If you've received something in the mail recently from me, you might appreciate this.
A Little Guide to Help You Plan (And Enjoy) Your Visit to Portland
Thank you for planning to share this special day with us. We have included all the pertinent information in your invitation, including event directions and recommended accomodations. Recognizing that you may choose to extend your stay in Portland, we have assembled this guide to help make your visit to the City of Roses as comfortable, enjoyable and memorable as possible. If we can be of any help, please let us know.
-- Bryce and Hannah
Welcome to Portland, Oregon USA
The Portland Oregon Visitors Association maintains a very useful site for visitors that is an excellent starting point. For more information about the state of Oregon, Travel Oregon is the official State of Oregon tourism site. It has a page on the Portland region.
Getting Here and Away
Portland is accessible by all major forms of transportation: air, train, bus and car.
Portland International Airport (airlines that serve PDX)
Book your airfare via Expedia.com
Ground Transportation from the airport (PDX)
Tri-Met provides local Bus and MAX Light Rail service in the Portland metro area
For those traveling from Seattle and Vancouver, BC or from Eugene, Amtrak Cascades rail service is a relaxing option.
Where to Stay
Portland has many fine hotels; we recommend the following as convenient options (in order of descending price):
Downtown Portland:
RiverPlace Hotel, from $149
Portland Marriott Downtown, from $109
Lake Oswego (8 miles south of downtown):
Fairfield Inn & Suites Portland South/Lake Oswego, from $84
Hilton Garden Inn Portland/Lake Oswego, from $79
Crowne Plaza Hotel PORTLAND-LAKE OSWEGO, from $63
Expedia offers many additional choices for those interested. (Downtown Hotels that Bryce especially likes: The Benson, The Heathman and Hotel Lucia)
Book your hotel via Expedia.com
Where to Eat
Portland's restaurant scene is really coming of age. Enjoy!
The Oregonian's A&E Dining Guide
CitySearch Portland Restaurants
What to Do (Before the wedding, after the wedding)
Okay, so you're flying in a day early or not flying out until Sunday -- what to do? Plenty -- and it's your choice. Depending on your interests, you can find beautiful scenery, engaging culture, tasty food and wine, lively nightlife, great shopping or a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities in and around Portland.
At the bottom of this section, we've provided links to help you track down whatever you might enjoy in your "off" time. In the next section we highlight a few "uniquely Portland" places and experiences that you won't want to miss.
Event Calendar
Portland Attractions
Regional Attractions
Uniquely Portland (Things Not To Miss)
Powell's City of Books occupies an entire city block and is the nation's largest independent bookstore. Powell's is a must for booklovers. Downtown.
Washington Park & International Rose Test Gardens - High above downtown Portland, Washington Park is an urban oasis and the Rose Gardens are the spiritual home of Portland. This is a great place to escape the city, have a picnic and enjoy the views of Mt. Hood and the downtown skyline.
The Portland Art Museum is presenting, for the first time for American audiences, an exhibition of paintings from the renowned collection of Dr. Gustav Rau (1922–2002). The 95 paintings in the exhibition represent one of the world’s most distinguished art collections, which spans nearly six centuries of art and features rarely-seen masterpieces by Fra Angelico, El Greco, Fragonard, Cézanne, Gainsborough, Courbet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, Bonnard and others. If you appreciate art, this is a definite must. We really enjoyed it. The show closes on Sunday, August 22.
Official Link: From Fra Angelico to Bonnard: Masterpieces from the Rau Collection
CitySearch has compiled a Portland 101 that highlights many of the attractions, shopping and dining districts and outdoor recreation areas that make this Portland. Worth a glance.
Beyond Portland (Day Trips)
One of the qualities I've always most loved about Portland is that in under two hours you can get to the ocean, the mountains, the Gorge, the high desert, an agricultural valley or wine country. So if you'd like to make this a long weekend, why not? Go wine tasting for an afternoon. Go watch wind surfers in the Columbia River Gorge (or try it yourself!). Head to the beach for a day. Here are a few pre-planned day trip suggestions to get you started. Or, if you are feeling more adventurous, here are 14 escapes statewide (follow this link if only to see the amazing pictures).
Final Thoughts
We hope this guide helps you to enjoy your time in the City of Roses this summer. We look forward to seeing you soon!
