Two weeks til I have to entertain: IDEAS needed for November

My cousin from England and my mother from San Diego arrive in two weeks for a first look at the Portland area.

I have a few ideas of things to do, weather permitting.

Saturday Market, a day trip to the coast and of course to get some cheese at Tillamook, maybe the gorge, maybe not.....I was thinking Oregon Gardens but I have a feeling that should wait for a summer trip.

So I need any ideas I have forgotten. Short trips with not much walking are best, as my mom is limited by age and arthritis.

A couple good ideas for nice dinners in a quiet place.....Not super pricey (like El Gaucho) but nice.

Best Pinot Noir to send back to England? I honestly (sorry Scarlett) have not made the rounds of the wineries yet so I have no idea where to start. We drink alot of smoking loon and bogle....sssh.

Best festivals the second and third weeks of November? (9th -16th/20th)

Thanks all.

So far I still LOVE IT here!

Two weeks til I have to entertain: IDEAS needed for November

Don%26#39;t think i would go to Oregon Garden with only a few days. Not sure what kind of people mover they might be using then. And they tend to be fairly seasonal., like Rose Garden better in late spring. Japanese Gardens easier visit and less seasonal. And so is Chines Garden, though not much of a ';garden'; to one who likes to see lots of plants.

Then i would cast a vote for Gorge. Think someone from england would be awed with the waterfalls. Several sites pretty easy access from Old Hwy. Multnomah Falls from I-84 is not easy really And there may still be some color left on trees.

Two weeks til I have to entertain: IDEAS needed for November

Hi Chicogirl,

Sounds like you%26#39;re on the right track. Don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ve thought of St. Helens or Mt. Hood at Timberline Lodge, both of which are impressive, whether the 1st or 51st time. The Gorge is good too if you remember you do have some walking to get to several of the falls: Bridal Veil and Wahkeena in particular. I was up the gorge a week ago; it%26#39;s just beautiful this time of year. If you do head to the coast, Cape Disappointment State Park would be a good stop; maybe you haven%26#39;t been there yet. It%26#39;s in WA, just out of Ilwaco, about 15 miles from Astoria. Spectacular views of the mouth of the Columbia from the Interpretive Center.

For restaurants, your mom (and the rest of you) will like Fenouil; very classy and beautiful space, and not El Gaucho-like on the pocket-book necessarily. Places like Alberta Street Oyster Bar, Wildwood, and Higgins would also appeal, I think, though they%26#39;re a little higher on the noise scale. All do food with a PNW focus and flair. For more casual, but still really good, maybe try something like Le Pigeon.

Best Pinot Noir to send back to England....... Hmmm........ That%26#39;s obviously a matter of taste and how much you%26#39;re willing to spend. I was out in wine country earlier today, and tasted a Cana%26#39;s Feast pinot from Cuneo that was wonderful. Also had some Adelsheim and Scott Paul that I think would favorably compare with whatever your cousin might be buying from France. For a uniquely Oregon Pinot, pick up something from Westrey in McMinnville, or maybe Patricia Green Cellars. If your guests are here over Thanksgiving, they%26#39;d get a kick out of wine tasting that weekend. It%26#39;s one of the two biggest in the year for Oregon%26#39;s wine industry.

Glad to read you%26#39;re still loving it here. How about your daughter?

Chicogirl--Glad to see you posting:) I agree with the others...the gorge would be very nice, and the Japanese Gardens are stunning. The Chinese Gardens are nice, but IMO, the Japanese are much more impressive. Also Timberline and Mt. St. Helens are both great ideas. If you go to St. Helens, be sure to go to the Johnston Ridge Observatory.

If you want someplace close to home for a very nice meal, come down here to Sherwood to the Hunters Ridge Grill. We were there a week ago and loved it ,and went back last night. They are right off of HWY 99 at Tualatin-Sherwood Rd/ Roy Rogers (Roy Rogers side), across from the Safeway Plaza. From the street it doesn%26#39;t look like much, but when you go around back you will see the difference, and once inside...very nice!

