Portland, Oregon (Last day)

For our last few hours in Oregon, we took a Lyft to the Portland Japanese Garden in Washington Park and explored one of the most popular destinations in the city.

In the first few minutes we were there, I saw a proposal underway. I didn't see a photographer hiding anywhere, so I started snapping candid photos of them and then offered to get a few posed photos after, and texted them the pictures. After they headed off, my parents and I decided to get a photo in the same spot, overlooking Portland.

Since it was fall, the colors in the park were so beautiful. Many of the trees were changing and dropping leaves. I was surprised by how many different mushrooms we spotted throughout, too. I always love a good macro shot, so I took plenty of the mushrooms!

macro shot of a mushroom

beautiful fall colors

Dad resting

another macro mushroom!

dad and mom

fall foliage

more mushroom macros!

The last part of the gardens that we explored was an bonsai tree exhibit with an amazing collection of bonsai.

black dragon bonsai tree, 50 years old

When we were done, we started to catch a Lyft back to the hotel to grab our bags, but then realized we were just across the street from the International Rose Test Garden. It was almost out of season, but we walked around that area as well and saw a few roses left. Then we hopped on a free park shuttle for a full loop and rode by Washington Park's archery range, Oregon Zoo and World Foresty Center, Hoyt Arboretum and more. We'd wanted to stop but quickly realized the park was quite large and one loop around was all we had time for. 

International Rose Test Garden

one of the final few roses in the garden

Once our loop was finished, we grabbed a Lyft back to our hotel to grab our bags and were off to the airport to head home. The flights home were easy with lovely views. We got to take a little piece of Oregon with us--Oregonian wine that I won in a silent auction during the annual meeting we attended.

wine from the silent auction

Florence and Portland, Oregon (Day 5)

On our last day before the AMHA Annual Meeting began in Portland, we started off by stopping close to the Sea Lions cave at a scenic overlook. After a bit of staring out into the water, we spotted sea lions!! There weren't any in the cave, but there were tons out in the ocean, and it took a while to be able to spot them.

Sea Lions not to be mistaken for rocks (and vice versa)

Our next stop was just a bit north of Florence to Yachats, Oregon and the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area Cooks Chasm to see Thor's Well and the Spouting Horn. We parked along the road and took a trail down closer to the beach where we could see the sights. I had to get a picture of the warning sign--there are soooo many different warning signs in Oregon! We joked about it a lot in the car as we passed signs about tsunamis, rock slides and more.

Mom and dad stayed up at a viewing area while I eventually made my way down onto the volcanic rock to get closer to Thor's Well to take pictures. I was going to stay back but the longer I was down there, the closer I wanted to get, so I kept creeping closer and closer. Since it was raining, it was hard to tell how far the waves were coming in on the rocks--everything was already wet! It was SO cold and I was drenched by the time I was done taking pictures after spending too much time in the heavy mist.

Cape Perpetua's Cook's Chasm

fascinating volcanic rock

Thor's Well while empty

Thor's Well erupting with water

Thor's Well

a snail along the trail

After defrosting in the car following Cooks Chasm, we made a detour after seeing signs for Yakina Head Outstanding Natural Area and Yakina Lighthouse. This area might have been even higher up than the entrance to the trail down to Cooks Chasm, and there weren't any trees to break the wind. It was bitterly cold and VERY windy. Dad stayed in the car while mom and I walked around the short lighthouse. We took a quick selfie and mom hold my hood amidst the crazy wind!

Yakina Lighthouse

it was SO WINDY

These were all along the coast

From there, we continued to Newport, Oregon to see Devil's Punchbowl State Natural Area and Otter Rock. It was pretty beautiful but since the tide was in, we weren't able to go down to it to explore.To the south of the sight, we could see surfers out in the water--I couldn't believe it with how cold it was outside! They were all wearing wetsuits.. but still! There were a few businesses by the parking lot for the viewing area, so I bought a hot chocolate at a cafe to warm up. It was REALLY good. I then decided to hike down to the beach to see if there was a way to get another view of the Devil's Punchbowl while mom and dad stayed in the car. There wasn't, but it was a pretty beach and amazing to see how many surfers were out.

Devils Punchbowl (Otter Rock in the distance)

the beach at Devils Punchbowl

the beach at Devils Punchbowl

Surfers out in the cold

Our next stop after this was supposed to be our destination for the rest of our trip, Portland, but en route there I saw a sign for apple cider and HAD to stop at Bernards Farm.

hazelnuts and walnuts

While browsing the store, I saw a sign noting that you could still pick apples and pears, so mom and I grabbed a bag from the attendant and the three of us got back in the car and drove out into the field to the orchards. We had a pretty hard time finding the trees since it was the end of the season and almost everything was gone. After ending up in the Walnut tree area, I called the lady who had given us directions so she could help us get on track--eventually, we found where we were going. Mom and I found a few apples that were a bit beaten up, and some pears too. The lady in the store ended up giving them to us for free since we had mostly windfalls. We had a ton of fun though. Dad kept warm by staying in the car while we were on the hunt.

pear

apple orchard

For our last stop before checking into our hotel in Portland, we went to the Pittock Mansion, a mansion completed in 1914 with a stunning view of the city down below. By the time we arrived, the mansion was closed, but thankfully the grounds were still open, so we were able to make a loop around it. There were tons of plants, thankfully with labels, so mom and dad were thrilled. That said, the mist was back so it was quite cold, much like the rest of the day!

Pittock Mansion

view of Portland