ROGUE WANDERER: Fun occasions in Portland, Part 2

ROGUE WANDERER: Fun occasions in Portland, Part 2

Published 7:00 am Thursday, November 13, 2025

For those that are following alongside, final week I shared my not-so-harrowing expertise in downtown Portland and warranted everybody that the City of Roses shouldn’t be in a chaotic state, neither is it being burned to the bottom. This week I carry information of enjoyable occasions Lane and I loved with Emily and Aaron. 

Though our time was too brief, we made probably the most of it. Our prepare trip up proved restful and peaceable. We ate breakfast within the diner automobile and had the sales space to ourselves. 

Normally on a prepare, vacationers share a sales space with strangers, which is form of like a field of goodies. You by no means know who you’re going to get, and that’s a part of the joys for me. Who will I get to bother with private questions? I attempt to preserve it to a minimal. 

We chugged alongside and arrived on the historic (1896) Union Station a bit late, and Emily was there to whisk us on our method. 

Portland is a phenomenal selection for a fall escape. The leaves dazzled all over the place we went, with streets lined with gold and crimson and the daylight filtering by solid a honeyed glow over all of it. Em had old-timey jazz enjoying on the radio and a comfortable vibe took root. 

Each time I pay “the kids” a go to, they take us to a special restaurant, which is all the time sensational. Yes, Portland is a foodie’s paradise, little question. Even their breakfast joints stand out, just like the Stepping Stone Café or the Tin Shed (tacky grits, yum). 

For dinner, Emily handled us to a luxurious eating expertise at Andina, a Peruvian restaurant. After sharing three, sure, three, appetizers, I couldn’t end my dish of lomo saltado, which contained scrumptious tender steak bites with sautéed greens in an oyster sauce and fried golden potatoes. 

All these years with Em residing in Portland and I had but to go to Sauvie Island, a small, rural island on the Columbia River simply outdoors of Portland. It’s just a few minutes’ drive from downtown, however a world away and dotted with berry farms and pumpkin patches. We landed on the proper day, dry with white puffy clouds in a blue sky and funky temps. We beelined for The Pumpkin Patch. 

A tractor-pulled hay wagon carted us by a mud-ridden subject that had our rear finish sliding and slithering as we went. I smiled at my rain boots and so they smiled again. 

Orange orbs stretched throughout eternally. Each manageable-looking choice grew as I approached it. I lastly did handle one, whereas Lane selected a small, oddly-shaped albino specimen with warts so he may sketch it. 

Emily drove us across the perimeter of the island beneath the cascade of extra shade. Then she requested if we wished to go to the Oregon Zoo, which additionally had escaped a go to, apart from a Huey Lewis live performance years in the past. We mentioned sure! 

The day remained good for a zoo go to. It was Monday and there have been few folks to journey over. The animals appeared to like the chance to chop unfastened and act regular. They may hog the viewing home windows so long as they wished. 

The orangutan household placed on a present for us, and we virtually shook trunks with Tula-Tu and her mom. She is the cute elephant offspring of Rose-Tu, born earlier this yr. Two attractive Amur tigers strode previous us in clear magnificence. They have been previously referred to as Siberian tigers till the identify was modified to higher mirror their true habitat. They didn’t care so long as meat was served. 

The Oregon Zoo is a well-maintained facility the place the consolation and well-being of their residents clearly comes first. The entire place felt lush and nearly like we have been strolling by the animals’ habitat. In the case of these bulked-up tigers, I used to be grateful for the barrier, although cuddling with tigers is on my record for the hereafter. 

As a closing fling earlier than boarding No. 11 south, Em drove us to the Pink Martini headquarters to indicate us her workspace. The loft above is residence to Thomas Lauderdale, chief and founding father of the internationally well-known jazz band for whom she works. 

He occurred to be residence and provided us a grand tour of the area, which is eclectic, to state the plain. It suited Thomas’ electrical character to a tee. He cordially invited us to his Christmas occasion, which I’m certain can be stimulating and chocked to the rafters with story fodder. 

We bid pricey Emily and Aaron adieu and headed residence with fond reminiscences of our time spent within the stunning Rose City. 

Peggy Dover is a contract author/creator/corn maze avoider. Reach her at [email protected].