Portland itinerary review
Mar 29th, 2012, 09:28 PM
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Portland itinerary review
Hi, guys.
I'm heading to Portland the last weekend of April, arriving at 10:30 am Friday and departing at 8:30 pm Sunday. I have a lot planned for such a short time, but am wondering if people can review my itinerary to help fill in some gaps or suggest alternatives.
Friday:
Arrive 10:30 am, take MAX to Courtyard Portland City Center
Lunch and quick shopping near Pioneer Place
Pioneer Square/Portlandia/Portland Building
Pop into Library and City Hall if open (are these worth it? open so late?)
Wine-tasting at Oregon Wines on Broadway
Portland Art Museum until done (closes at 8)
Dinner at Carafe
Long walk or short cab back to hotel
Saturday:
Walk to Lan Su Chinese Garden
Portland Saturday Market and early lunch
Walk South Waterfront area [is this kind of like Seattle's Belltown near water with condos?]
[is there a short waterish cruise I can take at this point?]
Shop some of Pearl District [where?] and Jameson Square
Powell’s books
Happy Hour at Jake’s and drink at gay bar Scandals
7:30 play at Artists Rep
Another drink at Scandals or another gay bar or just head home ...
Sunday:
International Rose Garden/Japanese Garden [how to get there]
Pittock Mansion
[casual lunch?]
[what to do with early afternoon time? Or maybe above on Sunday will take a lot of time?]
[early dinner]? Or just eat at PDX?
Catch MAX from hotel around 5:30 or 6 for 8:30 flight.
So a couple of questions: anything major I'm missing; is Scandals a good gay bar option; is there a way to take a water cruise like Seattle's ferry to Bainbridge (a highlight of that trip for me}; what about a building tower to get a great view like the Smith Tower in Seattle?
Thanks!
I'm heading to Portland the last weekend of April, arriving at 10:30 am Friday and departing at 8:30 pm Sunday. I have a lot planned for such a short time, but am wondering if people can review my itinerary to help fill in some gaps or suggest alternatives.
Friday:
Arrive 10:30 am, take MAX to Courtyard Portland City Center
Lunch and quick shopping near Pioneer Place
Pioneer Square/Portlandia/Portland Building
Pop into Library and City Hall if open (are these worth it? open so late?)
Wine-tasting at Oregon Wines on Broadway
Portland Art Museum until done (closes at 8)
Dinner at Carafe
Long walk or short cab back to hotel
Saturday:
Walk to Lan Su Chinese Garden
Portland Saturday Market and early lunch
Walk South Waterfront area [is this kind of like Seattle's Belltown near water with condos?]
[is there a short waterish cruise I can take at this point?]
Shop some of Pearl District [where?] and Jameson Square
Powell’s books
Happy Hour at Jake’s and drink at gay bar Scandals
7:30 play at Artists Rep
Another drink at Scandals or another gay bar or just head home ...
Sunday:
International Rose Garden/Japanese Garden [how to get there]
Pittock Mansion
[casual lunch?]
[what to do with early afternoon time? Or maybe above on Sunday will take a lot of time?]
[early dinner]? Or just eat at PDX?
Catch MAX from hotel around 5:30 or 6 for 8:30 flight.
So a couple of questions: anything major I'm missing; is Scandals a good gay bar option; is there a way to take a water cruise like Seattle's ferry to Bainbridge (a highlight of that trip for me}; what about a building tower to get a great view like the Smith Tower in Seattle?
Thanks!
Mar 29th, 2012, 10:11 PM
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I like the Epicurian Walking Tour of Portland- variety of local foods, brews, whatever is in season for the moment and some Portland history as well.
Not familiar with gay bars but I would think there are lots of bars in the Pearl district that would be fine.
Cruise- Spirit of Portland has a variety of cruises from the Waterfront area
I love to walk the waterfront- you can walk up one side of river, cross over a bridge, do the other side and cross back on the next bridge- easy to do- or rent a bike on the water front and do same route.
There are also jet boat rides up the Willamette but not sure if operating in
April.
You can take a bus from downtown Portland to Zoo/Rose Garden/Japanese Garden area
Tower to get a great city view is Portland City Grill- has to be a nice clear day of course- great happy hour but very packed with people.
Not sure of this- but have been to the Hilton Hotel- top floor- in the evening there used to be a great jazz bar- great views of the city at night- have not been there in awhile so may have changed since last time I was there.
Not familiar with gay bars but I would think there are lots of bars in the Pearl district that would be fine.
Cruise- Spirit of Portland has a variety of cruises from the Waterfront area
I love to walk the waterfront- you can walk up one side of river, cross over a bridge, do the other side and cross back on the next bridge- easy to do- or rent a bike on the water front and do same route.
There are also jet boat rides up the Willamette but not sure if operating in
April.
You can take a bus from downtown Portland to Zoo/Rose Garden/Japanese Garden area
Tower to get a great city view is Portland City Grill- has to be a nice clear day of course- great happy hour but very packed with people.
