Portland has more than enough temptations to keep its visitors within city boundaries. Artisanal coffee shops are perched on every corner, alongside independent boutiques, farm-to-table restaurants and local breweries.
But when it's time for a break from craft beer flights (be sure to try tap #8, the apricot sour, at Cascade Brewing Barrel House) and rounds of oysters (Little Bird Bistro in downtown has lots of that, plus French charm and charcuterie), hop in the car and take the scenic route to Multnomah Falls: the Historic Columbia River Highway. The highway runs parallel to its namesake waterway __ my face stayed pressed against the window in awe during the roughly 30-minute drive.
Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon and among the tallest in the U.S., cascading down two drops for about 620 feet. Cool mist lightly danced on and around us as we hiked the one-quarter mile to Benson Bridge. There, we stopped to catch our breath, tied our scarves on a little tighter and took in Mother Earth's undeniable glory.
