A Spring Break that won't "break" your bank account.
Spring Break Ideas
A Spring Break that won’t “break” your bank account!
By Linda Duffy, Pacific Parent Association Director of Events
I live and work in an incredibly beautiful area of the United States. There are thousands of places to visit and explore. If you and /or your student plan to be in Oregon over Spring break and you don’t want to spend a lot of money, here are a few suggestions. These day trips are easily accessible by car but some are also accessible by bus and MAX:
- Historic Tualatin Valley Presbyterian Church, also called The Old Scotch Church, just west of Hillsboro on Old Scotch Church Road. A small but stately white church in a grove of gorgeous trees that is a photographer’s delight. It is one of the most photographed churches in America and a favorite with couples planning a small wedding.
- Wineries in the local area; a favorite, and chosen by the Pacific Parent Association for last fall’s Family Weekend Wine Tour, is A Blooming Hill Winery, Cornelius, OR. You can also go to www.pacificu.edu/info and in the left hand column click on Recreation & Shopping and then local vineyards to get a listing of local wineries in the area
- The Oregon Zoo and Forestry Center, SW Portland http://www.oregonzoo.org/
- Pittock Mansion, SW Portland http://pittockmansion.org/
- OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), SE Portland (along the Willamette River) http://www.omsi.edu/
- Forest Park Trail and the Arboretum, SW Portland
- The Portland Art Museum, downtown SW Portland www.portlandartmuseum.org/
A little further away:
- Ridgefield Wildlife and Game Reserve, Ridgefield, WA (just North of Vancouver) http://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/complex/
- Winston Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon (about a 3 ½ hour drive from Forest Grove) http://www.wildlifesafari.net/
- Sauvie Island, off Highway 30 before Scappoose Oregon (the drive around the island is beautiful and there are also trails that are part of a wildlife and game reserve) http://sauvieisland.org/
- The Oregon Coast with one of the most popular places being Seaside with its abundant entertainment and eating venues along the promenade. On the way to Seaside you can stop at The Camp 18 Restaurant and Logging Museum. Located at Milepost 18 on Highway 26 in Elsie Oregon, Camp 18 is a great place to stop for a bite to eat.
- Astoria, OR (Astoria celebrated 200 years old in 2011)
* Columbia River Maritime Museum is open year round.
* Astoria Column, where you can climb the 164 stairs of the spiral staircase and take in the view of the Coast Range, the mouth of the mighty Columbia River and southwest shore line of Washington State.
- Tillamook Cheese Factory is a fun place to visit go to http://www.tillamook.com/cheesefactory/index.html for more information
- Newport Aquarium is “A million Gallons of fun” for more information go to http://www.newportaquarium.com/
- Tulip Festival in Woodburn starts on March 30. http://www.woodenshoe.com/tulip-fest/events will give you more information
- If you are longing for a drive up the Columbia River Gorge, there are hiking trails for every level of experience on both sides of the Gorge but keep in mind you might encounter the Portland mountaineering group Mazamas on a conditioning hike so make sure you stay on your side of the trail and let them pass: these guys are fast!
You can go to www.crgva.org/ for more information on activities in the Columbia River Gorge.
* Take in an eye-to-eye view of Salmon swimming up the Columbia River at the Bonneville Dam Fish Ladder and the tour of the Corp of Engineers gigantic power house room with the turbine generators. You can feel the ground shaking! It is awesome!
* Stop by beautiful Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, Washington (State Route 14) after a long hike up Beacon Rock or keep driving just a bit further to Horse Thief State Park on the Washington side across from The Dalles, OR and see ancient Native American Rock Art and Petro glyphs. If you like rock climbing then Horse Thief Butte a bit further up the road is just the spot.
If you want to stay closer to the Forest Grove area there is the Rainbow Lanes Bowling Center, Forest Grove Aquatic Center, movie theaters in Forest Grove and Cornelius; or dinner and a movie at McMenamins Grand Lodge.
I hope these few ideas will give you an enjoyable Spring Break. And, remember… don’t forget your camera!
Posted by Angela Surratt (asurratt@pacificu.edu) on Mar 13, 2012 at 11:15 AM
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