest. So we'll be investigating the neighborhoods. We want to be able to walk to dinner and not be too far from the city. SOme feedback has included:
Sellwood, Belmont, Alameda, St Johns, Irvington, others? Pearl is great but we want a house v. a condo and it's quite pricey. What the best sketchy but has potential neighborhood? I know, if we all knew that we'd invest!:)
Thanks!
Next, I start on restaurant searches on here and online to visit neighborhoods for meals and cocktails! (or brewpubs!).

I don't know, eroz. My take is that Alameda, Irvington, Sellwood, and Belmont are at, or near potential, at least in terms of what you might expect in quality of neighborhood. They're all great, just a matter of preference: staid, classic, funky. If it makes a difference, restaurant options within walking distance of Alameda are limited.

St. John's is undergoing some revitalization that might make it a good bet as an investment. The knock on it would be that it's a long ways from city center.

Beachbum- I think I have heard about an area in Portland called Garden Way -
supposed to be a good area?
I also long to relocate to Portland -
any info on Garden Way and do I even have the correct name?

you probably mean garden home. it is a quiet suburb of portland - near Tigard. Also near that area is a cool little area called Multnomah Village. It's ok if you don't need much excitement. I much prefer Portland's east side neighborhoods like Beaumont, Sellwood, Alameda, Hollywood, etc. because I love the old homes.

Be sure to check out Albina-Mississippi street neighborhood. Fun and funky, very sketchy (read: scary) only a few years ago. Now home to Gravy and Bold Sky restaurants plus a list of other notables. Alberta Street nearby is even more established with galleries, artsy/fartsies, and Halibut's excellent fish and chips. Housing is outrageous, of course. My little, old bungalow is worth more than my boyfriend's sprawling suburb home out in Hillsboro. Where, mind you, there are NO restaurants.

***kim***'s back!!!! >:D<

And will be in my hometown!!!!!

HBG was really good 1-2 chefs ago. So-so reviews of late, but...each his own.

LaProvence isn't bad. Nicer setting. Jazz music. And it's next door to my fave wine shop.

Grab your DH and I'll grab Mrs Kal and I'll buy the first bottle of wine at Cap Cellars! \:D/

Why is a hi-falutin' gal like you slummin' in Rocklin? :-?

sunbum,
rparis is right, it's Garden Home. It's SW of downtown, what... 7-8 miles? We used to live there, and I still think, if you're going to live in suburbia, it has the best feel of any around Portland. Almost rural ("quiet" per rparis), but still within 10-15 minutes of downtown. Were it not in the Portland public school system, I'd move back in a minute.

Oh, and Kal (or anyone else)... you still have a reason to be in The City around the Nike women's marathon? Mrs. beachbum is still doing her TNT thing, and I'm planning to tag along.

B'bum,
At the risk of getting lambasted for hi-jacking the thread, the answer is yep!
We got a ressie at the Galleria Park.

I have put Love Italy in charge of pulling some strings for a GTG at Mona Lisa. Right Love Italy? :-"

Drop me a line at kalkahuna@
ceoexpress.com so we can coordinate and leave the Ore thread alone.

<i>Someone's</i> DH will never again go to Bandon without her. <i>Someone</i> is just waiting for him to say &quot;the guys have planned another Bandon 3 day weekend.&quot; <i>Someone</i> has her bags all but packed. Oh boy...will he ever be surprised! :D No, no, you go ahead and golf dear, have a fab time. I'll just make do as I can (sigh).&quot; LOL Can't wait! :D

What about Laurelhurst? We got lost the other day looking for I 84 LOL and drove through this perfect neighborhood of craftsmen houses and bungalows with beautiful trees and gardens! Is it too far from the city center?
We have yet to eat on the East side, so many places !!
eroz,
We came to Portland on a holiday last Sept, put our house on the mkt , sold it in June, moved here in Aug.
I wish you the same good luck and fast move :)

LOL, yes, OO, I did not want to throw your name around..but I do hope Mr OO decides to play at Bandon soon and you tag along. Bring Hobie, Pup will be thrilled :D

scarlett, that is wonderful and so cool. We are a bit nervous about finding jobs or would move there in a second. Hubby and I are hoping to have one of us get a gig and then move. Did you really just pack and go and let the chips fall? Love it but don't think I can do it. Sigh. I'll keep workign on it though! and I'll check out some of the great restaurant suggestions on this board. Yum!

eroz,yes definitely try to explore the wine country just a bit outside of Portland. We picked up a few bottles of some really great wine at Ponzi that we enjoyed with our dinner at the Horseshoe Bar &amp; Grill in Loomis this weekend. (I believe it was the Ponzi Reserve that was perfect wtih our dinner.) :)

We also enjoyed a nice lunch at the Bistro there in Dundee. Archery Summit and Domaine Drouhin are both worth checking out if your'e short on time.

Rocklin wasn't really &quot;slummin&quot;we enjoyed a nice stay at the Larkspur Landing Hotel (same PM as the Riverplace Hotel in Portland) and very much enjoyed the shopping at Macy's and Nordstrom's at the Galleria Mall there. We were in the area for a two-day water polo tournament at Sierra College. We all had a great time. ***kim*** ((l))

Sierra College...another one of my many alma maters...
The Sierra Shootout!
I would have driven over and tried to find your Lexus but there are so many in the area now. Bad day to have the meet with some of the grass fires going.

Hope you found something at this Nordie's.
Mrs Kal says if you want the current stuff you have to go to the Sacto Nordie's or better yet, SF.

Since I'm &quot;baching it&quot; the next few days during Mrs Kal's &quot;The Sisters do Oregon&quot; tour, I had lunch at the Galleria's Red Robin with nieces and great niece.
While there, Mrs Kal text-messaged me from a Pinecone Tavern in the Bend area?????

All it said was &quot;Pinecone Tavern-YUMMMM&quot;.
Hmmmmmmmmm...she's in a Tavern without me??

I had Ponzi wine one time. It tasted a bit &quot;schemey&quot; for me. ;)

...lawsy, does anyone else recall the times when OR was a bit remote, exclusive? LOL, surely ruined now that the fodors welcome wagon team has it in play.

eroz,
Bend will be very nice in October and the Deshuttes Brewery should be hopping!
It will be a little chilly on the South Sister hike but very pretty in the lower elevations. The Pine Tavern on Mirror Pond is the oldest restaurant in town with trees growing in the dining room and through the roof. Summer lunch on the Patio out back is fantastic. I would split time between Portland and Bend perhaps taking 84 towards the Hood River bridge and stay at the Columbia Gorge Hotel overnight. Go around Mt. Hood to Bend (Hwy 35 to 97). Leaving Bend take Hwy 20 to I-5. If you don't have the time or if weather is funky at least take the Cascade Loop to get a taste of the Mountains and Lakes. You can't go wrong no matter what you do in Oregon.