edit Portland Travel Guide

• Saturday Market, SW 1st Av. (under the Burnside Bridge). Sa 10AM-5PM and Su 11AM-4:30PM, 1st weekend in Mar-Dec 24. This market and craft fair, where everything sold is handmade, is the largest open-air crafts market in continuous operation in the US. Free.
  
• Washington Park, head of SW Park Place. Includes many attractions, including the Oregon Zoo, the World Forestry Discovery Museum, the International Rose Test Gardens, the beautiful Japanese Gardens, as well as the Hoyt Arboretum which houses miles of hiking trails. It also houses memorials for the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as a Holocaust memorial.
• First Thursday of every month all art galleries in the Pearl district are free, and many serve wine and cheese. The Pearl as the locals call it is a newly remodeled and redeveloped area across from downtown P-town. It was old warehouses just five years ago and now it is posh high rises and condos that have trendy shops and galleries at street level. A modern new city park sits in the middle that includes a boardwalk, grass, trees, waterfall which fills a pool every half hour or so. Little kids love the water on a hot day.

Had a coin flip gone the other way, the largest city in Oregon would be called "Boston, Oregon". From that fateful coin flip on, the city of Portland has, for the most part, been the recipient of great fortune.

Portland lies about 70 miles from the Pacific Coast on the northern border of the state of Oregon, straddling the Willamette River just south of its confluence with the Columbia River at Vancouver, Washington. About 50 miles to the east lies majestic Mount Hood, which forms the perfect backdrop for Portland's skyline.

As the largest city between San Francisco and Seattle, Portland vies with those cities as the spiritual capital of the laid-back northern Pacific coast. However, it does so in a way that mixes big-city dynamics with small-town friendliness. Until recently Portland avoided the problems that come with fast growth. Although Portland is now experiencing rapid growth, similar to Seattle, it has been able to keep its unique character.

Progressive city planning practices, such as an urban growth boundary, have made Portland a very compact and user-friendly city. Unlike other metropolitan areas, you can drive 10 miles from downtown and be out in the country. Environmentally friendly practices, such as recycling, are part of the culture here. It is also known for taking creative and unconventional ideas to solve its problems. For instance, it tore up a downtown freeway and transformed it into Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Its public transportation system, TriMet includes the MAX light rail system. MAX, which has won nationwide acclaim, was originally built in the 1980s.

In recent years, the city has become known as much for its microbreweries, much like Seattle's reputation for its coffee houses. There are many microbreweries around Portland, many of which have won nationwide and international acclaim.

It is also known for being the home of Ward Cunningham, inventor of the "wiki".

Portland is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with an exciting blend of historic and modern architecture. The scenery can't be beat with views of Mt. Hood and the Willamette River, stately Douglas Fir trees, roses everywhere and stunning seasonal color. Combine this with great art, waterfront festivals, a diverse population and you have one very exciting city.

By plane

Portland International Airport (PDX) is located 9 miles northeast of downtown on the Columbia River. Most major airlines serve Portland from nearly all major airports in the United States. Non-stop air service is also available from Vancouver, BC, Canada; Tokyo, Japan; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Frankfurt, Germany. Daily direct service is also available to Mexico City, Mexico; and Singapore.

A taxi from the airport to downtown is around $30. The MAX light rail will only set you back $2.00 ($2.05 beginning September 2007) and will take you from one end of the Portland to the other. Plus it goes directly into downtown. All light rail connects with the city wide bus system. You be the one to decide: MAX or taxi.

If you're renting a car, the best way to get to downtown Portland from the airport is to take I-205 south to I-84 west, then follow the signs to the City Center at I-84's terminus and interchange with I-5. This will take you over the Morrison Bridge into downtown. Renting a car for a downtown destination is not recommended: inconvenient, spendy and hard-to-find parking combined with active parking meter enforcement (8AM-7PM) and nonintuitive street closures, transit malls and restrictions make it frustrating--even for locals. Within downtown, buses, MAX and the streetcar are free. Most people can walk from one end of downtown to the other in 15 minutes—-faster than driving at times.

By train

Amtrak provides service to Portland from all along the west coast. The Amtrak Cascades service runs two trains per day between Portland and Eugene, Oregon to the south. Additionally, there are three Cascades trains between Portland and Seattle to the north. These trains are more reliable schedule-wise than the long distance trains.