If you head to the coast on Hy. 26 to Seaside first (I like Hy. 6 too), have you ever stopped at Camp 18, the logging museum restaurant? The food is good and the setting is quite unique.

It%26#39;s at mile marker 18, hence the name.

15 to 16 miles farther west, about mile marker 2 or 3 on that Hy. 26, is a sign for the largest Sitka Spruce tree in the USA. The tree is only a few hundred feet from the highway. There%26#39;s a driveway over the bridge.

There%26#39;s a cool tree with an arch-like double trunk, about 100 feet from that big tree.

It%26#39;s the tree in the image on this page...

http://www.mdvaden.com/gallery1.shtml

The tree is fun to look at again and again.

I%26#39;ll frequenlty head west on 26, see Seaside, Cannon Beach, etc., and head south to Tillamook, then backtrack on 6 along the Wilson River.

I would pass on the Oregon Garden too. I donated some tree pruning service to the garden a few years ago, and it%26#39;s not worth the long drive this time of year. Even the Japanese Garden will be passing it%26#39;s fall prime soon. You%26#39;ll know, just by watching the foliage in your local neighborhoods.

I%26#39;m not an expert on wines, but I had some friends in that business years ago. I recall that Ponzi Vineyards out Scholls Ferry Road, just west of Beaverton, is a good vineyard to visit.

Pinot Noir is supposed to be one of their staples. I met the Ponzis when they first started, like back in the 80s. Good natured folk.

I believe the Johnston Ridge Observatory atop Mt. St. Helens has closed or will soon close, so better check this out. Also, with the recent cold, we%26#39;ve got snowing in even the low passes. I%26#39;d vote for the Gorge; go the scenic route, with your guests on the passenger side to enhance their views, return via the freeway. Perhaps see a dam or two, hinging upon your guests abilities and interests. Hope you all have a nice visit.

voyaging--Ah, good catch! With this beautiful weather we have had, I forgot that JRO would be closing soon, or might already be closed. I just saw the forecast for snow at 4000 ft! I hope we get a lot this winter:)

Thanks, Mtngirl. FYI, one of our sons is staying the night somewhere east of Snoqualmie Pass due to I-90 being closed! Hope he can find a motel. We, too, hope for lots of snow, but after he gets back to his house!

Best Pinot Noir ~ I may be bias, but definately Willamette Valley Vineyards. Pinot Noir is not my favorite wine, but I do like Willamette Valley%26#39;s.

Lisa! That is hysterical! We have had a few bottles of Willamette and then heard from three different wine snobs that it is not really considered ';Drinkable'; so we figured too many y ears of two buck chuck have ruined our taste buds!

Thanks for all the great ideas. I guess I am on the right track. The restaurant recommendations are particularly helpful. Much of the touring depends on the weather.

And yeah, I big time owe you an email Mtngrl.....sorry to be so quiet, lots going on. The child is settleing in better - she is off to do outdoor school as a counselor tomorrow to the camp up near Scappose somewhere......

AFter you visit the Tillamook Cheese Factory, you may also want to check out the Blue Heron. They make some really great Brie cheese and there is also a wine tasting bar there. The Air Museum is also pretty fun and educational in Tillamook.

Nehalem is a nice little stop also, they have a main street there with some nice antique shops. We love the Pinot Noir from Domaine Serene, Archery Summit, Domaine Drouhin, Sokkol Blosser and Ponzi. Tina%26#39;s in Dundee is a nice little stop for lunch or the Dundee Bistro. Joel Palmer House for a nice, elegant dinner. The Painted Lady in Dundee is also getting rave reviews these days.

If you decide against the gardens, the PIttock Mansion is interesting. clarklewis, Carlyle or Fenouil are all very nice places to have lunch. Have fun! :)