McArthur-Burney Falls- California

McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in northern California is one of the most beautiful waterfalls even though it is certainly not one of the tallest. The 129-foot Burney Falls of Burney Creek is located in the Cascade Mountain Range . More like a river than a creek, the water crashes on the rocks below creating an eerie mist that is absolutely haunting. The water below the falls is the most amazing shade of blue. You can find this stunning waterfall near Redding California. I have been there and I will never forget the beauty of the surrounding landscape as well as the falls themselves. There is a hiking trail that follows the river a short distance before crossing and takes you back up the other side to the top of the waterfall so you can view it from every angle. I must remind you however to bring your camera, you won't want to miss the opportunity to photograph this place.

Little River Falls- Alabama

Located in northeast Alabama the Little River flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain. The Little River is over 100 feet wide here which makes the 45 foot drop of Little River Falls impressive to eyes and ears. Little River Falls is just upstream from the head of Little River Canyon, one of the deepest - and most beautiful - canyons east of the Mississippi. Little River is the only river in the United States that flows its entire length on top of a mountain and has formed the deepest canyon east of the Rocky Mountains. In vivid contrast to America's western canyons, Little River Canyon has a maximum depth of 600 feet and a maximum width of over 3,800 feet. This canyon is a beautiful green from Spring into Autumn when it becomes a riot of color. The Little River Canyon is classified as an Alabama Wild and Scenic River as a "preserve" under the protection of the National Park Service.

North Falls- Oregon

North Falls at Silver Falls State Park, southeast of Silverton Oregon, is one of the best waterfalls for walking behind. It is a good flowing stream about 15 feet wide that drops 136 feet over a promontory. The resulting "cave" is 70 to 80 feet deep and the sound... ah, that's part of the thrill. There is also a good viewing point from your car about a mile beyond the parking area. There is also an Upper North Falls. It is twice as wide, only 65 feet tall, and is completely different from its brother. To see this fall you have to take a short trail under the road and up the other side of the mountain, but it is very easy going.

Bridalveil Fall- Yosemite National Park- California

If you've ever been to Yosemite, you will know that there are many stunning waterfalls through-out the park. One of my favorites is Bridalviel Fall. It is one of the first waterfalls seen by people entering the park. During the spring, as the snow melts and flow is at its peak, it thunders. The rest of the year, look for its characteristic light, swaying flow. I have seen this fall both times of the year and it is absolutely gorgeous at peak flow. If you go in the spring, you should take an umbrella or rain coat on the short hike to the falls, you will get wet.

Natural Bridge Falls - Montana

Natural Bridge Falls is located at Natural Bridge State Park in Montana. Natural Bridge is named for the stone arch that used to cross over the river. The "Natural Bridge" is long gone - it fell into Boulder River in 1988 - but the waterfall that got its name from the bridge is still as great a sight as ever: just different. The 105 foot Natural Bridge Falls changes its appearance with the water flow. When the Boulder River is carrying the snow melt - or after a heavy rainstorm upstream - you'll see three separate waterfalls. The river cuts through the limestone river bed each year forming caverns which the river flows through. If you look closely in the rock you can see fossilized seashells from millions of years past. Natural Bridge offers spectacular viewing all year long but is best viewed May through July when waters are at their highest. Paved paths lead from the parking lot to the Boulder River allowing leisurely strolls up and down stream to take in the beauty of this unusual river. The several viewing points are wheelchair accessible (with signs bearing little blurbs about the area) and give excellent views of the Boulder River, the Natural Bridge and its waterfall. You'll probably see some of the wildlife, too. There is also handicap access to the viewing points.

Raven Cliff Falls- South Carolina

Raven Cliff Falls has been called both king and queen of South Carolina's waterfalls depending on who you talk to. It is 420 feet of non-stop tumbling, roaring water. It is a spellbinding waterfall located in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area in South Carolina. Mathews Creek plunges off Raven Cliff Mountain at the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Caesars Head. The escarpment is where the Blue Ridge Mountains drop abruptly 2,00 feet to the Piedmont below. To see this stunning waterfall you will need to take the popular 4.4 mile roundtrip hike leading to an overlook across the gorge to the falls . This trail is moderately difficult with a few steep descents. As you know, if you go down, that means you have to go back up when you return!

