Portland August 2013- World Forestry Center

There is a place in Portland where you can learn more than you ever needed or wanted to know about trees. Located adjacent to the Oregon Zoo, The World Forestry Center Discovery Museum is a great place to stop for a few hours and contains plenty of interactive educational exhibits to teach and amuse all ages.

After paying admission ( $9-adults, $8-seniors, $6-kids) it's tempting to head straight into the main exhibits. Don't be tempted by the enormous redwood tree in the center of the room, take a few minutes to watch the video to the immediate right of the ticket booth. It sets the stage for your forestry learning experience, where the emphasis is on the relationship between people and the environment. It's a good video and it explains forestry on a global scale.

As soon as the video is over, you can rush to that enormous tree. It's impressive!

The building is two stories and the tree is the height of the entire building.

The bottom floor has most of the interactive exhibits, including a mock white water rafting adventure. They have games where you can test your skill at being a forest fire fighter (smoke jumper) or trying a task working in a wood mill. There is a game testing your knowledge of recyclable products, answering the much debated question...which is better, paper or plastic?

The bottom level also has a very pretty outdoor courtyard with a waterfall.

The upper half of the building houses a special exhibits area, which was currently filled with Ansel Adams photography.

I've seen Ansel Adams photographs in person, but the volume of photographs in this exhibit really gave me a deeper appreciation for the photographer. Many of his photographs are breathtaking. The museum was very empty when I visited, so it was a treat to really be able to take my time enjoying the photographs. In particular, I thought his photographs of the southwest were stunning. The Aspen tree photographs were also of particular note. I love the pieces that play with shadows and contrasts. Gorgeous stuff.

My favorite educational part of the museum was a video based exhibit on the top floor. There were four videos, each lasting about five minutes and speaking about a particular forestry issue in a different region of the world. This tied in directly with the museum introductory film at the entrance.

The first video was about the Russian forests, which are vast and very cold. The video is set up as if you are looking out of a train car and are sitting as a passenger. Each video has a different mode of transportation to match the location. As soon as the video is over, you move to the next room and they are timed to keep the crowd moving.

In the second room, you sit on a boat in China. I learned that China is the biggest importer of wood. China has its own huge forest areas, but they have largely been destroyed. China has been big in its efforts to plant trees, requiring citizens to plant a new tree every year.

In the third room, we went to Africa in a jeep.

I had trouble watching the video in the Africa section because a father was letting his two young sons climb all over the jeep and they made a ton of noise. I thought that it was pretty rude of them, but I just stuck it out and tried to enjoy the video. I was frustrated.

The final video was in South America and the transportation was a basket lift to explore trees in the rain forest.

The rain forest showed a arborist working atop the highest trees to preserve and discover species.

Here is a poster detailing the exhibit.

Learning about forests from all around the world.

There was this crazy tree stump with a rifle. When the tree was alive a rifle was left in the crook and the tree continued to grow around it.

Sprinkled through out the museum were little wooden books each containing a short story regarding an aspect of forestry or a person working in the industry. I know that they were intended for kids, but I enjoyed reading them and found them to be quite educational. I was surprised that the museum wasn't anti-logging, citing loggers to often be advocates for sustainable forestry practices. Naturally this makes sense, but growing up in the city, we often think of logging as a bad industry. Of course we think this, yet do nothing to scale back our use of tree based products.

I looked at the rings on this tree towards the exit of the museum.

This tree has far more lives than a cat!

On exiting, I picked up a map detailing hiking trails adjacent to the museum. I didn't have time to go on a hike, but it was fun to look at the map for future Portland trips.

I enjoyed my afternoon at the World Forestry Center and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

World Forestry Center Website

Dan's 40th Birthday Big Bear Weekend- Day Three

We began our last morning in Big Bear with breakfast at the Grizzly Manor Cafe.

The Grizzly Manor Cafe is a small restaurant with a ton of character. The interior of the cafe is covered with drawings, stickers, signs and business cards. Unfortunately, I didn't have any blog cards on me, otherwise I would have put one up on the wall!

I took some pictures of the menu. I like the warning regarding special orders and I heeded it!

Grizzly Manor isn't the only Big Bear cafe that has coffee cups supporting local businesses. I love it.

Dan drinking coffee out of a First Mountain Bank mug.

Dan loves pancakes and we read that Grizzly Manor Cafe had enormous ones. The pancake came and it covered the plate!

I don't normally order waffles, but it seemed like the thing to do here. Breakfast was delicious in this quirky establishment. I highly recommend checking out Grizzly Manor Cafe.

