Starting at the Gordon Faber Recreational Complex, basically where the Hillsboro Hops play ball at…read moreRon Tonkin Stadium, and heading towards Helvetia Market, the countryside, and Helvetia Tavern is this little event called the Helvetia Half Marathon. This event has been running for 25 years now, and is typically held at the end of May. If you're not ready to run a half marathon (like myself) then they also offer a 5K and 10K course. Cost is between $54 to $135, depending on when you register. Packet Pick-up: ~ At the Portland Running Company in Beaverton. Race Day: ~ 8am Start ~ On Century Blvd just outside of the stadium. I only ran the 10K and only saw data centers and farmland lol. But my friend that ran the half said that it became a bit hilly after the 10K mark. Finishline: ~ It ends back onto the playing field of the stadium, and along the outfield. A medal awarded at the end. Food/Beer/Live Music: ~ Burgers were provided by Helvetia Tavern and three types of beers from Rogue Brewery. Live music provided by Party of 4! Those guys were awesome! Overall, it was a good run in my opinion. Not overkill with hills but also not as scenic as I thought. Would I run it again? Yeah why not!

An excellent way to end the summer is with a running event, or with the cool September weather…read moredeveloping, why not continue running until winter? 2024 marked the 6th Annual Beaverton Half Marathon (BHM), prepared and presented by Runwithpaula Events, Inc. In the past, I've ran many 5K, 10K, 10-mile, and half marathon events. On Yelp, I even created a Collections of events listed. When I started having health and heart issues, I stopped running. I got the heart fixed, but then weight gain started, and depression set in. Why? Why did I stop running? Why would I do such a thing? I used every bad excuses of my weak heart condition, my dad just died, too busy and too much work, or my age. These "excuses" did absolutely nothing but sabotage my brain. So I made the decision to just STOP! WAKE UP! Get off my behind AND RUN! Which brings me to this event... (: so, enough about me hehe :) The BHM consists of the following: ~ Cost: Depending on how early you sign up, the price can start at $49 for the 5K, and $99 for joining the half marathon, last minute. Buying on Race Day adds another $20. ~ Packet Pick-up: at the Portland Running Company in Beaverton. ~ Starting Line / Finish Line: On the corner of SW Nimbus Ave & SW Gemini Dr. ~ The Course: The first 1.5 miles is shared by all runners and heads towards Fanno Creek Trail. The 10K and Half runners turn around at the same point, only the Half runners repeat the 6.2 mile loop. More details and couse maps on their website. My First Take: This event was smaller than expected, but that's a good thing! Friday, Packet Pick-up Day was quick and easy. The volunteers that helped out were in good spirits! I had my 5K shirt, my glass, and bib. The Portland Running Company even offered discounts on things as well. Come race day Saturday, the parking situation wasn't as bad as I thought. The surrounding business provided more than enough spaces in the entire area. So no issues with finding parking. At the starting line, it was hard to judge how many total runners and walkers attended, but I'd guess maybe about 1,000 to 1,500. Don't quote me on that. Again, I've been to larger running events in the past, so for me to get back into running, this was the perfect amount of elbow room. The 5K course was totally doable for anyone. Pretty flat with no steep inclines or anything. I ran/walked most of it to get that feeling back. In the end, I crossed the finish line, collected the medal, and recuperated at the Post-Party. With beer and a band playing in the background. My end goal was that, I wanted that "runner's high" feeling again! It didn't really happen, but I want it to fully come back. And I know it will eventually. In closing, I hope this helps out with those that are interested in running, or trying to get back into the swing of things (health-wise). And hopefully another yelper shares their thoughts about the 10K or Half courses as well. I would like to know, as I hope to run it some day.

