Aviation, Art, and Exploring the Pacific Northwest


Sometimes the best part of traveling isn't just reaching your destination, but discovering everything along the way.


Last week, my travels took me west to Portland, Oregon, for a few days that offered a little bit of everything I enjoy: aviation history, art, photography, and the opportunity to explore a city at my own pace.


One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Having spent much of my professional life in aviation, I never seem to tire of visiting aviation museums. Each one has its own personality, history, and collection of remarkable aircraft.


Evergreen is particularly special because it is home to the legendary Hughes H-4 Hercules, better known as the Spruce Goose. Seeing this enormous aircraft in person never gets old. Its sheer size is extraordinary, and it represents an incredible chapter in aviation engineering and ambition.

White private jet with registration N625TL taxiing on an airport runway at sunset, with a car and trees in the background.

Downtown Portland — A Change of Scenery


After spending time in the surrounding area, I decided to move downtown and make The Bidwell Marriott Portland my home base for exploring the city.


One of the things I enjoy about staying downtown is being able to leave the car behind, grab my camera, and simply walk. Portland turned out to be a wonderful city for doing exactly that.


There is something fascinating about experiencing a city on foot. You notice the architecture, the storefronts, the people, and the little details that would otherwise disappear through the window of a moving car.


With my camera in hand, I spent time wandering through downtown Portland, capturing scenes of everyday city life. From its historic buildings to its modern urban landscape, Portland has an interesting character that makes street photography particularly enjoyable.

Brick pathway lined with benches and vintage lampposts winds through a park of colorful autumn trees and fallen leaves.
Tree-lined park pathway covered in fallen leaves, with vibrant orange and green autumn foliage and black lampposts along the walkway.
Historic stone church with a tall Gothic bell tower and arched windows, framed by golden autumn trees against a blue sky above parked cars.
Autumn trees with orange and yellow leaves line a quiet city street with light rail tracks, vintage lampposts, and tall downtown buildings.
Large autumn tree with fallen leaves beside a park path, a black street lamp, and a colorful polka dot mural in the foreground.
Tree-lined city street in autumn with parked cars, crosswalks, pedestrians and brick buildings along both sides of the road.

An Afternoon at the Portland Art Museum


Another highlight was my visit to the Portland Art Museum (PAM).


I've always appreciated museums, whether they're dedicated to aviation, science, history, or art. They offer different ways of understanding human creativity and the world around us.


The Portland Art Museum was an opportunity to slow down and appreciate something entirely different from the engineering and technology that typically occupy my days.


Walking through the galleries, I enjoyed the variety of artistic expression and the opportunity to see the world through someone else's perspective. That's one of the things I appreciate most about art: it doesn't always need an explanation. Sometimes it's simply about what a particular piece makes you see, think, or feel.


Afterward, I continued exploring Portland on foot, taking photographs and enjoying the atmosphere of the city. Sometimes having no particular destination is the best way to discover a place.

Modern glass-fronted building with red planters, a black street lamp, and a colorful painted pavement under autumn tree leaves.
Carved and painted Indigenous canoe sculpture on a white platform in the Whitsell Family Gallery, with large windows and trees beyond.
Spacious art gallery with polished hardwood floors, angled skylight windows, white walls, colorful framed paintings and sculpture pedestals.
Glowing lotus-shaped lamp with golden petals and a woven textured base, softly illuminated against a dark room with windows.
Museum painting of a man and woman seated at a table with bread, fruit and glassware before a misty green forest of bare trees.
Abstract expressionist painting with turquoise and orange brushwork, dark figures and a yellow band, hung on a white gallery wall.

One Last Night — Back to Aviation


As my trip came to an end, I relocated to the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel for my final evening, making the early morning departure a little easier.


And, as luck would have it, my room offered something that any aviation enthusiast would appreciate: a view of the airport runway and aircraft operations.


It seemed like a fitting way to conclude the trip.


After several days spent exploring aviation history, appreciating art, and photographing the streets of Portland, I found myself back where so much of my professional and personal interests have always been — watching airplanes.


There's something about looking out over an airport, especially in the evening, that I've always enjoyed. Aircraft arriving and departing, each carrying people with their own destinations, plans, and stories. Even after all these years in aviation, that fascination has never faded.

A white Boeing 747 jumbo jet with green stripes sits atop a modern building beside rows of green vineyard vines under a clear blue sky.
Vintage blue and white jet airliner parked on a green lawn in front of a large glass-walled aviation museum building under a cloudy sky.
Massive wooden flying boat with large propellers displayed inside a bright museum hangar with tall windows and a viewing staircase.
Replica of the Spirit of St. Louis monoplane on display inside a museum hangar with steel roof trusses and other aircraft in the background.
Tail section and horizontal stabilizer of a large aircraft displayed inside a museum hangar with an American flag in the background.
Black SR-71 Blackbird supersonic spy plane on display in a spacious aviation museum hangar with orange safety cones and other aircraft.

Until Next Time, Portland


What I enjoyed most about this trip was the variety of experiences packed into just a few days. From standing beneath the enormous wings of the Spruce Goose in McMinnville to walking through art galleries and exploring downtown Portland with my camera, each stop offered something memorable.


Travel has always been about more than simply going somewhere. It's about taking the time to observe, learn, and appreciate the places we visit.


And sometimes, it's the simplest moments — walking an unfamiliar street, discovering a piece of art, or watching airplanes from a hotel window — that stay with us long after the trip is over.


Until next time, #Portland!

Two people stand at the entrance of The Bidwell, a modern building with a dark canopy, glass doors, and potted plants on the sidewalk.
Red Mini Cooper convertible with a black soft top driving on a city street, with a driver in a red cap and other cars behind.
Hotel entrance with revolving glass doors, stone pillars, wall lanterns, a potted plant and a glowing green canopy ceiling at night.
Modern restaurant lounge with round white tables, cushioned chairs, large windows, and a colorful mountain mural reading The Sweetwater.
Modern hotel lobby with dark hardwood floors, a sculptural wood ceiling light fixture, backlit vertical wood panels, and a rustic reception
Dimly lit wooden open-back bookshelf divider with cubby shelves holding books and decor, with a cozy lounge area glowing beyond.