Hi all. My husband and I recently moved to Seattle and we're ready to take our 1st weekend trip down to Portland. We're thinking of 2 nights. I love cities, so I definitely want to do some shopping, see museums, anything else important in the city, and we'd like to stay at a nice, but not overly expensive hotel (hotel suggestions would be of great help!). Also, since we're driving down, we'd love any ideas about areas to stop at on the way down. I know the coast is supposed to be beautiful, but we just don't know anything about it yet. I love pretty scenary, walking along beaches, etc., so I'd be happy to stop, or even stay overnight somewhere.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

If you are driving, Mt. Saint Helens is a fairly easy detour from I-5 on the way to Portland. Otherwise, the drive on I-5 is not ugly but not all that pretty. This time of the year you can easily get to the viewing spots (snow closed the roads part of the year), but there's probably no snow on the dome now. Still well worth a visit out there. You can see all the dead trees still laying around like toothpicks, for example.

Check out this site:

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm/

One option: consider taking the Amtrak train to Portland. It's a bit prettier especially from Seattle to Tacoma, because you ride along the Puget Sound. Whether you'd do this option depends on whether you like trains or not (I do).

Hotels: if you are worried about budget, I would definitely use Priceline to bid on a 4-star hotel in downtown. Expect to pay about $60/night plus perhaps $20/night parking. Go to BiddingForTravel.com to learn about how to use Priceline if you've never used it. BFT has a hotel list for Portland showing which hotels people are getting with Priceline and what they are paying. There's a hotel list there. The 4-star hotels that have come up for example are the Hotel Vintage Plaza, the 5th Avenue Suites, etc. All the 4-star hotels that have been coming up on Priceline in Portland are well-located, an easy walk to muesums, etc.

(PLEASE take the time to read BFT and understand what you are doing before doing a Priceline bid!!!)

If you come before the end of September, be sure to visit the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park - absolutely gorgeous and it may still be blooming somewhat. If it's raining and you like books, check out Powell's books - not to be missed by booklovers. Powell's also has a walking tour map of Portland. You can take a nice long walk around the Willamette River through waterfront park for example and even across the bridges to do a loop all the way around.

Shopping: do check out NW 23rd Avenue and perhaps SE Hawthorne Blvd for some cool and interesting shops.

Search Fodors for "Portland" to see all the other excellent suggestions people have posted here over the years.

Andrew

I would wait till most of the tourists have gone home before heading out to the WA or northern OR coasts. Great in late Sept/Oct.

Look at www.mcmenamins.com, especially the Edgefield in Troutdale (suburb on the eastern edge of the Columbia Gorge) and the Kennedy School in town, both very fun places to stay. If you want more official lodging, Portland is a great place to bid for 4-star accommodation on Priceline. Or, check out the Fifth Avenue Suites for cheap weekend rates - it ranked in the recent Travel and Leisure magazine's best places in the country.

Don't forget Powell's Books on Burnside in Portland - one of the nation's premier bookstores.

Remember no sales tax in Oregon, so if you buy that big-screen TV, make sure it fits in the trunk so the WA State Cops don't stop you for being a (sales) tax dodger.

There really isn't anywhere on the I-5 corridor that's worth an overnight stop. Zip down, then take the "old" Columbia Gorge hwy on the OR side of the river - one of America's great scenic drives.

Powell's is on the edge of the Pearl District, Portland's current trendy hot spot (shopping, restaurants, urban living). Take some time to walk around it. NW 21st and 23rd streets, also noted for shopping and dining, are nearby.

I second Andrew and Gardyloo's suggestions; the coast is out of reach for the short time you have.

I 3rd the suggestions. Just zip on down to Portland and use it as your base.

But, on your return, take a brief detour at the I-5 exit at milepost 68 for Spiffy's restaurant, where the pies are phenomenal. You can see it from I-5. It is just to the right. The apple pie is about 8 inches high, and full of sliced apples and cinammon. They'll give you a box so you can take it home.

The Columbia R. Gorge is a nice day trip (and you could do the entire Mt. Hood loop).

Beware of Friday afternoon traffic out of Seattle, as well as Sunday evening returning. If you can leave before 2 PM on Friday, you have a chance of not getting too stuck. Ditto for returning.

The Riverplace Hotel is very nice, located right on the waterfront. The waterfront is really fun to walk at night.

Try to have a meal at Paley's Place or the Bluehour for a real treat of Portland's culinary delights! I hope you enjoy your visit to this beautiful city. Rose Gardens are a must see! We walked through them at least half a dozen times this summer with our entire family. ***kim***