Traveling in my own backyard: Portland, OR: July 2013

After the suggestion of some friends, I was excited to find a beach within close driving distance from Downtown Portland. I guess its the Cali girl in me. Sauvie Island is only 10 miles Northwest from downtown, but takes 45 min to get there. After crossing the bridge into the island, there are only a few streets on the island, many with bicyclists. With no bike lane, they can hold up the traffic at times.


Sauvie Island Bridge/ Photo from Wikipedia

Sauvie Island is home to farmland and wildlife. It offers a quick escape to a rural setting. As I drove by, there are many U pick farms, where you can pick various kinds of berries and other produce. I also saw a sign for a lavender farm, which I must go to another time. Because its rural, there are only 2 or 3 stores on the Island and no gas station. In order to park at the beach, you need to buy a parking pass, about $7/day. They also offer monthly and yearly passess.


Sauvie Island Farms/ Photo from Wikipedia

Island Cove Market is one store you can buy your parking pass from/Photo form Yelp

As for the beaches, there's a handful: Walton beach, North Unit, and Collins beach that are available to the public. Our party went to Collins beach, that has a nude, clothing optional beach on one side. We chose a spot, not knowing we were at the border between the clothing and clothing optional beaches, and could see a few people in their birthday suits walking into the water. Strangely, a very tan gentleman keep walking slowly in and out of the water, then looking at the general direction of the clothing beach. I don't know what he was thinking, but maybe showing off? who knows.... According to the Wikipedia article, the north end of Collins beach is a popular LGBT party spot. Unfortunately, no party when I went =( Maybe next time.