We will be in Portland for two nights prior to boarding a paddleboat for a week river cruise. Where is a good hotel close enough to Portland attractions so we can enjoy Portland without a rental car? What are the don't miss Portland highlights?

I am guessing, Portland Oregon?

OK, I will start it
The Fifth Avenue Suites are downtown, you can take a bus, Light Rail or street car and get anywhere in the city without a car.
We did it for 10 days.
Highlights:
(I love Portland so bear with me if I start gushing )
The Japanese Gardens
NW 23rd Street
The Pearl
Saturday Market
Walk the Riverfront
Powells Books
Get tickets for something at the Portland Center for the Arts..we saw a Ballet and the Taiko Drummers which was so great!
Shop..all over the city.
Pioneer Square is also good shopping .
Eat...oh my so many choices!
Hope that helps you get started
I am sure there will be plenty of advice from people who live there and love it too!

The last two times we took the River Walk the only other people we encountered were a few homeless men and rowdy teenagers. They didn't bother us, but it wasn't pleasant.

As Scarlett notes, Portland has a good transit system, and it's fareless inside the city core, so bus and light-rail are convenient and inexpensive in getting you to most places you'd want to see. And there are a number of nice hotels in the city from which to choose; Scarlett's named one that's rated the highest. My advice, without recommending one over the other, would be to pick a hotel with "SW" in the address; numbers between 200 and 1400 are pretty much in the city center.

As far as highlights, Scarlett's given you a good list. I would add the rose gardens in Washington Park, and the Chinese Garden downtown.

I'm guessing happytrails took the walk along the waterfront sometime between November and April. During months when the weather's nice, the waterfront is a favorite gathering spot for people of all sorts.

Kimpton hotels -5th Ave Suites or Vintage Plaza - have a great 'Hot Date' rate off their website are located right in downtown so you can walk everywhere or hop on transit.

Not to miss is Powell's bookstore and the Saturday (& Sun) market. I would recommend to browse around the Pearl and Nob Hill district. Also highly recommended are the Japanese gardens too.

We were in Portland several days ago. We really enjoyed touring the Pittock Mansion and the Chinese Classical Gardens. They were beautiful. We had a relaxing afternoon strolling through the gardens then had white crysanthemum tea at the tea house there.

We also enjoyed the Pearl District and wine tasting at Vigne. Pho Van Bistro was very good and our other meals at Higgins, Park Kitchen and Wildwood were also very nice! If you love chocoalte, check out the Verdun chocolate shop in the Pearl District.

We stayed two nights at the Riverplace Hotel and had a river view room. Gorgeous! We mainly saw joggers, bikers, families along the riverfront walk there. I didn't realize the Saturday Market was open or we would have rode our bikes there along the beautiful paths. Have fun! ***kim***

Kimamom, were you surprised the tea was not in bags? Did the waitress explain how to drink it - you move the "grass" with a lid to a side of your tea cup, take a sip, but hurry before the tea leaves or petals come back and you accidentally drink them and then it's embarassing to spit them out, then move the leaves again, hurry to sip.

The gardens are gorgeous, I highly recommend to visit, and try to join a tour before going off on your own. Skip the tea - overpriced and doesn't add anything to overall experience.

Faina, if I was drinking tea right now, I would have spit it at the computer LOL

I second the Pittock Mansion although we didn't get to see it. A friend sent me photos of herself and two children in front and with that view of the city before them! Lovely!

They have a JetBoat ride that we didn't go on and I want to go back just to do it ! Right there on the Columbia River, a big fast jetboat and you get to see Portland from the water, which is so pretty!

LOL Scarlet...gee, who could that be?

Yes, Pittock Mansion is nice and has great views. We have hiked up there, starting near the zoo. All of the gardens previously listed are beautiful.

When will you be here?