Soft Landings In and Around Portland

By Paul Gerald

Menasha Ridge Press 14.95 240 pages

Looking for a peaceful place to spend a quiet afternoon, whole day, or an overnight around Portland? Find it in Paul Gerald’s little book, Peaceful Places: Portland. 103 restful destinations are listed in 12 categories: enchanting walks, historic sites, museums and galleries, parks and gardens, outdoor habitat, quiet tables, reading rooms, scenic vistas, shops and services, spiritual enclaves, urban surprises and day trips and overnights. The brief site descriptions are enticing and include these essentials: physical address (or GPS coordinates), phone number, website, costs (entry fees, menu prices, etc.), hours, and public transport choices. All sites are listed both alphanumerically and by area, with 8 maps.

There are some obvious omissions, including award-winning Maya Lin’s local interpretative Confluence Project sites commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-06. Think Vancouver Land Bridge linking Fort Vancouver National Historic Site with the Columbia River on the north side of the I-5 bridge, for example. And where is Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge? Also puzzlingly, the name of Vancouver city itself is not on any map. These are slight failings to an otherwise useful guidebook.

It’s artistically attractive with a peaceful ambiance for easy strolling.

Reviewed By Don Messerschmidt

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