Weekend Getaway
Portland, Oregon. By Colin Anderson
If you have a couple of extra vacation days you need to use up, then a long weekend to the Rose City might be just the break you need. Portland, Oregon is home to nearly six hundred thousand people, but it feels surprisingly smaller and slower than neighboring Seattle and other cities of its size. It is an active community of mostly easy going people where the line to get into casual Sunday brunch is often twice the wait as a nice sit down dinner.
If it’s clear when you arrive in Portland, take a look all around and you should be able to see Mount Tabor, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Hood. You’ll also notice that the scenery is incredibly green. Portland is one of the rainiest large cities in the U.S., but all the showers help create an amazing landscape. Luckily the summer months are quite dry, averaging less than five inches of rain between May and August.
Long known as the Rose City, there are plenty of botanical gardens to explore including the famous International Rose Test Garden. The Willamette River runs directly through town splitting downtown from the convention center, mall, and Rose Quarter. Along the river lies Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a several mile stretch where people run, bike, sun, throw a Frisbee and otherwise relax. There is a floating maritime museum and also a ferry that arranges cruises up and down the river.
One of the most fun experiences in Portland is to meander through the Saturday market, which is now held on Sundays as well. The market is steps off the Waterfront Park and has everything you would expect and plenty you might not. You could stumble across a group of pirates singing sea shanties for change, right across from a stage show featuring jazz musicians. There are vendors selling handmade jewelry, clothing, art, spices and seasonings, and plenty of other trinkets. One stop you should definitely check out is the Spoonman who creates incredible pieces of art with old utensils. The market is kid and dog friendly, and you might find the two playing together in nearby fountains on a hot summer day.
Getting around town is easy with plenty of affordable public transportation options. The MAX light rail system connects downtown with the outlying suburbs, and the Portland Streetcar makes it easy to get to different shopping destinations downtown. There is also an extensive and safe bus system. Best of all are your own two legs. Downtown Portland is easy to navigate and isn’t more than a few square miles. Locals will always help point you in the right direction if you’re feeling lost.
Another incredibly unique site in Portland is the seemingly endless line of food carts spread all over town. At last count there were at least six-hundred street vendors cooking up any food you can imagine. Whatever you’re craving you’ll find it along with foods you’ve likely never tried. Best of all most meals are under ten dollars! These carts are regulated by the city so sanitation is typically not a concern and the food is safe to eat. You could spend your entire weekend just eating from food carts and never come close to having the same thing twice.
For beer and sports fans, Portland has plenty of both. There are more breweries here (60+) than any other metropolitan area in the WORLD. There are tasting festivals seemingly every weekend and local pubs carry a wide range of local flavors. For the sports fan, a live soccer game shouldn’t be missed. The atmosphere at a Portland Timbers game is right on par with matches in Europe, and you’ll soon be cheering right along. You can also check out NBA action with the Portland Trailblazers, or watch the Portland Winterhawks battle it out on the ice.
You could spend weeks here and barely touch what the city has to offer. There are countless parks, trails, bike paths, shops, dining, and adventures to pursue. Before visiting check with the chamber as there are festivals and celebrations just about every summer weekend. Give Portland a whirl and see why the locals want to “Keep Portland Weird.”
