T.J. and Krysia - Things To Do in Portland

Things to Do in Portland

We are thrilled to share the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon with our guests. Thank you for making the effort to travel to the place we currently call home.

For general information about things to do in and around Portland, please browse the www.travelportland.com website. Or check out a few of our recommendations below.

Eating.

Portland is home to a wide variety of outstanding restaurants. Authentic Portland fare is sourced from local, organic, sustainable farms. The Park Kitchen (422 N.W. 8th Avenue, between Flanders and Glisan; 503-223-7275) and Higgins (1239 S.W. Broadway, at Madison; 503-222-9070) capture the essence of Portland dining.

For the more traditional meat-eaters, try Ringside for steaks (2165 W. Burnside, at 22nd; 503-223-1513). Portland City Grill (111 S.W. Fifth Avenue, at Oak; 503-450-0030) has an extensive Northwest seafood and steak menu, as well as great views of the river and city.

The best breakfast in town can be found at Mother's Bistro (212 S.W. Stark Street, between 2nd and 3rd; 503-464-1122) - make reservations well in advance, or you'll be waiting at least a half hour for a table.

Drinking.

Beer ... Portland is known for its microbreweries and craft beer. We have spent many hours at BridgePort Brewing Company (1313 N.W. Marshall Street, between 12th and 13th; 503-241-7179) and Rogue Ales Public House (1339 N.W. Flanders Street at 13th; 503-222-5910). If traveling to our wedding is hindering your Oktoberfest plans, head across the river to Widmer Brothers Brewing Company (929 N. Russell Street; 503-281-2437) for good bier and German fare. Portland is also home to the McMenamin's chain and there are several pubs in the area (click here for information).

Wine ... The Willamette Valley is known for its outstanding Pinot Noirs, and tasting is much less commercialized than in the Napa/Sonoma and Santa Barbara regions. Rent a car and head about 45 minutes southwest of the city to the heart of the wine country – start in Newberg or Dundee, accessible via Highway 99W. One of our favorite wineries that's open to the public is Domaine Drouhin in Dayton (503-864-2700) - the photo on our homepage was taken there. For more information about area wineries, click here. If that's too much to sift through, give us a call and we'd be happy to help narrow down your list.

Shopping.

Oregon is a great place to shop, as there is no sales tax. The downtown shopping district includes Pioneer Place, which is walking distance from our recommended hotels. Or, take the streetcar out to NW 23rd Avenue for trendy boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.

If you have a car and are looking for a bargain, hit the Woodburn Company Stores on your way to or from the wine country; or check out the Columbia Gorge Premium Outlets during your scenic drive up the Columbia River.

Exploring.

The Pearl District ... We have both lived in the Pearl District during our time in Portland and enjoy its vibe and amenities. Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_District,_Portland,_Oregon) actually has a great description of the Pearl District.

The Pearl District begins about six blocks northwest of the downtown hotels. If you don’t want to walk, it is accessible via the Portland Streetcar and easily explored on foot (no need for a car). If you go, be sure to carve out some time for Powell’s City of Books (http://www.powells.com/), Portland’s landmark independent bookstore that occupies an entire city block between NW 10^th, 11^th, Burnside and Couch.

If you’re planning to spend most of your free time in the Pearl, please contact us and we will be happy to recommend additional things to explore (art galleries, shops, restaurants, etc.).

International Rose Test Garden ... Located in the hills west of downtown Portland (great city views), the rose test garden - not to be confused with the Rose Garden/Rose Quarter where the Trail Blazers play - is a must-see attraction. Founded in 1917, Portland’s International Rose Test Garden is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. The primary purpose of the garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. For more information, check out http://www.rosegardenstore.org/thegardens.cfm.

Columbia River Gorge ... Head out the I-84 for some great scenery and hiking trails. The Gorge is an 80-mile long river canyon that cuts the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountains. It also marks the border between Washington and Oregon.

Multnomah Falls and the Bonneville Dam are two well-known attractions along the Gorge. Have lunch at the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge (http://www.multnomahfallslodge.com/) or visit the Bonneville Dam, operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b/home.asp). We have also enjoyed visiting Skamania Lodge (http://www.skamania.com/) - a unique resort featuring a golf course, day spa, hiking trails, a restaurant, and spectacular views.

Additional information about the Gorge can be found in several places:

http://www.crgva.org/ or http://www.cascadelocks.net/thingstodo.htm for information about things to do in the area
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/columbia/ for historical and general information
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/or/hik_cg.htm for information about hiking trails

Golf Courses ... We both enjoy golfing and would be happy to recommend courses if you are interested in playing while in Portland. If you are a member of a private club, you may be able to arrange reciprocal playing privileges at Portland Golf Club, where our reception will be held. PGC is a beautiful old course with plenty of challenges.

When Krysia first moved to Portland, she dedicated the better part of three months to checking out public courses in the area. Here are several of her favorites:

The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club – two semi-private resort-style courses located in Aloha, about 30 minutes west of downtown Portland. The North course (our favorite) is open to the public during the second half of each month. Visit www.reservegolf.com for more information.
Eastmoreland Golf Course – a challenging 1917 Chandler Egan design located just across the river (east) from downtown. The course borders the Rhododendron Gardens and Crystal Springs Lake; the scenery makes playing here worthwhile despite slow rounds. www.eastmorelandgolfcourse.com
Langdon Farms – if you are driving to Portland from somewhere south, check out this course in Aurora on your way into town (25 minutes south of downtown). John Fought and Robert Cupp designed some great bunkers and crowned greens. www.langdonfarms.com
Forest Hills – get away from civilization and enjoy this hidden gem in out in Cornelius, about 45 minutes west of downtown. This course is a throwback to 1927 when it was designed by William Bell (Riviera and Bel-Air Country Clubs). A great value, and worth the drive. www.golfforesthills.com
Pumpkin Ridge – two resort-style courses located in North Plains, about 35 minutes west of downtown. The private course, Witch Hollow, hosted the U.S. Women’s Open in 1997 and 2003. The public course, Ghost Creek, is a good one in its own right. www.pumpkinridge.com
Heron Lakes – two decent public courses relatively close to downtown (15 minutes north - without traffic). The Great Blue course is interesting and challenging, with many water hazards. We have not played the Greenback course, which is supposed to be a bit easier. www.heronlakesgolf.com

Overnight Trips ... If you are planning to visit Oregon for longer than just the wedding weekend, there are many fantastic places to explore for several days. Please contact us and we would be happy to help you plan your trip to the Oregon Coast (a two hour drive from Portland), Bend/Central Oregon (three to four hours), Bandon Dunes (four to five hours), Crater Lake (five to six hours), or another destination depending on your interests.