We had about an hour to kill before our Action Zipline Tour, so we drove around to the other side of the lake to check out the observatory. Unfortunately, we found out that the observatory was closed to the public this summer. Hopefully it will be open on our next visit, as it is something that we would love to check out.

Bear art is all over Big Bear and we contemplated buying a piece. Some of the stores had wooden bears that were hanging off window sills, like they were taking a peak inside of a house. I must have one.

It finally came time to begin our Action Zipline tour. The tour began at their office, where we filled out waivers and we were given a short briefing from the office staff.

Action Zipline  Office, Big Bear. — Action Zipline Office, Big Bear.

We were told that cameras and cell phones were not allowed on the tour due to safety reasons. Also, they wanted us to leave all lose articles, specifically car keys, in lockers that they provided at the office. The lockers had a key with a wrist band and felt secure. I don't mind that they wanted us to leave things behind, although I thought that it was funny that they specifically mentioned that we could take our wallets to tip the guides. I was planning on tipping the guides of course, but if things falling out of pants was such a big problem, wouldn't wallets be included in that?

Our group had about fifteen people and they took us up the mountain in two vans. It was approximately a twenty minute drive. At the base of the zipline camp, we were outfitted with helmets and our zipline harnesses. The four guides introduced themselves and helped us get into our gear. We were then taken in two groups further up the mountain in military style vehicles. The bumpy ride was fun!

We did nine ziplines, most of which I found to be completely terrifying.

I was absolutely trembling after the first two lines and nearly backed out when I got to the third. What made me jump off of the third was a rude woman in our group threatening that she would push me, if I didn't get on with it. Nice. She was scared of heights and it was hard to have sympathy towards her after that comment.

The heights didn't bother me. I also trusted the guides and the safety equipment. What got to me was the speed and worrying about having to reach up and use my gloved hand to brake myself. I don't really enjoy fast movement and was completely intimidated by the speed in which I was hurling towards the guides waiting to catch me if I didn't properly brake.

This was 100% outside of my comfort zone and although I am glad that I tried it, I would never do it again. I was actually supposed to go on a zipline tour with my mom in Maui about six months before she passed away. The day of our excursion the winds were too high and it got canceled. My mom was the daring one in the family. I inherited none of her love of adrenaline rushes. She went sky diving for her sixtieth birthday and loved every minute of it! My mom would have been proud that I went through all of the ziplines without bailing.

Action had a professional photographer on the excursion and we were encouraged to let go and wave. All of my pictures were terrible as I refused to relax and had a look of complete fear on my face. They managed to get one good shot of Dan. He looks like he's having fun!

Just like the Segway tour, it was a good idea to wear bright colors. The bright colors really pop in the pictures. Even though we didn't purchase proof of me in action, we did decide to buy a nice picture of Dan and I together.

Action Zip Line Tour! We still had two more zip lines to go when this shot was taken.

I'm not going to deny it, I was happy when the tour was over. It was terrifying! If you decide that it is something you would like to try, I would definitely reccomend Action Ziplines, as the guides were fantastic and we thought that it was a good value for an adrenaline packed morning.

After the hot and dusty excursion, we were parched and desperate for a beer. We headed to Village Pizza for lunch.

Oddly enough, our last meal in Big Bear was the only one that we thought wasn't a very good value. The prices were more akin to Los Angeles restaurants, so maybe it was a good way to ease back into reality. We each had a large beer and shared a medium pizza, which was more than enough food for two. Good pizza with loads of tomato sauce, toppings and a thin crust.

On our way out of town, we made one last stop, The Magic Mountain Recreation Area. Magic Mountain, not to be confused with the Six Flags chain, is a small family fun zone with a water slide, horse rentals, an arcade and an alpine slide ride. In the winter they offer snow tubing. Dan really wanted to go on the Alpine Slide, so we bought five tickets for twenty.

Tip- Don't store the tickets in your pocket. We used two tickets and lost the rest. Dan bought a single extra ticket to ride the slide a second time, so that I could record him coming down.

The best part of the Alpine Slide is the ride to the top. The transportation is via ski lift chairs, which gave us great views and made the entire experience last twice as long.

The lift has hooks on the sides that carry the "sleds" back up the hill. The speed of the sled is controlled with a hand brake. I took it slow down the slide, but Dan flew down!

I love this shot that Dan took of the slide. There are two tracks, one for slower sliders and a fast track.