• Pancake Breakfast- From 8:30 to 11 am there is a pancake breakfast at the Fire Hall.
• Parade- There will be a parade and live music starting at 1 pm.
• Independence Day Celebration- Directly after the parade, head to Nehalem Bay Winery for a BBQ and live music and dancing. There is no cover charge, and the whole family is invited to attend. Nehalem Bay Winery is on Highway 53 near Wheeler, one mile from the Highway 101 junction. For more information, call (888)368-9463, or check them out on the web.
• Fireworks-Fireworks will take over the skies at dusk. If you want a real treat, pack some food and head up early to the top of Neahkahnie Mountain north of Manzanita, and enjoy the fireworks displays from Seaside, Manzanita, and Rockaway Beach. Be sure to get there long before the show!

Rockaway Beach

• Parade-A Parade will march through Rockaway Beach starting at 11 am. It will start at the School Administration Building, and head down to Hwy 101 from Bank to Third.
• 4th of July Auction-Directly after the parade, there will be an auction hosted by the Rockaway Beach Chamber of Commerce at the Red Caboose at Wayside.
• Kids Fun Day on the Beach-The Lion's Club sponsors this annual event featuring games and excitement for children of all ages. The fun gets underway at 1pm.
• Fireworks Display-When the sun goes down, the fireworks will fly over the beach. It's truly a site to see.
• For more information call (503)355-2291

Oceanside

• Fireworks-The town of Oceanside, which is West of Tillamook, will be set at dusk. The display can be seen from Netarts.

Pacific City

• Pacific City's Independence Day celebration will coincide with the Clover Days celebration, and be on Saturday, the 5th of July rather than the traditional day, July 4th
• All-you-can-eat breakfast-7-10 am, the Lin's will be hosting a pancake all-you-can-eat breakfast at the VFW Hall. Prices are $6.00 for adults, and $3.00 for children under 12.
• Kid's Corner-From 10 am-3 pm, kids can enjoy a free surrey ride, free ice cream, a bouncy house, a Ferrier demonstration, art, food, and vendors.
• Parade-At 11 am, come see the 27th annual Clover's Day Parade.
• Free Concert-Immediately following the parade, there will be a free convert featuring the popular "Calamity Jazz" from Eugene, Oregon. Bridge street will be closed for the show.
• Fireworks-The fireworks will be set off on the beach at dark.
• Kiwanda Music Festival-At 2 pm, six bands from all over Oregon, with diverse styles of music will play at the southwest corner of the Cape Kiwanda parking lot. There will also be arts and craft vendors. For more information, call (541)996-7746.
• For all Clover's Day information, please contact the Pacific City-Nestucca Valley Chamber of Commerce at (503)392-4340, or email them at manager@pcnvchamber.org. For firework information, call (503)965-7102.

Yosemite National Park, California

Slideshow

John Muir, one of America's original naturalists supposedly took President Theodore Roosevelt camping in Yosemite to convince the president that our country needed to have designated National Parks. President “Teddy” Roosevelt was so awe struck by his experience camping in Yosemite that he set up the National Parks Service to preserve vast pieces of our country's wild and beautiful territory. Yosemite has deep valleys and waterfalls that are truly magnificent. Yosemite is one of our nation's most regal parks and over 3 million visitors from all over the world come to reign in her glory.

This is an example of just one waterfall within Yosemite National Park.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali National Park is home to Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in the United States.

The park itself is about 200 miles south of the Artic Circle. The park wildlife includes Dall (big horn) sheep, grizzly bears, gray wolves and moose. This area is a place where the tectonic plates of the earth continually are in motion and thus earthquakes are a part of the territory. The Alaskan Range actually rises 3 centimeters a year, due to this constant force. In the winter, the temperature in this region can drop to 95 degrees below zero.

 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its red rock formations and unusual landscape.

