Hello friends.....my sister is visiting Portland for 2 days (after a 3 day pitstop in Seattle) in August and she was wondering if she will need a car to see Portland in all it's beauty. How much can she see and how much can't she see of the city? Oh and she'd like to do at least one hiking expedition...so a suggestion about that will be helpful as well. As always, thank you very much!

Portland has a great public transit system.The lightrail and the buses will take you to most of the things you will want to see. The hiking is another story.You will probably need a car for that unless you can find some sort of tour.(I havent ever looked for one)Staying near the lightrail stops will make it easier also.There are a ton of places to hike in the northwest...Mt. Hood.. a trip over towards the coast would be good and dont forget about the gorge! If you will be there over a weekend check out the saturday market on the water front.

As panhandle wrote, Portland prides itself on its mass transit system which is fareless throughout the central city. Your sister won't need a car to see the city. She might want to walk from the city center up through Washington Park (with the rose garden) to the zoo, then ride MAX back (or do the reverse).

If she wants to hike outside the city, there are numerous trails around Mt.Hood and in the gorge. Personally, I'd pick Oneonta Gorge, in the Columbia River gorge.

There are trails in Washington Park where the zoo and Japanese Garden are. They aren't really 'hiking' but offer some pretty views and it looks like Oregon up there, if you really don't want to rent a car.

Transit is fairly easy and Portland is fairly walkable.

Thank you very much my Fodors friends!!