Check out the places in Astoria. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g60806-Astoria_Oregon-Hotels.html
Go by way of Government Camp (US 26) and then north on Rt. 35 into Hood River. Great lodging in Hood River with views of the Columbia. You can make a day trip to see the waterfalls and some of Portland from Hood River.

This place is in an interesting neighborhood a short distance from downtown. It has the facilities you like. Parking, breakfast, and passes for the train are included: http://www.northrupstation.com/

HTTY

Thanks to you both for your comments. I'll use the links to do some more research.

Since we'll be doing day trips out of Portland many of the days we are there, do you think there is an augument for basing in Vancouver rather than Portland. It seems as if hotel rates are better in Vancouver. What, if any, negatives would there be for lodging in Vancouver?

Thanks again.

You might want to check into the hotels in Hillsboro, Oregon. Hillsboro is a "high tech" town, so it has all these mid-range hotels that service business executives. The hotels are usually no frills, clean, quiet and in safe areas. Fairly large-sized rooms. Free parking, easy in and out. Courtyard, Larkspur Landing, TownPlace, Springhill Suites, etc. I've stayed in a number of them and they were all fine. Just not the Holiday Inn Express.

Hillsboro is about a 20 minute drive to the west of Portland.

Oh, come to think of it, you might want to check into Beaverton, which is closer to Portland and it has a bunch of hotels like the ones in Hillsboro.

I think it is very much worthwhile to spend more and stay in Portland. The following site often has good deals on hotel rooms that include breakfast and parking: http://www.travelportland.com/

For instance, on April 9, Northrop Station is offering rooms for three at $129.

HTTY

My only argument against staying in Vancouver is the trip across the bridge...it can get congested...and if there is an accident it can shut the freeway down. If you are shuttling back and forth across the river to see sights on the Oregon side, sooner or later the law of averages is going to catch up with you.

I normally don't recommend the suburbs (or Vancouver) to visitors to Portland, because I think the area in/around Portland is pretty neat: nice waterfront area with markets, free trains downtown to get you around, nice restaurants in NW Portland and the Pearl, etc. (And the area around Inn at Northrup Station is a nice residential neighborhood near downtown.)

But since you've been here before and apparently weren't blown away with downtown Portland, plus few of the things on your list are even near downtown, I'd go with your other constraints first: price and type of lodging. Then choose the best area of the places you found that meet your needs. You can easily drive to the Classical Chinese Garden. (The Japanese Garden is much larger - maybe not ideal for your parents to walk it. The adjacent International Rose Test Garden is interesting in April but not exactly in bloom yet so not stunning like it is in the summer and early fall.)

Based on that, Vancouver isn't a bad choice, since you'll be going out to Astoria (you can take I-5 north part of the way and cross back to Oregon to US 30) and seeing Fort Vancouver, you're already be near some of it. And you can get out to the Columbia River Gorge via Washington Route 14 as an alternative to I-84. Little downtown Vancouver is nothing special to most people, but it's close to the Fort. Otherwise, the hotels will probably be in suburby-type areas off the freeways, with lots of chain restaurants around: boring but convenient and comfortable if you find the right one. Just read the Trip Advisor reviews. (I'd probably not recommend Beaverton or Hillsboro - because they aren't really near anything you want to see.)

If you really want to stay in Portland but want to save money, you could also consider the North Harbor/Delta Park area north of downtown (just south of the Washington Border) off I-5: again, chain restaurants and freeway convenience. Closer to downtown, there are a bunch of hotels in inner NE Portland near the Convention Center - less busy than downtown Portland but still close, park probably not free at the hotels there, though.

Oh - I have no idea what the price is, but there is a Residence Inn down at Riverplace that might fit the bill too - close to downtown Portland but not in it.

See also http://www.travelportland.com for hotel deals and packages.

I just received an e-mail from Portland claiming this hotel deal is worth $72: http://www.travelportland.com/

HTTY

Yeah, it's $72 off your 2nd night if you book two nights via their website. Too bad the OP is traveling in April and the special ends at the end of March. Even then, I'll bet you can get much better rates with Priceline during April even than these rates...

I would stay downtown or in the Northwest. You can find great deals on Hotwire. In addition to the tulip festival, I would definitely check out the "fruit loop" which is a lovely drive through fruitstands, lavender, and alpaca farms in the Columbia River Gorge. The scenery can't be beat...and you are mostly in the car and then just get in/out to see the little stands. My elderly parents LOVED it!!!