Refresher: Project Explore Washington is my way of getting the kids “travel ready” by taking mini trips to destinations in our area for a night or two. The first trip was to my step siblings cabin in Crystal Mountain in an attempt to give the kids a taste of winter.
I declared, to a super excited husband, that our second trip should be to Portland because it’s not too far and my lovely ex-daycare-assistant-who-I-wish-was-my-age-so-we-could-be-best-friends-even-though-I’m-friends-with-her-on-Facebook-and-can-tell-she’s-a-lot-more-drunk-than-she-portrays-herself-to-be-in-real-life lives there.
It’s an easy three hour drive from Seattle with plenty of river and fields of cattle to look at. It’s even easier if your two year old loves to sit in his car seat for three hours. Ours does not. It’s also easier if you have a bag of suckers to keep yappy children quiet. We did not.
It’s even more easier if your husband doesn’t have to drive and read directions while you finish your book, but he’ll survive.
I also chose Portland because every year at this time they have something called The Rose Festival which celebrates the Pacific Northwest with parades and concerts and a carnival on the waterfront every year from late May to mid June. My sister and her family agreed to join us and our quaint mini vacay turned into a family event.
Our hotel was smack dab in the city and just a few scenic blocks away from the waterfront festival.
Seriously. When will I learn that carnivals are not my thing? I suppose it was fine, but there were torrential downpours the night before and we were literally squeezing our way through clouds in a thick mess of mud.
We all decided we could live in Portland. It’s like Seattle’s cleaner big sister. The one who showers. We all have one right? Anyways, great big green leafy trees line the large open roadways,
trolley’s make their rounds at stops all over the city and take you to any destination within X number of miles for free, and it is far less crowded. As we rode I dreamt of biking through the city ala Anne of Green Gables while The Men worked on figuring out how to get us as far away from food as possible for dinner.
The best part of the trip was watching the girls navigate their way through a mirror maze in a Fun House. To my delight they ran head first into glass at least three times. We couldn’t stop laughing.
The worst part of the trip was that time I watched Kainoa sink to the bottom of the pool…and the drive home…and wandering around the city at 8 o clock at night looking for dinner.
Those aside, I hereby deem the trip a resounding success.
And we never did see my lovely ex-daycare-assistant-who-I-wish-was-my-age-so-we-could-be-best-friends-even-though-I’m-friends-with-her-on-Facebook-and-can-tell-she’s-a-lot-more-drunk-than-she-portrays-herself-in-real-life.
All the more reason to go again.
Los says
Both Seattle and Portland are much cleaner than most U.S. states … someday I will visit Seattle – I’ve been determined ever since i saw Sleepless in Seattle.
The Queen of Chaos says
I’ve lived in Portland since 1986 and I love it! Yes, it ALWAYS rains on the Rose Festival, this year was the worst rainfall in many, many years, they actually closed the Waterfront Festival for a period of time because of the mud.
Next time you’re in the area, you’ll have to explore the many Foodcarts, there is food available in Portland nearly 24 hours a day at them and OMGosh it’s yummy!!
Margie Jordan says
I live in a desert, so to me, Portland looks beautiful! I also have a husband who thinks it isn’t necessary to eat when on vacation. I always feel like such a pig when I keep saying. “Isn’t it time to eat? Isn’t it time to eat?”
Julie@my5monkeys says
sounds like a alot of fun and such great pictures from the trip
Lourie says
It’s always good when our trips are mostly without drama or headaches.
I'm Just Sayin'... - Kerri says
Too bad I didn’t know you were in town. I would have been the crazy blog stalker trying to find you so you can take a picture with me! lol Glad you enjoyed PDX – it is very beautiful here.
Mama Kat says
Awww, wish I had known! It would have been fun to meet up with some people!
Katherine says
I love Portland! It’s definitely in my “top 5 cities I would like to live in some day” list.
S Club Mama says
Sounds like our trips to my parents’ house. I think taking Tristan to a house of mirrors would be so hilarious. hmmm
Jennifer says
One time I went to this psychic and she told me that I was going to visit a state with a volcano in it soon. Fast forward three months and I had a new job and got an emergency (audit) call to leave for Seattle that night and I had to stay for a week. We auditors lead very exciting lives. And this basically has nothing to do with your post, but it popped into my head all of the sudden and I thought I would share.
I’m glad you had a good time in Portland. I’ve never been there. But I did work on a project once with this really super crazy girl from Portland. I’m glad you didn’t run into her on your trip.
Allison @ Alli 'n Son says
What a fun time. The Fun House mirror sounds fantastic!
I’m so jealous that you live in Seattle. That’s the one place I would pick up and move to in a heart beat.
Joy says
or you could just move here where it is hot as HELL! seriously are those jackets and long sleeves on those children??
it is like 100 degrees today so atleast you wouldn’t need jackets
but it did look like fun we love little getaways with the kids we just went to Atlanta a couple weeks ago.
Amber says
We were thinking of checking Portland out to add to our list of “maybe move here” cities. So far we’ve only seen Austin. I’m told Portland is like Austin’s cooler rainer sister.