For long distance service, Portland is served daily by the Coast Starlight, running the length of the West Coast (Seattle-Portland-San Francisco Bay Area-Los Angeles). The Starlight has earned the nickname the "Starlate", since it is usually delayed for hours running north from California. The Empire Builder (Portland-Spokane-Glacier Nat'l Park-Minneapolis/St Paul-Milwaukee-Chicago) also provides daily service eastward, and tends not to be as delayed as the Starlight.

Portland's Union Station, 800 NW Sixth Av., is located north of downtown, about a 15-minute walk from Pioneer Square. It is adjacent to the Greyhound bus station. The bus mall ends at Union Station, so local TriMet Buses run by Union Station very frequently.

By car

From Washington to the north and California as well as most of the rest of Oregon to the south, the easiest way to get to Portland is on Interstate 5. You can enter the south part of downtown from I-5 before it goes over the Willamette River, or you can take I-405 which runs directly through downtown Portland with a number of exits.

From Boise and other points east, Interstate 84 leads along the Columbia into Portland. From the Oregon Coast Highway and other points along the Pacific coast to the west, the easiest approach is U.S. 26. It cuts east towards Portland between Cannon Beach and Seaside.

By bus

• Greyhound  provides bus service along the West coast as well as from points inland.
• Shared Route Biodiesel bus runs from Portland to Seattle, with a stop in Olympia. Fares from Seattle are $30 one-way, $50 round-trip; fares from Olympia are $20 one-way. Operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.

By boat

No useful boat lines exist, although you can cruise up and down the river.

Portland is an easy city to bike, walk or use public transport. Much of Portland is a grid, so it should be fairly easy to navigate. In general, east-west streets are named while north-south avenues are numbered. This doesn't hold true in the North Portland neighborhood where avenues are also named, or in the hills where roads are helter-skelter.

By Car

TriMet and other Public Transport

TriMet maintains Bus and MAX Light Rail throughout the Portland area. There are three MAX Light Rail lines:

• The Blue Line, which runs from Hillsboro east through Beaverton and downtown to Gresham.
• The Red Line, which runs from the Portland International Airport to downtown and west on to Beaverton.
• The Yellow Line, which connects downtown to the Expo Center.

Fares will depend on how much you travel, but a one-way ticket that covers all fare zones will cost $2, and an all-day ticket will cost $4.25, although when you get on the MAX they hardly check your tickets. A lot of people go on it and nobody checked if they had tickets. However, if an inspector (in a neon yellow vest and TriMet uniform) catches you without proof of fare, you can receive a ticket for $94-250.

In addition, the City of Portland maintains the Portland Streetcar line, which runs through the downtown area, connecting the Northwest Portland, Pearl District, Downtown, Riverplace, and South Waterfront neighborhoods, plus the Portland State University.

Most of downtown is covered by Fareless Square, where TriMet bus, MAX Light Rail, and Portland Streetcar fares are free.

C-Tran runs buses in Clark County, Washington. Fares for TriMet, C-Tran, and the Portland Streetcar are all interchangeable. Also available is a extensive system map available for a small cost from the tri-met store in Pioneer Square

By Foot

Portland is a great city for walking. Many intersections are designed with pedestrians in mind, and Portland has a lot of street life for an American city. Good mass transit also makes walking more feasible in Portland. In the Alphabet District in NW Portland, the streets are named alphabetically as they go north starting with Burnside.

Biking

Portland is an excellent city for cycling with a network of streets designed to be predominantly used by bicyclists. These streets, such as SE Ankeny, SE Salmon, SE Lincoln, and SE Clinton, are usually spaced about halfway between the main car thoroughfares in the grid of East Portland. The bike streets are generally signed with green "Bike Route" signs. Additionally, many major streets have striped bike lanes.

Maps of bike trails can be obtained from Metro, in the Bike There! section.

As in other places in the Pacific Northwest, there is abundant rainfall in the winter and spring. However, the rain is usually a fine mist; total precipitation in Seattle and Portland is less than most east coast cities. Nonetheless, a sunny day in the rainy season can seem to be very rare. Bring or buy an umbrella if you're in Portland between November and April. It should be noted, however, that a large portion of "Portlanders" don't use, or even believe in, umbrellas, instead preferring hoods and raincoats. Some more "hardcore" residents are even known to travel with no more cover than a baseball cap.

