Portland

My husband and I are planning a long weekend jaunt to Portland in mid-April. I've never set foot in downtown. All visits we've ever done have been family related - wedding or funeral usually. We're taking the train down and will be afoot, likely staying in a downtown hotel. Suggestions on what to do? Portland, I fully expect you to respond with great ideas !!

Walk the SW Park Blocks, go to Washington Park for a beautiful nature walk, see the Japanese gardens (lovely), go to Powells - the largest independent bookstore in the country, eat at the great food carts downtown on SW Alder & 9th - 10th. Also walk across (or at least to the middle of) the Hawthorne or Morrison bridge for a great view of the river and waterfront. And do see Ira's fountain, in front of the Keller auditorium - kids play in it in the summer. For a funky and interesting walk/shopping go to Hawthorne on the east side of the river, between SE 34th and SE 39th aves. That's my neighborhood. Also on the east side of the river is Mt Tabor, which has great views from the top, and a wonderful fenced foresty dog park. Oh - one more thing that is fun - ride the tram from the river front up to OHSU for wonderful views of the city, the river, and Mt Hood.

I am going to Cal to visit my parents sometime in April but if I'm around I would be glad to drive you somewhere if you'd like, since you won't have a car. The public transportation in Portland is good as well.

Judi, thanks so much. This will keep us busy - we plan to just meander and having some destinations in mind will give us just enough focus, but not too much. My husband has piles of relatives in the Portland area, so I've often been through Portland, but never actually spent any time in the city center. Looking forward to it.

A few more things to add to your meandering list. The Farmer's market at PSU is probably the best one I've ever been to, and it's basically on the S. Park blocks.
The Portland Art Museum is also on the Park blocks.

Powell's is in The Pearl District, which is one of the trendy ones at the moment-lots of galleries, restaurants, interesting shops, good for window shopping if you don't get to the other side of the river. There's also the Portland SATURDAY market, the names get confusing, but it's on the river and is all crafty stuff with some food carts. Maybe a little touristy, but fun. The Chinese Garden is on this side of town also, a little closer to the river than Powell's.

Thanks Susybell. I'm looking forward to just being a tourist for a few days. We have relatives in Vancouver as well, but again, whenever we are down that way it is for a family function.

I know what you mean-Our family is in Seattle, mostly we're just up there for family functions, but we've done your trip in reverse in Seattle once or twice, even though we grew up there. Makes for a nice weekend. :)

I've heard there's some kind of boat tour around the city on the river that is a lot of fun. Never been on it, just heard about it. If you get to the Hawthorne area, there's a Powell's there that sells only gardening, cooking, and home type books. Outstanding place to spend an afternoon.

I live 3 blocks from that bookstore. They also have a coffee shop! But the main Powells is such an experience of you like books.

Yes, to really get the true Powell's experience you have to go to the main store.

Judi, I love that area, have driven around there many times and been to that Powell's, walked around the area a bit. It's so fun! You're lucky to live there.

Well Gwen the next time you are going to be around here let me know!

I definitely will! I had no idea you were so close. My kids go to Pacific so I come down there fairly often. I'll be down this Monday to take my youngest to visit Linfield but it's going to be a lightening quick trip with no side trips ex to take my 2 at Pacific to dinner on Monday night and then home first thing Tuesday.

We'll be back in May for graduation and to bring Tim home for the summer. Jeff, the graduate, is remaining in Forest Grove for the summer to work on campus and then will find a job down there. He and his gf have an apartment in FG but are looking for something in Hillsboro. The first time I was in the Hawthorne area, I told him about it. I said I had found the greatest area of Portland to live in! LOL It looks terribly pricey though. The houses are all so wonderful and have such character. So probably not the place for new college grads. I think they'll eventually gravitate to Portland. Jeff loves it there and really likes that kind of environment.

The May trip will also be hectic, but I'm sure I'll be down sometime during the summer to visit Jeff and Danielle, and then I'll be back and forth when Tim goes back in the fall.

Last year I drove down just for the chicken coop tour, which was really fun. I was kind of bummed to come home and discover there had been a coop tour on one of our island on the same day so I could have done a coop tour much much closer! LOL This year there's going to be on on Whidbey on April 24, so I'm looking forward to that.

This message was edited Apr 3, 2010 8:04 PM

My very best friend ever, since 1958, lives in Forest Grove.

