Portland & the Oregon Coast
In April of 2024, Jess and I flew west to Portland, Oregon, to celebrate the wedding of two friends from our earlier life in the Pacific Northwest. It was one of only a few trips we’ve taken without the kids, and the change of pace felt good, it was a chance to get away together and slip back into the grey, moody rhythm of the Northwest.
We spent the first few days in Portland ahead of the wedding, exploring the city by e-bike along its many bike paths. The rides carried us past some of the city’s familiar landmarks: Voodoo Doughnut with its neon pink boxes, the historic Crystal Ballroom, and, for anyone who grew up on Tony Hawk Pro Skater — the legendary Burnside skate park tucked under the bridge.
After the wedding, we headed west toward the coast. The drive wound through forests heavy with moss and rain, trees draped like they were dressed for the part. Eventually, the landscape opened to the Pacific, where the Oregon Coast revealed its iconic sea stacks. Haystack Rock, made famous in The Goonies, rose out of the surf.
Here’s the visual journey from that trip:
