international rose test garden

After the World Forestry Discovery Museum, I hopped on a shuttle right in front of the musuem, zoo, and MAX train to go to the International Rose Test Garden. The shuttle is free and travels on a winding skinny road down the mountain with beautiful houses to gaze at around every turn. The shuttle takes about 10 minutes and drops off right in front of the international rose test gardens. According to the International Rose Test Gardens website...

"In 1888, Georgiana Burton Pittock, wife of pioneer publisher Henry Pittock, invited her friends and neighbors to exhibit their roses in a tent set up in her garden. Thus began the annual rose show for Portland Rose Society. Jesse A. Currey, a former Rose Society president, convinced city fathers to inaugurate a rose test garden in 1917 with the support of the American Rose Society, City officials, and civic –minded citizens. At that time, Portland had 20 miles of rose-bordered streets – a strategy to draw attention to the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial celebration. As a result, Portland was dubbed “City of Roses”. The garden was a perfect opportunity for enhancing that reputation.

Founded in 1917, Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. In the beginning, even though World War I was raging in Europe, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing and to keep the new hybrids safe from being destroyed by the bombing in Europe.

The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The City of Portland Gold Medal Awards are issued annually to the best introductions. The first “Gold Medal” rose award was given in 1919, making it the oldest rose testing program of its kind in the United States. Portland is the only North American City to issue such awards. These award winning varieties are planted in the Gold Medal Garden."

Right upon entering the gardens, you know it's going to be beautiful. Roses and color everywhere, and a view of the city beyond...



The garden is broken up into sections and a tour guide can be picked up in the gift shop, but I preferred to stroll about aimlessly...



















Even the lamp posts were covered in roses...


Bees were everywhere, which was so nice to see...



There are benches throughout the garden, plenty of comfortable grassy expanses, and an ampitheatre where you can take a rest and eat a picnic lunch. I brought a sandwich with me, but had I known the weather would be so perfect and the gardens so beautiful, I would have brought more snacks and a book and just sat and relaxed for hours.


The Japanese Gardens are also right across the street if you haven't had enough flora for the day. (The Japanese Gardens do charge an admission fee unlike the International Rose Test Garden, but I'm sure it is well worth it). I was ready to head back so decided not to go. There was also a line of tennis courts at the front of the gardens. I am not sure if they are public or not, but it would be worth checking out.

When you're ready to head out, pick up the shuttle at any of the marked stops in front of the two gardens. It will drop you off directly in front of the MAX station so you can head back into the city. Tickets need to be purchased at parking lot level not down in the terminal so be sure to do that before you take the elevator down. The elevator was an experience in itself. Rather than floor levels, it showed how far you are above sea level as you travel. At the top, it is 710 feet above sea level.


It travels 260 feet below to the Robertson Tunnel where the MAX train comes through. The tunnel was VERY chilly.

world forestry center discovery museum

Taking the red or blue MAX train west from Pioneer Square will drop you off in Washington Park at the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, arboretum, and access to trails. My primary purpose in heading this direction was to walk through the International Rose Test Gardens. To get to the test gardens, you hop on a shuttle right next to where the MAX train drops off. But, before hopping on the shuttle, I made a pit stop at the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum.

The World Forestry Center's mission is to "educate and inform people about the world's forests and trees, and their importance to all life, in order to promote a balanced and sustainable future."

Near the entrance to the museum is a small theatre where a very interesting film was shown. I don't remember the exact title, but it was on the forests of the world. I loved learning about the Boreal Forest, the largest forest in the world, the most. The forest is so large it would take 2 years to cross if a person walked 10 miles a day. I looked up more information online and via wiki answers discovered the Boreal Forest "composes a 1/3 of all trees in the world! Its trees start growing above the arctic circle where they take more than 50 years to grow bigger than a sapling because they only receive sun for one month a year." This forest "generates enough oxygen on its own to regenerate all the oxygen for the entire planet!"

