Portland On Business

We began our day heading East on I-84, along the Columbia River Gorge. The weather was beautiful for this awe-inspiring drive along the Columbia River. Seeing all of the brilliant waterfalls that tumble from the glaciers and snowfields of Mount Hood was breathtaking. We spotted Multnomah Falls from the highway and we had to stop for pictures.

Our next stop called for wine tasting. Most of the Portland-area wineries are located to the south, near Dundee, Oregon. We were heading east towards Mount Hood. We did find two wineries close by in Hood River, Oregon. Hood River Vineyards and Flerchinger Vineyards both had some exceptional wines, but one had a slight problem with fruit flies.

Nestled midway to the summit of Mount Hood, our final destination was Timberline Lodge. A national historic landmark, Timberline Lodge is magnificent. Constructed of mammoth timbers and native stone, this was the set for "The Shining," starring Jack Nicholson.

Altogether, we had a great day. It was wonderful spending time in this beautiful country with good friends.

Quick Tips:

If you enjoy beautiful scenery, I suggest that you take a drive along the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood. Take I-84 East from Portland and follow the Columbia River. There are many wonderful sights to behold. Along the way, I recommend stopping at Multnomah Falls, America’s second highest year-round waterfall. If you take the triple falls hike, you will get an up-close look at the water cascade 620 feet off of Larch Mountain. When you leave Multnomah Falls, you are only about 45 minutes from the Timberline Lodge and Ski Area. Located about midway up Mount Hood, Timberline Lodge was the location for the movie "The Shining."

If you are staying downtown, Tom McCall Waterfront Park runs for 22 blocks, along the Willamette River. Offering a beautiful walking trail, fountains and art, the park is a great place to take an early-morning run or evening stroll. There are many nearby cafes, shops, micro-brews and restaurants. I recommend Pizza Chimzza for lunch. They are located near the north end of the park, next door to Stanford’s Restaurant and Bar. We had dinner one night at Stanford’s. Their Cajun Salmon with a Jalapeno Berre Blanc was outstanding.

Best Way To Get Around:

For our day trip along the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood, we rented a car. There are several tours, but we would rather grab a map and see the sights on our own. You would also need a car if you planned to visit the many wineries south of Portland.

We were staying at the Marriott Downtown on Naito Parkway, which is just across the road from theTom McCall Waterfront Park. We were within walking distance to several great restaurants and micro-brews.

We were staying at the Marriott Downtown on Naito Pkwy, which is right across the street from Portland’s Riverwalk and the many nearby shops and restaurants. We had about an hour and a half for lunch, the weather was sunny and warm, so a few of us decided to take a walk and dine at a restaurant on the river. We ended up at Pizza Schmizza.

Pizza Schmizza was voted Portland’s 2002 Best Pizza, and for good reason. This New York-style pizza was fantastic. We watched as cooks hand-tossed the pizza dough into the air. They had several varieties of pizza-by-the-slice, many unique specialty pizzas, or you could order a whole pie with the toppings of your choice. Their specialty pizzas included: "Sch’meat’za" (Genoa salami, Italian sausage, German sausage, and Canadian bacon); "No Kiss Tonight" (garlic chicken and red onion with feta and parsley on an alfredo base); and "Spicy Thai" (spicy garlic chicken, roasted red peppers, chili peppers, and cilantro on a peanut-oil base). They even have "The Alligator," which is alligator meat marinated in buttermilk, garlic broiled with roasted red peppers, and served atop a bed of noodles. I had two slices of the "Sch’meat’za" and it was great!

At Pizza Schmizza’s Riverplace location, you can eat inside or outside. They have several tables lining the Riverwalk. We sat outside and enjoyed the tasty pizza along with the beautiful sunshine. The restaurant’s interior is decorated with many oddities and antiques hanging from the ceiling. There is a "Wall of Shame," featuring many articles clipped from the tabloids. These oddities were the perfect fit to complement their unique menu.

If you are visiting Portland’s Riverwalk, you will have many dining choices. If you like pizza, I highly recommend Pizza Schmizza

There are a few members of my group that appreciate cold beer, and we try to hit a local microbrewery when we visit a new city. We were staying at the Downtown Marriott on Naito Pkwy, near the Willamette River. The closest microbrewery was BridgePort Brewpub located nearby, in Portland’s historic Pearl District. BridgePort Brewing Company is Oregon’s oldest craft brewery. The magnificent, three-story building is more than a century old. The walls are covered with trimmed vines and the outdoor patio area is surrounded by trees, making this a great spot to sit, drink a few cold beers, and catch up on old times.

