My daughter and I will be flying into Portland, and will be staying there for 3 days. Part of 1 day will be spent at OHSU.

We will be arriving in the a.m. the first day, and I was wondering if it was worth getting a rental car for just that day, and heading out to the coast from the airport. I was thinking of dropping off the car on our return that evening, and then taking the MAX to our hotel(Embassy Suites Downtown) where we will be for 3 nights.

Looking at previous posts, it appears to be approx. 90 minutes to the Cannon Beach area, correct? We would probably only spend 4-5 hours in the area, including a possible stop at Ecola.

Our flight leaves around 6:00 am, and am wondering how easy it will be for us to get to the airport from Embassy Suites @ 4:00 a.m.?

The reason of not keeping the car for 3 days, is I am wondering if we would actually use it, after the drive to the coast. With a daily rate, $22/day parking, and not sure on how much needed, I was thinking of just returning it that first night.

Also, any suggestions for an 8 year old and her dad for a few days in Portland would be appreciated. We enjoy doing outdoor things, as well as shopping, and seeing unique local things.

Thank you.

Yes, Cannon Beach is about 1.5 hours from Portland, figure 1.75 from PDX. I think it'd be worth the drive, even if you'd only have four hours to spend in the area. Ecola State Park is spectacular for its views, but I don't know too many 8 year-olds who get excited about scenery. She might rather watching the surfers at Indian Beach, or buying a kite at Once Upon a Breeze in downtown CB, and just hanging on the beach for a few hours exploring tidepools around Haystack Rock. If the tides are right, you could rent some fun beach cycles or skim boards too. Seaside would be the other option at the coast. It's an old beach town with carnival attractions, arcades, cotton candy, caramel apples, and corn dogs, and probably preferred over Cannon Beach by most kids. The beach is okay there too, but in Seaside, the town is really the "attraction".

There are alternatives to the $22/day parking Embassy Suites would charge. I believe there are several lots charging a maximum $12/day, including overnight. Portland is an easy city to get around, and has great public transportation, but I think you'd like the flexibility of having the car. You'd certainly want it to get up to OHSU (though there is bus service).

If here on a weekend, your daughter would enjoy Saturday (and Sunday) Market. OMSI might entertain her for a few hours, and shopping in Pioneer Place would be a hit. Depending on when you're coming, they are often festivals of one sort or another going on during the summer at Waterfront Park. This weekend it's the Blues Festival.

Hope the reason you're headed to OHSU is not of concern. Carpe diem! And have a great time in Portland.

beachbum

Thank you for the information. From my understanding, OHSU is only 2 - 2.5 miles from Embassy Suites. I have been told that parking is less than fun on a weekday afternoon there. Was looking at either bus or a cab. Any good information on those options would be appreciated.

I am considering keeping the car for 3 days, but I figured the extra 2 days rental cost and daily parking fees could be better spent(read more enjoyably spent) while we are there.

We are headed to the oncology area at OHSU for my daughter. Life is there for living.......

Your daughter and her dad would probably enjoy the Jet Boat ride on the River. 888-JetBoat
I recommend the Japanese Gardens, and although we didn't get there last time, I would love to visit the Pittock Mansion this visit (next week)..here is a great site for ideas~
Good Good luck!
http://www.discoverourtown.com/TownP...at=Attractions

Right again, carpediem. Parking is the pits at OHSU. So bad that they're having to spend a bazillion dollars to put in parking at the base of the hill and construct a gondola/funicular sort of thing up to the hospital. Buses run regularly from downtown. You can probably find schedules at Tri-Met's website.

And your daughter might get a kick out of riding the streetcars and MAX, so the car really isn't a necessity. I'm thinking she'd also like the shopping along NW 23rd, particularly Urban Outfitters. YOU might not like the store much, but I'm sure she would.

Praying for good news....

Definitely take her to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), she may enjoy the Portland Zoo and the Children's Museum near the zoo.

I agree that she would probably enjoy shopping in Pioneer Place, and on NW 23rd. Be sure and take her for some gelato at Mio Gelato in the Pearl District. Don't hesitate to stop at a Pizzicato for lunch or dinner. There are several locations, but one on NW 23rd and one downtown just off Broadway.

