Review on the run: Portland Saturday Market (4/5)

This crafts market was surprisingly big and full of neat crafts and knick knacks. Even kids that hate shopping will find this place fascinating. If you forgot obscure things like wine bottle stoppers or survival fire starter kits, you can pick one up here. Our favorite is the Spoonman store where they made everything out of eating utensils, like headbands with a cleavers. When it gets hot, there is a spray park to throw your kids in.

Review on the run: Portland Food Trucks (4/5)

Portland is home to 500+ food trucks. We checked out the biggest cluster (pod) kiddie corner to O'Bryant Square. We tried out a calamari sandwich and fried mushrooms from Euro Trash, Carolina BBQ pulled pork, and fish and chips from the Frying Scotsman. Food was fast and decent but we were hoping for more weird fusion stuff. This was still fun and shouldn't be missed.

Chuck's: the perfect organic store

When my aunt said we're going to an organic store called Chuck's, I thought it was going to have a couple of sad looking apples on a fruit stand. Was I ever wrong. This store is phenomenal in size, class, selection, and price. The produce is so fresh you would think they must have a farm behind the parking lot. The decor is so classy you would think they cater to cliental that have breakfast flown in from Paris. The price is ridiculously cheap -- we bought 4 lbs of strawberry for $5. You can get all sorts of crazy stuff like cactus paddles, aloe stems, yellow and pink broccoli, local yogurt, and almond Roca cake! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this store!!!

Review on the run: Portland Japanese Garden (3/5)

This garden is a bit expensive for what you get but it's well kept and has a good view of Mount Hood. It's a relaxing and shady refuge for a hot day. The water areas are charming and the kids enjoyed the little bridges. The "treasure map" for kids make it a bit more fun than an ordinary garden.

Review on the run: Multnomah Falls (3.5/5)

We are spoiled by the Johnston Canyon waterfall in Banff. Don't get me wrong, Multnomah is beautiful, but if Johnston is a 5/5, this is a 3.5. It is neat to see the falls from a bridge though. My 2 yr old imagined it was the bridge that the Monkey King crossed to get into the cave behind the waterfall. The lush scenery made the area feel like a rain forest. What a nice treat after seeing hours of flat dry farms, though the Columbia gorge area is pretty west of the Dalles. Kudos to the state for lining miles of wind turbines along the river. It's a neat sight and it's clean energy!

Review on the Run: Spokane River Front Park (3 of 5), Mobius Children's Museum (3 of 5), Manito Garden (3.5 of 5)

We reached Spokane after a 9 hour travel day carrying 3 kids and a senior.  All we wanted to do was crash.  We got to our rental and found it already occupied... Hmm the first thing that goes through my mind is 'What the #$%& are you doing here?' And 'Get the #$%& out'.

After suppressing my Bruce Banner and talking to the rental agency, it looks like they screwed up and we got moved to another locale.  Long story short, things ended up working out but I was totally not impressed.  Onto some reviews...

River Front Park (3 of 5)
Built during Expo 74, the area was nicely renovated and it now serves as the core park and lifeline for families in downtown Spokane.  Since Spokane is quite small even at the parks busiest times is less than an average day in Calgary.  The amusement rides are nice, the park is quiet and clean... Exactly what we were expecting.  Recommended for all families.

Möbius Children's Museum (3 of 5)
For adults this is quite disappointing, but this is not the main audience.  The kids absolutely loved this place despite the small size.  To give you a scale, this place is about the size of one exhibit at a normal kids museum, but it doesn't matter.  This was a great way to beat the heat and to kill 2 hours.  Recommended for families.

Manito Gardens (3.5 of 5)
These gardens are more our style.  Its had less people, more locales, and more outdoorsy surrounded by huge climbing trees.  Between the playground, duck pond and talking to Spokanites, the Manito Gardens are a smaller (much smaller) version of a Stanley Park.  Recommended for families.

Review on the run: Woodburn Premium Outlets (3/5)

Oregon is great for shopping because it's tax-free. There's nothing extraordinary about Wood burn outlet but its got the usual Premium Outlet stores. It's the best outlet near Portland. The kids were happy to see a giant tree house there.  We were happy to see Stride Rite shoes, which is about the only brand of shoes that fit my kids ' wide duck feet.