Hood River: Grace Su's China Gorge Restaurant

 We went for the panda.

Maybe that's an oversimplification. I was researching the Hood River Fruit Loop, which we were thinking about making one of our excursions.

It was sounding like mainly wines and jams, and wasn't really that appealing for us (if that's your thing, great), and then I saw this photo of a panda statue. Tell me more.

I am not a hard sell for Chinese food anyway, but my sisters are not that into it. They were still willing to go, though, because the reviews were good, and also there's a panda statue.

The amazing thing was that they loved it!

It was the best sesame chicken ever!

It was the best almond chicken ever!

Okay, I liked my kung pao chicken, but that was more likely than not. The other two things are miracles.

We went for the lunch special, where the entrees come with a choice of soup or egg roll. I appreciated that the egg roll came with both sweet and sour sauce and hot mustard.

Although they had posted that there were staffing issues, we only knew because of the sign as our service was prompt. We did get there early. More people were coming in as we were finishing up, which could have had an effect.

Since our visit, we have found other people who do not live nearby, but who still call China Gorge their favorite. One customer picking up an order mentioned that he lived three hours away. That's the kind of pull the restaurant has. It has been a favorite -- local and not so local -- for over forty years.

Although you are quite near the river, the way the location is set up, these windows are the primary view, and more windows would not increase that. You are coming for the food. You get plenty of good views on the drive.

Accessibility: The space seemed very navigable, including restrooms.

COVID: Probably better for us because we came at a non-crowded time, though I am sure it can fill up. During busy times take-out may be a better option.

Then there is the panda. Up close there are some cracks... it has been there a long time. It is still adorable. If it works to lure people in for delicious food, that's just a bonus.

Recommended.

https://www.chinagorge.com/

West Linn: StoryWalk(R) at Fields Bridge Park

We recently returned to Fields Bridge Park to check out the new StoryWalk(R).

The park has had the educational panels for the Willamette Meteorite for some time. New signs have been added posting a story that you can read as you walk the 1/4 trail.

The trail starts near the playground, so perhaps the short walk can be a way of winding down and switching into quiet time.

Posts are numbered, so counting skills can be combined with reading skills, as well as letting you know if you have missed something.

Missing something should not be an issue: the trail is short and well-marked. Mainly, it just seems like a good experience.

Books are periodically swapped out, allowing them to correlate with different events or seasons. The current book is In the Middle of Fall.

Other signs toward the end recommend other books and give information on other local programs, including QR codes.

One of signs informed us that the West Linn library has book drops at every school in the city, which seems like a good coordination between important community features.

Add to that this collaboration between the library and the park.

While the StoryWalk was developed in Montpelier, Vermont, and is a registered service mark of Anne Ferguson, this installation is sponsored by the Holly Grace Jones Endowment of the West Linn Library Foundation.

Accessability: The path actually seems improved since our last visit. Signs are easily readable and contain Spanish translations.

COVID: It is outdoors, and we found spacing out pretty easy, even on a sunny Saturday.

https://westlinnoregon.gov/library/storywalk%C2%AE-fields-bridge-park

Sherwood, Oregon: The Pumpkin Patch at Red Berry Barn

I am not ruling out that at some point we will want to go pick berries at the Red Berry Barn, but what drew us there was the corn maze. We drove by recently, and noticed.

Well, the giant slides were pretty eye-catching too.

That all required further investigation, so we looked up the web site and found that in addition to the country store, garden center, and bakery, there was also a pumpkin patch.

The pumpkin patch runs from September 24th through October 31st, and includes access to the farm grounds, the maze, a hay ride, barrel train, yard games, and the hay slide, mole hill and slides, and super mega slide. Wow.

The part that really tickled us was that adult (13 years and up) admission is only $10, whereas admission for children 3-12 is $18. 

That is completely logical, because they've got the bounce houses, giant play pad, and play structure. Especially there are the many bouncy structures, which can easily be damaged. Still, it's rare that adults pay less than kids, so that was fun to see.

Realistically, the best use of the admission probably is wearing out your kids. Yes, you can go on many of the slides, but you can also watch them bouncing and sliding at shaded tables.

Or (to get everyone tired) you can go into the hay maze.

If we'd been strategic, we would have gone on the hay ride first. It circles the maze, and perhaps it would have helped us get the lay of the land. It was less frustrating than the one last year, with wider paths and shorter dead end paths, but we still eventually ended up exiting through the entrance. 

We thought it was our fault for not checking for a map or picture before we started, but we encountered another group in there who had asked, and they were advised to just wing it. 

We made our way back near the store, noticing a concessions stand with treats like shaved ice, elephant ears, and hot dogs, but also a nice traditional PBJ. 

We went in to explore the bakery. 

In addition to pies, cookies, and doughnuts, you can also find gelato, and a wide variety of differently topped rice crispy treats.

If you want one of those fancy milk shakes with a whole additional desert on top of the glass, they have a version of that too.

COVID: No one in the shop was masked, but the majority of the activities are outside. The floor is still reminding you to at least distance.

Accessibility: Surfaces were pretty navigable, with slopes instead of stairs, and mostly smooth.

Individual activities may still prove difficult for various abilities, like bouncing or climbing slides, and the barrel train looks hopeless for large people, but at least for browsing the store and dairy it should be fine, and possibly even for the maze.

The other potential caveat is the weather, but our day was gorgeous.

https://redberrybarn.com/

Northwest Ghost Tours: McLaughlin Promenade in Oregon City

We loved our ghost tour!

Tour guide Rocky Smith is an Oregon City native, teacher, and councilman, as well as the organizer of the Oregon Ghost Conference. It is hard to conceive of anyone better able to lead the tour.

Along with the spooky stories, we appreciated the wealth of historical context, and the effort to sort fact from fiction. We appreciate that for the respect it shows to the place and the people, regardless of whether those people are still living.

 

Truthfully, they don't need the embellishments, because Oregon City has plenty of ghosts.

Of course, those are not ghosts in the shop there; that is decor. It is nonetheless an interesting storefront, with plenty to look at, and conveniently, a bathroom. However, the shop itself is not haunted. Probably. Except for maybe that one doll.

Although all of the tours sounded interesting, we chose the McLaughlin Promenade tour because we have enjoyed our time exploring up there.

Those tours also tend to be earlier, as the promenade is accessed via the Oregon City Municipal Elevator, and that closes at 9:30. We did not mind having more daylight, but there will still be some darkness by the end. (You are more likely to hear ghostly laughter on the later tour.)

This did not end up being a problem. I brought a flashlight in my purse as a precaution, but I never brought it out. Rocky does carry a lantern (and a light on his phone), but in general there was enough public lighting to see, at least while we were there.

At one point I thought I felt a bite, and started to worry about bugs. Only one bite surfaced, and not until two days later, but it may be something to think about.

The bigger issue was parking. Street parking was full, and although a map checked out before showed several parking lots, they were all private lots patrolled by predatory towing companies. ("Predatory" was on a sign, and it was not an exaggeration.) The best bet is probably the Municipal Parking lot, about four blocks away at 1220 Main Street.

https://www.downtownoregoncity.org/parking-transportation

COVID: It was primarily outdoors, so we did not worry too much. 

Accessibility: All of the tours description mention stairs, as well as the approximate walking distance.For our tour, the only stairs were briefly on the Grand Staircase, then back up. The tour descriptions also mention calling to arrange an alternative route if the stairs will cause difficulty. I do not doubt that they can and will make helpful accommodations.

And of course, there is an elevator. A big one.

Highly recommended.

http://www.nwghosttours.com/