So far the best rest area I have experienced based on all my drives from NorCal to SoCal is now…read morelocated in Oregon. Take notes California this is the way to do it! :) I love that you can walk as much or as little as you want.

Nothing like a little revisionist history…read more The Grove of the States qualifies (barely) as a roadside attraction. Tucked in a corner of the Baldock Rest Area on the southbound side of Interstate 5, around Milepost 282. In concept, it is actually quite sweet, especially for a rest stop. A shady circular path takes you past each U.S. state's tree with a plaque and description. The grove was planted in 1967 as part of the Highway Beautification Act and well, there have been a couple of casualties. Too bad, so sad, Arkansas. If you are a student of such things, or a visitor from another state, you'll also notice a few substitutions or repetitions for a variety of reasons. Some states have changed their official state tree (Nebraska) and other states or territories have trees that can't really survive in our Oregon climate. The rest stop is currently maintained by the Oregon Travel Commission and they are trying to decide whether to update and possibly expand the grove. But, I wouldn't hold my breath. Instead, I consider it a quirky part of our state's history. Is this an exciting tourist attraction? No. Is it a fun little diversion when you are taking a road trip south? Sure.

Great little oasis of green in Portland. That is close to a friend and my favorite local grocery…read morestore. Nice trials for a quick trail run or walk the dog to breathe in that enriched oxygen. You can still hear the 99 but the nature sounds galore. I am glad I stopped and checked out what that small park sign meant. See the photo for trail map. There are 4 tables for picnicking. All you need is a table cover and cleaning, second to last table has a small area of wood rot. There are plenty of flat spaces for a blanket. Enjoy!

Nice smaller trail area in forest with incline. Sticking to just the loop about 30 minutes total…read morewith uphill on the way back. Free street parking, picnic tables and signed trail entrance on Nebraska. Distant white traffic noise not bothersome, still feel a bit away from the city in tall canopy and familiar forest scents. Did not see any garbage on the loop :)

I work nearby here and it's just a three minute walk away. The neighborhoods surrounding the area…read moreare absolutely beautiful. It's a very safe place for the most part and it's a private park, bust open to public in the area who live nearby or work. I highly recommend checking out this park is it's so beautiful in the spring in summertime. Take a jog through the neighborhoods and enjoy the beautiful housing! Get inspired. Great area.

Really nice park. Has a playground with 2 play structures - one for older kids and one for younger…read morekids. This park has a bathroom, a duck pond and some walking trails. Street parking only, but in a really nice neighborhood.

My friend and I hiked a 6-mile loop at the start of November (one of SW Trails self-led routes) and…read moreour final section led us up from Macadam up to the trailhead in the Collins View neighborhood. (Trail 7) It rained the day of our walk but there was enough tree coverage that we didn't get wet during. The trail was muddy from prior precipitation, though, so watch your step after wet weather. It was about a mile uphill from one side to the next. Really quiet; only came across one couple at the start and another group at the end. Clear signage marking all the trails as they crisscross. We did see dogs even with the No Dogs rule. Give a hoot and wipe your boots to prevent spread of invasive plants.

River View Natural Area is a wooded 146 acre piece of land near the west end of the Sellwood…read moreBridge. It was privately owned prior to 2011, and had been logged in the 1800s and in the 1950s. It is now run by the Portland Parks Bureau. But don't think of it as a park - there are no parking lots, restrooms, picnic tables, or benches. What it does have is a beautifully marked network of trails for walking. The property is located south of River View Cemetery, north of Lewis & Clark college, west of Rt 43, and east of Palatine Hill Rd. There are two trailheads - one on Palatine Hill Rd, and the other on Rt 43. Parking is not permitted on Palatine Hill Rd, but there are nearby side streets that allow parking. On Rt 43, there is a gravel pull-off with room for maybe 2 vehicles. The land slopes generally downward from west to east, with the steepest parts near the Rt 43 trailhead. The trails are hard packed dirt, with lots of exposed tree roots for potential ankle twisting. We visited during the summer, and footing was excellent. But, I'd imagine that the dirt trails on sloping ground could get really slippery during rainy months. The most direct route between trailheads seems to be about .8 miles long, with a difference in elevation of perhaps 300 vertical feet. There are at least 8 numbered trails on the property, with clearly labeled signs and maps at both trailheads, and at every trail intersection. I have never been to a place with such thorough signage. The trails are laid out so that you can take side trips and/or loops of many different lengths. One thing that I found curious is the name of the property - though it is near the Willamette River, there are only a couple of spots near the eastern trailhead where you can glimpse even the tiniest bit of water. All in all, this is a delightful place for a short hike. Trails are quite narrow, so you will want to have a mask for Covid-era encounters with other hikers. That said, during the couple of hours that we spent here, we only encountered 4 other people, and 2 of them were walking together.

