Hello, came back from 7 days in Portland, OR area, 5 nights with Elderhostel staying in the Silver Cloud Inn Airport, 2 nights DoubleTree Hotel Lloyd Center.

Flew Southwest out/in Oakland airport checking in (what a shame for a Fodorite!) my suitcase. Not painful, by the time I got to the carousel at PDX some luggage was already there, 2-3 minutes later I was out. On the way back the wait took about 10 minutes ? the walk to the carousel was much shorter. BART and shuttle to the airport are dependable and somewhat convenient, shuttles run often. Standing in check-in and security long lines did not take longer then 20 minutes each, both airports. Both planes were 15 minutes late. Used TSA approved lock, not broken, don?t know if they did hand-search or x-rays were enough.

Silver Cloud Inn is a great place to stay if you don?t depend on public transportation. Good rooms, free local phone, free laptop hook-up in the room, or free computer in the lobby (always used by somebody Buffet breakfast included with hot and cold cereal, bagels, pastries. 24 hr free coffee in the lobby. The airport shuttle is there on request, free. MAX line runs often and easy to use, but it?s better to stay in the city for faster commute.

Double Tree Lloyd center ? right there on MAX Lloyd stop. Huge room, but they nickel and dime and dollar you for everything! A call $1.50. Computer hook-up $9.95 from noon to noon. Water bottles - $4 large, small ones don?t have a price tag. Outdoor pool opened in summer. Location is fine, and it?s within the free zone.

This is what I saw with and without Elderhostel tours: 3-hour walking tour of downtown Portland (I think Peter?s tours, too long), Rose garden, Japanese gardens. Mt Hood, Wildwood park, Timberline lodge, Columbia Gorge discovery center, Multnomah waterfall, Fort Clatsop ? Lewis and Clark?s fort, Bonneville dam, Astoria, South Jetty and shipwreck. Chinese gardens, this was great, take a guided tour first then wander on your own, skip the tea ceremony. GO THERE! Japanese gardens are everywhere, but Chinese are so refreshingly different! Forestry center is more for children, but I went there for the Chocolate exhibit, which was very educational and fun. Saturday market, go there even if you don?t like markets! Max line stop ?Skidmore fountain?. There is a store called ?made in Oregon? ? don?t miss it! Haven for souvenir shoppers.

If you drive out of Portland or take a bus tour bring a windbreaker doesn?t matter what the weather forecast is. Good I did not have to learn it the hard way

So glad you enjoyed out city and got to experience so much! Yes, the Chinese Gardens are beautiful. I love the Wildwood Trail too.

I have not been to the forestry center yet...we have friends coming soon with 4 and 7 year old boys...do you think that would be of interest to them or not?

MMS, I don't know, it depends on the boys, I know mine at these ages hated all kinds of museums. Unless they love chocolate, and it will be a discovery for them that it "grows on trees" - the cocoa beans I mean.

You've probably planned a trip to the zoo, so just ask them if they want to go to the museum - it's just a few yards away, same MAX stop if you're taking it.

Thanks Faina Yes, the zoo and the childrens museum are on our list so we will probably hit the forestry center as well. I already told my friend that we should do the rose gardens without the little ones...she didn't need to be writing out a huge check if the little ones decided to start plucking roses, lol!

Oh, by the way, "everybody who behaves" gets a tiny chocolate bar at the end of the visit, in the gift shop. You get a coupon when you pay admission.

mms, There is a wonderful and fairly new outdoor playground within walking distance of the Rose Gardens, so, if someone is willing to stay and keep an eye on the boys, the others in your group could enjoy a visit to the Rose Gardens.

I found the website with pictures of the Rose Garden playground. They are at the bottom of this page. Very cool, no? If you decide to go, bring sand toys, as, if it's like it was when we were there a few years ago, there's plenty of sand.

http://www.parks.ci.portland.or.us/Parks/Washington.htm

Also, you probably are familiar with the Salmon Street Springs in the waterfront park. If it's hot, that's a great place for the kids to cool off. Bring suits or clothes that can get wet, and towels, of course!

Have a blast with the boys!

Welcome back Faina!! Sounds like you had a great time!!

Glad you had a good trip, Faina! We leave Friday, driving up with a few days stop in northern Ca. Will try to check out some of the highlights you mentioned. Did you have any fabulous meals in Portland?

Thanks Orcas...I forgot about that and I was just at the Rose Garden last week, lol! We don't have a lot of time to do things with the boys...probably just 1 or 2 days. Then all the kids are going to different family members so us adults can go climb.

Glad you enjoyed Portland! We're in our third week here on the coast. Everyone loved the rose gardens, but we didn't have a chance to make it over to the Japanese gardens. Hopefully soon, tho!

We hope to take my BIL and his two young sons down the coast soon to Tillamook to tour the cheese factory and take in some gorgeous scenery. He is fascinated with Oregon, doesn't want to leave! LOL ***kim***

Thank you, everybody!

Marylin, no, I was with Elderhostel for 5 days - all food included, and after that I had whatever whenever.

Well..Faina, Marilyn and then I hit Portland. We leave July 29 for a four day trip. Marilyn..are you still planning on food at The Bluehour? I do like this place alot. However,this summer's trip, we are apparently dining at Clarklewis(done by the same chef as the Bluehour). My very picky Portland friend(who turned me on to the Bluehour) and another friend who dined with him at Clarklewis said it was faaaabulous. Do you have the Garden Conservancy Guidebook? There are some Portland gardens listed for touring. The Rose Garden is a must do if you are in to such things. It's a whole eperience. I went searching for apricot hued roses and found several growing in splendor there. You can also follow the walkway of the Queens of Rosaria and notice how the names change over the years. Have a wonderful time. If you can headout to the gorge, you will see some true beauty. We're travelling into Oregon Pinot Noir country this trip(most of the 6 of us are in the same wine tasting group.)

Hi Pam! We're attending a 3D photo convention so won't have much time for sightseeing. I've been to Portland many times over the years and have seen most of the high points like the Rose Garden. But you gotta eat dinner! So I will tuck the name Clarklewis into my brain and see where we end up.

Other restaurants I know of: Wildwood, Alexis (traditional Greek), Papa Haydn for desserts, Joe Bar (same owners as Papa H.). There are tons of good restaurants in Portland. It's a shame that we'll probably eat at our hotel most nights. Sigh.

Just remembered something: the tour guid was telling us about the state of Oregon: state tree is duglas fir, state animal is beaver, state nut is Tonya Harding, no, state nut is hazelnut...

Off to Portland tomorrow (Tues the 6th), an 8 hour drive. We love Tanya -- she provided our favorite scandal ever. We would come home from work and look for the all-Tanya tv channel: all singing, all dancing, all Tanya all the time. Does she still live in Portland? Do you think she wants to go out for a beer? (Phil Flash says, No, just "club" soda. Ouch.)

Marilyn...I hear she lives just over the border near Vancouver. Have a great trip here! We just drove back from Seattle this morning.