These rock formations are called “hoodoos” and they were craved by melting snow. This sculpting of the rocks took thousands and thousands of years. The entire park has been created by the elements of wind and rain, giving it a memorable terrain. Inside the park at 9,000 feet above sea level, there are 1,500 year old pine trees.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

 

Crater Lake National Park was created when a volcano literally blew its top over 7,000 years ago. Actually the blast was 42 times the explosion of the Mt. St. Helen's in 1980. . Half-a-million visitors descend on this park every year to see this amazing crater and lake. Crater Lake is surrounded by lush evergreen trees and scenic hills, which make it a very popular travel stop. The lake itself may be surrounded by freezing weather, but it only froze once back in 1949. The area typically receives about 44 feet of snow a year. Crater Lake is the 7th deepest lake in the world with a depth of almost 1,300 feet.

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

 

It's no wonder that John Denver wrote a song called “Rocky Mountain High” about these amazing mountains. Over 2 million people visit this inspirational place every year.

The Rocky Mountains offer the visitor a glimpse of the ancient erosion that formed these peaks. The valleys were created by glaciations back in the Cenozoic Era. Animals that call this area home are elk, deer, big horn sheep, coyote, cougars and black bears. The Rocky Mountains are home to much natural beauty and pristine lakes.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

When we think of Yellowstone National Park we all think of the geothermal geyser “Old Faithful.” “Old Faithful” is one of many geothermal geysers in the area. Yellowstone National Park is literally a “hotbed” of geothermal activity and is the location of a “super volcano.” This “super volcano” is called “Yellowstone Caldera” and is still considered to be an active volcano. The geothermal activity is fueled by the active volcanism in this part of the world. Interestingly enough, “Old Faithful” has a sister geothermal geyser that is located in Napa Valley, California.

One of the largest highly elevated lakes is also in Yellowstone Park. Most of the land of Yellowstone is located in the state of Wyoming. Although a small amount of the park drifts into Idaho and Montana,

As you can imagine this region of the world experiences hundreds of small earthquakes every year.

Haleakala Crater and National Park, Hawaii

 

Haleakala sunrise

Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii in Hawaiian means “House of the Sun.” It is 10,000 feet above sea level on the island of Maui. The mountain is actually a dormant volcano and astronauts practiced their lunar landing in the barren crater. There is sometimes snow at the top of this volcano. So you could ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon, that's Haleakala. The volcano is popular with tourists and well-known for its spectacular views at sunrise. Tourists and natives alike rent bikes and take the downhill ride of their life to the bottom of Haleakala.

 

Downhill on a bike from 10,000 feet above sea level is a rush!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

 

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has a larger collection of tree species than Northern Europe. The Smoky Mountains represent the culture and ways of the diverse life of South Appalachian of the past. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park way back in 1940 and it was problematic as there were many farmers that lived in the designated park region. It was an emotional loss for many of the people who were forced to relocate, although some were allowed a lease that would extent through their lifetime. The park has a bear population of about 1,500.

 

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

 

It is hard to imagine but the Shenandoah National Park is only 70 miles away from Washington, D.C., our country's capital. This park is part of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The area has become a popular tourist destination that allows the urbanites to stay in cozy inns and pastoral settings, although wilderness does account for 40% of the park. Shenandoah National Park is full of woodland forests, wildlife and waterfalls.

 

Glacier National Park, Montana

 

Glacier National Park is called “Shining Mountains” to the Native tribes of the region.

The park is aptly named for the rugged terrain that was craved by glaciers millions of years ago. One winter night in 2005, the park was pounded by 8 feet of snow! Just a few days ago, it was announced that due to the volume of snow, a major new road won't be opened in that part of Montana until at least July 4th. Avalanches are creating havoc in the area and delaying the long awaited highway and it is summer!

 

Arches National Park, Utah

 

Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 sandstones arches that have been craved by the wind and the weather for millions of years. The unusual textures and colors make the park very unique and vibrant in some areas. The summer temperatures are over 100 degrees. The winter temperatures are often around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Redwood National Park

 

Just two hours south of Oregon, hugging the rugged California coast is where you will find the Redwood National Park. The Redwood National park is home to ancient trees which reach heights of 367 feet into the sky. The base of the trees can be as wide as 22 feet. You will not find these extraordinary trees anywhere else in the world.