I then explored the rest of the first floor, which mostly focuses on forests of the Pacific Northwest. There was a few interactive exhibits - a seat which could be maneuvered to pretend being a real smokejumper (a firefighter that parachutes into a remote area to combat wildfires), plastic trees which could be planted in dirt to understand how to plant a tree, and a cabin to sit in and move controls to do some logging. There were also displays dispersed around that filled the mind with many other interesting facts. I especially liked the enormous section of a tree that, in 1323, "began its long life in a dense forest near the Oregon Coast, where Native Americans were the only human inhabitants." In 1958, "at the age of 635, this massive tree was cut for display at the 1959 Oregon Centennial Exposition in Portland." I'm not sure exactly how many feet wide this tree was, but it was definitely much taller than myself!


The tree section had small stickers on some of the rings showing how old the tree was at that particular date in time. There was a sliding magnifying glass for easier viewing.


Upstairs, I enjoyed a tour through a few of the world's forests. The manner the museum presented these was very unique and made learning that much more fun.


The first part of the tour was a ride on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Three movie screens were along the wall next to seats that looked like they belonged in a real train car. The movie started with moving countyside so you really felt like you were on a train. Then the center screen played a movie on the people who live in the Boreal Forest.



Next, was a boat ride on Songhua Lake in Changbai Mountain. The movie was viewed from seats in what looked like a real part of a boat.


After this, I was on a jeep ride through the Kruger National Park. A real vintage jeep was outfitted with extra seats so you felt like you were in the movie.




Lastly, was a canopy crane which I stepped inside to watch the movie. The crane wobbled a bit when you stepped in for full effect and the movie started with what felt like a true real time climb up a tree.


The rest of the floor was a temporary art exhibit titled "In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits" and glass cases with cross sections of different trees.

Forestlands cover one-half of Washington and Oregon so it was fitting to have a forestry museum here. Growing up in Minnesota with all the trees made me really love this museum and learning more about our forests.

McMenamins Kennedy School

After Crafty Wonderland, I hopped in a cab and visited the Kennedy School, an elementary school turned hotel by the McMenamins brothers. The brothers have many fun places around Washington and Oregon including pubs, theatres, and hotels many of which in unconventional and/or historic buildings like this. (You can read more about their history here). The school/hotel (built in 1915) from the outside is pretty much unchanged as you can see here...



Inside are 35 guestrooms, each in a previous classroom complete with original chalkboard and cloakroom. I tried to stay at the Kennedy School one night while in Portland, but they were all booked up. Being put on a waiting list did not yield a room either so this walk through had to do! I did not get a picture inside a room (I was too scared to ask one of the guests for a peek), but I did get pictures of the common areas of the hotel...

main hallway

door to guestroom


water fountain


There is also a soaking pool (sort of a heated large wading pool), which the community is free to use for a small fee. But, I didn't think the swimmers would appreciate me taking a picture of them in their skivvies. There are also classroom turned meeting/event rooms, which also have chalkboards and other original features.

I love all the old pictures hanging on the walls. Many of them were taken at the Kennedy School. Others were just school related. Here are some of my favorites...




The hotel has three bars - Detention Bar, Honors Bar, and Boiler Room Bar. I stopped in at the Boiler Room Bar to sample one of the hotels own brewed in house beers...


You head down a bunch of steps to get to the bar...



This is the view straight up from my seat at the bar...


And, this is the pool tables which are on the upper level where the preceding shot actually is...


Before I headed back to my own hotel, I watched a $3 movie ("I Love You Man") in the Kennedy School theatre. I snapped the pictures below (albeit a bit blurry) before my camera batteries died. The inside of the theatre was the best part - a huge room with rows and rows of antique loveseats and high backed chairs, but alas my camera batteries had died and I didn't get any pictures. One of the schools own brewed beers could also be purchased here along with a pizza before heading in to the theatre.




The only negative I can say for the school is that I wish it would have stayed totally vintage in its decor. I didn't get the astrological themes and murals. I have been told this is a recurring theme throughout all the properties, but I wish each one stayed true to its history and felt more authentic in that aspect. But, who asked for my opinion?

