Portland: Day 1 & 2

We drove to Portland on Saturday, March 24th.  I think it was about a 7 hour drive.  Very doable.  Very lovely drive.  We loved driving through the Columbia River Gorge area.  The closer we got to Portland, the greener it got.  We got a quick glimpse at Mt. Hood in the distance and hoped we'd see it again from Portland and before it was covered by clouds.  We began to see waterfalls.  Then we saw a really big one and decided that on the way back, at the end of the week, we would stop there to take some pictures.

Once in Portland, we looked back, and this is what we saw.  It was taken with my tiny camera out of the car window, so it's not a great picture.  But boy, it was gorgeous in real life.  I'd like that view out my kitchen window.

Mt. Hood

We stayed in a hotel in Lake Oswego just up the street from the Portland Temple.  We were anxious to go visit it, but first we needed to get some dinner.  I read a blog called Your Home-Based Mom.  Leigh Ann lives in Portland, and she has written about some local restaurants that she loves.  So before our trip, I wrote down some ideas of places we could try.  We chose The Grilled Cheese Grill.  Read her review HERE.

The Grilled Cheese Grill on Alberta Street

We ate in the bus

First we were at the bar until it cleared out and we could sit at a booth with old green bus seats.   Notice the school photos on the table.  They were old 1960s, 70s, and 80s pictures.  Fun to look at.

Part of the menu.  Fun to read about all of the yummy grilled cheese creations with unique names.

The Northsider: grilled provolone with basil pesto, tomato, & turkey on sourdough with Campbell's tomato soup kicked up a notch or two

The bus's ceiling was a gorgeous painted mural.  

 Your Home-Based Mom also reviewed a new ice cream joint right on the same street as the grilled cheese place.  We headed down to Salt & Straw for dessert.  You know it's gonna be good when the line is out the door.  Oh my goodness!  It was divine.  Chelsea had the almond brittle with salted ganache. Josh had the banana with spicy monkey caramel with walnuts.  Emma had the sea salt and caramel.  Matt had the stumptown coffee with cocoa nibs.  And I had the cinnamon snicker doodle.  We all had tastes of each other's.  Oh, so good.

It's fun to find the local gems.  If you have the time, you might as well!  It sure beats eating at a stupid chain restaurant next to the hotel.

Sunday morning came.  We went over to the temple before the 10:00 sacrament meeting at the Lake Oswego Ward.  I loved the smell in the air.  So earthy and sweet with trees and flowers.  The temple is gorgeous.  I was there for a college roommate's wedding 20 years ago, but this time I got to share it with Matt and the kids.  Here's some iPhone pics.

morning sun

Josh was playing with the ducks

After church, we changed our clothes, made turkey sandwiches for the car ride, and headed off on a beautiful two hour drive to the coast.