Portland Oregon's Saturday Market

Check out the link to Portland’s Saturday Market!  Lots of things to do and great places to eat!  Go enjoy the FUN!

Buena Vista Ferry

Today, I completed my first 2011 MAC Annual Wine Ride  touring Oregon wine country and treating myself to a fabulous made-to-order gourmet brunch — without guilt!

Starting at the Eola Hills Winery in Rickreall, Oregon I wandered along 36.8 miles of scenic Polk County Wine Country, through the town of Independence and across the Willamette River on the historic Buena Vista ferry and then made a loop back to the winery.  As I approached the ferry crossing,  I spotted an osprey nests up on the platforms and along the route was up close and personal with two turkey buzzards feasting on a dead rabbit just a few feet from me as I crossed the dead carcass in the road.  This was just an incredible day in Oregon to be cycling.

For additional information about cycling in Oregon read this article from the NY Times.

Click here for the 2011_MAC_Wine_Ride_Map.

After my ride, I returned to the Eola Hills Winery for the reward of a fabulous  brunch prepared by Eola Hills Winery’s master chefs that include stuffed crepes, eggs Benedict, waffles, omelets, sauteed oysters, and more, along with a choice of wine or champagne.

Check out their wonderful Menu for July 24th:
Fresh Pan Fried Oysters from Willapa Bay
Washington
Roast Beef Sliders with Onions and Cheese
Fruit Supreme w/
Fresh Fruit, Yogurt and Granola
FOUR styles of Eggs Benedict; Ultimate,
Traditional, Seafood and Veggie
Stick to your Ribs Biscuits and
Gravy
Breakfast Ham
an Omelet Bar with about 20 toppings to choose
from
Belgian & Hazelnut Waffles along with Crepes
Country Fried
Potatoes
Stir Fried Veggies
Spring Mix Salad with Apples and
Strawberries
Platter of Watermelon
Cold Cucumber
Soup
homemade desserts and much more.

And don’t forget to belly up to the wine tasting bar to sample their wine selections and take home a bottle of their outstanding wines.    I particularly like their 2009 Pinot Gris and their Pacific Blanc a Oregon White Wine after a hot day biking the latter that I am sipping now as a draft this post.

The Eola Hills Winery is approximately 58 minutes from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast in Portland, Oregon.  Bring your bikes and enjoy a day of cycling Oregon.

Geocach Fulton House B & B

Look for the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast’s geocaching site.

Welcome to Geocaching

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Look for the clues about the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast’s history from the book “Weird Oregon”, Your Travel Guide to Oregon’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets by Al Eufrasio & Jeff Davis.

Could the Fulton House be Nancy Bogg’s Floating Bordello?  Legend has it that she was a shrewd business woman and after years of being raiding in downtown by Portland Police she place her bordello on a barge in the Willamette River and eluded raids by docking on the opposite side of the river when police planned raids in downtown Portland. She was also known to welcome  police trying to board her scow with a shower of steaming hot water from a fire hose, fed by her boiler.

The Fulton House Bed & Breakfast was originally located on the Willamette River and rolled to its current site on logs with the help of  draft horses.  And it was a former bordello.   The Fulton House’s was owned  by the Weber Tannery Company which was the largest tannery on the Northwest Coast in 1894. The Weber Tannery Company was located on what currently is the site of Marine Powers Park in South Portland across from River View Cemetery.

To this day when digging in the back yard of the Fulton House,  you will find pieces of history such as pieces of leather, harnesses and an occasional trolley token of  the Virginia Street Trolley.

Get involved in geocaching and preserve a bit of Portland history by sharing your new find with family members and friends.

Happy Trails,

The Fulton House Bed & Breakfast Staff

This gorgeous route starts from the Gorge Discovery Center in The Dalles and travels along this majestic road and the HCRH State Trail. The ride goes all the way to the Senator Mark O. Hatfield West Trailhead near Hood River then returns to the start. This route with world-class scenery is a combination of historic highway that is open to motor vehicles and the quiet HCRH State Trail that is open only to hikers and cyclists.

