We didn’t plan this. I want to make that clear.
Nobody sits down and says, “You know what would be fun? Let’s build our entire vacation calendar around competition schedules.” And yet, here we are. Somehow, over the years, sports trips became our trips. And honestly? I’ve made my peace with it.
We just got back from Oregon for Q’s gymnastics regionals, and we’re already packing for St. Louis for soccer. This is our life now. For years it was Kansas City for soccer — we could do that drive in our sleep, and we basically have. Then St. Louis entered the chat, and now we’re heading there again for the first time this year. Last year I lost count of how many times we made that drive. But Oregon? Oregon was a new one.
Q qualified for gymnastics regionals, which meant the Iowa team was heading to Portland. And if you know me, you know I immediately went into deal-hunting mode. Flights out of Des Moines? No less than $700 a person. I actually felt that in my chest. So I did what any frugal traveler would do: I drove to Kansas City and flew from there instead. Alaska Airlines, direct flight, $230 a person. Done. I booked economy and kept an eye on the seats, upgraded us when the price dropped to something reasonable. You have to watch. It pays off.
Oregon wasn’t even on our radar as a destination, if I’m being honest. We didn’t know if Q would qualify, so we hadn’t given it much thought. We’d actually talked about driving through Portland a couple years back when we went to Seattle, but time didn’t allow it. So this felt like the universe giving us a second chance.
We stayed in Portland and made the most of every minute we weren’t sitting in a gym. The Portland Japanese Garden was the highlight of the whole trip — no contest. Beautiful, serene, and the bento boxes were an A+. If you go, eat there. Just do it.
We also checked out Macleay Park, part of Forest Park. I’ll be upfront — this is something we research carefully now because of Matt’s disability. He uses a walker for longer distances and uneven terrain, so accessibility matters. Macleay Park was a stretch. He made it, but I would not recommend it for anyone using a wheelchair. The trail is rough. It was gorgeous, but it was a lot. I think that’s part of why the Japanese Garden hit so differently right after — smooth paths, peaceful energy, and nobody had to white-knuckle it through tree roots.
We also did the tram with some of Q’s teammates, which was such a good call. Do it on the weekend — no commuter traffic, just a smooth ride with incredible views. It ends up at the hospital at the top, and the scenery from up there is something else. And then we just… sat. Honestly, with a 5pm competition time, we had to be smart about the day. You can’t go burning energy running around the city all morning and expect a kid to compete well that evening. So after the tram we found a spot, slowed down, and just relaxed. As someone who is always trying to squeeze every last thing into a trip, it was a little painful. But it was the right call. You’re at the mercy of the schedule — might as well lean into it.
For dinner, we found AJISAI Sushi & Steak in Beaverton and wow. The vibe, the presentation, the fresh seafood — all of it. Highly recommend.
Now, the not-so-fun part of sports travel — you are completely at the mercy of the competition schedule. Q competed at 5pm on a Saturday. Five. PM. The meet ran six hours. By the end we were all running on snacks and adrenaline and whatever was left of our will to live. It wasn’t his best meet. But here’s the thing — he earned his spot on the Iowa team. He qualified. He showed up and he did it, and we are so proud of him we could burst.
That’s the thing about these trips. They don’t always look like a vacation from the outside. The hours are long, the schedules are out of your hands, and yes — sometimes the flights sting. But you find the deals where you can, you explore whatever city you land in, and you watch your kid do something really hard and really cool. Turns out that’s a pretty great way to see the world.