I hope you enjoy your free time there!

As usual, I echo Beachbum's recommendations.

There are parking garages around downtown called SmartPark, and they are listed on the visitors maps. Those are much less than the hotel parking rates.

Cannon Beach is our families preference, even the kids. There are several places that rent funcycles (3 wheel recumbant beach bikes) and we all have a blast with those. I think my husband enjoys it as much as the kids, lol!

OMSI and the zoo are perfect for her age.

I hope you have an enjoyable visit, and really hope that you get good news.

Thank you to all on your replies. I appreciate the information and tips.

Will probably decide this weekend on the car rental. With the other garage possibilities mentioned, are those "24 hour in/out priveleges"?

I believe it would be fairly easy for us to get to OHSU one afternoon, as well as get around without a car, after we go to the coast the first day in. However, needing to be at the airport by 4:30 may be a different matter. How easy will it be to get to PDX from Embassy Suites at that time of the day? It will be a Saturday morning. Would it be worth it for me to advance purchase a few Trimet passes and a map, or just wait till we get there? And if I wait, where are the easiest places to get the daily/3 day passes?

Any other tips would be appreciated, including eating ones.

I would also like to extend a thank you for those that have wished us well. As an FYI. Our daughter was diagnosed with leukemia 6 months ago. We moved forward shortly after, and have always lived for the future. She has actually adapted better than her parents......

Dear carpediem, my thoughts and prayers go to you, your family and especially your dear daughter. Portland is a beautiful city and the seaside is wonderful so I hope that you will have some pleasurable time together while in Portland. And my all your news be good! My very best wishes.

No need to purchase any TriMet stuff in advance for the buses/trains. You can buy MAX tickets at machines at the stops (some machines even take credit cards now), and you can buy bus tickets on the bus with cash. Get a free map at Pioneer Courthouse Square when you arrive. Your hotel might even have one.

You can take the #8 bus up to OHSU if you wish. Catch it on 5th Avenue (you want the #8 Jackson Park not the #8 NE 15th Ave going the other way). I don't think it's very far of a bus ride.

According to TriMet.org, the first MAX train to the airport arrives at PDX at 4:55AM on a Saturday morning. But I would probably just get a cab to the airport. Figure about $30. Call the night before and arrange for one at your hotel. Then again, there's one day of car parking right there. FYI, if you do choose to rent a car, there's always the option of picking it up downtown instead of at the airport, and usually they will let you drop it one place even if you picked up at the other (airport or downtown).

Andrew

Have you booked the Embassy suites already? You might try going to pova.com. It is the site for the Portland visitors Bureau.

Click on the "big deal" and try booking the Embassy Suites thru them. The big deal includes 2 breakfasts and free parking. It is a refundable reservation, so if for some reason you need to cancel you can.

If their price beats your current reservation, change it!

Best wishes for you and your daughter. And it is always harder for the family than the patient.

Ditto on OMSI. It was big fun, and we loved the tour of the submarine.

I don't know of any lots that allow in/out privileges. I guess that's part of what you're paying for with the hotel. If you do decide on a cab to PDX, take Andrew's recommendation of prearranging it the night before. Otherwise, I'm not sure they'd be typically operating that early in the a.m.

It appears as if dad and daughter are great sources of strength to eachother in your difficult situation. I don't think it's by chance that that happens. Again, praying for good news..

Enjoy Portland.

I would definitely check out the Oregon Zoo. www.oregonzoo.org for events and attractions that might interest you.

Seaside is only about ten minutes or so from CB. She would enjoy the aquarium (feed the seals!) and all the cool beachy shops there. There is an enclosed mall with a carousel that would be really fun for her. Bumper cars, tilt-a-whirl, candy shops galore, a real carny place. Our teens love it there. www.seasideor.com is a website. Hope this helps. ***kim***

Thank you to all that have responded.

