Tourists Boost Portland Economy

On our first full day in Portland, we did … everything.  Well, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but seriously, we did a LOT of stuff.  Here is an overview:

1. Scenic overlook over the Columbia River Gorge
2. Vista House – another beautiful scenic overlook that was an early 20th century rest stop of sorts
3. Waterfall #1
4. Waterfall #2
5. Waterfall #3
6. Waterfall #4
7. Waterfall #5
8. Lunch at Multnomah Falls Lodge
9. Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson, WA
10. Coffee break at Starbuck’s
11. Winetasting at Phelp’s Creek Vineyards (my first winetasting ever, believe it or not)
12. Visit to Lavender Valley Lavender Farm
13. Quick stop at home to put the wine indoors
14. Visit to Edgefield for winetasting and dinner – Edgefield is a McMenamins property that defies description.  It’s an art-y trip with great booze and food and gardens and music and …  just go next time you’re in Portland.  I may return during this trip!

It was a great day, but a really full one.  Here is one of the many beautiful waterfalls we saw tumbling down into the gorge:

Here we are after the first winetasting, loaded up with local wines.  This winery produces a pair of wines called “Hellfire” and “Brimstone” – one is white, one is red.  They refer to preacher Billy Sunday – he settled here after he left Chicago.

A couple shots of the Lavender Farm: