Portland, Oregon – Washington Park

Washington Park is a Great Green Space to Explore!

Washington Park is my go to outdoor space when visting Portland, especially when I need a little break from the city life!

International Rose Test Garden

Located at 400 SW Kingston Avenue. FREE!; take a self-guided tour, walk, stroll, wander. Garden Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

There are 3 Primary Gardens:

• Royal Rosarian Garden – home to the namesake roses of all past Prime Ministers of the Royal Rosarians. The Royal Rosarians are a civic group that serve as the official greeters and goodwill ambassadors for the City of Portland.
• Shakespeare Garden – “Of all flowers me thinks a rose is best.” ~ Shakespeare
• Miniature Rose Garden – one of only six testing grounds for the American Rose Society miniature rose test program.

I literally could have stayed here for days photographing roses, floral and fauna! I absolutely heart miniature roses!

Portland Japanese Garden

Located at 611 SW Kingston Avenue. Admission: $. The hours are Monday 12 pm to 7 pm, Tuesday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday 9 am to 9 pm, and Sunday 9 am to 7 pm.

There are 5 Gardens (5.5 acres):

• Flat Garden
• Strolling Pond Garden
• The Tea Garden
• Natural Garden
• Sand and Stone Garden

I finally got to check out this little gem in the hills of Portland! My 1st thought was of becoming one with nature and taking in the naturalness of the Japanse Garden!

Peace – Green

Harmony – Nature and Natural Elements

Tranquility – Water

3 Essential Elements of a Japanse Garden are:

1. Stone – the “bones” of the landscape.
2. Water – the life-giving force.
3. Plants – the tapestry of the four seasons.
4. Secondary Elements – Pagodas, stone lanterns, water basins, arbors, and bridges.

Hoyt Arboretum

Located at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd.

Interesting Facts About Hoyt Arboretum:

• Every tree has a story to tell. Remember to engage all of your senses!
• A unique collection of trees and plants from around the world. The Hoyt Collection includes more than 1,000 true species, with specimens grown from seeds collected in the wild!
• A living laboratory for preservation and research.
• 187 acres and 21 trails!
• Just Think About the Current and Future Generations who will visit Hoyt Arboretum! Remember to stay on trail and respect the trees, fauna and flora here.

I have been to the Hoyt Arboretum in the Spring and now in the Summer and it still AMAZES me what lives and grows here! I enjoy taking about a 2 hour walkabout in Hoyt when visiting the Portland area. I really love becoming one with nature and soaking it all in while engaging all my senses! Hoyt is an Experience and an Adventure all wrapped into one.

(Photos by RSheridan)

Remember to Find Some Green and Nature Every Day!!!

26th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival

At The Beautiful Waterfront Park

July 24, 2013 to July 28, 2013 in Portland, Oregon.

Here’s the AMAZEBALLS to this Event – Done All By VOLUNTEERS (more than 2,200 volunteers)!!! Thank you for making this event what IT IS!

Watch Out for the Beer Warden!!!

OBF is Craft Beer Heaven! 84 different Craft Beers from 12 States! Fruit Beers Galore – I loved that! 85,000 people attended the 26th Annual Oregon Brewers Festival!

Admission: Into the festival grounds is free. To consume beer purchase a souvenir tasting glass (phased out the plastic mug) for $7 and purchase wooden tokens for $1 a piece. 4 tokens for a full glass and 1 token for a taste.

OBF got its start in July 1988 with 4 craft breweries (BridgePort, McMenamins, Portland, and Widmer) and today there are 51 craft breweries!

Interesting Facts:

• Full Sail started in 1987 in Hood River, OR.
• Rogue Ales started in 1988 in Ashland, OR and later relocated to Newport, OR.
• Deschutes started in June 1988 in Bend, OR.
• “OBF is one of the nation’s longest running, one of the largest and best loved craft beer fesitvals!”
• July is Oregon Craft Beer Month.
• “Small and independent craft brewers have grown the number of U.S. breweries from less than 100 to more than 2,000 in 30 years.”

I have developed my palate over the years with wine tasting and now with beer tasting! I enjoy sampling and learning about a variety of craft beer styles throughout the U.S. Plus the 5 day event lets you take your time when it comes to sampling! I love being able to hang out with other craft brew lovers too.

Most Unique Brews

Gigantic Brewing Company – & Juice – Beermosa – IPA with citrus juices added

Burnside Brewing Company – Marionberry Berliner Weisse – Berliner Weiss

Loved Hanging Out at Gigantic’s Tap Room with a Beer in Hand on their Patio!

Hanging Out at Burnside Having the Oregon Berry Fruit Beer!

Best Named Brews & Tasty Too!

Mt. Shasta Brewing Company – Skip and Go Naked – Strawberry and Ginger Hefeweizen

Old Market Pub & Brewery – Dilution of Grandeur – Mixed Berry Belgian Lambic

My Favorite Light Ales

Good Life Brewing Company – Evil Sister – Imperial Pacific Ale

Alameda Brewing Company – Huckleberry Hound – Golden Ale

My Favorite Brown and Dark Ales

The Dude’s Brewing Company – Grandma’s Pecan Brown – English Style Brown (kept coming back for more!)