Highlights of the 38.5 mile ride include the breathtaking panorama at Rowena Crest, a special visit to the grounds of the historic Mayerdale Estate and a remarkable journey through the restored Mosier Twin Tunnels. The proceeds from this fully supported ride go toward restoring and reconnecting the Historic Columbia River Highway from The Dalles to Troutdale by its 100th Birthday, June 7, 2016.

Come back after a day of biking and enjoy soaking in our luxurious hot tub.  Or sip a glass of wine on the patio either way you will enjoy your stay at the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast.

The acquisition of the Springwater Corridor by the city of Portland in 1990 was a giant leap towards completion of the 40-Mile Loop and closed a last major gap in the loop. The 20-mile-long Corridor begins at SE Ivon Street and extends to the community of Boring. It was originally developed for rail service and was most commonly known as the Portland Traction Company Line. It has a smooth, even grade which makes it ideal for many types of recreation.
True to the initial inspiration for the Loop, many parks and open spaces are linked by this addition. Just as the railroad was the lifeblood of the communities it served, the Springwater Corridor/40-Mile Loop will continue to tie neighborhoods together and encompass many scenic areas, including Johnson Creek, wetlands, buttes, agricultural fields and pastures, residential and industrial neighborhoods. Parks include Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, Oaks Amusement Park, Sellwood Riverfront Park, Johnson Creek Park, Sellwood Park, Tideman Johnson Nature Park, Beggars Tick Marsh, the I-205 bike path, Leach Botanical Garden, Bundy Park, Powell Butte Nature Park and Gresham Main City Park.
The original rail line beyond Boring is currently owned by the State of Oregon. The addition of this link offers a real possibility of a trail that would link downtown Portland directly with the Pacific Crest Trail in Mt. Hood National Forest.

For more information, check out this link to the Springwater Corridor website.

The Fulton House offer free maps for each of the four area of the corridor as well as a indoor locking  sun-porch for your bike storage.  There are also several biking companies near by to rent bikes as well.

The Hood River County Fruit Loop Heirloom Apple Celebration - 

Remember when Grandma complained that “grocery store” apples today just aren’t the same as the ones that grew on her family’s backyard tree? She’s right. The Fruit Loop’s Heirloom Apple Celebration honors the “heirloom” or “classic” apples that have all but disappeared from commercial orchards producing large volumes of fruit that must store and travel well. Apple varieties must have existed 100 or more years to be considered heirlooms. Discover the wide range of flavors, colors, shapes and textures of more than 20 kinds of heirloom apples. Enjoy fresh-pressed apple cider, hard apple cider, apple cider donuts, desserts made with apples or cider, and much more.

Kayaking in Portland, Oregon

Now is the time for Kayaking in Portland, Oregon’s Waterways

“In Oregon, if there’s a waterway, someone has kayaked it. And there are a lot of waterways, from white-water rivers to calm estuaries and bays to even calmer wetland areas that are great for wildlife viewing” (from Tour Oregon).  

The sun is shining and the water is calm, now is the time to book your next vacation here at the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast and begin a new adventure—Kayaking the Willamette River located right here in the heart of the City.  Portland Metro area is an ideal playground for kayaking and canoeing.

The Fulton House is located one block from Willamette Park and only three blocks from the Portland Kayak Company where they offer classes, rentals, tours, daily trips, boat sales and kayaking gear.  They have everything you need to start your kayaking adventures right here in the Fulton House neighborhood just steps from the Willamette River,  allowing easy access for kayak rentals, demos, guided kayak tours and classes.

And you can start right here just a few minutes out your door to begin your adventure.  All you’ll need to do is head to the Portland Kayaking company and they can provide you with quality kayaks and top notch guides to ensure a safe and enjoyable paddling experience  or adventure on your own if you have had an essential kayaking course or equivalent experience.

