A Portland Adventure

Sandy here:  So many things go on in town over the summer.  Festivals, food carts, special events, and so much more.  The weather is great, the people are out and this fox and bear are ready to explore.  We have our bus pass and we're ready to go.

Our adventure today begins on MAX.  MAX is light rail and one of the best ways to get downtown.

Our first stop is at Goose Hollow.  Yes, there were many geese back in the day but not so much anymore.

Anyway, we decided to walk up to the Rose Garden to see the famous roses.  Yes, there is a bus but we decided to walk since today was so nice.

So many nice views along the route

The rose garden is a test garden.  Lots of cool roses and it's  one of the best places in town when the flowers are blooming.

 I bet you Jerry would love this garden.

 It's a popular place today.

 Hammie Red

 These yellow roses are cool

Portland is known as the City of Roses.  Back in 1889 the Rose Society of Portland was founded and in 1906 a local businessman decided to plant roses in front of his business as a decoration.  He always snipped a few to take home in the summer and encouraged other business people to do the same and the rest is history.

Portland is home to the Park Blocks.  A couple mile strip of park in the middle of the city.  A nice and quiet place to relax.

Relaxing is over, time to explore.  LF has taken me to the Pioneer Courthouse Square.

 In the 80s they were going to turn this lot into a parking garage instead it's a cool park. Concerns, festivals, and Christmas tree lightings happen here.

 These statues really call to me. 

This bear and fox need a lunch break.  Pizza and salad are on the menu.

Portland's Union Station is the rail hub for the area.  It's an old building but in really good shape.  

From this terminal you can take a train to Canada, all the way east to Chicago, or all the way south to Los Angeles.  

Heading south toward the Willamette River.  Another cool park, called Waterfront Park. 

All sorts of people hang out at the park.  It's beary lively.

See those bridges?

  Another name for Portland is Bridge City.  Make sense. 


LF is taking me on a unique bridge. 

 It's only open to walkers, bikers, public transportation and emergency services.  It's the newest bridge in town.

 It's called Tilikum Crossing, AKA the Peoples' Bridge.

It's the first new bridge to cross the Willamette River since 1973.  It's one of the only bridges in the United States that is open to walkers, bikers, public transportation and emergency vehicles.

There are some great views on the Tilikum Crossing bridge. 

The Hawthorne Bridge is an old bridge but beary useful. 

 Busses, cars, trucks, walkers, and bikes use this bridge daily.  Vacationing stuffies also use the bridge.

 We caught MAX on the way home.    Hopefully, we can  come back and explore the east side of town another time.

It was a great adventure today.  We walked quite a distance and when we got home Baxter had a special treat for all of us.