Lompoc Brewing Company – EleventyOne CDA – Cascadian Dark Ale

My Favorite Cream Ales

Fearless Brewing Company – Peaches and Cream Ale – American Style Cream Ale and Peaches

Anderson Valley Brewing Company – Summer Solstice Cerveza Crema – Summer Cream Ale

My Favorite Fruit Beer

Cascade Brewing – Raspberry Wheat – Fruit Beer

My Favorite Fruit Wheat Beer

21^st Amendment Brewery – Hell or High Watermelon – Fruit Wheat Beer

My Favorite Hef

Laht Neppur Brewing Company – Peach Hefeweizen – Hefeweizen

My Favorite Saisons

All of them!

Great Divide Brewing Company – Colette Farmhouse Saison – Farmhouse Style Saison

Maui Brewing Company – Lemongrass Saison – Belgian Inspired Saison

Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub – Jackson Sundown – Saison

My Favorite Wit Beer

13 Virtues Brewing Company – Traverse Cherry Wheat – Belgian Wit with Fruit

Entertainment Favorites

#1 That 1 Guy

Mike Silverman aka That 1 Guy and His Magic Pipe, which is an instrument he created! The Magic Pipe has metal, strings and electronics and the sound that comes out of it is nothing I have heard before. I was mesmerized watching him play and perform. A Truly Unique Performance to Watch and Experience!

#2 Blvd Park

Blvd Park was a breath of fresh air with their music originality! A Seattle-based alt-folk band. I loved the harmonies and Brian Ballentine, the frontman, leads with his great vocals. Blvd Park plays and rocks it (folk, rock, Americana, country, and jazz)!

(Photos by RSheridan)

So Going Next Year!!!

Portland Pics

Random Snapshots

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photos by RSheridan)

Hit the Ground Running & Conquered This City!!!

Hoyt Arboretum – Part 3

Fauna & Floral, Random & Holly Collections

Hoyt Arboretum is located in the Washington Park area at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd. in Portland. Hours 6 am to 10 pm.Visitor Center Open Mon- Fri 9 am to 4 pm & Sat 9 am to 3 pm (closed on Sundays and Major Holidays). The Visitor Center does offer restrooms.

Fauna & Floral and Random Collections

(Photos by RSheridan)

Holly Collection

(Photos by RSheridan)

Hoyt Arboretum is a MUST SEE; Amazing, Beautiful, Breathtaking Beauty!

Hoyt Arboretum – Part 2

Oak, Conifer & Redwood Collections

Hoyt Arboretum is located in the Washington Park area at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd. in Portland. Hours 6 am to 10 pm.Visitor Center Open Mon- Fri 9 am to 4 pm & Sat 9 am to 3 pm (closed on Sundays and Major Holidays). The Visitor Center does offer restrooms.

Oak Collection

(Photos by RSheridan)

Conifer Collection

(Photos by RSheridan)

Redwood Collection

(Photo by RSheridan)

AMAZING Trees Within These Collections!!!

Hoyt Arboretum – Part 1

Trees Galore

Hoyt Arboretum is located in the Washington Park area at 4000 SW Fairview Blvd. in Portland. Hours 6 am to 10 pm.Visitor Center Open Mon- Fri 9 am to 4 pm & Sat 9 am to 3 pm (closed on Sundays and Major Holidays). The Visitor Center does offer restrooms.

Something for the whole family, including the pups and it is FREE!!! Take a Short Stroll to a Long Walk to a Hike.

(Photo by RSheridan)

According to the brochure (Visitor’s Center was closed) the Arboretum has plants from all 7 continents – pretty impressive, right! This includes about 1,100 species of trees. The Arboretum has 185 acres and 12 miles of trails.

I wanted to check out the Magnolia trees and some were budding and some were blossoming. The Magnolia Collection of the Arboretum is so worth the hike to see. Took off from the Visitor’s Center and looped back to it (about a 2 mile hike). Explored the Magnolia, Winter Garden, Conifer and Holly Collections as well as probably touched a few other area collections. There was an overlook area and due to the relatively clear day was able to get a glimpse of Mt. St. Helens in all her glory.

Collections

• Maple
• Dogwood
• Witchhazel
• Holly
• Magnolia
• Winter Garden
• Oak
• Conifer (most diverse conifer collection in North America)
• Wedding Meadow
• Larch
• Ginkgo
• Sequoia
• Redwood

 
Mt St Helens (Photo by RSheridan)

Magnolia Collection

 

(Photos by RSheridan)

Winter Garden Collection

 

 

 

(Photos by RSheridan)

Washington Park

Washington Park includes the Hoyt Arboretum (FREE), the World Forestry Center ($), the Japanese Garden ($), and the Portland Zoo ($).Came over to Washington Park area for the Japanese Garden, but the buses were not running that day and would have been about a 2 mile hike there or about 4 miles round trip. So decided to explore Hoyt Arboretum and loved that the City of Portland has this beauty to explore!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos of Coming Up & Going Down to the Light Rail Tunnel (Photos by RSheridan)

A True Beauty Within the City of Portland; Explore & Adventure!

