PORTLAND

Getting to Portland

Almost everyone who flies into Oregon uses Portland International Airport (PDX). You can get from the airport to downtown in just under 40 minutes without traffic. One thing that makes Portland an ideal city for popping in and out is its MAX Light Rail. This five-line rail system can get you from the airport to downtown easily. You can also use it to get from downtown to various Portland neighborhoods. If you’re coming to Portland from Seattle, a straight shot up Interstate 5 takes about three hours.

How to See the Best of the Pacific Northwest in Portland

My list of things to see and do every time I visit Portland is relatively short. I can’t leave until I’ve visited a brewery, walked through the Japanese gardens and taken at least a short bike ride. The Portland Japanese Garden transports you to the Orient at every level. It’s considered to be the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. As a bonus, you’ll find the International Rose Test Garden right down the street on Kingston. This fragrant, flourishing attraction is the oldest public rose garden in the country. A visit covering both makes for a fantastic afternoon that will leave you with an unforgettable impression of Portland. A lot is said about keeping Portland “weird.” However, I find that taking time to appreciate the roots of this city offers a nice balance when exploring its zanier attractions. This is why I enjoyed my visit to the Pittock Mansion. Built in 1914, this estate is a pleasure to tour if you want to learn about the people who made Portland what it is today. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to visit the famed Portland Saturday Market after finding myself in town on the weekend. An enduring feature of Old Town, the market can be found at Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza. Hundreds of vendors show up to sell food and wares in the company of live performers each weekend. I’ll also highlight some of the neighborhoods to hit when in Portland. Pick the Alberta Arts District if you only have time to devote to one thing. Featuring eclectic galleries, restaurants and bars, this is the zone people picture when they think of “weird” Portland. On the suggestion of a local, I ducked into Case Study Coffee Roasters for a house espresso that I still think about to this day! What brought me to the Pearl district was the Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House that everyone suggested visiting. I had a great time tasting in-house brews under the exposed ceiling beams belonging to an old garage at the brewery. I also fell in love with the beautiful reclaimed warehouses that have been turned into art galleries and upscale restaurants in this neighborhood. This is also a good spot if you’re looking for a mix of designer retailers and artisan vendors. I’ve been lucky enough to fit in some urban cycling while in Portland. I had the best luck following the 10-mile trail on the Willamette River bike path that runs neatly through Waterfront Park. If you’re confident, you can also duck off the trail to head into Chinatown and the Pearl District.

Some Thoughts on Portland Excursions

My time in Portland has mostly consisted of visiting true “Portland” attractions. However, I want to point out that Portland is an incredible hub for more significant excursions. There are endless shuttles that will bring you on a one-hour journey to the Columbia River Gorge. You can also sign up for guided waterfall hikes around the gorge. The company that you’ll see everywhere around Portland is called Columbia Gorge Express. If you want an excursion that keeps you a little closer to your hotel, the Willamette River fills up with dinner cruises every evening. These dinner cruises tend to double as “bridge tours” that take you by Hawthorne Bridge, Marquam Bridge, Ross Island Bridge, Sellwood Bridge, Burnside Bridge and Steel Bridge. You may also be able to catch peeks of the glowing rides at Oaks Park Amusement Park just outside of downtown Portland.

There’s Nothing Weird About Loving Portland

You can scale your Portland trip up or down based on how much time you have. If you’re going for a full-blown vacation experience, it’s worth paying for a oneday excursion to the Columbia River Gorge. However, I say you can get the full Portland experience with just a garden visit and some urban cycling.

discover history’s surprises during a trip to WASHINGTON D.C.

While planning my most recent trip to the capital area, I knew that I’d be spending a lot of time touring museums and monuments during the day in Washington D.C. What I didn’t expect was all of the exciting things I’d end up doing after dark. The two last-minute additions that I plugged into my itinerary were both after-dark tours. They both turned out to be my favorite parts of the trip! Let’s cover what you should see during the day and night in D.C.