Time to get out and stretch those legs after our three hour drive from Seattle. Sure we had that pit stop in Chehalis, but that was awhile back, and we’re ready to check into our hotel.
For this trip we’re staying at Hotel Fifty, located downtown across from Waterfront Park. Perfect! Our room comes complete with a view of the park as well as the Williamette River and we can head directly to the dining room for a bite to eat after unpacking.
Portland is such a great town with so much to offer travelers of any age. Here’s what made the grade for this Boomer family on our short weekend getaway:
Tom McCall Waterfront Park – While it was fun to watch the world go by from the comfort of our hotel room, it was even more so to get out and about with bicyclists, pedicabs, runners and walkers. Kids and the young at heart need space to play and this park appeals to nature lovers, athletes, and entertainers.
In between rain squalls and sunbreaks, we watched marathoners participating in the Annual Race for the Roses, people walking their dogs and kids playing lacrosse. I was mesmerized by a woman twirling and criss-crossing cords with a weight at each end without once smacking herself in the head or face. Impressive!
We followed the park north for a few blocks and came upon the Portland Saturday Market, featuring food stands and a plethora of artists showcasing their colorful crafts, including jewelry, photography, clothing and musical instruments.
As a travel writer, I’m a sucker for beautifully designed journals that lay flat upon opening which I happily discovered at the booth of Jan Christine.
It was hard to choose only one, but I came away with a small, cloth-bound journal that just happened to have a map insert of Rochester and Syracuse, New York, very near where I grew up.
As we were finalizing the sale of my treasured purchase, Jan said she was taking a dollar off my order. When I asked her why, she said, “Because we had a nice conversation, it’s my business and my prerogative.” You have to love that. Thanks, Jan!
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