Melissa says
You are terribly amusing! I would like to visit Portland sometime. It’s no where near where I live though (in Arkansas). One day though, we will pay a visit. And I am sure we will have a lovely time. It looks like your adventure/trip was a success. And your ex-daycare-assistant looks lovely (as do you)!
kiki says
what a fun family adventure. i have always wanted to visit seattle and portland. your pictures are amazing. you use photoshop, yes? i have elements 8 and would like to know which edit you used to get the color/grittiness in those pics. also, i have tried to create photo collages likes yours, but i’m always screwing it up and the pictures get chopped. thanks in advance for any guidance you can provide. take care, Mama K.
Mama Kat says
I use photoshop elements when I have time, but for quick edits on a large number of pictures I just upload to picnik.com. I paid like 25 bucks for a premium account which gives me access too all the different effects and collages.
Literally, all I did was upload my photos, click “collages”, chose a collage, drug the pictures where I wanted them, and then picked the “gritty” option in the effects tab. Super easy. You can adjust the grittiness and color when you’re in there, but I rarely mess with that.
And it saves it straight to flickr, photobucket, twitter, facebook, or your computer. Big fan!
I do love photoshop though!
Tristina says
*jealous*
I’ve always wanted to visit both Seattle and Portland. Oregon has some of the best Pinot Noir in the world and I’ve heard the Rogue Valley is gorgeous wine country.
Sigh…maybe someday…. *looks at newborn* Okay, maybe retirement…
Mama Kat says
Pat and I always joke that a new baby throws us back another two years (longer?) before we feel comfortable doing stuff like this again.
Tristina says
Hah, I like that. If that’s the case then it’s going to be a while. This is our first and Stephen and I want to have another in about 2-3 years. That’s all he wants.
I want three, though…
If I Could Escape says
Love, love, love the Pacific Northwest and could most definitely see myslef living there one day. Well, either there or back in the UK — somewhere cool and rainy!
Jack says
The Pacific NW is nice to visit, but not for me. I like sunshine.
Booyah's Momma says
Too bad you didn’t come down this past weekend. Finally gorgeous weather in Portland, and they had the dragon boat races for the Rose Festival. The glow of 10,000 pasty white Oregonians whose skin hadn’t seen the light of day in months was a site to behold. You probably saw it up in Seattle.
Kristy says
Love the pics! And you are ambitious and adventurous! We just steel ourselves for THE BIG ONE (vacation) every year and do it! I would have mini heart attacks along the way if I had to do practice vacations!
stefanie says
i LOVE portland! culturally and economically it’s very similar to austin but with much different scenery and weather. i have always said that i could live there if i could ever tear myself away from austin :)
Natalie says
I’ve always wanted to visit Portland! It looks so beautiful…and clean!
angie says
Of course you decided to visit Portland AFTER I moved.
That One Mom says
Sounds like a success.
I once had to retrieve a child from the bottom of the pool. That’s never any fun.
Megan (Best of Fates) says
I loved this post, but I could barely tear my eyes away from the photo montages to read it. Seriously amazing, amazing pics.
Kathy says
That looks like you had so much fun! I want to go now :)
Jenners says
So jealous … tons of my college friends live in Portland (I went to the U of O but that is in Eugene … almost everyone ended back in Portland). I wish I lived in Portland. That was my grand plan until I got stuck on the East Coast and couldn’t escape.
Jen says
Looks like an awesome trip.
I must say it is so impressive that you got Kainoa to sit in a stroller. I can’t get my kids to do that. Maybe its b/c strollers are made for one kid and I try to shove 3 in there.
Carrie says
I’m glad you enjoyed Portland! I’ve lived here my whole life and still do not tire of it. My son attends Seattle U and has decided it definately rains more in Seattle. Ha
Now if you were here this past weekend . . . it was in the 80s both days. Oh well, come on back!
Kisha Floren says
I grew up halfway between Seattle and Portland. Now I live in the Seattle burbs, but definitely still have a fondness for PDX. Next time you must get Voodoo Doughnuts. SO worth the five pound weight gain.
Samantha @ Mama Notes says
YAY for Oregon! I’m from a town not to far from Portland!! :)
Bethany says
I used to live in Vancouver/Battle Ground/La Center, and I miss Portland! (Love Seattle, too, though) Thanks for the pictures! Too bad about the mud. I don’t miss that part! Rain sucks monkey balls.
Rachel @ Mommy Needs a Vacation says
Looks like a great trip and I love the photos you captured! I don’t think mine are ready to be in the car that long. However I was able to keep them alive during our 5 hour flight. Maybe they could do the car thing?
MrsM says
Portland is a giant happy bubble of awesomeness. It is like where awesomeness originated. BTW, rain is a Rose Festival tradition! It wouldn’t be the same without it : )
Lolli says
I went to high school in Portland. Yep. Very fun memories. So what’s this about Kainoa sinking to the bottom of the pool?
Denise says
Hi there Mama Kat! Was just checking in…had been awhile since I visited and had to catch up on your Bachelorette lowdowns! You crack me up!!! (And yes, Roberto is the man!!) I’m in Vancouver, just across the river from Portland! Didn’t realize you were so close! Portland is awesome. Hope your Rudy is well…our Rudy is doing terrific! Take care!!!