Fantastic place to bring kids up to 5 years old on a rainy day in McMinnville…read more We're visiting from out of town and we aren't used to all this rainy Oregon weather. So we tried to go to the other indoor playground, but they were closed. We were loitering in the parking lot and I asked a mom if there was any other place we could go. She suggested the Community Center and she took off super quick; I think she suspicioned that I was hitting on her. Anyway, we came here to find a friendly statue of Abraham Lincoln on a welcoming bench. Then we went inside to find friendly customer service at the front desk. It seems they have a lot of other facilities in the building, but we were there just for the toddlers playroom. It's for kids up to 5 years old. They welcomed us for our one-year-old and also let in our 6-year-old as long as she respected the other kids and the toys. It's a small fee for all-day use, with come-and-go privileges. They have a bunch of different kinds of toys that are best suited for kids 5 years or less. They have cooking sets, baby sets, toy cars and ride-in cars, balls, play mats, a couple small play structures, and small book shelf. There is a diaper changing table with wipes, bags for dirty diapers, and trash cans. One room has a tiled floor where people can eat snacks. The other, connected room is carpeted with no food allowed. Extra wipes are there for parents to clean toys after use. It seemed like the other clientele were regulars. They were nice enough and outgoing at times. I highly recommend this place on rainy days for locals and visitors alike. I'm sure there are bathrooms, but we didn't check them out. Limited off-street parking on all sides of the building, plus limited free parking on the street. If you choose to give a thumbs-up or not, I hope you found my review helpful!

This is a great place to connect with people be it through aerobic or fitness classes, Weight…read moreWatcher's or the Parks department.

Lovely neighborhood park with fully shaded paths for gentle walking. The paths are short so you…read moreneed to walk several times in criss cross circles to get any exercise. It was nice that there were not others in the park so we could walk without a mask. I'm sure weekend might be busier.

It's easy access enough and you are on the edge of homes and major roadways. Some trails are closed…read moredue to trees.that are dangerous, about to fall. Overall it is ok.

Amazing place to bird watch! We saw so many species around the multiple ponds, including a couple…read morewe rarely or have never seen and lots of goslings. Great trails crisscrossing the property, some paved some rock...some shaded some solid sun. Good amount of parking available.

Make a donation today! I would give this place 10 stars if I could. Restrooms, plenty of parking,…read moreand vast trail systems. The amount of birds that I have seen at this place are endless. Plenty of parking and bouts of walking in and out of shade areas. Part of the refuge is closed Sept - May.

The facility is wonderful and showing here is a joy. Three stars for keeping us waiting with…read moreplanning. I wish details and signups were available earlier. Also had hoped for schooling shows to be back, but I guess it was not meant to be.

A beautiful and well run venue. Close to Portland airport and yet miles away feeling.read more

This is a climbing festival put on once a year, in November, before Thanksgiving, by the Mazamas…read moreand assorted climbing sponsors. They usually have: a climbing competition, numerous clinics with world-class mountaineers/alpinists/rock climbers, a fun keynote event called "The Summit" where said world-class mountain athletes give a presentation and adult beverages abound. I have been to 2. In the interest of full disclosure: I helped plan the first one. I no longer have any involvement, however. Every year their quiver of mountain athletes gets more and more impressive! I'm eagerly awaiting the 2017 lineup now, and eyeing Alaska airline prices...

Cute little community park in Wilsonville. Playground for the kiddos and plenty of benches…read morethroughout. Plenty of grass to have a picnic or for the kids to run around. Some shading from trees but overall very sunny.

This is a nice little neighborhood park with grassy expanses, paved trails, picnic benches, and a…read morenice playset. There are some trees for shade but most of the park is unshaded - on a hot, sunny day it may not be ideal. I think one or two of the picnic tables might be partly-shaded in full sun, but the benches would not be. At least today, and my husband says the other couple times he's been, the lovely-looking grassy areas have been overwatered and a little squishy, even muddy in places, so sitting in the shade under a tree might not work well without a lawn chair. It's bounded on three sides by the back fences/hedges of the houses adjacent to it, the fourth is open to a very quiet residential road (SW Wimbledon Circle S). If you are coming on foot from the north, it may be a slightly shorter walk to take SW Wimbledon Circle N, where there is a little entrance path (paved, with signs at the entry to the park) through from the street between two houses. However, when they are watering near the fence, the paths in that area are in the spray path of the sprinklers.