A few days in Portland, Oregon

Sep 27, 2026

We recently spent a few days in Portland, Oregon. Here are some highlights from the trip, with photos.

Portland Japanese Garden

We made an early 10am reservation at the Portland Japanese Garden. It was a very fun and peaceful walk around the grounds. It really is a serene place, with lots of little separate areas to wander between. The trees are pruned to branch low, so even with other visitors around, it feels like a very intimate experience.

Heavenly Falls, the Sand and Stone Garden, and the Flat Garden

We ended the visit with a cup of tea at the tea house.

Powell's Books

Later the same day, we went to Powell's City of Books. It took hours to go through, and it was really fun. I didn't take many photos, but here's one of the woodworking section.

I was a bit disappointed in the Rare Book Room, though. I think I've been spoiled by Bell's Books in Palo Alto.

The Columbia River Gorge

The next day, we drove from Portland out along the Historic Columbia River Highway, and spent the night at a hotel on a cliff overlooking the river. There were so many stops along the way that I won't mention them all, but here are some of the best ones.

Vista House

Vista House sits on top of Crown Point, a cliff high above the river, with a view a long way up the Gorge.

Looking across at Crown Point, the view from Vista House, and Vista House itself

Multnomah Falls

We stopped at Multnomah Falls for lunch, at the Multnomah Falls Lodge right at the base of the falls.

Multnomah Falls, lunch at the lodge, and an old Union Pacific mileage sign

Bonneville Dam

We went below Bonneville Dam, where underwater windows look into the fish ladder, to see the salmon swimming their way up past the dam.

Salmon in the fish ladder, and the dam's spillway

Right next door, we also stopped at the Bonneville Hatchery to see the fish being raised, and to visit Herman the Sturgeon.

Columbia Cliff Villas

We spent the night at Columbia Cliff Villas in Hood River, which sits right on the cliff overlooking the river.

Sunset over the river, and the view from our room the next morning

Mt. Hood

The next day, we drove from Hood River back to Portland by way of Mt. Hood.

Mt. Hood from the Hood River Valley, and above the clouds on the way up the mountain

Timberline Lodge

We stopped for brunch at Timberline Lodge, up on the slopes of Mt. Hood. The lodge is dripping in history from the Depression era, including the art and some amazing architecture.

There seemed to be a lot of backpackers there taking a break from the Pacific Crest Trail, even in the off season.

Timberline Lodge, its giant stone fireplace, the welcome sign, a mosaic drinking fountain, and a hawk we spotted outside

Trillium Lake

After Timberline, we backtracked slightly to Trillium Lake to get some later afternoon photos of Mt. Hood reflected in the water, without the clouds. We had a few more stops on the way back after that.

Mt. Hood over Trillium Lake

The North American Bigfoot Center

The unexpected stop came from a sign on the side of the road: the North American Bigfoot Center in Boring, Oregon. While corny, I couldn't resist popping in for a look.

The North American Bigfoot Center, a new friend, and a wall of handprint casts

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