This place is great.   Nice rooms,  HD TV and happy hour that starts @ 10pm.  Did I mention $3 mac-n-cheese yet?    Its a vintage hotel with everything from the 30’s and a classic movie theme.

Only drawback so far, trash can emptying at 4am.     Grrrr.

Today started off as a slow day.   Getting somewhat tired and looking forward to coming home!    We had a fantastic breakfast at Mothers.    Then we travelled down to the Chinese Garden.  The garden was built in 2000 and takes up an entire city block.   All the materials were constructed in China and brought over and assembled here.

We then took the car out and went and visited the Audubon Society of Portland in Forrest Park.   Check out how small I look next to the “old growth” forest.   You can see Mt. Hood in the background of the other pic.

Going out for the rest of the night!   

First up.  Deschutes Brewing Co in the Pearl District.  This is my favorite of the trip so far.

Then we had a long afternoon into late evening.   Kell’s Irish Bar (always seems to be a good Irish place in every city), the Thirsty Lion Pub & Hall (video trivia & and a bunch of English/Aussies on holiday) and a final stop @ VooDoo donuts (a portland landmark). 

Kell’s had a cool tradition;  dollar bills wrapped around 2 quarters and then people would throw them onto the ceiling and they would stick.  I still don’t understand how that worked.  (Look for it in the pictures).   Every year they pull them down and donate them to charity.

I had never seen so many types of donuts.   Lyss had a peanut butter rice krispy donut.  I had the old-fashioned glazed.

We walked up a long steep hill to Washington Park where the Japanese Garden is located.  Very authentic and well done.

The view from Washington Park over the city….

We first visited Henry’s which was in an old brewery in the brewery blocks of Portland.    Over 100+ drafts and a really good pizza.    Next just a couple blocks away in the Pearl District was Rogue;   a stop I was really looking forward towards.   (think Dogfish Head but on the west coast)

On the way out, we stopped at a very eclectic place, Tugboat Brewing Co.   (14% ABV Stout).   Ouch.

Continuing on the exploration of the coast,  we visited Yaquina Head where there was a lighthouse and tidal pools. 

On to the city…. Portland up next.

Checked out Cape Kiwanda and Cape Lookout.  Did a tough hike – 4.8 miles rated moderate to difficult,  lots of hills & mud.   By the time, we reached the whole way out (end of the cape), the weather had turned, fog rolled in and started raining.    

Dory boats are interesting.  These are used by the local commercial fisherman.  They make a run on the beach as fast as possible and then “beach it”.     The first picture shows the view from the Pelican Brewpub.   Great view,  mediocre beer and food.

Here are a couple of pics from Cape Lookout.   Notice how high we are up in the air.    Many points on the trail you could look straight down.   At least a couple hundred feet.   Doesn’t bother Lyss,  she goes right up to the edge and looks down.