Portland Japanese Garden

The one of the things I hear people say who have not visited Oregon before is “Oh, you’re from Oregon, I hear it is a beautiful state and very green.”  and always reply “yes it is, it is a beautiful place to live”  but those of us from here know that Oregon is not only green it is blue, red, pink, orange, purple and a host of other colors.  I love gardens and Oregon has some of the best private and public gardens I have ever seen.  The gardens that I always try and bring visitors to are: the Oregon Garden in Silverton,  the Portland Japanese Garden and the Portland International Rose Test Garden.  Let me tell you a little about each garden and what makes them unique and noteworthy.

Oregon Garden

The Oregon Garden is unique in several ways.  It features 20 specialty gardens on 80 acres of well manicured grounds.  The Oregon gardens has more than flowers which are worth the trip alone but the conifer garden, the largest collection of dwarf and miniture conifers and  market place garden displaying many of the over 146 crops produced in Oregon.  There is also an amazing water garden and many other specialty gardens that you must see. (learn more at www.oregongarden.org)

The Portland International Rose Garden is a must see when visiting Portland.  The garden is one of a kind and has a rich history.  Founded in 1917, it is the oldest garden of its kind.  During the first world war roses and other plants from Europe were sent for safe keeping.  The garden boasts over 550 varieties and contains over 10,000 plants.  And last but not least is the spectacular view of Portland from the garden.  There is no entry fee to visit the garden although donations are strongly encouraged and parking is free.  (learn more at www.rosegardenstore.org)

Portland Intl Rose Garden

My third got to see garden is the Portland Japanese Garden, which is right next door to the Portland International Rose Garden.  The five gardens that make up the Japanese Garden are astoundingly well taken care of.  I found the whole garden very peaceful and a great place to reflect about things.  The Japanese garden is more than just plants though.  The ponds, statues and structures all add to the wonder of the place.  (learn more at www.japanesegarden.com)

I could write a lot more but these gardens have to must be seen in person to truly understand how unique and beautiful they are.

Thanks,

Brian Rice
Surf to Ski Retreats.com

Ready for your next Ski vacation? Ski vacations are fun and exciting but they need a little planning in terms of packing. Here are some of the tips to help you with your packing:

Ski Clothing – For the slopes, you need layering of clothes, head and hand coverings for the cold elements. If you pack your ski wear in the order that you wear them, chances are you won’t forget anything important. Start with the base layer (your long underwear bottoms). Then pack your mid layer (spandex pants/long johns and a sweater or turtleneck). Follow it with an insulating layer (a fleece jacket), and then make sure to pack your Ski parka/jacket and ski pants. Packing depends on the length of your ski getaway but typically one base layer and one mid- layer for every two days should be fine.

Ski accessories – Make sure you pack your ski socks - at least three pairs, winter hat that covers the ears, Ski gloves (2 pairs), Ski/board boots and Ski goggles with UV protection. Also, don’t forget important items like sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm and skin lotion to protect your eyes and skin from UV rays.

Ski equipment - Most major ski resorts rent equipment like skis, ski poles, boots and helmets etc. You should consider renting these instead of packing and flying your own equipment in special ski bags – renting equipment is usually cheaper and hassle free.

Besides all the Ski essentials, you need to pack casual warm clothing (like regular socks, sweatshirts, jeans) when you’re not hitting the slopes. Walking boots are also a must to stay warm and prevent slipping on melting snow/slush. Also, bring plastic bags to pack wet clothing in the suitcase on your way back home.

While this is a ski vacation, don’t forget to pack the regular everyday items – camera with extra batteries, grooming items, medications, Toothbrush/toothpaste, your kids favorite toy and blanket (for that extra peace of mind ☺)

Check out this page to find some great vacation rentals for your next ski holiday.

Harshleen

Surf to Ski Retreats - Vacation Rentals For Every Season

I recently spent some time on Kauai and stayed in the resort area of Princeville. The North side of Kauai has excellent golf, shopping and lots of sightseeing and activities, but most importantly - there are a lot of vacation rentals in the area.

Although there are almost 2 dozen condo complexes in, and around Princeville, I had the pleasure of staying at the Nihilani at Princeville. The unit was a two story condo with a living room, bedroom and bathroom on each floor. This makes for a great rental when staying with a second couple, or a family, as you get your own space and time away, even when you’re back from a day’s adventure.

The complex is very well maintained, lots of nice hedges, plants and palms. The community pool area is secure so that outsiders can not get in and while I stayed there, it was barely used and I quite enjoyed having the whole pool to myself! Even on days when other guests or residents were in the pool, it was still a pleasant time as everyone was respectful of each other.

If you plan to stay in this complex, find an inside unit (one not facing the road) as there is traffic and this could be a negative for some people. Nihilani has both permanent residents and traveler staying in the complex. Each building has 3 units and it was very, very quiet. This complex is not oceanfront, but it is within a five minute walk of the Princeville cliffs and shoreline. There are lots of good walking paths, especially around the golf courses. Runners, joggers and walkers will enjoy this area.

Other vacation rental complexes to consider in the Princeville area are:

Alii Kai
Hanalei Bay Villas
Pali Ke Kua
Plantation at Princeville
Sandpiper Village 1
The Cliffs
Villas on the Prince

As with any vacation rental - check the pictures and feedback of the unit as each one is unique!

Finally, I would recommend Nihilani to anyone. It was a good place to stay and had easy access to everything.

Enjoy your next stay in Kauai!

–

Michael

Surf to Ski Retreats - Vacation Rentals For Every Season