Tag: Adventure

Food, Views, and Adventures: Favorite PNW Finds

Posted on by Julia Robertson

One of my favorite things

about living in the Pacific Northwest is how there’s always something new to discover—even in places I’ve known for years. Whether you’re local or just visiting, here’s a list of some of my current favorite spots—some old loves, some new gems, and a little something for every mood: food, drink, adventure, and views.

Dinner at Cascada’s Terra Mae restaurant

1. Cascada – NE Portland
This new holistic spa and luxury micro-hotel is an absolute vibe. Think warm wood, thoughtful design, and a sense of calm that hits you the second you walk in. Come for the infrared sauna and curated treatments, stay for the ambiance and leave feeling completely reset.

2. Little Conejo – Downtown Vancouver, WA
Hands down, my favorite taco spot north of the river. Start with the pescado taco—crispy, perfectly seasoned, and topped just right. The carnitas are another must (especially with their house-made tortillas), and their variety of tequilas and mezcals make it easy to linger a little longer.

3. Mt. Tabor – SE Portland
An easy hike with a big payoff. Great for solo morning walks or bringing along little ones. Pro tip: find the bench that sits above Hawthorne Blvd and pause for a quiet moment with a view of the city—it’s magic.

4. Junbi Matcha – SE Portland
Grab a refreshing matcha iced tea (or latte if you’re in the mood for creamy) and head straight to Sellwood Park for a stroll or picnic. A sweet little treat in more ways than one.

5. Korean BBQ at Washington Square Mall – SW Portland
Yes, the wait is often long. But here’s the move—put your name on the list and go shop while you wait. By the time you’re ready to eat, you’ll have worked up the perfect appetite for sizzling meats and all the fixings.

6. G-Love – NW Portland
This spot nails it with elevated small plates, killer cocktails, and truly next-level customer service. It’s the kind of place where they remember your name and your favorite drink. Big yes to the crispy cauliflower and anything from the bar.

7. Loop de Loop Winery – White Salmon, WA
An absolute hidden gem tucked into the Columbia Gorge. The wine is phenomenal, the vibe is relaxed, and the views? Pure magic. It’s my go-to for a peaceful weekend drive and a little tasting adventure.

8. Husubis – Vancouver, WA
Open Friday to Monday and always until they sell out (which happens fast!). Show up early, bring your patience, and prepare to be wowed. This little spot is making big waves with flavor-packed bites that are 100% worth the wait.

9. DOSALAS – Vancouver, WA
Head straight to the upstairs patio and order a Coco Chanel cocktail and the bone-in tomahawk ribeye. You’ll be living your best life with views over the Columbia River and flavors that hit in all the right ways.

10. Cape Horn Trail – Columbia River Gorge, WA
If you love a challenging hike with epic views, this is it. Sweeping panoramas from the cliffs above the river, wildflowers in the spring, and enough switchbacks to get your heart rate up—Cape Horn is one of my all-time favorite hikes in the PNW.

View above Cape Horn, hiking above Columbia River Gorge

Whether you’re craving a new place to eat, looking for a relaxing weekend escape, or itching to get out and explore the Gorge, I hope this list gives you something to look forward to. Got a favorite local spot I should check out next? Drop me a message—I’m always down for an adventure!

If you’re looking to explore both sides of the river to buy, sell, invest, or rent– I can help. You’ll find me at our downtown Vancouver office or any of our Portland locations. Stay in touch with me on my instagram @realestatebyjulia, where I’ll be sharing all things real estate, food & fun, and hosting upcoming classes and events.

Cheers,

Julia Robertson, Realtor | Oregon, Washington, & Utah

Living Room Realty

541-505-1111 | @realestatebyjulia

JUST LISTED: Adorable Milwaukie Bungalow

Posted on by Andy Meeks

Neighbors remark that it’s the most charming house on the street, and we agree! It could be the pleasing proportions or the lovely stained glass accent windows at the front door. But that’s just the start of what makes this Lake Road neighborhood home so attractive.

This adorable bungalow is the perfect homebase for all of your adventures.

It lives large with generous and comfortable spaces throughout all three floors. You enter the front room that holds plenty of space for formal and informal settings, all with newer windows that look out onto the quiet street. The formal dining room is set off the kitchen — with a pass-through window — which makes entertaining relaxed and easy. The second bedroom located on the first floor easily doubles as an office and has views to the gorgeous backyard. Upstairs is the comfy main bedroom featuring a full walk-in closet room with south-facing windows that flood with light all day long. Storage is abundant throughout all three floors, with plenty of workshop and flex options in the full basement & the 18’x24’ detached garage.