It is rumored that the one day which has never had recorded rain is July 12. But in the Rainy Season, Be prepared. (But June through October do only have a 5% chance of rain on any given day.)

Police

Fire Department

Hospitals

Crime

Portland is very safe for a city of its size. However, it is advisable to be cautious when walking alone during the night, particularly in Old Town/Chinatown, Burnside, portions of North Portland, and in Outer Southeast neighborhoods. It should also be noted that the downtown bus mall running on 5th and 6th avenues can be dicey late at night.

The mass transit system in Portland is excellent but after dark certain stops might want to be avoided.

Beaverton Transit Center (MAX stop) MLK (Bus stops) NE Sandy Blvd (Bus stops) Lloyd Center (MAX stop) NE 60th Ave (MAX stop) NE 82nd Ave (MAX stop)

The buses and trains are fairly well patrolled at night and downtown there is usually a good police presence. If you happen to spot a Trimet security guard he can give you a better rundown of places to stay away from or if you are feeling wary I sometimes see them escorting women from the train to their cars at the Transit Centers. So don’t be afraid to ask. The guards are usually very bored anyway and are willing to chat or help you out.

Smoking

• Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Rd., +1 503 226-1561. Located on the western side of town off of Hwy 26, the Portland zoo is the largest of its kind in the state. Some attractions are polar bears, elephants, sea lions, monkeys, Giraffes, and various birds and insects. Admission last summer was $12 for adults, and cheaper for seniors and children.

• Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW Broadway and Yamhill, +1 503 223-1613. Daily, 24 hours. Known as "Portland's Living Room," this is the central courtyard of downtown Portland. Notable sights in the square is the Weather Machine, a machine that predicts the weather every day at noon. Many other sculptures and art elements surround the square. Free.

• The Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse at SW 3rd Avenue, designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox in collaboration with Portland architecture firm BOORA, is visible as visitors approach downtown Portland via Washington Street. A canopy conceals a small grove of trees that grow on the roof, making the building one of Portland's most iconic buildings. It was designed with sustainability in mind; it exceeded Oregon's building energy codes by approximately 30% at the time of construction.

• The Public Services Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue (also known as The Portland Building). Considered an architectural icon. Designed by Michael Graves and built in 1982, its coloring and embellishment marked the arrival of postmodern architecture and the end of stark glass and steel edifices. The statue in front, "Portlandia", is the second largest copper statue in the United States--only the Statue of Liberty is larger.

• Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Naito Pkwy between the Steel and Marquam bridges. This wide expanse of green lawns along the downtown Portland waterfront was once a four-lane freeway. Growing environmental awareness led to the city replacing the freeway with this park. In Waterfront Park are several features: the Salmon Street Springs (see Do below), the Japanese American Memorial Garden, and the U.S.S. Oregon Memorial. Free.

• Mill Ends Park, the smallest park in the world.

• The NBA's Portland Trailblazers basketball team plays at the Rose Garden.

• Portland Duck Tours, Phone: 877-GO-BY-DUCK. Amphibious land & water tours of Portland.

• Museums

• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), 1945 SE Water Av., +1 503 797-6674. Open Tu-Su 9:30AM-5:30PM (after Labor Day to mid-Jun). OMSI is great for kids. It has hundreds of hands on activities and you can spend a full rainy day there and not get bored. But if all you want to do is see an awesome movie check out the IMAX theater that gives you a 360 view of space travel, scuba diving, race car driving, or an Africa safari. Museum admission: adults $8.50, seniors (63+) and youth (3-13) $6.50. OMNIMAX theatre: separate admission charge, adults $8.50, seniors (63+) and youth (3-13) $6.50.

• Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Avenue +1 503 226-2811. Su noon–5PM, M closed, Tu W Sa 10AM–5PM, Th F 10AM–8PM. The Portland Art Museum has several outstanding collections and is regularly updated by moving exhibits. 10-15$ for adults, 6$ for youths.
• Oregon Historical Society, located across the street from the Portland Art Museum.

