Getting Around Portland

Downtown Portland is very easy to get around without a car - take advantage of the public transportation! If you need additional information, speak with the concierge at your hotel. You can also use the TriMet trip planner to plan your trip via public transportation.

Max
This is the way to go. It is free within Fareless Square, which covers 300 city blocks. You can take the Max to go to Washington Park, the zoo, and OMSI. It is also very easy to take to and from the airport. Take note of the fareless zones because you will need to buy a ticket if you are outside this zone.

Portland Streetcar/Trolley
The Portland Streetcar runs on the street with traffic as a circulator between Portland State University, downtown, the Pearl District, and the Northwest District. It conveniently connects most of the food and attractions in and around downtown. You need to buy pass(es) for the trolley.

Taxi
Taxis are more difficult in Portland as they are few and far between and cannot be flagged down like NYC. Have the hotel call you one if you need to go anywhere from the hotel. You will be able to get a taxi from the airport. Phone numbers for cabs:

      Radio Cab 503-227-1212
      Broadway Cab 503-227-1234
      Portland Taxi 503-256-5400

What to do in Portland

Washington Park
Washington Park is the US’s largest public park, located in SW Portland, which is close to downtown. To get there, take the Max to Goose Hollow Station.

In or near Washington Park:
1) Japanese Garden
2) Hoyt Arboretum – If the weather is nice, go for a walk or hike through the Hoyt Arboretum which has 10 miles of trails and offers spectacular views. The Hoyt Arboretum starts at the Washington Park MAX Station.
3) Oregon Zoo

Additional Activities
Powell’s Books.
1005 W Burnside
You can spend an entire day browsing through this enormous and famous bookstore for used and new books. Visit especially if you are searching for a rare book or one no longer in print

Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Ave.
Portland Art Museum’s collection includes European and American painting and sculpture, English silver, Asian art, Native American art, Pre-Columbian art, Cameroon and other African art, contemporary art, sculpture, prints and drawings, and photography. Open every day except Monday.

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
1945 SE Water Ave.
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is one of the most popular attractions in Portland. OMSI offers a variety of interactive science displays and includes an OMNIMAX theatre, the Murdock Planetarium, and the USS Blueback Submarine.

Classical Chinese Garden
NW 3rd and Everett
Open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
An authentic Suzhou-style garden, the Chinese Garden is little changed from what might have greeted you during the Ming dynasty in China.
The Garden is located between NW 2nd and 3rd and NW Everett and Flanders in Old Town/Chinatown. The garden is also available by MAX or by buses 1, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 33, 40, and 77.

Saturday downtown Portland Farmers Market
South Park blocks at Portland State University, downtown Portland
Open Saturdays, 8:30 - 2:00.
If you are still here on the weekend, walk over to the park blocks at OSU and support the “Sustainable” community. Pick up some breakfast or lunch at any one of the artisan bread and pastry stores or local cheese producers and then browse through Oregon’s Fall bounty.

Waterfront Park
Along the Willamette River on Front Ave (SW Naito Pkwy)
Great walk along the river and view of the east side of the city.

Places to Eat

Portland is blessed with more than its fair share of exceptional eating establishments across many styles of cuisines – and so many restaurants use sustainable practices. Below are a few. Reservations recommended.

Higgins 1239 SW Broadway (503) 222-9070
Excellent Northwest cuisine. There is a formal dining area (reservation required) but also a more casual and modestly priced bistro area for which no reservation is needed. Largest selection of Belgian beers this side of Brussels.
http://higgins.ypguides.net/

Wildwood 1221 NW 21st Avenue (503) 248-9663
Another excellent restaurant that offers Northwest cuisine. Reservation recommended.
http://wildwoodrestaurant.com/

Hot Lips Pizza Various locations, including 1909 SW Sixth Ave and in the EcoTrust building.
Pizza by the slice. http://www.hotlipspizza.com/

Fife 4440 NE Fremont St (971) 222-3433
Delicious Northwest cuisine located on the East side of town. You will need a car or taxi to get to Fife. http://www.fiferestaurant.com/

Pazzo Ristorante 627 SW Washington (503) 228-1515
Excellent Italian food and an outstanding wine list. http://www.pazzo.com/

Bijou Cafe 132 SW 3rd Ave (503) 222-3187
Local fresh ingredients. Snapper hash is a trademark favorite. Very popular, so expect to wait (and wait) for weekend breakfast.

Additional Restaurants

Pacific Northwest

Jakes Famous Crawfish 401 SW 12th (503) 226-1419
A great place for fresh fish lovers! This 110 year old establishment offers not only lively atmosphere but also excellent food. This is the crown jewel (as wells as the 1st) in the McCormick & Schmicks chain. Note: don’t get this mixed up with Jake’s Grill (although owned by the same people). Reservation recommended.

