Road Trip, Oregon Caves

After two nights in Oregon we woke up early and headed to the Oregon Caves for the Discovery Cave Tour. We were able to borrow some warm clothing for the chilly tour, the fashion choices left Anna in giggles. A ranger led our small group through the cave corridors and talked about the natural and cultural history. The tour has "500 steps (most are steep and uneven) with a climb of 230 feet. The lowest passageway is 45 inches high". (Source: www.nps.gov) Afterwards we had a nice lunch at the Caves Cafe, a throwback to a 1930's diner.

Summer Road Trip, Portland, Oregon Part 2

We drove to Washington Garden where we enjoyed the Portland Japanese Garden. This garden had a fantastic view of Mount Shasta and the city itself. Even more impressive was the International Rose Test Garden, which was established in 1917 and is free to visit. There are approximately 10,000 rose plants displayed here. It looks and smells delightful.

Summer Road Trip, Portland, Oregon

Eugene is a great place to be a runner. We took an early morning run at the Addidas Amazon Trail, a smooth bark chip path which gave a nice cushion with every step. Then we took the two-hour drive to Portland for a day trip. The Yelp app gave us a great recommendation for Tasty n Alder, which serves innovative dishes using many local ingredients. The restaurant encourages shared plates and we shared many dishes including chocolate potato donuts with creme anglaise and radicchio with bacon lardons. We walked off the calories with a stroll along the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

Summer Road Trip, Eugene, Oregon

Next, we had a long stretch of driving, from Walnut Creek to Eugene, Oregon, more than 500 miles. The kids slept peacefully while we passed by Mount Shasta. Steve is such a safe driver, by the way. In Eugene, we stayed at our friends Chris and Hilary's Airbnb. Their daughter Eliza actually lives on the same property, which is divided into her residence, and the rental. Super charming home within walking distance of the University of Oregon. We took an evening stroll around the beautiful campus, and had a tasty dinner at Toshi's Ramen.