The Grotto
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The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, commonly referred to as the Grotto (NE 85th Ave. and NE Sandy Blvd., 503/254-7371, 9 a.m.–dusk daily, free), is a Catholic shrine whose hand-hewn cavern surrounded by lushly landscaped grounds can induce a profound sense of peace no matter what your spirituality is.
Within the ivy-covered fern-lined grotto is an impressive marble pietà. Outside the 30- by 50-foot enclosure, old-growth firs tower over the 110-foot cliff housing the shrine. Roses, camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, and a cliff-side view of the Columbia River also make this worth the 20-minute pilgrimage from downtown Portland.
The Grotto is especially impressive to visit in the Christmas holiday season, when thousands of lights adorn the trees.
by Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae from Moon Oregon, 8th Edition, © Elizabeth & Mark Morris and Avalon Travel
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