These trees are about 20 million years old and began with a tiny seed. The damp environment and cool, foggy weather along the Pacific Ocean are the perfect living conditions for this rainforest of fascinating trees.

 

Our National Parks keep the wilderness of our country open and free. Long may they protect the beauty of our natural and most precious spaces!

Take a tour of this up-market area on an otherwise “lazy” weekend. There is plenty to do as well as a great number of places to chat or just relax.

The place to stay while visiting the Downtown Pearl district is the McMenamins Kennedy School. The Kennedy School is a renovated school turned into a hotel property. Besides the unique concept, the school/hotel offers amenities not particular to any standard hotel. During your weekend stay, you may sleep in what once was a school classroom. Libations may be taken at the renovated hotel's Detention Bar. Dinner is consumed in the former school cafeteria.

There is also a “soaking pool” as well as a movie theater. The tiled soaking pool is within a beautiful courtyard surrounded by gardens. The movie theater provides cushy vintage armchairs. A thick slice of pizza is hand-delivered to you while you watch the movie.

The hotel's location is: 5736 N.E. 33rd Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97211. Contact the hotel at 888-249-3983. The Kennedy School is the perfect place to stay during your Portland weekend visit. Additionally, you may visit McMenamins to check out their other unique Portland properties.

After spending a delightful night sleeping in class at the McMenamins Kennedy School, you'll want to start your weekend off right. Wake up in Portland style by taking in a rich, strong cup of “Java” roast. The city of Portland is very serious about its coffee. You must at least pretend to be a coffee connoisseur as taking in Portland brew is not for amateurs. So, in the “spirit” of Portland stop by the Pearl Bakery and order your first fresh brewed cup of coffee for the day possibly complimented by a delicious croissant or perhaps the artisan bread.

If you are more of the “outdoorsy” type then it is safe to speculate you will not mind spending your day on a lengthy hike, biking trip or even riding horseback in a Northwest forest. You may easily find such a place at The City Park. Portland's Forest Park is the country's largest natural forest within the limits of the city.

However, if you'd rather take your weekend activities another direction and possibly do some shopping, then you will want to visit Portland's Pearl district. The area is noted for having all kinds of really out of the ordinary “cool” shops. Once you spend a weekend in the Pearl district, you will leave with a sense of renewed perspective as far as shopping. Read on for more information on truly interesting places to shop and browse:

The landmark bookstore is a place called Powell's Books. The store happens to be one of the largest independent booksellers in the country. The bookstore provides new and used books as well as hardback and paperback editions. The merchandising design that makes the bookseller so unique is that paperbacks and hardbacks are found on the same shelves. Therefore, the hunt for an old classic or your favorite genre becomes much more challenging. In fact, you may leave with a paperback or hardback you'd not considered since your search is much more intense.

The place to find the landmark bookstore is at Couch which is actually pronounced “Cooch.” Just make sure you get it right as you don't want to offend any of the locals. You will find the store just down the way from the Pearl Bakery. The Bakery is located at 102 N.W. 9th Avenue. Powell's Books is just down the way at 1005 West Burnside Street in Portland.

After perusing the vast amount of shelves (four floors worth) found at Powell's and making your purchase you'll want to proceed up 11th Avenue as your next stop should be Bernadette Breu High Bohemian Antiques. As the name implies this is an arts salvage shop. Here you will find all kinds of neat architectural salvage: windows to vintage-style buttons. Find a Turkish Smoking Chair or a 1920's carousel chandelier. The pieces range from 18th century “classic” style antiques to the unique and the “funky.” Designers shop the antique store often. Definitely make this vintage storehouse one of your stops. The shop is located conveniently at 1134 NW Everett in Portland.

The next retail experience will need to be: In Good Taste. This is definitely a “must stop and see” for the culinary enthusiast. Here you will find professional cookware, knives, cookbooks, custom gift baskets, specialty foods including a nice selection of olive oils, balsamic vinegars (they'll let you taste test); gourmet salts including: truffle salt, Murray River salt, Maldon sea salt, and Feur de sel. There are spices and condiments such as Madras Curry Mustard, Dulcet Dressings and Olive Marmalade. You may also purchase Boyd's coffee and gourmet chocolate as in Poco Dolce Tiles.