OMSI – Part 3

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

OMSI – Part 1

OMSI – Part 2 

OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland.

Exhibits to See (included in the price of admission)

National Geographic Gallery – Ocean Soul: Photographs by Brian Skerry – runs 3/28/12 to 7/10/12

(Pics of Photos by Brian Skerry taken by RSheridan)

Love, Love Brian Skerry’s Photographic GENIUS!!!

OMSI – Part 2

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

OMSI – Part 1

OMSI – Part 3

OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland.

Exhibits to See (included in the price of admission)

The Art of the Brick – Lego Sculptures – runs 3/17/12 to 4/29/12

(Photos by RSheridan)

AMAZING Lego Sculptures!!!

OMSI – Part 1

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

OMSI – Part 2

OMSI – Part 3

OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue in Portland. Place is massive at 219,000 square feet.

(Photo by RSheridan)

The Light Rail extension is currently being built; however, can take the bus to get there. If you drive over and park there is a fee for parking.

Check out the Adventure Pack – $16 for Museum and Imax – usually $12 for museum and additional $8 for the Imax

(Photos by RSheridan)

5 Exhibit Halls

• Earth Hall – Air Traffic display
• Life Hall – Wild Minds display & Beginning the Journey display (largest display of human fetuses – shows the different stages of human fetal development from conception to pregnancy to birth) No Photo Taking Allowed in the Beginning the Journey display; Sorry!
• Turbine Hall – Earthquake House & National Geographic Gallery
• Science Lab – checked out the Palentology Lab & Physics Lab
• Science Playground

(Photos by RSheridan)

Exhibits to See (included in the price of admission)

• National Geographic Gallery – Ocean Soul:  Photographs by Brian Skerry – runs 3/28/12 to 7/10/12
• The Art of the Brick – Lego Sculptures – runs 3/17/12 to 4/29/12
• Wild Minds – What Animals Really Think  – runs 3/11/12 to 8/19/12 (played the peanut game)

OMNIMAX Dome Theater

Saw Adrenline Rush in the OMNIMAX Dome Theater

From the Mojave Desert to the Cliffs of Norway to a Child’s 1st day of school to Skydiving to Base Jumping. The movie covers the psychological and physiological behind risk taking, especially high-risk activities like skydiving and base jumping. Why does a person crave danger? I enjoyed the scientific experiement done in the Mojave Desert, but I will not spoil it for you because it was a pretty cool, well executed experiment!

(Photos by RSheridan)

Explored the East Bank of the Willamette River

(Photos by RSheridan)

What FUN Exploring OMSI!!!

The Pearl District

Industrial to Modern Hood

Welcome to the Pearl

I loved exploring and snapping pics while in the Pearl. It is like two worlds collided and meshed pretty well with each other. I could smell the brewing of beer wafting from Bridgeport Brewing Company. Some buildings have the old-fashioned water tanks.

Water Tank (Photo by RSheridan)

Sidewalk View (Photo by RSheridan)

Another View of the Pearl District (Photo by RSheridan)

Jamison Square

NW 11th Avenue and Johnson Street

Playground for the Kiddies with a wading pool for those Hot Summer Days. I liked the fountain and the totem poles (by Kenny Scharf).

BridgePort Brewing Company

Check Out My BridgePort Brew Pub Post!

I loved their Summer Squeeze brew. I went there for lunch one day and another day for happy hour. The food was great, the service knew their stuff on the brews and the place was pretty much hopping and happening.

Bridgeport Brewing Company (Photo by RSheridan)

Rogue Distillery & Public House

Check Out My Rogue Distillery & Public House Post!

I received a complimentary tasting within 5 minutes of sitting down. The place was quiet with a sunny view out to the street.

Rogue Ales (Photo by RSheridan)

Deschutes Brewery

Check Out My Deschutes Brewery Post!

Deshutes knows how to put together multiple styles and make it work in their dining and bar areas. I would love to have the trough sink in the ladies room in my kitchen; just gorgeous. The woodwork in this place was amazing and you saw something different with every glance. Great Brews and Great Eats!

Deschutes Brewery (Photo by RSheridan)

Powell’s City of Books

Powell’s Website

Can You Say Book Heeeaaaven & Book Lovers Unite!!!

Open 9 am to 11 pm – 365 days a year – FREE to Explore & Browse

Had to check out this Portland Landmark, since I am a book lover. Maps are FREE to help you navigate this massive book store. Used as well as New Books.

Powell’s City of Books (Photo by RSheridan)

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Browsing the Book Selections (Photos by RSheridan)

On the Column Out Front (Photos by RSheridan)

On the Next Visit maybe check out the Museum of Contemporary Craft, which includes more than 1,000 craft objects. Located at 724 NW Davis Street in Portland.

Loved Exploring This Gem!!!