We still need to vote on where we'll meet.......

What about museums? I know Portland has to have some Rose Garden sounds nice, the mall...will probably go just to see it but I want to see Portland!

Well, I looked up flight stuff and it's really not so bad. About $2300 for the flight, the hotel and a rental car for a week for two people of course (me and DD). If I am traveling that far, it's going to be longer than a weekend and I want to see the sights and what Portland has to offer! Especially the coast. Not sure that I want to fly though, wish I could get over this fear. But having someone along makes it better. I just love driving cross country but not sure at this point. Will have V figure up the mileage, costs for gas, motel along the way, etc. to see what that comes to to compare. He loves doing stuff like that.

I am going to look up Portland online and see if I can get some brochures/info sent. Wooooo, I'm getting so excited!

I hope you added an extra 0 on your 2300??? Geez Cristi you can go around the world on that!! There are museums - we have OMSI (science) an Art one ......ask Katy on that , it is in downtown......I am not cultured like her...haha......We have a childrens musuem (course you don't want to go there)on the zoo on the MAX line.....and a trolly. all sorts of neat stuff....anyway, at work better get.

Angie - what do you think about all this? When you feel up to it, let us know, ok?

Wow, using Expedia, a lot of the downtwon hotels won't let a person check in on a Thursday, which I'll need to do. I found one that looks pretty good... here's the link:

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpo...town_97512_POR

Using the direct links, other hotels will obviously let you check in on a Thursday, but the cost is more.

Who will need a room besides Cristi, Angie and me?

SUSAN...you silly woman. No, I didn't add an extra zero. It seems high but I don't think it really is. I'm not finsihed comparing driving versus flying and not sure I would stay in that hotel (The Paramount) but it was nice. Ya gotta think though, this is airline tickets to and fro for two people, the hotel, for one week and the rental car for a week. and I just realized that if I booked that deal with Expediadotcom they give a $300 discount, so $1836 isn't so bad. Not set on that yet though but I am thinking yes. It would save me from driving even though...I wanted to make a pit stop in AZ to see my friend. Anyway, we will see. I'll let ya know when I decide on that. No I really wouldn't want to go to the children's museum, but the zoo...ummm...did someone say ZOO! I love the ZOO! And I've never been to the Portland Zoo so that is definitely on my list of places to go! Anyway...

Yeah where does everyone want to meet? Anyone have a plan? Jane what day do you plan on being there? Maybe, everyone should make a list of what they want to do so that I don't do it before the others get there. JANE, KATY, SUSAN, ANGIE (are ya with us?) what do you ladies have in mind? I am up for anything since I will be there on the 21st thru the 26th and will do some things such as the museum, the zoo, a drive to the coast (there's some cool things I want to see), not sure what else. So if anyone is just coming in for the weekend and plans on doing one of those I can wait until you come. I'll keep checking back.

Oops! I put in the wrong dates...would be staying there from June 19th thru the 26th. I was looking at a different paper where I did the 21st thru the 26th thinking we may go to the coast first and spend the night there. Anyway...Jane...the hotel you have the link to looks nice. I went and redid everything for that hotel and for a river view. That changed the total a little but still not bad for two people. If that's where everyone wants to stay that is fine by me, it's nice enough.

ok, I missed the car and hotel included. I thought it was just the flight price Cristi!!! lol I was comparing to Hawaii and it was 1200 something round trip for Gaby and me. So, yours seemed waaaaay high. geepers.
Still high.
Multnomah Falls
Zoo
OMSI
Rose Garden
Mt St Helens
Mt Hood
Coast
Downtown
Mt Angel is a cool place

what are your ideas Katy?? Did Marti say she could make it up to Portland? How bout Ang?

what about elephant ears...that place where I can ummmm visit and stock up?...lol

I've got a few minutes this morning, and wanted to pop in here....

Cristi - If I for sure go, I'll be there on Thursday, and leave Sunday AM. I'd love to see a museum. Not too crazy about the zoo, but will go along with the group. I'm always up for shopping. When the mods met, although everything we did was fun, we had our most fun just sitting in a group and talking when the day was over.

Angie - I'll eat an elephant ear in Disney in your honor.

