We were on a road trip and decided to check out this place. My wife loves alpacas. We highly…read morerecommend this stop. Especially if you have children. It was so much fun. The alpacas were roaming freely in the gated pastures and they are so friendly. We got to feed them and love on them. The property was great. We got to park our RV under a beautiful shade tree. There were no hook ups, however, but we managed OK.

We visited this farm for a harp concert and absolutely loved it. I guess I'm a bit biased because…read moremy extended family own the property. But if you have a chance to visit this place, it's beautiful and well taken care of. There is a tree house on the property for guests to stay in and the alpacas are actually a lot nicer than you think. Take a drive out and see the amazing views.

Southwest Fairmount Boulevard is a relatively level public roadway, absent any sidewalks, that…read moreforms a 3.5 mile loop. It's used by runners, bicyclists, walkers, and even ski rollers, for recreation and training. The road has many curves, is tree shaded, and admits views, so you won't be bored. It circles Portland's highest hill points, Southwest Council Crest Park and Healy Heights. A residential area, and adjacent to OHSU, motor vehicle parking is a sticky wicket. A common parking area for visitors is the intersection of Fairmount, Gaston and Talbot, which holds about 5 cars. There are gravel pullouts for one to a few vehicles throughout the rest of the boulevard. The route has several sections. Fairmount/Gaston/Talbot passing Mitchell to Marquam Hill Road is owned by pedestrians and bicyclists. There are motor vehicles, but they are on local missions. Between Marquam and Talbot Road is used by OHSU commuters. Be very careful here, especially commute hours. Talbot is a mix, is short, but has safer sight lines. The custom is to travel clockwise on the route, keeping to the right. If you are traveling counter clockwise, travel to the left on foot, in the lane on bike. Keep your ears out for motor vehicles, the route is 100% blind curves. Take off that iPOD, a ton vehicle vs you = death. Many bicycle racers make a figure eight loop of Fairmount/Talbot with Humphrey and Hewett Boulevards, similarly level. Humphrey is a dangerous to bikes OHSU commuter route connecting to Highway 26 at Sylvan. But running out and back on Hewett or up into the Greenhills or Council Crest neighborhoods are a pleasure. The area is crossed by the SW trails system: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=100449. That means it's possible to connect with longer routes or arrive by foot rather than motor vehicle. If you are an out of town visitor looking for a training spot, bus service is spotty - weekday commute times only on route 51. More frequent service is to Sylvan, then run in on Hewett. You could take the tram to OHSU, but the upper section of Marquam is narrow for walkers and dangerous for bikes. Taxis know the area well, and you could chill at Stroheckers waiting for a return taxi pickup. This is a great spot for serious training or leisurely walking. Out of town visitors looking for a run will love it. The homes along the way are spectacular and it's fun to speculate with your companion on what it would be like to have a home footing on such a lofty perch (when the big one comes...).

One block of outdoor murals honoring war veterans; Normandy Beach landings and cemetery, Eisenhower…read morewith the troops, the Pacific islands, recruiting posters, Rosie the Riveter, Vietnam, Civil War and more. From Esther Short Park head south on Columbia, proceed two blocks past the Hilton. The murals are NW of the railroad overpass. If you're driving you won't even need to get out of the car. As covered in this Wed-Jul-02-2008 story in The Columbian www.columbian.com/article/20080703/OPINION02/478765456&SearchID=73329958608508

Did you know there's a monolithic sculpture hidden below the streets of downtown Portland?…read moreThousands of people walk directly above it, on a daily basis, and the majority of them are oblivious to the fact it even exists. How deliciously Portland is that? Discovering this art made me feel a deeper level of appreciation for our quirky city, and to the artists who create magic for all of us to enjoy. Bruce West's untitled sculpture was created in 1973, and has taken on the nickname "The Monolith." The 8 foot tall sculpture is located in a concourse beneath The Standard Insurance building downtown. Constructed from a highly reflective metal, it takes on a life of its own due to the infinity-mirrored corridor where the piece is displayed. Because of the sculpture's twisting and organic form, it feels ten times larger than it really is - like it's about to burst through the confines of its subterranean lair! Several other works by West can be found throughout city, most notably Waterfront Park, Lair Hill Park, as well as one of my favorites called "Sitting Stones" at the East Portland Community Center. What I love most about the Monolith is the lack of formality regarding its placement. It is buried beneath the city, a complete surprise to almost everyone who stumbles upon it as they travel between a parking garage and insurance building. If visitors time their time accordingly, they can park in the garage and be in/out without having to pay for parking. Actually finding the sculpture is part of the experience, so please don't be frustrated by the confusion that will likely arise when trying to locate it on a map. Anyone who works in the building can help point you in the right direction.

I have been intrigued by it as I've driven by it a couple times and finally took the time to take a…read morelittle tour. I found this memorial very touching and informative. It is small enough that you can pay a visit even if you don't have a lot of time. There is a number you can dial to follow along with a audio tour. The info is posted on the wall on the west side of the memorial. The audio tour is part of Oregon's Mt. Hood Heritage Trail series. It is # 9 in the series. Text "hood" to 57682 & followed the link to the mobile site. While I was there, and there was a man lovingly doing some repair work there. He clearly has devotion and dedication to this memorial. He was also kind enough to take a picture of me and my dog with Telnet statue with the three soldiers. Thank you veterans for your service and for all of those that are dedicated to caring for this memorial.

