Travel Tuesday: Visiting the Portland Japanese Garden

The Portland Japanese Garden finished a more then $30 million dollar expansion that now includes a Cultural Crossing Village, “castle” wall, and the new Umami cafe offering Japanese tea and snacks. Located in the West Hills of Portland, you can easily combine a visit to the Japanese Garden ($14.95 admission) with a visit to the free International Rose Test Garden as well. Parking is extremely limited and the best bet is to take public transit via the Red or Blue line MAX train to the Washington Park stop (aka, the Zoo) and then take a free Explore Washington Park shuttle to both gardens.

The new Cultural Crossing Village you can see while visiting the Portland Japanese Garden

Here’s a little Travel Tuesday Portland Japanese Garden photo trip to give you a glimpse of what a visit could include.

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Travel Tuesday: Canon Seattle

A visual visit with me to enjoy cocktails at Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium, “The western hemisphere’s largest spirit collection at 3500 labels and counting.” Located in the trendy Capital Hill neighborhood in Seattle, WA, they have been on my wishlist for a while especially when a few years ago they made the World’s Best 50 Bars (they ranked #6 in 2014, #15 in 2015, and currently they are not on the 2016 list, 2017 list to be announced this fall) and in 2016 they were nominated by Tales of the Cocktail for Best American Cocktail Bar, in 2017 they recently won The World’s Best Spirits Selection.

Behind an unassuming door is a one of the best libraries of liquors you’ll ever see.
Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium
Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium

If you come during the summer or good weather you may even get a chance to sit on their back patio for al fresco dining, but without the cool atmosphere above with all those bottles although there are still some bottles on display:
Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium

You can even find bottles as decor in the restroom, and as a soap dispenser! A radio show with old timey music entertained you as you went about your bio business.
Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium

They do serve some food here – about two 1/3 page worth, but meanwhile you will notice there are almost a dozen pages of beverages by the glass/large format for a few, and additional almost a 200 page liquor listing book. So no surprise that this is an establishment with a focus on beverages. In the cocktail section you will notice illustrations of the antique glassware or special serving ware they will use to present the drink.
Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium Canon Whiskey and Bitters Emporium
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Oregon Travel: Visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens

Last week, I shared how an easy partial day trip from Portland just an hour south to visit the Adelman Peony Gardens if you are here during bloom season in May-June. Close by to the Peony Gardens is Schreiner’s Iris Gardens – it’s only 2.5 miles away, a few minutes by car. During bloom season, their gardens are open dawn to dusk, and are free, so I highly recommend throwing in another stop and visiting Shreiner’s Iris Gardens.

When my mom came to visit me a few days before Memorial Day weekend a few weeks ago, after our stop for peonies, which are among her favorite flowers, I sorta forced her to go to the Iris gardens too even though she said she didn’t care much for Irises. We still hung out there for an hour. Here are a few photos that encapsulate visiting Schreiner’s Iris Gardens.
Visiting Schreiner's Iris Gardens is easy, just an hour south of Portland, and is free - a great option if you are in Portland or Salem during their May bloom season Visiting Schreiner's Iris Gardens is easy, just an hour south of Portland, and is free - a great option if you are in Portland or Salem during their May bloom season
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Oregon Travel: Visiting the Adelman Peony Gardens

If you love peonies, you should not miss visiting the Adelman Peony Gardens located in Salem, Oregon, just an hour south of Portland. The peonies are in bloom generally from May – June. During this bloom time the Adelman Peony Gardens has an open house daily 9 AM – 6 PM to allow you to visit their display gardens, their peony production fields, and they have an indoor display showroom. Their open house is also free!

Visiting the Adelman Peony Gardens just north of Salem, about an hour south of Portland is free and open generally from May-June during bloom season Visiting the Adelman Peony Gardens just north of Salem, about an hour south of Portland is free and open generally from May-June during bloom season
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Travel Israel – Jerusalem

In a few days, I will be leaving for a very quick business trip and travel to Israel. I’ll only be there Saturday-midnight on Tuesday and be back in Portland  by Wednesday morning. While there, my days are full of all day meetings with the exception of Saturday, the day I land. Having already enjoyed wandering around Jerusalem on my last visit to Israel in 2012, this time I am opting to stay in Tel Aviv, even though it means an hour commute each way to the office in Haifa. Here’s a quick summary of what I think I will do, call for any recommendations, and a few photos from my previous trip to Israel – aka chapter Travel Israel – Jerusalem.

Travel to Israel - Jerusalem. First view of the Old City of Jerusalem, within the walls you see.
Photos from my 2012 trip to Israel, where I explored Jerusalem – this was my first view of the Old City of Jerusalem, within the walls you see
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