As the late afternoon turned to evening, it got a little too chilly to stay on the patio, so we made the move inside. I had noticed the pub’s wonderful atmosphere when we arrived, but when we sat down it really hit me. This place was great. The old wooden tables sitting next to the old red-brick walls made the place feel very warm and inviting. I had the feeling that I was sitting in an old pub somewhere in England. Through the large windows behind the bar, you can see the brewery operations. Brewery tours are available, but we did not take one.

BridgePort’s flagship beer is their India Pale Ale (IPA). IPA received a Gold Medal at the 2000 Brewing Industry International Awards in London, England. It is a creamy, rich, full-flavored beer. The robust hoppy taste is just right, without being "skunky". If you like a darker ale, then I recommend BridgePort Porter. This Silver Medal winner at the World Beer Championships in Chicago has a rich and roasty, full-bodied flavor. BridgePort Brewery has several seasonal beers. For winter, they offer their Ebenezer Ale. Its rich, mahogony color and creamy head were quite appealing, but it was a bit too thick for my taste.

BridgePort Pizza is the perfect companion to their brew. Made with unfermented beer wort, taken directly from the brew kettle, the crisp sourdough crust has a tangy, sweet, nutty taste. With all of the required toppings, BridgePort Pizza and BridgePort IPA were wonderful.

When I return to Portland, I will definitely visit BridgePort Brewpub again.

If you take the scenic drive along Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway and Mount Hood Loop, you can take a break from the road and do a little wine tasting. There are two wineries nestled high above the Columbia River in Hood River, Oregon.

Hood River Vineyards was our first stop. We followed the signs through the vineyards, and up to the main building. As we pulled in, we began to question whether we were in the right place. The building resembled an old, run-down barn. There were a couple of doors, no signs. We felt like we were walking into someone’s shed. We tried the "yellow" door. Inside, things were not much better. There were several displays built from old wine barrels, containing an assortment of Hood River’s wine. An old, wooden china cabinet housed a selection of wineglasses and accessories. At the tasting bar, we were swarmed with fruit flies. We swatted and waved the flies away, as we began tasting select varieties of their wines. The Pinot Noir was very good. They also had a nice Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. But after seeing the conditions, I decided that I would wait until our next stop to make any wine purchases. I did buy a souvenir wineglass.

Our next stop was Flerchinger Vineyards. What a difference. In Hood River, Flerchinger Vineyards is best, by far. The Bavarian-style winery and tasting room are very nice. The colorful arrangement of wine and accessories is very pleasing to the eyes. Flerchinger Vineyards also has a nice Pinot Noir. I thought Flerchinger’s Merlot was a little better than Hood River’s. Their Chardonnay and White Riesling were both very good. Here is where I made my purchases. They securely packed each bottle for travel. The best thing about Flerchinger Vineyards, is that they were fruit fly-free.

Most of the Portland-area wineries are located to the south. We wanted to see the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood, which are to the east of Portland, as well as doing a little wine tasting. By stopping in Hood River, we were able to do both.

Hood River, Oregon is easy to find. From Portland, take I-84 East about 1 hour. Take Exit 62 and follow the signs to each vineyard. Of the two Hood River wineries, I definitely recommend Flerchinger Vineyards.

When we arrived at our hotel in Portland, our rental car was ready for our day-trip plans for a drive along the Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway and Mount Hood Loop. Our only real plan was for wine tasting, along the route in Hood River, Oregon. The scenery was beautiful, especially in the fall, and the route was easy to follow with a simple hotel map. The gorge rises high above and lines the Columbia River. Along the route, there are several streams and small waterfalls, making this a wonderful sightseeing drive. We were heading east on I-84, when we saw an amazing sight. Rising high above the rocks and trees, rushes the water of Multnomah Falls. We pulled into the parking lot thinking we would take a few quick pictures and then get back on our way. We ended up staying about an hour, walking the trails and taking pictures. I could have stayed much longer. The falls are magnificent. Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in America. There are numerous hiking trails and paths throughout the park. It is only a short walk up the main path to reach Benson Bridge, where you can cross the falls between the upper and lower sections. Built in 1914, Benson Bridge provides a fantastic photo opportunity. There was a major drop in temperature when you walk onto the bridge. It’s only about 100 yards from this enchanting stone bridge to the parking lot, and the temperature dropped about 10 degrees. You get a real up-close look at this spectacular natural wonder.

At the base of the falls sits historic Multnomah Falls Lodge. The building is beautiful, designed and built entirely of stones. It is set perfectly with a backdrop of towering trees in company with the cascading falls. The lodge offers a beautiful view and a wonderful place to relax. We did not visit the lodge’s restaurant or patio cappuccino bar.

There were more paths and trails than we had time to explore. If I ever get back to the Portland area, I plan to spend an afternoon at Multnomah Falls.