Yesterday, this Californian visited California, Missouri. Today, this native Portlander (Or) visited Portland, Missouri! It's a very small, sleepy, old town that used to be on the railroad, and is now a trailhead for the Katy Trail. Like Portland, Or it's on a major river, in this case the Missouri, on the right. This is a typical trailhead, with plenty of free parking, interpretive signs describing the trail and the history of the region, and restrooms. From here you can set out for miles in each direction...almost to Kansas City or St. Louis.

I like Missouri. This is my fourth visit here, and the woodsy, rolling landscape, the sense of history, and the leisurely pace of life are really quite pleasant. You can hang out here for a long time, visiting wineries, exploring the old towns, hiking, biking, or just relaxing. Though there are no large mountains or ocean beaches, there are plenty of lakes and rivers, and if you want to pick up the pace a bit, Kansas City and St. Louis fill the bill.