The last night of my trip, I will be staying at one of the McMenamins brothers other hotel properties, The White Eagle. Not quite as interesting as the school, but I do get to stay in a bunkbed room. More on that to come...

Crafty Wonderland

Crafty Wonderland is an art and craft extravaganza that takes place on the second Sunday of every month. I was so excited that it was happening the week I planned to go to Portland!


Crafty Wonderland is free to attend, and runs from 11 am to 4 pm at the Doug Fir Lounge.


The Doug Fir Lounge shares a property with the Jupiter Hotel, a boutique hotel which I did not stay at but looks really fun and has great rates. The event takes place in the downstairs of the Doug Fir Lounge where bands perform many nights of the week (Bat for Lashes recently performed, and Ben Kweller was set to perform the week of my trip). Logs and stone are used throughout along with modern accessories and fixtures (see more pics here). This made everything so cozy (This is the view to the right as you come down the stairs. The total space is about double this)...


Since it is a small space, most vendors are limited to a 4X4 booth so as many vendors as possible will be able to participate. Even with the limited number of vendors, I found so many great things!...

stuffed screenprinted deers, embellished hair combs, and a daisy bobby pin from Oh My Deer!



She used a popcorn bag to package all the items up in, which I thought was really cute...


turquoise and red flower bobby pins and a mint necklace with a pair of birds by Happycake...


All of Happycake's jewelry is made from vintage items. If you'd like to purchase some of the pieces to use for one of your fun projects, check out her other shop Happycakes supplies.

zippered pouch and elastic headband from Kitten Camaro


The fabric on the bag is by 1970's artist, Robert Van Allen. She said she bought all the bolts that had been unearthed from an old factory. She said he was "obscure" and I didn't realize how much so until I went searching for more info about him online. There isn't much to be had other than a few blogs that mention him, and information from the girl that sold me my bag. I love the print on this pillow from one of her etsy shops.

necklace by Sugarland by Leda to Leda


I love how she used a hand stamped "thank you" sticker on the bag to keep it closed. Very cute touch!


block with spool of yarn and felted house magnet by shamui


layered smashed bottle cap necklace by Christopher Reitmaier


girl feeding birds print by Hadley Hutton


two birds necklace and vintage key necklace by Giant Jewels


letter pressed labels and modern stones print by lulu dee



three handmade soaps by Cerulea Bath and Body


After I was finished shopping at the show, I went upstairs and had lunch in the Doug Fir Lounge. The super nice bartender spent a ton of time going over the menu and I decided on the eggs benedict. I had to take a picture it was so good!! The lime-chili hollandaise was really what made it extra special. I paired it with a Mirror Pond Deschutes. I had wanted to get a Fat Tire as I had tried one in Arizona a few years back and really liked it. But, the bartender recommended the Mirror Pond - great recommendation!


On the way to Crafty Wonderland, I jumped on the MAX at Pioneer Square going east and hopped off at the stop after Oak (I want to say this is Burnside). There were some steps a few feet away that took me up to the Burnside Bridge which I crossed.


The Doug Fir Lounge was only a few more blocks on the right. The Shops were closed since it was Sunday, but I couldn't help but stop and take a picture of the beautiful artwork hanging on the wall inside Frank James. Via the Frank James website, I discovered the artist is Michelle Ramin.



If you would like to purchase some of Michelle's artwork, you can do so through her etsy shop.

It turns out Frank James is open on Sunday, but a short time after I was passing by (12-5pm). I didn't see the store open as I was leaving since I didn't walk back across the bridge. I was headed to my next destination. I'll share that interesting stop with you in my next post...

trip to Portland...

I have been wanting to visit Portland, Oregon for quite some time because of all the wonderful things posted on blogs from those who live there, and from ravings of those who have visited. So, when I earned a free Southwest flight I jumped on the chance to make visiting a reality. In planning the trip, I found the following websites extremely helpful...

- travel Portland
- diy alert
- get crafty
- indie music Portland

These websites sent me on a goose chase of neat things to do in the area, links of which I'll include in each post as I visit.

As I began planning my trip, I wondered how long to travel for. The more research I did, the more my calendar filled up. I decided I could easily go for a full week filling each day with places in just the area in and around downtown. If I was renting a car, even more time than a week might be needed to experience everything.

I flew out Saturday morning and spent most of the day in transit as Portland is about as far as you can go from Orlando! It was well worth the travel time, though, I decided within minutes of my arrival. This revelation came because of how easy and cheap it is to get around and by how extremely nice everyone is - both of these have stayed consistent each day of my trip! A quick conversation with the guy at the transportation booth revealed the MAX light rail the cheapest way to get from the airport to downtown (The trip cost only $2.30! compared to I believe it was $40-50 for a cab, or $18 for a bus). Trains arrive and depart frequently from the airport so it was just as easy of an option as a cab or bus, and so much more economical. Now here's where the niceness of Portlanders started to reveal itself...three of my fellow riders started conversations with me in the short 38 minutes from the airport to downtown. These were not the annoying conversations where you wish the person would just let you sit and ride in peace. No, these were really interesting, engaging people. The MAX dropped me off at Pioneer Square, and I walked one short block southeast to the Hilton. I would recommend staying at the Hilton or a hotel in this general vicinity because its central location in downtown allows walking in any direction really easy, and jumping on the MAX to head any direction easy as well (note: the MAX is free within the downtown area so no worries about making a wrong decision - just jump on and see where it takes you, then jump on again and try out another area - there won't be a ton of fares to pay so enjoy as much of the downtown area as you can. Just be sure you know where the line is drawn and fares are required. I haven't seen a ticket checker yet on any of my trips, but I have heard there is a fine if you get caught without a ticket outside of the free area). Here's a few views from my hotel room...

This is to the west - Pioneer Square where you can hop on the MAX going east or west, a visitors center where you can get help on what train or bus to take and maps and brochures of places to visit, as well as a Starbucks.


This is to the east - more views of the city and mountains in the background (I'll have to ask someone, but I think the large mountain is Mount Hood, a dormant but potentially active volcano).


After unpacking a bit, I was ready to head out and explore...no resting to be had even after an already long day of travel and little sleep the night before! The only thing I hadn't researched much was where to eat so I went with the concierges recommendation to take the MAX and get off at Oak Street where he said I would find many fun restaurants and bars if I just walked around a bit. There was a lot of both, but they were spread so sporadically that I was having a hard time finding one that really stood out as, "I want to eat there!" So, trusting that everyone would be as nice as the travelers on the MAX, I stopped two girls heading across the street towards me and asked for a recommendation. They spent at least ten minutes giving me multiple options and directions to each, pulled out a piece of paper to write down a few places so I wouldn't forget, and invited me to the Oregon Word Jam at Kelly's Olympian. I told you Portlander's were nice! I ended up eating at the Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill, which was not one of their recommendations, but looked fun as I walked by on my search. I was not impressed with the food or the service, but the crowd was fun beginning at around 8:30 when the band started to set up. So, it's someplace I would definitely go back later to drink and listen, but not to eat. After searching for my server to pay my bill (I told you the service was not the greatest), I left to check out this "Oregon Word Jam" my two new friends were talking about. I listened to Willy Vlautin, a novelist and songwriter strum on a guitar and "sing poems," then enjoyed some of Tim Sproul's poems. I had never been to a poetry reading before, but found both artists very fun to listen to - both had really fun styles, which garnered a lot of smiles and laughs from the crowd. Then came the best part of the night...the Lewi Longmire band. The band includes Lewi Longmire, along with Ned Folkerth on drums and Bill Rudolph on bass. Their site describes their sound perfectly as "roots rock/americana." I stayed as long as my drooping eyes allowed. They were fantastic! I may just go see them again on Thursday at the LaurelThirst Public House...they were that good! For anyone that lives in Orlando, Kelly's Olympian where all this took place, reminded me a lot of Taste. A really intimate, fun place to watch a great band...


Here's a link where you can listen to snippets of some of their tunes (just click on the picture of each CD).