Marti - you'll be staying at the hotel, too, right? I'd hate to see you have to drive back and forth for 2 or 3 days! If I get all the way to Oregon, I sure want to spend some time with you, chicka. If James has to work, surely you could get a friend or neighbor (or Grandpa) to feed the dogs, couldn't you? What kinds of things did you have in mind for us to do? We out-of-staters need help, lol.

Susan - I'll be spending about around $1000. just for my plane ticket and hotel room. You'd have spent at least that for plane tickets and 3 nights in a hotel for you and Gaby in Vegas. Who knows what we would have spent gambling. What will the convention center have going on while we're there?

Katy - do you have ideas for different hotels that are nice?

Who else mentioned going? One of the newer Jaded Ladies did. Please pop in and give us your thoughts.

I've got a million things to do... see you Sunday.

I had to post one more time to turn my counter over to 3000. Gee, that's a lot of yakking.

When I drove by the cluster area of where I thought would be a good idea to have a room (wow proper english or what?) there was a Red Lion, Holiday Inn, something called La Qunita (ole!) and.....some others - dang I forget - another Inn though. .....
We do have a wonderful zoo Jane - famous for the elephants, beautiful grounds and a lot of walking.
There might be some Rose Festival things going on later in the month of June (race car driving??? lol ) . If you wanted to up the date you could come and see the Rose Parade and we can stock Ang up with Elephant Ears. hehe
better get!

http://www.rosefestival.org/events/grandfloralparade/
ok, there is a link to the Rose Festival. The parade is the 10th and events are mainly from the 1 to the 16th.
Just a thought if you are interested.

JANE...are you not sure about going now? Is it the dates, or do you just not want to go? Or not sure you can now? Well, I hope you do still go. I don't think I have ever met or known anyone who doesn't like/or not crazy about the Zoo! AH, I'm offended! JK I absolutely love Zoo's and try to go to them in every city I visit!

MARTI...ditto what Jane said about the doggies. Hopefully, you can spend one night there. How far are you from Portland anyway? Can't remember and am too lazy to look it up!

ANGIE...are you with us? I hope so. I truly want to meet all you ladies! And your hubby if he is going, the same with everyone else. And elephant ears...I'm with ya there girly, girl!

SUSAN...what is it you want to do? Do you like the Zoo? The Rose parade sounds so nice. Took a gander at the gardens there online and they are awesome! Already been to Mt. St. Helens but it would be interesting to see again and see it today as opposed to 1991. It sure is BEAUTIFUL up there!

KATY...you can give us the grand tour of the Art Museum!

I haven't made any reservations as of yet, but will for sure probably the first of April. I am scheduled to go. So unless someone gets deathly ill or Josh just happens to be coming home at that time, that's about the only thing that would keep me away. I don't think Josh will be coming home at that time. It could be May though. I was thinking they would let them come home before going to CA in April because I think they are shipping out right after that training, straight from CA. But, hey, what do I know? Of course he doesn't even know until they tell him for sure. And they keep changing things. Anyway, again, I am open to anything. So post your ideas and thoughts away ladies!

Hello ladies!

I'm 2hrs from Portland. And I need the same information as you all do since I know nothing about Portland except where the zoo is and the expo. And that's with James driving!!

As for staying over.....don't even know yet. I would make sure I was up and heading up there early Saturday though. (Since Fridays I work!)

I'll work something out.....don't worry though I'll be there.

MARTI...good to know you will be going!

Any ideas where to meet/what to do ladies?

I sent off for a visitors brochure/book...should be getting it soon.

I have VBS in the a.m.s that week, but could meet up with you at the zoo some afternoon during the week.

On Saturday, we could all meet up at one of the hotels downtown where anyone is staying, then plan the day from there. From downtown we could check out the Saturday Market and/or the Chinese Garden. Also from downtown, we could walk or take the trolley uptown to the Art Museum. The Oregon Historical Society is right across the way from the museum and that could be fun, especially for out-of towners. Since there are so many book lovers, we should think about a trip to Powell's ( www.powells.com) it's an amazing bookstore. This is alot to do in a day, but it gives us some ideas. I'll have the whole day Saturday to play. I might have some afternoons the week before, but may need to do something where I can bring my children. Sunday, we will be seeing Hairspray ( gift from MIL for anniversary) so I'm not available much on that day.

As far as hotels, I'm not much help. DH and I stayed a night at the Heathman once just for fun, and we liked it, but there are so many other choices - I just don't have much in the way of recommendations I 'm afraid.