RV Tour Leg 38 – Portland & Vancouver - Love, River Gorge, and a Geography Lesson

June 15 - 18, 2025

Amazing dinner at Gado Gado in Portland with Kira and Nathan

We stopped in the Portland/Vancouver area to visit my niece Kira and her partner Nathan. When I first messaged her to ask if she still lived in Portland, she said they’d moved to Vancouver—and I, forgetting that Vancouver, Washington exists, thought she meant British Columbia. She straightened me out, and we made plans to meet up. Vancouver, Washington is right next to Portland (think Minneapolis/St. Paul).

Kira suggested we stay near Troutdale, right at the mouth of the Columbia River Gorge. Smart choice—lush, green, and conveniently located. We rolled in on Father’s Day and kicked things off with a fabulous dinner at Gado Gado, a Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant in Portland. With a James Beard nomination under its belt, it easily earns its reputation for bold, imaginative flavors. Fun fact: this was our second meal of the trip at a James Beard–recognized restaurant. The first was back in Ithaca with our friends Linda and Drevis at Moosewood, the iconic vegetarian spot.

Dinner with Kira and Nathan was delicious, and the company really filled our hearts. Kira went to Oberlin College when we were living in Ann Arbor, so she used to be a short drive away—and spent several Thanksgivings with us. She’s now 40 (how??), and it’s such a gift to know her as an adult. She’s living a beautiful, authentic life, and it was deeply moving to witness that. She even treated us to dinner, which felt so strange and sweet—I’ve known her since the day she was born!

The next morning, we explored the Wildwood Trail through Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum, hiking to Pittock Mansion. This urban trail somehow plunges you into a cathedral of trees, where redwoods tower overhead. You’d swear you were miles from civilization—until the trail bursts out onto a scenic overlook with a historic mansion and a sweeping view of the city. Cities that preserve wild space in their core are doing something very right.

On the Redwood Deck, Wildwood Trail near Portland with Kira, Nathan and their dog Groot (think Guardians of the Galaxy)

Barred owl sighting on the Wildwood Trail

Groot the Gentle Giant: Kira and Nathan’s lovable English Sheepdog.

Emerging from the Wildwood trail we find this amazing urban view at Pittock Mansion

One of my favorite things when visiting people is seeing where they live—their neighborhoods, routines, and local haunts. Kira and Nathan’s downtown Vancouver apartment is just blocks from a trendy riverfront promenade. We walked to a Detroit-style pizza spot and capped off the evening with creative scoops at Salt & Straw, an ice cream shop famous for pushing the flavor envelope. I had the gouda and tomato tart (yes, it worked!). We wandered down to the river and enjoyed our ice cream on a deck with a postcard-worthy view.

Pizza in Vancouver, WA a few blocks from Kira and Nathan's home

River Views on the river Promenade right by Kira and Nathan's home

Kira and Nathan were packing up for a motorcycle adventure, so the next day we played Columbia River Gorge tourist.

Kira and her motorcycles - how cool is she?

We drove the Historic Columbia River Highway, stopping at scenic overlooks and gushing waterfalls. The whole area reminded us of the Mississippi River Valley near Winona—only scaled up by about 1.5X. The gorge itself was carved during the Ice Age by cataclysmic floods, when melting glaciers unleashed torrents of water that scoured the land and created this dramatic landscape.

Judy and David - tourists on the Columbia River Gorge - looks a lot like the Mississippi, only bigger.

Enjoying the waterfalls on the Columbia River Gorge

As we were posting updates to Facebook earlier this year, our friend Jeanie chimed in to remind us she lived in Vancouver too—again, Washington, not BC (we’re getting the hang of this). She met us at our campsite for appetizers and brought a lovely bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir. We walked into Troutdale to enjoy the local food trucks. Sadly, her favorite restaurant near the campground was closed on Tuesdays, but that just means we have to come back. And we will—Kira gave us a long list of hikes we didn’t have time to tackle.

Jeanie stopped by our camper in Troutdale

Jeanie and David at the food truck court - cool vibe

So many food truck options

Seeing Jeanie was such a joy. We know her from a running group back home in Mound. She moved to Vancouver to be closer to her grandkids and is loving her new role as Grandma.

I came away from this stop feeling so full—of love, awe, gratitude, and a much-improved understanding of Pacific Northwest geography. The Portland/Vancouver area is beautiful, but what really blew me away was the life Kira has created. She later sent us a photo from her motorcycle trip—helmets on and grinning, ready for adventure. Those two are living fully, and it makes my heart so happy.

Kira and Nathan on the first leg of their adventure

Next up: Mount Rainier!