Birthday exploring: Oregon City

We explored Oregon City for Mom's birthday this year.

She debated big city vs. small town and decided to check out the historic part of Oregon City. Though we've lived here all our lives, we'd never checked out this town so close to home.

We found free parking and then walked to the elevator - a first for all of us! Sidewalk markings pointed the way to sights around town.

We didn't have a real plan and just looked to see what was around. A hidden waterfall along the path:

We all had mixed feelings about this part of our history - the colonization of a place already inhabited by Native people!

Speaking of... Willamette Falls, Tumwata to the tribes who already lived here, has been returned to the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (read more). They are demolishing the old paper mill, and I'm so excited to see what they do with this important Native site.

Dinner was at Corner 14 Foodcarts - lots of options for everyone, and we each had a different dish from a different cart. It was a bit crowded, and we worked hard to keep away from other people and avoid sharing COVID germs. Unfortunately, I was preoccupied and didn't snap any pics.

Everything was really yummy. We'll go back for sure! 

We walked south and then north along the waterfront.

It was a gorgeous late November evening, and we walked across the Arch Bridge to catch the sunset:

Then Mom wanted ice cream from Lake Oswego Ice Creamery, which we ate outside despite the cold!

The birthday girl:

Then we warmed up with gifts back home. And the birthday hat:

Thankfully we were boostered and could have some birthday celebrating indoors after the sun went down :)