On Dan's second ride, I took a short video of him finishing the track. It looks like he's moving slowly, but it's only because this is the part of the track where he is required to slow down to prepare for stopping.

Dan's 40th Birthday Weekend was a huge success and we were sad to drive home. Hopefully we will return to Big Bear soon!

Dan's 40th Birthday Big Bear Weekend- Day Two

Since Dan is five going on forty, he woke me up at six am very excited to open his presents! I plan to return the favor in a few weeks on my birthday!

We had several hours before our Segway tour to get breakfast and wander around Big Bear Village.

One of my favorite places in Big Bear Village is the Copper Q. The Copper Q is an adorable coffee shop and bakery. We had scones, yogurt and lattes for breakfast. I even went in the afternoon with my book to read and have another latte. I love this place.

Just as the village is dead in the evening, it is very quiet on a Sunday morning. We explored and took some pictures. We clearly scored by visiting Big Bear during a "Gothic Dragon" sale. I wanted the store to be open, just so that I could have an explanation as to what constitutes a "Gothic Dragon". Thoughts?

We had been very excited to try the Segway Tour since we saw a brochure advertising it on our last trip to Big Bear. I reserved it three weeks in advance and was given a choice of several time slots. The morning slot was recommended as the weather is still cool and the streets are not crowded. We were told to wear closed toed shoes and bright colors. The bright colors were for good pictures, colors that pop against the greens and browns in the woods.

Thank you to my Aunt Trudy for the Segway contribution to Dan's birthday weekend!

Action Segway Office in Big Bear Village

I wasn't nervous until we watched the obligatory safety video. This video made me feel apprehensive as it showed a stick figure falling both face forward off of the Segway and backwards smashing the back of its head. Yikes! Our guide, Chris, assured us that it wasn't as dangerous or as difficult as it looked on the video and that he would be going over safety as we practiced in the parking lot. Nobody would proceed with tour, if they didn't get the hang of it during practice.

We had one other couple on the tour with us, who were in their sixties and had done a Segway tour in Atlanta. They, especially the husband, exuded confidence and made me feel a little better.

We got geared up and it was time to practice.

I felt very uncomfortable right from the start. The Segway just feels unsteady. Chris was a great guide and safety always came first, but no matter how much he repeated that we needed to trust the machine, the machine never felt trust-worthy.

It takes a sense of balance, which is not an area in which I excel. After about half an hour, Chris said something that finally clicked with me. He said to think of my body as a stick, stay rigid and make slight movements. Okay, this worked for me, but I still never felt 100% confident.

The scary part is leaning and speed. Segways are zippy and with leaning forward, I always felt like I was one pinecone-too-big away from splatting on the concrete. The Segways can roll over uneven terrain, but there is small window of error when it comes to stuff like big rocks and curbs. I felt like with enough practice, the Segway would become easy to operate, but it's like learning to Skateboard wherein you're going to fall a lot while trying to learn.

I didn't fall for the first 2/3rds of the tour. We rode around Big Bear, looking at homes such as a cabin that Richard Nixon spent childhood summers. We saw perches and nests of Bald Eagles. We saw a house that had old ski chair lifts on its front porch. Chris was an informative guide and it was a fun way to get out and see Big Bear.

Chris took a picture of us on the Segways by the lake.

It's harder than it looks to pose and keep the Segway still for a picture!

I began to feel more comfortable on the Segway when we were riding around the residential areas, where the terrain was more or less flat and without obstacles. Dan took a video of our group.

One of the safety issues that Chris went over was how to properly get off of the Segway if you lose control or hit something like a big pinecone. Pinecones were often mentioned to be avoided. I kept hoping that it was because Big Bear is home to abnormally large pinecones and not that the Segway was so sensitive! I saw the husband in the other couple manage to successful avoid accidents twice. That being said, when you encounter a problem, this is easier said that done.

I was going up a slight incline on dirt to a bump transitioning to a concrete sidewalk when my Segway got off balance and started sliding backwards. Instead of hopping off (which went against instinct), I grabbed the handle to steady my balance. I was thrown off and the Segway toppled over me, pinning me to the ground. The scary thing was my right leg was grinding against the wheels, which wouldn't stop spinning. Dan heard me scream and came back to rescue me!

Chris was a good guide and made sure that I was okay. Both my body and pride were covered in bruises and I had a bleeding elbow, but nothing was broken or sprained. It's now two days later and everything hurts! My left leg has a huge bump that Chris said was likely a burst blood vessel. Nice.

