My wife and I were in Portland with my sister and brother-in-law and we stopped after the grotto…read morefor this overlook that had a huge rush of water, I read somewhere that it had the second most volume of water in America, but it seemed far-fetched. The view was pretty, but from where we were standing, it seemed to have a lot of blocking obstructions, I know big problems, but hey.... We stayed for about 10 minutes and were on our way again. Hey, it was free, I think the other side of the river would have been better.

I mean... who doesn't love a good scenic overlook? When in Oregon... amirite? :P…read more On a recent trip to the Beaver State, my girlfriends and I knew that we had to take a sec. to appreciate all of the beauty that this state has to offer. We were driving to Clackamas to do some shopping--the tiny town of Happy Valley itself is cute and cozy. Hungry to explore the town, we pulled off of the road to the scenic overlook. The fresh, cool, and crisp Oregon air was blowing and the Willamette river was rushing straight and fast into the Willamette Falls. Surrounded by mountains, it was truly a sight to see. As a true Hawaii girl, it was surprising and interesting to say the least to also see so many historic "American" buildings. Close to the pull-over, there's a bunch of old paper mill, and industrial buildings. Interesting fact I found out: Willamette Falls is the largest falls (by water volume) in the West.--second only to Niagara Falls.

Update - The locks are currently closed to the public. They may not be able to hold the annual Lock…read moreFest this summer either due to lack of funding. Sadness. ---------------------------------------------- Reasons to visit: **Built in 1873, this is the first multi-lift navigation locks built in the United States **On the National Register of Historic Places **Visiting the locks and visitor center are free Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers since 1915, they are in dire need of funding to remain open. Every year the city and Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation sponsor a Lock Fest to publicize this landmark and raise funds to continue operation. Is this the most exciting thing since sliced bread? No. Is it a part of our local history that should be supported and available for generations to come? Absolutely! I've visited the amazing Hiram M. Chittenden Locks in Seattle and if you are expecting that level of maintenance and activity, you will be disappointed. In comparison, this is a missed opportunity to develop this location into a visitor destination. The falls and views of Mt. Hood are beautiful from here. Visitor hours vary seasonally, so I suggest you call ahead.

Well, this used to be a pretty cool operation...actually lived a couple blocks away. It is a…read moreshame that you can't even get in to see the Salmon ladder. Maybe public support will help make this a viable facility once again.

Will you open already?…read more I've been inconvenienced by the closure of this bridge almost daily for the past 18 months. And while I don't expect the re-opening in October to magically solve the I-205 snarl through West Linn, it certainly can't hurt. My observation is that the closure has been particularly disruptive to the business owners in downtown Oregon City. What was once an easy jog from West Linn to Oregon City became much more of an ordeal during the commute hours. And sometimes it just isn't worth the effort. To coincide with the reopening of the bridge, they've been repaving and refreshing Main Street in downtown Oregon City, so things may finally get back on track for customers and businesses next month. Aside from the transportation aspect, this small bridge has a fun little spot in my heart as a West Linn resident. The West Linn-Oregon City game is the longest continuously played football rivalry west of the Mississippi. Because the high school football fields are located within a mile of the bridge on either side, in the old days it was common for one school's players and fans to march across the bride to the other school's stadium with a police escort, no less. The football game is known as "The Battle of the Bridge." Another fun fact for the engineers out there is that this is the only bridge in Oregon encased in gunite, which protects it from corrosive sulfur dioxide emissions from paper mills south of the bridge. The re-opening will be part of the Willamette Falls Festival (aka Lock Fest), October 12 - 14: http://www.willamettefallsfestival.com/.

It's Finally Going To Open!!! This bridge has been dearly missed for the last 2 years. After 90…read moreyears of service, it was due for much needed repairs and restoration. Willamette Falls Festival will celebrate the reopening with a 3 day festival October 12 - 14th. Lots of events, tents, races, fireworks, art and even a mass vow renewal ceremony on the bridge October 14th at 1pm. Married couples can register online for this FREE Vow Renewal ceremony and even a Reception at the Pacific Crest Grand Ballroom. Register by October 8th at www.willamettefallsfestival.com This will be a great event and a perfect way to celebrate the bridge finally reopening!!!

The Oregon City Municipal Elevator instantly made my list of coolest things to do in Oregon. You're…read morewalking the beautiful Oregon City riverfront, doing the loop downtown, surrounded by clean streets, old buildings, shops, restaurants, and then boom, there it is standing in front of you like some futuristic tower from another era. Straight ahead you've got the bridge crossing into West Linn, the river below, cliffs around you, and somehow this little elevator ties it all together perfectly. What makes it even crazier is the history behind it. The original elevator opened clear back in 1915 after years of debate and legal battles. The first version took about three years to build and cost around $12000, which was a serious amount of money back then. The current elevator was rebuilt in 1955 and cost about $116000 to construct. It rises about 130 feet up the bluff and is still one of only a handful of municipal elevators in the entire world. Even better, the street connected to it is considered the only vertical street in North America. That alone is worth seeing. From the outside, the thing is beautiful. It honestly looks like a little flying saucer perched on the cliffside. Then you walk through this little hallway tunnel underneath the tracks, step inside, and suddenly you are shooting straight up the side of the mountain. Fifteen seconds later, boom, you're standing up top with these incredible postcard views overlooking the river, downtown Oregon City, and the surrounding hills. It feels like a tiny postage stamp observation deck with a full 360 degree view. What I loved most was how easy and fun the whole experience felt. Everything is close together downtown. Parking was easy, bathrooms are nearby, the waterfront is right there, and the elevator itself is completely free. That alone makes it such a cool experience because most cities would charge you ten bucks just to stand at a viewpoint like this. This place is historic, unique, fun, and honestly just flat out memorable. If you are anywhere near Oregon City, highly recommend making the stop. It is one of those rare attractions that is actually better in person than people describe. Absolutely loved it.

How freakin' cool is this?!…read more It's historic architecture and it's FREE! So fun! Can't believe I'm just now realizing how 'cute' Oregon City is. Easily the best of the Portland 'burbs.

Came here for the heritage holiday event, which includes free entry to both the McLoughlin House…read moreand the neighboring Barclay House. We enjoyed it. People were dressed up in period costumes and showed us around the McLoughlin House - it was neat to learn the history, though it could have been made more engaging, particularly for younger people. The house is very dark and it's hard to see - it will be nice to return after the renovation to see it in a better state. The Barclay House is half office, with the other rooms set up as a gift shop and multi-purpose room. Also, the McLoughlin's are buried on the grounds, so that was interesting.

So glad this important piece of history was saved for posterity! John McLoughlin is the Father of…read moreOregon - even through he was a British subject, Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company at Ft Vancouver, Oregon Country. Oregon City is well worth a day to explore - and this museum should be part of your day. 5 excellent historic preservation stars!

Super cool historical site in Oregon City…read more There was a great and informative guide and games to play in the living room. We learned about the family who used to live there and then my husband was allowed to play the piano and found some sheet music for two songs all about Oregon. He played the songs and we did our best to sing along. Later the guide told us that the women who used to live in the house, loved music, played the piano herself and often hosted musical evenings in that very same living room. How beautiful is that!

This hidden-gem should not be overlooked by visitors to Oregon City nor residents. It offers an…read moreopportunity to step-back to another century and take in the architecture, amenities and lifestyle that our ancestors enjoyed.

This was one of the best experiences of my life as I not only learned a new skill and met wonderful…read morenew people, but was also able to receive close instruction from the artist herself. True is amazing and made us so comfortable in her home. She generously offered me a cup of coffee before we started the class. Her home was also in a cute little neighborhood where parking on the street was easy to find. I grew up watching Bob Ross as a child and am absolutely in love with everything about him. It was really nice to be able to learn his style of painting and to be able to use the different tools for the different affects on the canvas. The overall experience was very therapeutic and I was so happy that my painting turned out so beautiful and amazing. I even brought my Bob Ross wig for the final pic of all of us together. I would definitely do something like this again and highly recommend True as an instructor if you would like to learn oil painting (Bob Ross style).

True is amazing. I took a private lesson today and I learned to much. I would recommend her hands…read moredown! I can't wait for my next lesson!