I have considered changing things around when we visit. My latest thought is to find a hotel the first night(the trip spans mostly week days) along the coast. By the time we arrive at PDX, rent a car, and then drive to the coast, it will be in the afternoon. With several ideas on things to see and do along the coast, I am thinking about taking our time and enjoying the area. Then drive back the next morning. The 2nd day is our afternoon appointment at OHSU.

Have also considered getting a hotel by the airport the 2nd and 3rd night. Would use the car the 2nd day to get to OHSU and visit 1-2 places downtown. The third day we could drive into town and park in a central location, and do what we like. We could also drive to other sights in the afternoon. We could then drive back to the hotel near the airport that evening, return the car rental, take a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, then return to the airport around 4:30 a.m. the final morning via another hotel shuttle.

Feedback appreciated on this, and hope all are enjoying(or have enjoyed) the 4th of July weekend.

There are fewer things in life nicer than sunsets over the water and early morning walks on the beach. Especially when you sandwich some toasted marshmallows or s'mores between. No question where I stand on an overnight at the coast!

But I'm not sure what you hope to gain by staying near the airport on nights two and three. You'll save some hassle on the morning of the flight home, but I don't think you're saving anything on the rental car (except maybe some parking).

I agree with beachbum - I don't think you save much by staying at the airport, maybe a tiny bit of money. Downtown is really nice here. It's fun to walk around.

Here's what I would do:

Arrive PDX
Rent a car there.
1st night - Cannon Beach
Drive back to OHSU, have your appointment.

If you want to hang out in Portland the 3rd day, return your car downtown the evening of the 2nd day, avoid paying any parking charges at the hotel. Use public transit to get around the 3rd day, and call in advance to have a cab pick you up at 4AM to get to the airport on your morning departure.

If you aren't crazy about cities and will be more interested in sites like the zoo and Multnomah falls the third day, you might as well not stay downtown the last two nights and keep the car. Some people like to explore cities (and Portland is a fun one to explore), some don't. In that case, instead of staying at the airport, I recommend staying close-in but not downtown, maybe at the Holiday Inn in NE Portland or the Holiday Inn Express in NW. Try http://www.pova.org/big_deal/big_deal_hotels.html to look for good specials at these two places. These are decent places but not nearly as nice as the Embassy Suites. If you really want to save bucks, you could try Priceline.com.

Andrew

Thank you for the follow up posts/information. It is usually not about money when we do things these days. More of an "ease of things", as our priorities have changed these days. You tend to go with the flow. Our youngest daughter can be full of energy one day,and outdo the whole family. Then be fairly tired another. Thus, my 2nd guessing on attempting to do too much walking downtown. I am definitely changing things so we spend the first night on the coast. Then attempt to incorporate some of the ideas and tips that have been posted.

Thanks again.

Hello carpediem, I just had a thought. Does your daughter by any chance like gardens and flowers? If so, taking her to the Portland Rose Garden would be a very relaxing and beautiful experience for her especially if she was feeling a bit drained, tired or in need of some quiet time. It is so beautiful, hundred of rose bushes, beautiful views of Portland and places to just sit and relax.

A couple of years ago I took one of my grandson's to Portland for a family wedding that entailed lots of activities plus his uncles birthday.

My grandson enjoys quiet time, although he had a wonderful time with all of the events. His uncle took my grandson and I to the Rose Garden. I rather thought that my grandson would be bored but to tell you the truth he really enjoyed his afternoon. I could tell that he got a lot out of the serenity and beauty of the Rose Garden. He was 16 and really into computer games etc. but I will never forget his wandering off by himself, and leaning over to smell the beautiful aroma of the roses. A very sweet and touching afternoon. So just a thought for you if you find your dear daughter needs to get away from the bustle of downtown Portland. My best wishes to all of you.

I want to agree with the person who suggested the Portland Rose Garden. Beautiful.

Last year, we spent a week in Portland, staying at the Residence Inn. It was one of the "specials" posted on the Internet. Free breakfast, afternoon wine and cheese, and free in and out parking for our rental.

We were right on the waterfront and found that for much of our sightseeing, we could walk, both along the waterfront and into town.

Enjoy.