In addition, there is a very nice selection of Oregon wines. The Willamette Valley in Oregon is well-known for its offerings and the shop provides a nice “sampling” from the “Valley.” Find In Good Taste at 231 NW 11th Avenue in Portland. You'll find In Good Taste just a few doors away from the decorative arts and antiques salvage shop: Bernadette Breu High Bohemian Antiques.

Dig is found further up 11th Avenue by taking a left on Glisan. The shop can be considered an urban garden shop housing supplies for creating container and herb gardens. You may wish to consider a Spanish Trug. This is a carrier tub with dozens of possible uses. There are three varying sizes. Also, the tub is made of 100% recycled material should you be environmentally concerned. In addition, Dig offers a variety of garden furniture and locally crafted gifts and art. Items include Dune chairs and unique garden umbrellas.

Circa AD is off 11th Avenue by taking a left on Glisan. The home and accessories shop provides a nice European theme. It is located at 1204 NW Glisan in Portland, Oregon.

After all of your shopping, you are sure to be hungry. Next door to Circa AD is Biways Café. You may wish to “plop” down at the soda fountain and check out the 50's era view masters while waiting for a hamburger fresh and hot off the grill. Also, I understand they have a delicious tuna melt and the best fries in Portland. If you are into chain-dining you won't truly appreciate Biways; however, if you are a real person that prefers really great food from a very special diner than Biways will have special appeal for you. You may easily locate Biways at 1212 NW Glisan in Portland. Additionally, I understand the French Toast (should you like to visit them for Breakfast) and the coffee are out of this world! Don't forget to use plenty of sugar and cream in that hot cup of coffee.

After lunch, just down the street at 13th and Glisan, you'll want to visit the Knit Knot Studio. Those who have not knitted before may receive an introduction to knitting at this fun shop. There are also “knitted” items for sale such as sweaters and scarves.

Additionally, shop Knit Knot Studio for the perfect yarn for your proposed knitting project. In example there are cotton/wool blends with a hint of Lycra for that perfect bit of give and stretch. Many of the quality yarns are imported from locations such as Australia and the price point is not cost-prohibitive. A great find or shopping experience is sure to be had at Knit Knot Studio located at 1238 NW Glisan Street in Portland.

Here are some other retailers you may wish to add to your shopping list while visiting Downtown Portland and the surrounding area:

Cielo Home is located at 528 West 12th Avenue. This is a very well-decorated store offering a diversity of products. I am told the store provides home décor items from the high-end price range to affordable. The staff is quite knowledgeable and friendly. Also, there is a nice mix of feminine as well as masculine offerings. If you are a bachelor looking for the perfect item for your apartment or home this may be a good place for you to shop.

Oblation Papers and Press is an old world letterpress print shop specializing in invitations and stationery. The invitations are printed on recycled cotton handmade paper. This paper is produced at their very own urban paper mill. The shop is a European-style stationery boutique. Some of the offerings I found on-line were really quite unique. For example they offer blue-tooth fairy envelopes, five for the tooth fairy and five from the tooth fairy; green monogram note sets and for the holidays--joyeux note set. Their European-style letterpress shop is a “must see” when visiting Downtown Portland.

Linens that are incomparable as far as quality and feel may be found at French Quarter Linens located at 1313 NW Glisan Street in Portland. This is a “must-shop.” Favorite things include: Charles Chocolate, Nancy Koltes Cashmere Throws, Zoeppritz Microstar Throws, Scandia Down Travel Pillow, Cotton Blankets, Legna Sheets, and Leitner of Austria Fine Linens. This last brand is perfectly representative of a quality linen. Leitner provides simple yet elegant European styling. The Leitner Company was established in 1853. You will find such quality finds throughout this truly unique shop.