The spacious, sun-filled backyard is primed for entertaining with gorgeous new patio and deck, custom raised garden beds & a new driveway gate. And most important for adventure-seeking: the house is ideally-located with easy access to everything. It’s just about 1 mile to historic downtown Milwaukie and the Milwaukie Farmer’s Market, Milwaukie Bay Park, the Willamette River and MAX Orange Line stops. And this big bonus: a new (!) New Seasons opening ~1/4 mile away this fall.

Truly, everything you need is here. Don’t miss this one!

 

 

Dynamic Duo And A Match Made In Heaven.

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Kevin and Ashley are a dynamic duo with a love of nature and travel.  So they decided to make the Pacific North West home and wanted to grow deeper roots.  When we set out to hunt for the right home, Kevin and Ashley knew they both wanted a craftsman with good bones in a close in location within Portland.

Many listings came up that were interested in but they liked flew off the market before they felt right about making an offer. One listing came up on that they made an aggressive offer on without being reckless, and we ended up in backup due to the first position being 20% over the list price.
Shortly there after, a listing in Grant Park just dropped its price significantly. They had no deadline but buyers were circling so we moved quickly and to protect them from over bidding we used an escalation clause as the listing agent and seller were excepting those. We secured getting into contract at a price that they felt comfortable.
We quickly had their inspections and negotiated sizable credit for repairs needed. They also received an appraisal waiver which validated the price that they submitted this was a huge win because it allowed them to close earlier so that they can get start it on their move sooner and out of their month to month rental.
This home has given them the opportunity to give them a base in Portland so that they can continue while traveling and experiencing nature.

Something that stood out to us in working with them was how in tuned they both were to each other and how well they were able to communicate as a couple.  We couldn’t be more excited for Kev and Ash on accomplishing their goal against the odds in this market. Congratulations to you both on succeeding in this huge accomplishment in home ownership!

Cheers to you both!

Just Sold! A New Springtime Start

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Gabrielle and Bobby are recent newlyweds (congrats!) and just closed on their first home together. They met when Gabrielle was visiting a friend for a weekend (she’s from the Chicago area) and it was love at first sight. Fast forward, and these two are now the proud new owners of this beautiful ranch-style home. They love the abundance of natural light throughout, the kitchen, and especially the backyard which is private and spacious. This will be a perfect house to raise a family in, as Gabrielle and Bobby plan to do. Along with their cute 2 year-old pup, they’re so excited to start their life here. Congratulations to you both, and here’s to a bright future in your lovely new place.

Just Sold! Radiant Rose City Retreat

Posted on by Living Room Realty

Own It Portland’s very own Operations Manager, Heidi Effmann, and her family just sold their longtime home in NE Portland. It’s a beautiful 1925 bungalow in the Rose City Park neighborhood. After ten years, four remodels, four kids, two dogs, one cat, six chickens and lots of life on NE 55th, Heidi and her family are on the lookout for a new Portland home that will better suit longer visits with extended family and growing kids, more chickens and maybe even a pool…? One can dream. Congrats to Heidi and family!

 

 

 

 

Just Sold! Timeless Tree-Lined Estate

Posted on by Living Room Realty

My client just sold this sumptuous North Plains estate!  It sits on 40 verdant acres of pristine, woodland space. Endless amenities here including a gated, tree-lined entryway that leads to a paved double-wide driveway and 3-car garage. Inside, the home boasts 5,532 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. You’ll find open, coffered ceilings with thoughtful detailing throughout. A large kitchen with double-doored pantry leads to a formal dining area. Enjoy breathtaking views from the large back deck, perfect for outdoor entertainment. A 96X120 equestrian facility with oversized stalls and a large shop are on site. Ample riding trails on bordering BLM land are sure to pique the interest of your inner adventurer. Just minutes from Hillsboro/Portland and Intel. Congratulations to my client on this big sale, and thank you to Tran Rogers at RE/MAX for bringing the buyer! What a fantastic home.

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House Hunting Adventures Gone Right

Posted on by Robin Hakeman

What happens when you aren’t from Portland? You look at homes in your price range wherever they may be! Think NE Portland, SE Portland, SW Portland, Milwaukee, Oregon City, Sherwood, Tigard, Woodburn, Canby, Gervais and Newberg. It was a whirlwind of house hunting with these two but it was nothing short of adventurous. We saw gigantic spiders, ceilings that were too short for us, tires that were taller than us, a LOT of wall paper, a little mary jane and had our first experience with an Opendoor home.

Patrick and Sarah decided on a cute Newberg ranch in a nice neighborhood, close to the aquatic center. With a little love this will be a darling home for them. They plan to put in new floors and carpet, paint the interior and remodel bathrooms before moving in. These two have big plans for their life: grad school, getting married, and owning a lot of real estate are just a few of them. They are smart and fun, easy going and kind.

It’s clients like Patrick and Sarah that remind me why I love being a REALTOR®®. I will adventure with you guys anytime!!!