Note: this page is a work in progress, keep checking back for more info
Since most of our guest are staying in Downtown Portland, this guide focuses on nearby neighborhoods and neglects roughly 80% of Portland.
Transportation: Getting around downtown and the Pearl and Lloyd Districts is pretty easy and free thanks to Portland’s Free Rail Zone. The Green and Yellow MAX lines and the Streetcar run north/south while the Red and Blue MAX lines run east/west. For those that want to venture a bit further, fare is $2.00 or $2.30 depending on how far you would like to travel. Many of Portland’s busses run along the Bus Mall on 5th and 6th Avenues. Go to TriMet’s Website or Google Maps to plan your trip.
Sites to See:
- Tom McCall Waterfront Park and the Eastbank Esplande – These two parks line both sides of the Willamette (pronounced Will-am-ette) River. Together with the Hawthorne and Steel Bridges, they form a lovely loop to walk, run or bike around.
- International Rose Test Garden – As Portland is the Rose City, it only seems appropriate that one visit the famous Rose Garden. The garden is outside of the Free Rail Zone, but well worth the trip.
- Lan Su Chinese Garden – While we’re on gardens, this one is in Old Town, just south of downtown
- Pioneer Courthouse Square – About half a block from the front door of the Nines, the square is nicknamed Portland’s Living Room. This is a great place to relax, enjoy the weather and maybe people watch a bit. Many times there are activities and performances happening during the day.
- Mount Tabor – hike up a volcano! It’s extinct, but still a volcano.
- Multnomah Falls – for those of you with a car, this is a classic Oregon spot less than an hour east of downtown.
Shopping: Remember, Oregon has no sales tax
- Pioneer Place – Downtown’s upscale mall. Lots of different shops.
- Nordstrom
- The Pearl District – formerly an empty warehouse district, this neighborhood has been completely overhauled in the past 15 years and is now a bustling shopping and residential district. The Streetcar is the best way to get around here.
- Powell’s City of Books – while part of the Pearl, Powell’s deserves its own mention. If you love books, you will LOVE Powell’s.
Restaurants:
- Food Carts – Portland’s food cart scene is arguably the most diverse in the country. You can get just about any type of food at all hours from one of these mobile operations.
- Andina – the 2005 restaurant of the year that happens to be run by some of Keith’s friends from high school.
- There are many more great restaurants in Portland. Check out online ratings and just go for it!
Beer: with more than 28 breweries, Portland is Beervana