Lyle Lovett on the Lawn - at Portland Zoo

We went to the Lyle Lovett concert at the Portland Zoo this summer. Very fun! Portland has a lot of great outdoor concert venues. We hope to explore more next summer. The Lyle Lovett concert was great! Beautiful evening with fabulous music and happy people. Our advise: arrive early to wait in line and then nab a spot on the grass as soon as possible - it filled up and overflowed quickly. We brought a quilt to spread out and sit on, low chairs, bottled water, and some simple picnic food. We purchased wine and beer at the zoo venue. Our group took turns getting up to walk around while the others stayed to preserve our space. Perfect!

City Parks Done Right!

The Pearl District waited a long time for this one...but in the end, I think it's worth it!

A little oasis of cool green on the north end of the Pearl District!

The Fields Park in Portland has an unusual layout and landscaping. But I find it refreshing. It will be interesting to see these trees and shrubs in a couple years.

You may have a dog on leash anywhere in the park, but they also planned an off-leash area in the northeast corner of the park. So smart! Dogs need places to run off-leash in the city!

My favorite part of the Fields Park is the Small Dog off-lease area, separated from the rest of the off-leash area by a gate! Both areas also include water fountains and dog dishes for public use. Thank you, Portland, for thinking of our furry friends!

We will be visiting The Fields Park daily when we bring our little Italian Greyhound, Rocco, to Portland with us!

Portland Rose Gardens

I missed the Portland Rose Festival Parade this year, but I didn't miss the roses!

One of my favorite places to go on a nice day is the Portland Rose Gardens up in Washington Park. 

If you're visiting Portland this summer, take a trip up to Washington Park in the west hills overlooking Portland and stroll through the Rose Gardens. It's free to enter, you're surrounded by beautiful gardens and flowers (the varieties are all labeled), and it's a pleasant place to stroll and enjoy.

I took my mom up here this last fall and the roses were still in full bloom. Beautiful!

The views from the Rose Gardens are fantastic. You can see downtown, the Willamette River, and on a clear day all the way to Mount Hood.