Adventures in Portland

Now that Ben's in kindergarten we can't just take trips whenever we want. WHAT?!  I know. Not that we're taking many trips these days...but I jumped at the idea of some time for us all to get away on an adventure. SO, Portland is what I came up with when looking at the map of fun places within driving distance, and Mike was on board with the idea! This was the FIRST TIME we've ever all stayed in a hotel room together. We've taken trips, but usually to my mom's time share where we're spoiled by multiple bedrooms, or the occasional vacation rental in which we ALWAYS chose a house for the same reason. Luckily now the kids are older and SO MUCH more flexible. Or maybe we are. :) So...off we went.

Oscar only made it as far as Meridian to spend a doggie vaca with my generous mom. But, not the back of the car wasn't even stuffed to the ceiling with STUFF...we took way less than we need for a weekend at the cabin! Which, much to Mike's dismay, left plenty of room for Heidi's shopping treasures. With the modern-day luxuries of iPads and iPhones, the 7 hours passed so very quickly with so very few complaints. One stop for a potty break and then on to the Bonneville damn fish hatchery, which was worth the trip itself. 

The kids RAN like wild animals and were so excited, it's a beautiful place. They even got to feed the trout, a big ol' handful of food for a quarter. That extremely large fish in the pictures is Herman the sturgeon, he's 70 years old, 450 pounds and 10 feet long. He was definitely a highlight! 

Then we got back in the car for our next stop just a few miles down the road, Multnomah Falls. ALSO beautiful and worth the trip alone, and the kids were equally excited! Again we got to get out and run, and the kids asked to take the short but steep hike up to the bridge you see in front of the falls. SO pretty! 

                                     

We decided we definitely earned some treats. Some LARGE treats. 

Then we were on the road again for just the few minutes to Portland. I'll do another post with those adventures!