We drove here to have a picnic! We couldn't go in the park, both entrances were closed. Since I've…read morenot been here before, the 4-5 parking spots were filled, so we pulled out and parked just from the entrance, in front of a resident's front door (basically). I'm not even sure, we can get in closer to the main park, by car. So, we have the view to the entrance of the park! It took us 11 mins. more to find a park to go on a picnic, in our car (that's OK, too), during a pandemic, and we're running out of time. I will update when we come back here, when we have more time, when one of us are not rushing for a doctor's appointment in the Hollywood area - Portland. Below, showing our beautiful entrance view of the park, NOW blocked by a driver who she thinks because she CAN, in front of a RED EMERGENCY No Parking strip. and almost the middle of the road!

I love this park because it is where I have my community garden plots, hence where I grow a LOT of…read moremy food!

Even when I was prego, I was a crazy walkin' fool and often took this path on my way home from…read morework. It's especially nice on sunny, fall days. So nice, in fact, that I was inspired to write a poem about it eight years ago (slightly embarrassing, but true). I'm surprised that no one has reviewed it, since it's constantly busy with cyclists, walkers, joggers, and hikers (there are many trails that link to the path), at all hours. Sometimes I see those hardcore folks running uphill with their backpacks on in the freezing rain in February, and I marvel at how they can exert such energy. Sometimes there are determined joggers, obviously training for the Marathon. I see familiar couples walking their familiar dogs every day. One day, I even saw a woman on a Segway, although I'd call that cheating. And sometimes there are mamas like me, walking fast and steering the stroller with one hand, while talking on their cell phone with the other, always multi-tasking. I often wonder if they're also surprised that they've become a "stroller mom"? I enjoy walking Terwilliger with my man, our kid, and the stroller. The path is plenty wide and smooth, there's plenty of parking along the way, not to mention it's hella long. You can go for like 7 miles or something, one-way! I especially like the section between OHSU and Capitol Hwy, for the spectacular views. I have loads of memories of walking Terwilliger (like the time I had to pee during a rain shower and begged the Chart House staff to use their facilities), so it's definitely my favorite place to stroll. I even have that silly poem from my early-20's. Give it a shot - you might be inspired, too! p.s. I still have someone's keys that I found on the path 4 years ago. No one responded to the Craigslist ad I posted, but I have them in my junk drawer, just in case.

This paved path along Terwilliger has its merits. It rolls along through beautiful trees that blaze…read moreyellow and orange in fall and surround you with leafy green shade in the summer. It connects to several trail networks, including one running up to Council Crest. It is friendly to walkers, runners, bikers. It's hilly without being killer. The downside is, you pretty much are always breathing in exhaust. If you can fit in your run around mid-day, the pollution is moderate, but try it at anything approaching rush-hour and you are pretty much running in a cloud of fumes. So, great place for a run, hit it mid-day or on a weekend to avoid the worst of the exhaust.

This is a nice little park and nature walk close to home. Built and maintained by the Tualatin…read moreHill Rec people. My real estate taxes and bond measures paid for it so I might as well use and enjoy it, right? Nice little paved ADA nature walk trail suitable for taking the GrandSpore on a stroll. There's also some interesting granite sculpture work to look at here. A small park for sure and tiny compared to other Tualatin Hills venues but it's a nice neighborhood stop. If you weren't a townie you wouldn't even know it's here as it is a couple of blocks off Cornell.

Nice, basic trail with new railings and bridges. Has interesting wilderness all year round. Jackie…read moreHusen Park at one end is a good place to throw a frisbee, but the middle area of the grass can get muddy after rain.

The McGloughlin Promenade is one of my favorite spots in the Portland metro area. The promenade…read moreoffers gorgeous views of Oregon City that change seasonally, and allows visitors an opportunity to learn about the city's history through signage and information kiosks. The stretch overlooking Willamette Falls near the VFW parking lot is my favorite, boasting stunning views of Willamette Falls. In addition, the pollinator garden with lavender, poppies and other colorful flowers makes my heart skip a beat in the spring and early summer months. There's no better site in town for an impromptu picnic or an afternoon stroll.

An unexpectedly cool, somewhat shady walkway along the top of the ridge overlooking the Willamette…read moreRiver and Willamette Falls. I parked on High St, and accessed the Prom from the backside (via an alley), or take the Municipal Elevator to the top and hang a right to get onto the Promenade. Walking south/west toward the Falls, you'll pass a couple of benches, little pocket parks and several overlooks, all great spots to stop and take it all in. All in all, a short but pretty enjoyable stroll with nice views.