Welcome to Portland, OR A Superhost's Insider Guide...
MEET YOUR SUPER HOSTS DEBI & ROB HERTERT...
We are a retired husband and wife team and enjoy sharing our vacation homes. We are involved with people in a fun way, helping to make dreams come true and assisting in creating happy memories for our guests. This is a fun time of our lives!
Portland's music scene? Food carts? Powell's bookstore? Timberline Lodge? Debi and Rob will guide you through the best of Portland, as only true insiders can do. Always with an infectious flair and energy, it's no surprise that they are now Airbnb Superhosts!
OUR STORY We are a retired medical people who started our rental “career” in 2008 with a beach rental that had been a family-only getaway spot until Rob retired. We soon found we needed a little more income and started renting the Gull House in Seal Rock. Debi blossomed as she began taking care of her guests, and in 2009, with her atomic persuasion, talked Rob into another pair of beach houses in Lincoln City. She used Airbnb almost from the company’s inception, but it was only in 2014, on opening our PDX Garden Studio, that we could host guests in our own home.
Head on over to Airbnb for further details about Debi & Rob's apartment.
OUR PORTLAND In 4 words we'd describe this wonderful city as progressive, alive, friendly and green! Foodies, nature enthusiasts, gardeners, sports nuts, marathon runners, skiers, and boaters. They're all here! Did you know Portland has a huge cycling community due to our spectacular and (sometimes) challenging landscape? Or that it's a microbrew mecca with more breweries than any other city?! Oh, and we're beautiful as well! The Portland Rose Gardens, Japanese, and Chinese Gardens enjoy world class status and delight visitors year round.
After 5 years of remodeling and garden-building, that space was finally ready for guests. In the spirit of Portland’s green-scene, much of the studio is recycled or re-purposed. We are friendly, accepting people who love to share and enthusiastically embrace new friends from all over the world.
And so, without any further intro, here's my Portland in 3's...
DEBI'S INSIDE GUIDE TO PORTLAND... A Quick Orientation... Our Location...
Mass Transit...
Car Rental...
15 minutes from downtown, 30 minutes from the airport, close to the I-5 freeway (but quiet!), set amongst Doug Firs!
We're on the #78 bus line, pickup and drop-off is right at our driveway. It's an easy 9 miles to downtown Portland.
Despite good mass transit, we recommend a car to access everything! A Car2Go pickup point is a 0.25 mile walk away.
Our 3 all time favorite places to eat... Food Carts We all know that food carts can be amazing places to sample local food whilst supporting local business. Portland is blessed with over 1,000 of them! Everything from coffee to Indian food can be found in all manner of places around the city. Ask us, or consult this page for a few tips!
The Woodsman The idea behind The Woodsman Tavern was to create a place where people could gather for good food, good drink and good company. We second that! This is a place that feels warm, like it could be in a more remote location, not in the middle of the city!
3 for the culture vulture Microbrews & Wineries...
Some may baulk at the idea of featuring beer and wine in a "culture" slot. We disagree! They are an integral part of our area's identity. It's impossible to cover them all here but, come stay with us, and we'll happily share our knowledge!
Portland Spirit...
One of the best ways to see the city is via a cruise with Portland Spirit. They have many different options depending on whether you want to combine with a meal, sightseeing, or even (in the summer months) a live, local band.
Farmers Market at PSU...
A huge range of local vendors pitch their tents at the Portland State University every Saturday, year round. Everything from organic French crepes (yum) to local cherries, cheeses, wild mushrooms, pickled products, and plenty more!
Paley's Place If you're looking for a dining experience to rival some of NYC's best then you have to book a table at Paley's Place. Chef and owner Vitaly Paley has a passion for local, organic and sustainable practices, and has been featured in many high profile magazines and newspapers!
3 for the sightseer Multnomah Falls...
Stunning! Around 1 hour from the studio, Multnomah Falls is 600+ feet tall, and flows year round. Walk to Benson Bridge for an incredible view. It's also worth taking the path to the top! And don't forget the other waterfalls nearby.
Timberline Lodge...
Although 70 miles away, Timberline Lodge is a must see. Around 6,000 feet in elevation on Mount Hood, it's a national landmark, steeped in history and iconic architecture, with great views and food (and it was filmed in The Shining!).
Oregon Coast...
Dramatic views, wide open beaches, a strong sense of nature, and a feeling of being a million miles away! The 400+ miles of coastline has an almost mysterious, hypnotic feel - you won't want to miss it!
3 experiences not to miss... Live Music Scene... The live music scene in Portland truly does offer something for everyone, and is regarded as one of the country's best live music cities. There are also a number of music festivals throughout the year, most popular of which is MusicfestNW, held every August. Among the many options, don't miss Jimmy Mak's (see below hidden gem). But there are many other venues depending on your taste. Check out this site for more info.
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Powell's City of Books... If you haven't heard of Powell's, well, where have you been?! They claim to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. This is an iconic bookstore, established in 1971, with 5 locations in Portland, and an online store for those without access to the brick and mortar! Head over to Powell's City of Books - 68,000 square feet covering an entire block - and you'll see why this is a place not to miss!
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Downtown Waterfront Area... The Tom McCall Waterfront Park is a great place to relax and enjoy some downtown outdoor life. It sits on the edge of the Willamette River and is popular with joggers, skaters, cyclists, and walkers alike. As well as the active, the park also hosts a number of festivals, most notable of which is the Rose Festival. In the height of summer the refreshing fountains are usually a hub for those wanting to cool off!
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My 3 hidden gems...
Music Millennium...
Jimmy Mak’s...
Elk Rock Garden...
This place is an iconic Portland record store. In fact it's the oldest record store in this part of the world. Still going strong, and often hosting famous musicians (playing and signing) it's a place (like Powell's) that helps keep Portland so special. Check out their in-store performance page and, even if you don't know the act, go support local!
A fantastic venue if you like Jazz. Or even if you don't to be honest! Rated by Downbeat Magazine as one of the world's top 100 places to hear jazz! It's a small venue, which of course means intimacy, perfect for this kind of music. Mel Brown plays regularly and is well worth seeing. They also have a Greek restaurant which receives consistently good reviews.
If you enjoy an English landscape style garden, this place is for you. There are a wide range of shrubs, ferns, perennials, trees and more across a number of different areas and gardens. You can spend a wonderfully relaxing hour here strolling the grounds, with views of the Willamette. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.
And if you're looking for something active outside the city... For the adventurous, those who like to don the hiking boots, or strap a kayak to the roof, the scenery and outdoor life beyond the city is simply breathtaking. This is just a visual taster of what's on offer - we can direct you to so much more...
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