Private tour in Portland Marcus B
5.0
(3) reviews
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Marcus B.
5.0
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28
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I am a natural explorer, born in Oregon and raised in Portland. I left for 15 years, ending in a PhD in forestry. Trying to escape the politics of academia, I returned to Oregon and fell into the wine industry for two years, before becoming a tour guide in 2016 to spend more time outdoors. I've traveled to most States and Provinces, as well as France, Spain, Japan, and the UK. When I'm not guiding, I spend my time parenting, climbing, hiking, biking, and learning. Combining my education of the region and nature, I provide tours that intrigue and excite one's inner explorer. My tours tend to be off-the-beaten-path, often including wine tasting, with a solid foundation of enology, natural history, cultural history, geography, and engineering/architecture, with a little humor thrown in now and then, so things don't get too serious. Although my tours can be purely focused on sightseeing, my aim is to make them more intimate, with some physical activity, such as hiking, and something to stimulate the palate, whether it is wine, some other beverage, food, or some combination. Unless specifically requested, the tasting rooms I visit are always boutique. The city and surrounding areas are a Mecca for food, beer, wine, bridges, gardens, and outdoor recreation. The area within a 3-hour drive of Portland is extremely diverse, and you could never do it all in one tour. However, my tours are customized, so I will do my best to accommodate your interests and passions. I hope that when you leave, you will want to return for more. First time visitors are usually surprised by the quantity and diversity of leisure activities in the Portland region, and as a local, I'm still discovering new hiking areas to explore and new eating & drinking venues to taste. If you don't see what you're looking for on my menu, message me. Warm regards, Marcus Portland grown. Full-time tour guide since 2016. PhD in Forestry; MS, BS in Natural Resource Management. Work experience in wine industry, ecology/biology, archaeology, econometrics. Fully insured and permitted by the City of Portland as a private-for-hire-driver. Two years of experience at a winery; 12 years of cumulative experience research & teaching in biological, earth, and social sciences. I've participated in research in Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, California, North Dakota, and Provence, France. No restrictions.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Marcus B.
Mt. Hood is the highest summit in Oregon and the fourth-highest in the Cascades! It features waterfalls, glaciers, and historic Timberline Lodge, built by local artisans during the Great Depression, and featuring the longest ski season in the US. To the north of Mt. Hood is the Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge American Viticultural Area (AVA), the lovechild of the Columbia Valley and Willamette Valley AVAs. It is the most climatically diverse AVA, thus you will have the opportunity to taste varieties of wine that are common to Burgundy, Alsace, the Rhine Valley, Bordeaux, the Rhone Valley, and Italy. You will get intimate with this area through a visit to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, wine tasting, and a stop at Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in Oregon. I have a formal background in ecology, natural resources, and wine, and will teach you about the natural history, cultural history, and wine background of the area, as you drive the Mt. Hood and Historic Columbia River Highway Scenic Byways!
On this tour, we will go to: -Joe's Donuts (best donuts in Portland, except they're not in Portland!) - (20 minutes) -Timberline Lodge (assuming road is open) - (1 hour) -A tasting room that serves lunch - (1-1. 5 hours) -A second tasting room - (1-1. 5 hours) -Multnomah Falls (30 minutes) *IF MULTNOMAH FALLS IS CLOSED, SUBSTITUTE STOPS WILL BE MADE* -Time permitting, bonus stops may occur. This tour can be customized by adding and/or removing stops, including tasting room stops. Please contact me!
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Air-conditioned van with PA system.
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: 5007 SE 30th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
3 reviews
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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