Gwen I also think it's the greatest area in Portland to live in. I lived in an apartment in the Pearl district while I hunted for a house to buy, and it was clear that the Pearl was not for me. Yes, it's the trendy spot but it's like living in a shopping mall. I lived on the 12th floor of a high rise, and I had never lived that way before. And I didn't like it. The views are great, but I need direction connection to a garden. Living in one of those buildings is surprisingly isolating. I like my front porch, where neighbors stop by for a chat. Your son should look around here - the prices are so varied.

I have not yet been on the chicken coop tour, because I'm afraid I will really want chickens and I don't have the space. I'll have coop envy.

Yes but you'll see not only do you have the space for a few chickens, but they help tremendously in the garden. So far mine have done amazing amounts of weeding and they haven't ruined any plants! They don't eat some weeds, like buttercup, most unfortunately, but boy do they do a nice job cleaning things up for me. The eggs are just a bonus!

Well I couldn't let them roam around the garden because my dog would kill them. And I don't have grass in the back yard - only beds and slate stones. The front garden has some grass and places that would be suitable, but the city will not allow chickens in front yards. A few of my neighbors have chickens, but their entire back yards are open to the chickens. I have to accept the fact that Koka would consider them dinner.

I thought I'd have issues with my dogs as well (a lab and a golden), but everyone is existing perfectly peacefully and happy. Even the cat. The dogs like to try and break into the chicken coop area only to eat the chicken's food. It was SUCH a relief to me to not have to worry about watching the cat and dogs constantly; I really didn't expect that. I procrastinated years and years getting these chickens and have just been blown away by how easy and great it's all turned out!

Is there a plant swap in OR?
Now to shopping?! A good friend of mine will be coming in from Australia and she loves to shop boutique type shops. Last time we rode the bus from the Pearl to an area I had never been in and she loved it. Rather on the trendy side and more than my allows and I am not a shopper unless it is garden stuff. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Her DH is an iris grower and so he stays with the men and I take her shopping. Any and all suggestions as this is out of my zone but will do it for her.

D

NW 23rd Ave and Hawthorne are great shopping areas, with Hawthorne between SE 33rd and SE 38th being the most funky and fun. NW 23rd is more trendy and expensive.

This message was edited Apr 14, 2010 2:07 PM

Thanks for all the tips. We leave tomorrow at 9 am, arrive in Portland around 3-4 pm. Staying somewhere right downtown, heading back Saturday at 3 pm. I'm looking forward to lots of strolling around.

Hope you have great weather.

Thanks for all the great tips. We have lovely weather - sunny and warm the whole time we were there. The train ride was a relaxing mode of transportation, full of friendly travelers. In Portland, we walked and walked and walked around the downtown area. Very nice city. The Chinese Garden is gorgeous. Powell's is awesome. Didn't set foot in a shop, but did look in a lot of windows. Ate well, and enjoyed many cold beers on outdoor sidewalk tables. Bought a handmade hat at the Saturday Market from a very friendly woman. Had a great time.

Glad you had fun. The hat is cute!

That hat is cute-and looks good on you, too. So glad you enjoyed your visit!

Cute picture. Sounds like you did just what you had wanted to do. Great!

So glad you had fun Bonehead, and had good weather!

Thanks, we did have a great time. But, tell me about Voodoo Donuts... Twice we walked past it and both times there were lines 3 deep around the block. Is this something like the Crispy Creme craze a few years back? No donut is worth a wait that long in my book. Needless to say, we didn't join the throng.

Go to voodoodoughnut.com and click on the menu.

They've been on all the foodie TV shows, too, which makes the crowds worse.

Hmmm. I checked out the web site and was underwhelmed. Interesting donuts but none looked worth an hour plus wait to try out.

I can't eat them anyway because they contain gluten. I'm not fond of doughnuts anyway!
Next time you come to Portland wander around the cooler east side of the river, in my cool neighborhood. I'll meet you for coffee!

Sounds like a plan. We get out and about quite a bit, often in our camper.

Oh, and one more thing -- my niece has a shop called "Land" somewhere in the Portland area. We were on a no-relative trip so I didn't go check it out. From her web site, it appears to be art and local artisan type things. Her name is Amber and she is quite extroverted. If you get a chance to swing in, say hi from her Aunt Deb.