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Mt Hood
Portland is home to both the largest urban wilderness (2000 hectare Forest Park) and the smallest city park (61 sq cm Mills End Park) in the US.
Powell's, the largest bookstore in the US, occupies an entire city block with over a million new and used books.
Downtown Portland
OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) is home to the USS Blueback, which was used in the film Hunt for Red October.
There are more microbreweries and brewpubs than in any other city in the US.
Oregon Coast
Oregon City, just south of Portland, is the end of the Oregon Trail, which saw the largest human migration in US history. Over 50 000 people travelled by wagon from the East to the fertile land of the Willamette Valley.
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival features the fifth largest theatre company in the US. The festival runs from February through October, with several plays being featured at all times.
Mt St. Helen's
The Columbia Gorge, with its 1400ft cliffs, was formed by a series of floods during the ice-ages. Ice dams would form, creating lakes behind them as large as 3000 sq miles. When the dams broke, flood waters scoured out the steep hillsides and turned small streams into the spectacular waterfalls visible today.
Oregon Coast
Portland is almost always ranked near the top in the US's "most livable cities" lists.
The Oregon Symphony, performing in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, is the oldest symphony orchestra west of St Louis, Missouri.
Portland is a vibrant city of coffee houses, restaurants, brew pubs, parks, bookstores, and bike paths located at the fork of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the US Pacific Northwest. The region is part of the "Silicon Forest" and is home to many high-tech hardware and software companies.
Downtown Portland is bordered by waterfront walkways along the Willamette River to the east, the hills of Washington Park to the west and Portland State University to the south. The tree lined streets with wide sidewalks are perfect for strolling between the eclectic restaurants and shops while admiring the restored Victorian-era homes that surround the business district. The scenic Columbia Gorge at the foot of Mt. Hood offers some of the best windsurfing in the world while Mt. Hood offers year-round downhill skiing and snowboarding. The Willamette and Tualatin valleys are home to many vineyards, including some excellent Pinot-Noir. The rugged Oregon Coast, pocketed with quaint fishing villages and tourist resorts, is just a 90 minute drive to the west.
Special Attractions in the Area
- Powell's: the largest bookstore in the United States
- Pittock Mansion: an historic mansion with amazing views overlooking the city
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
- Mt Hood railroad
- Wine tasting
- Mt Hood
- Columbia Gorge
- Waterfalls
- Hood River
- Oregon Coast
- Mt St Helens
- Crater Lake National Park
General information on Portland and the Northwest
- Portland Area Visitors Association
- Citysearch entry for Portland
- The Oregonian Newspaper
- Willamette Week Newspaper
- Lonely Planet's entry for the US Pacific Northwest
- Travel Oregon web site
Places to Eat and Relax
Most of these places are within a 15 minute walk of the center of downtown.
- Todai $$
3rd & Morrison
inside the East Block of Pioneer Square Mall, third floor
This place is a sushi buffet. Rumor has it the sushi is actually pretty good. - Southpark $$$
9th & Salmon (?)
South Park Blocks
Seafood is the specialty. Good ambience. May want to call ahead for reservations. - McCormick & Schmick's Harborside Restaurant $$-$$$
On the Harbor, follow Market to the water
Great seafood, popular view. Call ahead for reservations. They also have a late night special, where food is around $3/entree (burgers, mushrooms, appetizers), with a one drink minimum. Special starts at 9:30pm in the bar. - McCormick & Schmick's $$-$$$
1st & Oak
If Harborside too crowded, you can try this restaurant. Same great menu, though the late night selections may be different. Same deal, though. - Pasta Veloce $
3rd & Salmon
Simple, fast, made to order pasta. Pretty good and pretty cheap. - Saucebox $$$
Broadway, 1 block south of Burnside, across from US Outdoor Store
This swanky restaurant has flavorful asian fusion cuisine. Somewhat on the spendy side. The cocktails are great, and a dj spins music after 10. Reservations suggested. - Atwaters $$$
US Bank building, Burnside & 5th(?)
A view on the 39th floor. The food might be overrated, so you may want to go up after dinner to enjoy the jazz (Thursday (?), Friday, Saturday) and explore the large martini menu. - Al-Amir $$
2nd & Pine (or Oak)??
Good middle eastern food, among pretty nice decor.
- Typhoon $$
Broadway & Washington ??
Great Thai food. Plenty of the favorites, plus some excellent choices not seen on every Thai menu (ie roast duck curry). Reservations suggested. - Pazzo $$
Broadway, next to Typhoon
Fancy italian food. Reservations suggested.
- Berbati's $$
3rd & Ankeny
Bar food obviously. Not sure what else, though they do server dinner. known for live music. - Ruth's Chris Steakhouse $$$
3rd & ??
One of Portland's best steakhouses. Reservations suggested.
- Virginia Cafe $
Park Ave, Behind Nordstrom
Chill place to have a burger and a beer. - Pizzicato Pizza $
7th & Alder
Great gourmet pizza by the slice or by the pie.
After dinner perhaps...
- Shanghai Tunnel
3rd, on the end of the block just south of Burnside
This somewhat hard to find bar has a pretty relaxed scene downstairs. They enlarged the space and added some lounge seats for people to sit around and talk. - Tiger Bar
Broadway, north of Burnside
Hip bar with cool music. - Cobalt Lounge
NW Couch & ??
Differs from night to night, from live music to electronica. - The Ohm
NW 2nd & Couch
Electronica on Friday nights after 1230. Usually has live bands until then. Late night type of club.