After you have experienced many of the truly interesting shops Portland has to offer, you may like to round out your visit at the Andina Restaurant. The restaurant is colorfully decorated by its Peruvian owners. Here are some possible menu recommendations: Cheese stuffed peppers and smoked trout. The restaurant also offers venison pork; yucca stuffed with ricotta and crab and other adventuresome and delicious dishes: I am told the restaurant has a fabulous menu. For dessert the recommendation is the chocolate mousse (that is if you still have room after the meal). Live music is another bonus and is played nightly. The restaurant is conveniently located at 1314 NW Glisan Street in Portland.

Whether shopping or taking a long bike ride amidst a “forested” trail, you can't but feel a little bit more inspired after taking in Portland's nature and/or “artsy” side. It is a sure bet the weekend visit will rejuvenate your outlook.

Side Notes: Parking can be difficult once you reach the Pearl district; therefore, it is advised to take the streetcar from the downtown area. I-405 also runs right by the Pearl district. Portland International Airport is 12 miles away with available taxi service.

Enjoy a great weekend in Portland's Pearl district! Try to get your shopping done on Saturday when most of the shops are sure to be open; enjoy the City Park on Sunday or a nice café or restaurant. There is plenty to do in the way of activity or simple relaxation so keep Portland in mind for your next weekend adventure!

At the top of the stairs we pushed through the door and found ourselves in a place called Tea Chai Te, a really neat little tea bar that offers over eighty varieties of tea from all over the world. On the wall before us was the tea menu and below that on a table was a wooden rack with alcoves containing small urns that were each filled with a different sample of tea and labeled with its name.

We spent a good amount of time at the rack, slowly going from urn to urn, smelling each sample and reading from a little booklet which divided the teas by type(Green, Black, Oolong, etc.) and gave very thorough descriptions of the countries of origin, the flavors and the properties of each variety. We made our selection, placed the order and found a place to sit and wait.

The interior of Tea Chai Te is set up in such a way as to promote relaxation and conversation with music from a diverse assortment of artists drifting down from speakers in the ceiling, posters and artwork hung here and there on the walls, chairs and couches arranged in a haphazard fashion and low tables strewn with various books and magazines.

We picked up our order and sat back down to chill out and enjoy the wonderful beverages and atmosphere. The place also sells tea-making accessories and after we finished our drinks we bought a small, ceramic teapot and an infuser that would fit inside it. We also purchased some gifts for family and friends back home.

Back outside we returned to our rental car to go in search of a Portland landmark, the famous Powell's City of Books. After wending our way through the streets and actually driving past the place a few times trying to find a way to turn and go back to it we finally swung back around to pull into the store's parking garage. Yes, Powell's City of Books has its own parking garage and the store itself spans an entire city block and occupies nearly all the real estate at all four corners.

We deposited our keys with the attendant and went inside to discover that the place was even larger inside than can be gleaned from a view from the street. Powell's boasts that it has any and every book one might be looking for. The store is supported by literally dozens of warehouses located all across Portland, some open to the public, some not. If it should come to pass that a particular item is not available in-house, then a call will placed to one of these warehouses and the sought item will be sent over.

We spent a long while among the shelves, going from floor to floor and back again until we ended in the in-store café, sipping more tea and perusing our finds; another pleasing and relaxing experience.

It was early evening when we decided to drive back over to the area where we'd come across Tea Chai Te. As before, we left the car and just strolled around. After a short while we heard music drifting over to us and followed the sound. It led us to a small park in the middle of a neighborhood where a band was performing retro rock, blues and funk.

The show had drawn quite a crowd and we decided to join them, sitting right down on the grass to listen. We never out the name of the band but they were very good. The sun was dipping below the horizon and we went in search of a place to have dinner.

Again, our wandering brought us to somewhere interesting, a Vietnamese restaurant called Pho Van in the downtown area. Though they were very busy we were able to get right in. The atmosphere and the food were both excellent. It was dark by the time we came out and headed back up toward the quiet neighborhood where we'd left the rental car.

This is just a random sampling of one day out of the week we spent in Portland. But every day there was the same, serendipitous. We'd both wanted to see the Pacific Northwest since we were in our teens and when we finally made it out there it was everything we'd hoped it would be and more.