I know that it was my fault for not properly exiting the Segway, but overall I was left with the impression that Segways are kind of dangerous. Dan and I both concluded that once was enough. I'm glad that I gave it a try, but if I could go back in time, I probably wouldn't have taken the tour. There was nothing that Action Segway could have done better, it was just an activity outside of my comfort zone.

Here are a few pictures taken about five minutes afterI fell. I limped off of my Segway and put on a smile.

I was relieved when the tour was over and Chris gave me ice packs for my injuries.

Still smiling...but the crazy eyes that I'm giving off are in response to the pain!

I would recommend the Action Segway Tour to those who like adventurous activities like skate boarding or rollerblading. This is not a mild or passive activity. You will discover little muscles in your feet and legs that you have never used before!

While I was icing, we decided to sign up for the Action Zip Line Tour for Monday morning. This was a weekend of activities far outside of our comfort zones!

We walked to Boo Bear's Den for lunch. Boo Bear's Den has a large patio with live music, which just felt right on a hot summer day. We had enormous burgers with steak fries and enjoyed sitting in the sun.

After lunch, Dan spent two hours getting pampered at The Village Spa. I picked The Village Spa because of their great reviews and their "man-menu". Dan had three treatments, The 007 (men's facial), Fists of Fury (hand treatment) and Chuck Norris (foot treatment). I left Dan in the capable hands of mother-daughter team Gin and Holly, who own and run the beautiful day spa. The Village Spa not only provides great services, but has a lot of nice touches like original art on the walls. They even gave Dan a gift bag that happened to have a gift card for the Peppercorn Grille, where we had already booked a reservation for his birthday dinner.

If you're going to Big Bear, make sure to check out The Village Spa. Here is their link.

The Village Spa- Big Bear

We got all dolled up for dinner and had enough time to check out the Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room, located directly across the street from our hotel.

The Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room is a gem of a find in Big Bear. Bryan, who owns the tasting room with his wife Valerie, helped us during our visit. In addition to being a great tasting room, Bryan's warmth, knowledge and hospitality would make this a must-do on future visits.

We did a flight of wine from California wineries. All of the tasting rooms wines are Californian and from boutique wineries, making it a special experience.

They also offer sake, cider and beer flights. We didn't have a lot of time to sample, but I did try a pear cider that I loved. It was like drinking a dessert.

To add to the fun of our experience, we met a couple who also live in Southern California and who happened to have book the same zip line time as us on Monday. A shout out to Diana and Elliott, if you happen to be reading this. We enjoyed meeting you and hope to see you in LA. Cool hats!

And thank you for taking a picture of us!

If you're in Big Bear, you should make sure to check out the Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room. We plan to plant ourselves there for several hours each day of our next trip!

Le Dolce Vita Tasting Room Official Site

As we staggered back into the village for our big birthday dinner at Peppercorn Grille, we had to step around major road construction. The entire village in undergoing a big street renovation project. Be mindful of this if you're visiting the area and maybe take a moment to walk out of your way to get to some of the businesses being affected by the project. They are hurting because driving access and parking is being hindered. Many of them, like the Village Spa and Le Dolce Vita are worth the extra effort.

All of the locals that we encountered raved about Peppercorn Grille and they did not oversell. This is a fabulous restaurant. We had dinner reservations for seven and despite several people waiting to be seated, we were ushered to our table immediately. Our server, Chris, was top-notch. He was friendly and down to earth, yet as competent as any server in a fine dining restaurant. In fact, Peppercorn Grille was as good as any fine dining experience that I've had in Los Angeles, yet a lot less pretentious. A great restaurant with a casual vibe.

Naturally we ordered a bottle of wine to continue the drinking that we started at Le Dolce Vita.

The starters looked so good that we decided to try two. It was a hard choice though, as we wanted to try them all!

Starter- Warm brie with cranberry sauce and pine nuts. AMAZING!

The second starter- Mushrooms Sautéed in garlic. Good, but probably the least impressive component of the entire meal.

We both ordered the surf and turf, which came with soup or salad, vegetables and rice or potatoes. It was all delicious, especially the steak and I was sad when I could only eat half of it, having filled up with the appetizers.

The meal ended on a high note with a warm chocolate birthday dessert, which wins points for presentation on top of being delicious.

Peppercorn Grille was a perfect place for a special 40th birthday dinner.

Stay tuned for the last day of our Big Bear Weekend, where we taking a big leap outside of our comfort zones during a Zip Line excursion!