Public art

• Last Thursday is said by many locals to be the alternative to First Thursday Centered around Alberta St. between Martin Luther King and 30th., it includes everything from wine tasting and gallery openings to street vending and performance artist walking the streets and sidewalks.
• The bronze statue of a woman on 5th & Washington is titled Kvinneakt, created by sculptor Norm Taylor. But everyone knows it as the "Expose Yourself to Art" statue, after a popular poster featuring a flasher facing this work. The flasher was a tavern owner named Bud Clark, who went on to become mayor of the city.
• Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, SE 28th Ave & Woodstock Blvd 503-771-8386 The development of a display and test garden was initiated in 1950 by the Portland Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. The more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants in the Garden have all been donated by volunteers and interested individuals, or purchased with specially donated funds. Beginning in early spring and continuing into summer, they provide a magnificent display of color, giving visitors the opportunity to view many varieties rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest. During the fall, many companion trees add dramatic coloring. Spring-fed Crystal Springs Lake surrounds much of the garden, attracting many species of birds and waterfowl.

• Washington Park, SW Park Place (off Highway 26), +1 503 823-PLAY. Daily sunrise-sunset. Washington Park is a classic urban park. Sprawling over about 140 acres just west of downtown Portland, the park encompasses a beautiful and relaxing Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo, the World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, the Rose Garden (with beautiful views of Portland and Mount Hood), a Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a Lewis and Clark Memorial. Free (some attractions charge admission).

• Forest Park, (in the northwest of the city) is about 20 km2 (7.7 mi2), or 5000 acres. It is the US's largest urban park. Many great hiking and biking trails to be found.

• Salmon Street Springs, SW Naito Pkwy and Salmon St. (in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park). A central computer controls 185 jets of water which produce regularly changing water patterns. A popular attraction for kids, especially during the warm summer months.

• The Grotto Gardens, +1 503 254-7371. Located on the city's Northeast side the tranquil and spiritual sanctuary hosts reflection ponds, secluded gardens, and shrines on the top of a basalt cliff. The best time to visit is during the Holiday season when the grotto is illuminated with lights. The is a very romantic destination for a special night out.

• Portland Rose Festival. This award-winning festival, held in early June, is Portland's largest event. The Portland waterfront is turned into a carnival for a week as military ships moor alongside Waterfront Park. The world-famous Grand Floral Parade is on the 11th. This festival has decreased in size in recent years and now consists of a few naval vessels and a large fairground with the usual assortment of rides. In 2005, it no longer appeared to be charging admission for the whole festival week, (although had been earlier in the week.)

• Chinese Classical Garden, NW 3rd & Everett. Tour recommended (noon & 1PM) however an audio tour looks to be in the works. Beautiful urban retreat in the heart of Chinatown with pond, teahouse, pavilions and lots of gardens. If you are on a budget (time or financial) you can peek in through the ornate open windows and see much of the gardens content without paying admission. Students receive concessions. Guides can be recycled on leaving. Disembark Old Town/Chinatown on the MAX.

• Oregon Zoo, 4001 SW Canyon Road, +1 503 226-1561. Daily (Sep 16-Apr 14) 9AM-4PM, (Apr 15-Sep 15) 9AM-6PM (Closed Christmas Day, Dec 25). The Oregon Zoo is the largest zoo in Oregon, and is known for its elephant breeding program. Adults $9.50, seniors (65+) $8, children (3-11) $6.50.

• Sadly, the well known Church of Elvis closed in 2001. If you still need to get married, head over to Voodoo Doughnutat 22 SW 3rd Avenue near Berbati's Pan. Voodoo Doughnut offers not only the standard cake and old-fashioned doughnuts, but also doughnuts topped with cereal, candy bars, strawberry Quik powder, and even a maple bar with bacon on it (menu here)! Voodoo is also known to locals as The Place to get vegan doughnuts, which are delicious to vegans and non-vegans alike. If you want a sugar rush and possibly a free huge doughnut, take the Tex-Ass Challenge. Eat one (yes, only one--but it's a biggie) of their oversized glazed doughnuts in under a minute and a half and it's free! (Must be purchased in advance.)

• Portland Beavers Baseball. The Portland Beavers, AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres, play in beautiful PGE Park from April to September. Tickets are cheap and the games are exciting for all.

• Portland Timbers Soccer is also played at PGE Park. The Timbers Army is the unofficial supporters' group. They have been chastised by the local media recently for their boisterous and sometimes profane cheering. After the game, hit the Bitter End Pub across the street from the stadium; it's a popular place to unwind for sports fans.

• Portland International Rose Test Gardens, Best to Come in May-July, largest rose test garden in US.

Located just 50 miles from the Cascade Range and 90 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Portland is the perfect home base for day trips to Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, the Columbia River Gorge, the northern part of the Oregon Coast, or the wineries in the Willamette Valley.