Southpark 901 SW Salmon (503) 326-1300
Reasonably-priced and excellent Northwest meets Mediterranean cuisine. Eat in the main dining room or go to Southpark’s lively wine bar that offers a small-plate menu.

Asian

Typhoon 2310 NW Everett St (503) 243-7557
Great Thai food in an entertaining lively atmosphere.

Sungari Pearl 1105 NW Lovejoy St (971) 222-7327
Specializes in fresh, authentic elegant Chinese.

Pho Van Vietnamese Bistro 1012 NW Glisan St (503) 248-2172
Specializes in fresh, authentic Vietnamese food.

Pizza

Old Town Pizza 226 NW Davis (503) 222-9999
This would be a good opportunity to visit Portland’s Old Town. Delicious pizza and the restaurant is located in one of the city's oldest remaining buildings (built in 1880). Sits on top of the haunted Portland underground. (http://oldtownpizza.com/)

Pizzacato 705 SW Alder St. (corner of Alder and Broadway)
For a quick slice of yummy gourmet pizza. Also one on NW 23rd.

Breakfast/Brunch

Besaws 2301 NW Savier St (503) 228-2619
A Portland tradition. Go early or plan to wait.

Mother’s Bistro 409 SW 2nd Ave (503)464-1122
Great brunch on Sat/Sun and wonderful comfort food the rest of the week. Traditional homemade inspired recipes like mom used to make.

Brew Pubs/Microbreweries
Portland and its surroundings are known as the birthplace & capital for microbrewed beer. Visit one or many to build a pub crawl into your itinerary!

Laurelwood NW Public House – 2327 NW Kearny St. (503) 228-5553 Above average pub food to go along with award winning beers.

Rogue Ales Public House – 1339 NW Flanders St
This is a must for any & all beer connoisseurs. An extensive and impressive list of handcrafted beers. Give the Hazelnut nectar a try… it is delicious and made with Oregon hazelnuts.

Portland Brewing Company - 2730 NW 31ST Ave (503) 228-5269 Another establishment that serves up food better than your average pub- everything from comfort food to tasty fish tacos. Focus on German style beers.

The New Old Lompoc - 1616 NW 23RD Ave (503) 225-1855
Good homemade beers and ales. Great outdoor patio in the back.

Pilsner Room/Full Sail Brewing Company - 0307 SW Montgomery St (503) 222-5343
Attached to the Haborside restaurant. Great location over looking the Willamette River. The atmosphere can get hyper in the summer and on weekends.

McMenamins Pubs - McMenamins establishments are all over the Portland and Oregon area.
Check out the website for the closest to you: http://www.mcmenamins.com.

Places to Day Trip
These are places that you would definitely need to rent a car to get to. Talk to your concierge about getting a map of these areas or tour options.

Mt. Hood (see the picture at the top of this page)
Located about 1 hour east of Portland, Mt. Hood is a beautiful place to visit. Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood, used for the outdoor shots in the classic Stanley Kubrick/Jack Nicholson psychological- horror film The Shining, offers a spectacular view of the Cascade Mountains and Mt. Hood’s glaciers. On your way to Mt. Hood, you can stop at Multnomah Falls (second highest waterfall in the US) and hike up the trail to view the falls. You can leave Mt. Hood by way of the backside and drive through thousands of acres of fruit orchards (aka The Fruitloop). (http://www.pova.org/visitors/daytrips/hood.html)

Columbia River Gorge
Almost the same drive as Mt. Hood, you can stop at Multnomah Falls on the way. For even better views of the gorge, take the old Gorge Highway and stop at the Vista House for breathtaking views from above. When you reach Columbia River Gorge you can stop in the town of Hood River for lunch and stroll around this water-sporty town. Hood River is also called the “the Aspen of windsurfing,” and as the phrase suggests, many worldwide water-sporting events take place here. (http://www.pova.org/visitors/daytrips/hood.html).

The cliffs in the Columbia River Gorge tower 1,500 to 3,000 feet above the river and provide some of the most spectacular views. If you have good shoes and wish to hike to some of these views, there are some amazing hikes on the Washington State side, after you cross Bridge of the Gods.

Mt. St. Helens (Southwest Washington)
Visit Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and hike around and/or visit one of the several visitor and educational centers. (http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/mshnvm). Nearby you can visit Ape Cave and the surrounding parkland. Ape Cave is the longest lava tube in the conterminous United States (about 4 km long). Call or check the website first to be sure these areas are open. (http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/ApeCave/description_ape_cave.html)