Events and Outings

6 ways to live a hobbit life in the PNW

Erin Crouch

Winter in Portland has come, and you feel destined for life as a hobbit: enjoying second breakfasts, sporting hairy toes and craving coziness. Embrace your best hobbit life in the Pacific Northwest with these suggestions, and don’t end up underground like Gollum.

 

Matt Chan "Hobbit Hole" used under a Creative Commons license
Matt Chan “Hobbit Hole” used under a Creative Commons license

1. Take a weekend trip and stay in a real-life hobbit hole in Orondo, WA. Called the Tiny House in the Shire, this “hobbit inspired dwelling is nestled right into the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge mountainside. Reverently framed by the iconic round doorway, the wondrous views will entrance your imagination and inspire an unforgettable journey. Every nook of this little habitation will warm your soul, every cranny will charm your expedition of repose.”

 

~Mers "Hobbit Trail or Lighthouse" used under a Creative Commons license
~Mers “Hobbit Trail or Lighthouse” used under a Creative Commons license

2. If you start to crave adventure, don’t miss the Hobbit Hike off the Oregon Coast near Florence, where thick bushes form a charming hobbit trail, ending in a secluded shoreline called Hobbit Beach. It’s an easy 0.5 mile hike and be sure to look out for “unusual rock and stick piles occasionally left on the beach by supposed mystical creatures.”

3. Visit the Enchanted Forest in Turner, Oregon, a small, classic amusement park that includes attractions like Storybook Lane and an Old Europe Village. Although it’s not specifically hobbit-themed, the Enchanted Forest will nonetheless let you search for Mondor the wizard, who will send you on a quest to fight the Creatures of the Dark and free the happy little Drumlins.

 

Use with permission from Jane Hart and David Meyer, hobbit mound design by Jaylene Walter.
Use with permission from Jane Hart and David Meyer, hobbit mound design by Jaylene Walter.

4. Install one of local artists Jane Hart and David Meyer’s hobbit gate art fences in your yard. Featured in the 2014 Portland Yard, Garden and Patio Show, these little gates are the perfect bridge between “the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men.”

5. If you are really committed, consider moving to Lake Oswego, where a subdivision called Tolkien Heights has streets called Hobbit Court, Tolkien Lane, Riven Dell Road and Gimley Court.

 

~Mers "The Hobbit Hole" used under a Creative Commons license
~Mers “The Hobbit Hole” used under a Creative Commons license

6. And finally, join the Tolkien Society for their celebration of Tolkien’s 125th birthday at McMenamins’ Kennedy School for an all-day celebration. This beloved annual event is sure to bring the fellowship and many other creatures out of the woodwork. Starting at 11am, follow Frodo through the epic series of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in the Theater. At 3pm and 5pm, join Willamette Radio Workshop for a live radio performance of the “Hobbit’s Greatest Hits,” and from 7-10 pm, enjoy the Garcia Birthday Band in the Gym.

Kennedy School
5736 NE 33rd
Portland, OR 97211
Date: Sat Jan 14
Time: 11am til late
Admission: Free, but please bring a canned food donation for the Oregon Food Bank