Not sure of this- but have been to the Hilton Hotel- top floor- in the evening there used to be a great jazz bar- great views of the city at night- have not been there in awhile so may have changed since last time I was there.
Mar 30th, 2012, 08:33 AM
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We always enjoy strolling the Nob Hill district, which isn't far from the Pearl District: http://www.nobhillbiz.com/
HTTY
HTTY
Mar 30th, 2012, 10:01 AM
#4
The Rose Garden is not that interesting in April. For something indoors try the zoo or the International Forestry Center near the Washington Park station. http://trimet.org/schedules/r100rtext.htm
The Washington Park station is deep underground with an elevator to a point near the zoo entrance.
Always expect rain in April and pack a good raincoat.
The Washington Park station is deep underground with an elevator to a point near the zoo entrance.
Always expect rain in April and pack a good raincoat.
Apr 5th, 2012, 09:51 AM
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I just learned about a fun thing to do in Portland - the Food Cart Tour- you know Portland is famous for its food carts - so here is a way to try a variety of them. There is a Groupon today for the tour- think I will get one.
Apr 5th, 2012, 12:10 PM
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We really enjoyed Papa Haydn. We didn't eat there, just had their desserts there which were really good. Wish we could have tried them all, they did have some interesting looking salads and other dishes. My point to this, is that you might want to go here and just get soup, salad, and dessert. Or just dessert-maybe for one of those meals.
Apr 8th, 2012, 11:25 AM
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Hi
My info is a bit old but we lived in the Pearl District before moving here to BA and I don't think things have changed too much in that time.
Take the street car into the Pearl and get off at Couch ( pronounced Kooch) and see Powells Books. from there walk towards Jamison Square. If you walk on 12th , you can stop for lunch at Bluehour http://www.explorethepearl.com/pearl...rink/Blue-hour , eat outside if you can .. and shop anywhere you wish, that is the best of shopping and or window shopping.. Near Jamison Sq is an Italian place that is good, eat outside there too if you can.. Piazza Italia on NW Johnson.
Go to the Pearl Bakery too. Enjoy... I miss Portland :- )
My info is a bit old but we lived in the Pearl District before moving here to BA and I don't think things have changed too much in that time.
Take the street car into the Pearl and get off at Couch ( pronounced Kooch) and see Powells Books. from there walk towards Jamison Square. If you walk on 12th , you can stop for lunch at Bluehour http://www.explorethepearl.com/pearl...rink/Blue-hour , eat outside if you can .. and shop anywhere you wish, that is the best of shopping and or window shopping.. Near Jamison Sq is an Italian place that is good, eat outside there too if you can.. Piazza Italia on NW Johnson.
Go to the Pearl Bakery too. Enjoy... I miss Portland :- )
Apr 8th, 2012, 11:38 AM
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ps: The Japanese Gardens are just so wonderful, we used to go up there almost every week. We walked from NW 23rd , it is a long walk but if you are in shape and have the time, it is a pretty walk .. You will pass the Rose Gardens also.
We always drove to Pittock Mansion, another fantastic place, try to go on a clear day, you can see forever :- )
I hope you have cameras with you at all times.
We went to the library and of all the places I have lived, then ... it was not the best. The building is nice but I would not waste much time there, the Museum is a better place to spend your time.
Portland City Grill is a good place for guys to pick up girls at Happy Hour , but it is also a good place to see the sunset and the lights all over going on .. beautiful sight.
Then go somewhere else for a good meal.
*hi sunbum
We always drove to Pittock Mansion, another fantastic place, try to go on a clear day, you can see forever :- )
I hope you have cameras with you at all times.
We went to the library and of all the places I have lived, then ... it was not the best. The building is nice but I would not waste much time there, the Museum is a better place to spend your time.
Portland City Grill is a good place for guys to pick up girls at Happy Hour , but it is also a good place to see the sunset and the lights all over going on .. beautiful sight.
Then go somewhere else for a good meal.
*hi sunbum
Apr 9th, 2012, 06:27 AM
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As bbqboy says, skip South Waterfront - it's just a "created" new residential area full of character-less high rise buildings with no charm. The highlight of the area is the Aerial Tram up to the OHSU hospital; you can pay ($4 ?) to ride it up for a great view from the top, though.
The Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a nice walk, however - a long park extending south of the Hawthorne Bridge north to the Steel Bridge. (Saturday Market takes place in the part by the Burnside Bridge.) Many people do a loop across the river to the Eastbank Esplanade, crossing over on the Hawthorne Bridge and back on the Steel Bridge to make a loop. It's a pretty nice walk.
The Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a nice walk, however - a long park extending south of the Hawthorne Bridge north to the Steel Bridge. (Saturday Market takes place in the part by the Burnside Bridge.) Many people do a loop across the river to the Eastbank Esplanade, crossing over on the Hawthorne Bridge and back on the Steel Bridge to make a loop. It's a pretty nice walk.
