Fall is my by far my FAVORITE time of year. I love the invitation to slow down, enjoy the cool crisp air, drink lots of hot tea and soak in the smell of the rain. Then of course there is the glorious explosion of color!!!!

Right now, is prime time leaf-viewing in Portland. It’s the perfect excuse to hop in the car for a couple of hours or a day trip and let your senses take it all in.

Here are some of our favorite spots to catch the amazing display of color in and around Portland.

 Portland Japanese Garden  SW Portland. Dramatic Japanese Maples against the subtle shades of native conifers. Wander the paths and sip tea in the Umami Cafe.
 Silver Falls State Park  20 Miles SE of Portland. Red-yellow-orange leaves with waterfalls as the backdrop. 35 spectacular miles of hiking trails.
 Hoyt Arboretum  SW Portland. Gorgeous birches, maples, oaks, magnolias, witch hazels and more. 190 ridge top acres and 12 miles of hiking trails.
 Cathedral Park  North Portland. Spectacular views of Forest Park, the Willamette River and the St. John’s Bridge. Stop in St. John’s for lunch or coffee.
 Forest Park  NW Portland. Bigleaf maple yellows, reds, and purples from the vine maple and more. Endless miles of trails in Portland’s backyard nature wonderland.
 Willamette Valley  30 Miles S of Portland. Sip wine and enjoy the spectacular yellows of the vineyards in the fall.
 Columbia River Gorge 30 Miles from Portland. Epic views of falls colors against basalt rock formations, waterfalls and the Columbia River.
 Skamania Lodge  45 Miles from Portland. Breathtaking fall colors from its deck and many trails to explore. Grab lunch or dinner and cocktails.
 Leach Botanical Garden SE Portland. Yellows and golds of bigleaf maple, winter hazel, gingkos and vibrant reds of Japanese Maples and black tupelos.
 Lone Fir Cemetery  SE Portland. More than 500 trees representing 67 species growing throughout the site. This makes the cemetery Portland’s second largest arboretum.

Enjoy this magical season!