Willamette Park-One block from the Fulton House

Prices are very reasonable for tours and rentals.  They even have a variety of excursions to the uninhabited island Espiritu Santo on their tours to the Baja.

After a day on the water come back and enjoy a glass of wine or soak in the hot tub.

Enjoy soaking in the Oregon Hot Springs Tub

Local author, Jeff Davis and Al Eufrasio from New Jersey have just released their new Book, “Weird Oregon,” a Travel Guide to Oregon’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets. Both are avid documenters of Pacific Northwest weirdness, traversing Oregon to uncover odd tales of far-out beasts, spooky haunts, eerie cemeteries, peculiar folks, and much more.

Pick up a copy today and bring it with you to our “Weird Oregon–Open House & Book Signing.” Details to follow in the Fulton House’s upcoming “Blogs” with time, date and RSVPs. Check out pages 60 & 61 to find out more information about Nancy Boggs’s Floating Bordello and its connection with the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast.

The Portland Aerial Tram opened in 2007. At its typical speed of 22 miles per hour, It takes about three minutes to travel 3,300 feet from the South Waterfront to the
9th Floor of OHSU’s Peter O. Kohler Pavilion on Marquam Hill, 500 feet higher. The tram cars have a capacity of 78 passengers plus an operator. They are designed to look like bubbles floating in the sky. The cars are named Walt and Jean, after Walt Reynolds, OHSU’s first African-American graduate and Jean Richardson, Oregon’s first female engineering graduate from Oregon State University. Both graduated in 1949. Walt is the north car and Jean is the south car. The Upper Terminal is named Chameffu, meaning “on the mountain” and the Lower Terminal is named Chamanchal, for “on the water.” Both names are from the Tualatin Indian language.

You can take a wonderful walk along the Willamette River from the Fulton House Bed & Breakfast and reach the tram.
Current Hours of Operation
Weekdays – 5:30AM to 9:30PM

Saturday – 9AM to 5PM

Sunday – 1PM to 5PM
June 06 to Sept 19

In every country we have visited on our travels, we always discovered beautiful and tranquil fountains. Right here in Portland, Oregon the city is filled with fountains. Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How did they build them? Unlock their secrets and ponder their history as you wind your way through this bustling area of the city on a 2.6 mile, self guided tour. Download a self-guided tour of downtown Portland’s Fountains and begin your journey into history.

History shows early evidence from pictures drawn on the walls of Egyptian tombs that garden fountains existed in the ancient Middle East. The fountains were rectangular with trees lining the edges. The shade trees and sparkling crisp water provided a cool place to escape the hot sun.

The Persians, enclosed their gardens and fountain pools. Bathing rituals were important to the Romans and so they put public baths in gardens with fountains. In the hot deserts of the Middle East, pools and fountains provided relief from the heat as we discovered in our travels to the Dead Sea!

Similar garden fountains and pools were built in Spain before the 15th century and in 17th and 18th-century in India. In China, architecture was often centered on a courtyard which included pools. Japan also has many gardens inspired by those in China. During the Renaissance period in Italy, gardens became more complex and used spouting fountains and waterfalls. Other versions of the Italian Renaissance gardens began to appear throughout Europe.

In the late 18th century, gardens were designed to look like the wilderness. Rivers and ponds were placed haphazardly with scattered trees and shrubs to look more natural. In the 20th century, in warmer climates, gardens were often continued inside a house. Many architects use fountains to incorporate nature into their designs. Indoor pools and water fountains began appearing in shopping malls, office buildings, and homes. Even at the Fulton House we have a wonderful koi pond and waterfall in the backyard.

During your journey discovering Portland’s Fountains, don’t forget to send me pictures of yourself in front of your favorite fountain and we will highlight you on our Fulton House Bed & Breakfast Facebook page!