Celebrating 12 years of f-cking, s-cking, and occasionally eating Turducken (very rarely)…read more My girlfriend looks thrilled about it eh? We went to the Meating Place Cafe to get some food (I recommend the Turkey Cranberry sandwich with Mama Lil's Peppers) and then headed to Henry Hagg Lake (I also recommend) to eat, hike, and swim.

It's a decent sized lake with great views. There's ample parking and easy access to view the lake…read more Saw a bunch of people boating and fishing in it. Really worth going on a clear day and spending time in the sun laying down in the green grass. There's also a restroom nearby so that's a plus.

We drove an hour to visit Hidden Creek West Park in Hillsboro, and it was absolutely worth the…read moretrip! This park is a total gem--thoughtfully designed, beautifully shaded, and perfect for families. There are plenty of swings and a great variety of play equipment to keep kids engaged for hours. One of the things I appreciated most was the visibility--there's seating thoughtfully placed all around the park, so no matter where your child is playing, you can easily keep an eye on them. There's even a grassy area under the trees where you can lay out a blanket and relax. Even on a hot day, the metal slides stayed cool thanks to the shade, which is a rare and welcome surprise! The kids there were all friendly, and the parents seemed attentive and involved, creating a really positive, safe vibe. My kids had a blast and would've stayed much longer if I hadn't forgotten snacks--lesson learned! We'll definitely be back, this time with a picnic and more time to explore.

First of all the park is huge and the activities available for the kids are wonderful. Multiple…read moreswings, rotating ball, and great big climbing structure with slides and rock climbing wall. There is a fountain for the summer time and outdoor picnicking and grilling. Nice little trail to walk around. Across the street is 3 futbol piches and more park. The community center features indoor courts for basketball, badminton, track, and a gym. Staff is sorry nice and welcoming and the place is clean and inviting.

This review is day use only, and trail hiking…read more This is an excellent spot to jump on several trails that circle the area. Today I did an 8 mile loop that took me south for a bit then back around. My goal was to stay on the Storey Burn Loop Trail, and I mostly did. It turned into Gale Creek Trail and there were many places where I could have diverted. Watch your map or it will have you darting across highway 6 - don't do it! Although, University Falls is over there and its gorgeous. On the east side there are lots of dirt bikes and hand cannons. The west side is blissfully free of that noise. Now you know. It was super muddy today, suck you out of your boots muddy. The water is flowing with all the rain we've had, and the rain forest is lush with growth. Enjoy!

I haven't stayed here as a camper, but I've come often for the Day Use Area and to go hiking on the…read morenearby trails around the campground. The facilities are great. Clean, well-kept, and clearly marked. The campsites aren't right on top of each other which is nice! Definitely room to spread out and have a little privacy. The river runs through and it is beautiful! It's a fantastic place to just hang out. Bring the dog and a beer and you're golden! There are a few moderate to difficult hikes that run from the trailhead at the entrance of the campground, so there's always something to do and see! There are multiple points where you can access the river, so you don't have a bottleneck on one trail. You also won't have an issue of people trying to walk through your campsite for river access. Hoping to actually camp here soon, and I'll update my review. But at least for day use I can say it's fab!

Forest Grove, Oregon "A place where families and business…read morethrive" We took a drive out to Forest Grove on Superbowl Sunday, before the big game. The drive to Forest Grove felt long from Portland, but it was a nice drive. The reason was to visit Kama'aina Comfort foods, we got our take out from the food truck and had to find a place to enjoy our lunch. My daughter searched for a park on her phone and we happen to be nearby Joseph Gale Park. Who is Joseph Gale? He was an explorer, fur trapper and member of Oregon's Provisional Government Executive Committee (1843-44) He was Commander in Chief of the Oregon Territory Milita and also championed the rights of Native America. A small park in the Forest Grove Community, located right next to Joseph Gale Elementary school. We found street parking right in front of the park. Joseph Gale Park as I observed had a small playground with a few picnic benches. I noticed on this beautiful cool Sunday, 2 families utilizing the playground, a gentleman utilizing the picnic table reading a book, and my family enjoying our lunch on another picnic table. This park is small, very green and also clean. The Amenities at Joseph Gale Park includes: barbeques baseball fields, picnic tables playground equipment restrooms, softball fields Parks and Recreation Director: Tom Gamble Parks Supervisor: Matt Baum Phone: 503.992-3237 Overall, We enjoyed our afternoon visit here at Joseph Gale Park and can't wait to be back again at this park and neighborhood!!

Rustic river acess for kayaking, fishing and summer time swimming…read more This park had been here for many a year providing access to the Molalla river. I have seen families basking in the sun or cooling off in the water durring the hot months and I have seen fishermen wadding in trying to catch the prized salmon durring the cold early spring. For Kayakers, there is an old ramp going down the the water. It is not a smooth transition to the water as the bottom of the ramp is missing and also the top is blocked so you will have to carry your craft down to the water. Once in the water it is a cool and beautiful journey down to the Willamette. The pull out on my last trip was the Molalla state park. Summer time is good for that as you may have to portage some areas when the water is low. I haven't floated this part in the spring yet. Maybe this year.

I love this place for the kids. Bring inflatables for the rapids. They are slow going and even…read moresmall kids love them. My kids catch tad poles in a bucket and jump off the rocks into the water. Mostly the river is waist high.

What a wonderful under the radar waterfall this is...Beaver Falls!…read more Located 6 miles east of Clatskanie, Oregon, this area near the Columbia River is beautiful. Let's get straight to the heart of what Beaver Falls is all about... If you plug "Beaver Falls Trailhead" into Google Maps, you'll have no problem finding it. Then just park along the side of Highway 30 and hike 1/3rd of a mile through the forest to the base of the falls. It's that easy. When I visited on a Thursday in early afternoon of July, there was hardly anyone around which was good for taking quality photos. Best of all, you can swim in the waters. So definitely bring a bathing suit, towel and a pair of water shoes so the rocks won't hurt your feet while entering the pool beneath Beaver Falls. The water is cold but once you jump in and get comfortable, it's a terrific setting. There's also a long rope where you can swing across and splash down below. It's great for kids (and adults too, lol) to have playful times. For me, I was content soaking in the pool and appreciating the surroundings. More info... - It's free to visit. - Cell phone reception works fine. - You can walk underneath the falls! This is a Must-Do. You can capture some amazing moments standing beside Beaver Falls. It's not hard or dangerous and offers a unique perspective. - Beaver Falls is just one of many outstanding waterfalls situated around Oregon and especially near the Columbia River. There's also Lower Lewis River Falls, Panther Creek Falls and Spirit Falls, to name a few. - You can spend a few hours hanging out or as little as 30 - 40 minutes. It depends on your time horizon. But overall, it's really pleasant to be here that I'd suggest bringing snacks, lunch and maybe having a picnic. This Beaver Falls is absolutely so much fun to hang out at. When you can swim in the waters, swing from a rope and even walk underneath the falls, It makes for a worthwhile summer visit.

Bathe yourself in the forest, of springs and creeks and trails and the beach…read more It's an easy walk through old growth forest though there are also trails that involve more effort. Short Sand beach is a favorite spot for surfers. There are restrooms at the parking lot and seasonal restrooms as well.

such a great place to pull over and let the dog/kid blow off…read moresome steam! great trail network, obviously maintained. parking lot is clean, with a trash can and there's also bathrooms. i enjoyed the first hike we did down to sandy short beach so much that the next day i stopped again and walked the old growth trail which was short but stunning! if you're not from the pacific northwest and tou want to see why so many people flock here i. the summer, set aside an hour or two to explore in here. it's so pretty!

Hidden gem! Short and steep hike to beautiful falls. Bench at top of falls to sit and enjoy the…read morescenery and falls. All ends of paved walking paths lead to neighborhood. There were some dirt path trails, but some were a little too gnarly for all in our group, so we didn't explore those too much. No parking or bathrooms. They do have a trash can and dog waste bags available at trail head.

Nice hidden neighborhood walk to the falls. A short walk and you will hear the water. You crossed…read morea nice wooden bridge to the falls. There is a wooden bench to sit and relax. The walk is short and nice. Coming back is a little steep. Lots of good greenery and very well maintained.

On our way back home from McMinnville, we went through Beaverton to check out Bald Peak State…read moreScenic Viewpoint, which was a nice stop while in the area. I recommend checking out if you're around, with a viewpoint that looks out to Willamette Valley. On a Monday in the early afternoon, we stopped by Bald Peak State Scenic Viewpoint which has a lower parking lot area and on the upper area is where cars can park along the side for a quick stop. From the lower parking lot is a short walk to the upper area, where most people stop by to see the views of Oregon's wine country. There were a few picnic tables and some people had brought out their camping chairs and staked a spot to chill. It's a quiet, serene area that's high up to see the area. But if you're looking for a hiking trail, there isn't much of that here. It truly is just a viewpoint where you can stop and check out.

Beautiful view from this small park on top of this mountain. Restrooms with 2 pit toilets are in…read moreone of the lots. Took a nice picture from one of the picnic tables, but I immediately had my feet surrounded by yellow jackets! I scooted out of there, and back to the car to wait for my daughter, who took the dog down the short trail. It was a far drive (nice drive) for not much and a bee attack! Boo!

This is one if the coolest free city parks ever! There are a few different areas of the playground…read morewith a really tall play structure for older kids, and small play structures for littlest kids. There's also a climbing wall, zip line kinda thing, and a really big sand lot with a volcano-kinda thing in the middle that is deceptively difficult to walk up because the sand makes it slippery! PLUS there's a splash pad water fountain wet area! That part is not open year round. I mean it's open, but the fountains aren't running in the winter. All this is surrounded by covered picnic tables, very large grassy areas, walking paths covered by trees. Car parking. Bicycle parking. Clean bathrooms. Friendly clientele. We entered from the east side of the park where there is pedestrian access. On the west side of the park near the vehicle entrance, there is a skate park! And 4 half basketball courts, plus a boulder, I guess for bouldering.