War memorials come in all shapes and sizes, but more often than not, it is a small plaque in a city…read morepark. It reduces the experience to facts and figures and while a nice remembrance of those that have fought for their country, it doesn't really make as much of an impression on younger visitors who are far removed from the conflict. I've been intrigued by this particular memorial for years because you just can't miss it as you drive along Highway 99 at the southern end of Canby. A "Huey" medivac helicopter ("Little Orphan Annie") is on it's approach landing just alongside the road. This is the dramatic focal point of the Vietnam Era Veteran's Memorial which is dedicated to the men and women who served in the military (not just Vietnam) between 1959 - 1975. Across the plaza, which is shaped like a "shou" representing long life and longetivity, there is a Buddhist bell with the inscription, "Believe in Peace" in Vietnamese. Approaching the helicopter is the bronze statue, "A Hero's Prayer" which depicts three larger than life-size figures of an American soldier carrying a wounded comrade towards the helicopter while holding the hand of a small child. The statue depicts PFC Gary W. Martini, USMC, Oregon Medal of Honor recipient who was killed in action in Vietnam. The second figure is U.S. Army Spec-4 Warren E. Newton, a Canby soldier listed as Missing in Action in Vietnam. The memorial started taking shape in 2006 and is still well maintained. I particularly like that it focusing on the humanity as well as the heroism of the war experience. If you look down at the plaza, you will see the red cross making the landing spot for the incoming helicopter and bricks covered with names of those who have made the memorial possible.

Yelp is a community. This Yelper invites the community by appointment to help relieve a very large…read morefig tree of fruit. The figs ripen at different rates, so it is a several week project! The figs are the largest I've seen. They're tasty and delicious. Thanks Tom!

Fig Fest 2014 started off with a bang. Given that i love…read morefresh figs, I took up Tom on his challenge of getting some from his tree. I arrived at the designated location, his house, and slightly startled him with my knocking. No worries, Tom came out with a smile and we went to further analyze the tree. It's quite a tree, lots of figs. However, most are still not ripe yet. Sadly, Tom mentioned that you can't pick unripened figs since they won't ripen off the tree. With a really tall ladder, a small ladder, and some chopping stick of sorts we kind of went at the tree. I believe Tom was looking for less personal involvement but given that he is 9 feet tall and his family came out to help he was a bit more involved than he probably planned. The bees were buzzing around the figs and personally scaring the shit out of me. Tom didn't seem to mind the bee swarm that was helping themselves to the figs as well (Pretty sure they heard about the tree from Yelp too) Just as I was finishing up, Tom's neighbor and a family from Yelp showed up for some figs. I had to take off just as Fig Fest was drawing a crowd. I may return for some ripened figs later before Tom begins regretting his offer. Thank you Tom!

I always stop by if I can around noon to see this fun and quirky piece of downtown. I love having…read morethis piece of artistically meteorological prediction completely with spritzing water and music. I am unsure how accurate it is, but it's lots of fun regardless.

This ummm...sculpture? It is a weather beacon located in Pioneer Square…read more How is works is this:every day at noon a trumpet sounds, lights flash, and mist sprays, Then one of three symbols comes out based on the weather forecast. The symbol stays out untill the next day. The symbols and their meanings are; a sun for good weather. A for light rain, clouds etc. A dragon for heavy rain or storms Fun Fact: the Statue debuted live on the Today show with Willard Scott anouncing in 1988.

I've seen this water park dry and running with water. It's pretty neat! Kids play in it during the…read morewarmer months and people sit on the stone waterfall any time. It was off yesterday, so a little less interesting but it's still an open space in the city. Plus there's a public bathroom on the corner.

A popular place for kids and adults! Can't believe I haven't reviewed it! Only lived in the Pearl…read moreover 10 years so I walk by the fountain "umpteem" times a day! Anyway, the park opened in 2002 and cascading waters did not gush over the square rocks. The waterfall was an afterthought to deter skateboarders. Water surges at random over the rock steps and creates a tidal pool. After a few minutes the water recedes. The water recirculates and flows out of the rocks again and again and again! Small kids love to play in the water falls, wade and splash in the urban tidal pool. Adults love to baby sit and watch their kids play while sitting on a blanket in the grass under a shade tree. Or get a little tan and free vitamin D from the sun. Note: Our bodies manufacture vitamin D from direct sunlight (no clouds)--best time at solar noon (or a time when your shadow is shorter than you). Only 15 to 30 minutes per day is all you need to optimize the "D." Important / from Dr. Joseph Mercola's website: "The sun emits two types of wavelengths at different periods in a day: UVA rays and UVB rays. Your body requires UVB for vitamin D production. UVA rays, on the other hand, have longer wavelengths and can penetrate the ozone layer, as well as clouds and pollution. Frequent exposure to this type of wavelength increases your risk of skin cancer and photoaging." UVB rays occur when sun is direct (or your shadow shorter than you). UVB is when sun is lower in the sky (bad time to be sunning). So be safe when getting Vit. D naturally--amazing health benefits--ask your primary care Doc to take a blood sample and test your "D" for sufficiency--simple! Goggle "Dr. Mercola" read all about Vit "D," (don't take it from me, I read it). Now, I step down from my soap box, back to the fountain. I digress! So there you sit with kids also playing in grass and sprawling out on your blanket. Note: the grass and trees are visited "umpteem," yes indeed, "umpteem" times by our best furry friends, "wuff, wuff, wuff" who like to "squat, squat, squat" there too! Just be careful where you sit! Get it? I digress again! Back to the fountain. The fountain is a gathering place--soothing and relaxing--for one and all! There is way more than the waterfalls in this park (day or night) to see and enjoy! Check it out!