A road trip called "gorge'-ous, day three Sunday June 9th

Sunday rolled around bright and sunny. Had our breakfast then headed back into downtown Portland to our first destination: Powell's City of Books. This incredible  store is four floors, covers an entire city block and has a second building across the street! What a view when you walk in the door...

A book lover could spend a day or two here and still not see all there is to see. We spent two or three hours including some time in the rare books room up on the third floor.

The view when you come in the door!

Directory! We also had a map....

Sharon... living a book lover's dream!

 We picked a few books including one in keeping with the automotive theme of this blog...

Need I say more...

Strolled back to the van, programmed the GPS for our next destination and headed off.
Pittock Mansion here we come! To quote the website... "Nestled high in the West Hills of Portland, the Pittock Mansion soars 1,000 feet above the city's skyline. A century old symbol of Portland's dramatic transformation from a small lumber town to a bustling city, it's an architectural wonder".  

This incredible home featured locally sourced materials and craftsmen to highlight and demonstrate what the region had to offer. The home had an intercom system, central heating with thermostats in each room, central vacuum system, an elevator and indoor plumbing to mention but a few of the "modern" conveniences. They may not seem unusual to us today but remember that this home was completed just before the start of World War 1!
The final estate included the mansion, a three-car garage, a greenhouse, and the Italianate gate lodge servants’ residence, all situated on 46 acres of land almost 1,000 feet above downtown Portland.

The library, one of the first rooms you see as you enter the home.

The "Turkish Smoking Room" with original paint on the ceiling!

One of the intercom stations...

The last Pittock descendant to live in the house left in 1958. It's been open to the public since the mid 1960's after being saved from a developer's plan to demolish it and build an apartment complex. After the tour around the home we took a walk on the grounds to take in the views which were astounding!

Afterwards we headed of to Troutdale, a suburb of Portland on its eastern edge, and checked into our hotel. We decided to head out for supper again instead of making our microwave KD. Our choice was McMenaman's Edgefield. Once a "poor" farm, built in 1911 to help the poor become self-sufficient through farming. This "back to the land" concept in social welfare was based on the belief that the poor could enjoy fresh air and country living while growing their own food. It was all but abandoned and headed for the wrecking ball when the complex was purchased in 1990 by micro-brew pioneers Mike and Brian McMenamin, who wanted to try their hands at the hotel business. McMenamin's Edgefield is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a destination resort with pubs, restaurants, theaters, gardens, and a golf course. The complex includes a winery, brewery and distillery, a restaurant, and a concert venue that has hosted such notables as BB King and Ringo Starr. We arrived in time to enjoy happy hour prices in the Power House Pub and watch a movie! Not very often a couple can have a meal, a drink and watch a movie for $30.00. If you're in the Portland area this is a place we'd recommend!

Tomorrow we start the journey home, heading east through the Columbia Gorge....

CLICK HERE FOR DAY FOUR