What to do in Portland, OR...

[mrubin 0]

My girlfriend and I are going to be spending a weekend in Portland soon and are looking for ideas of things to do. We are going up to visit her brother, who has only lived there for a few weeks and knowing the three of us, if we don't have some ideas beforehand there will be a lot of sitting around trying to figure out what to do.

So what are some fun things to do or cool things to see or good places to eat/drink?

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

[NWFlyer 2]

If you're any kind of book nerd, go to Powell's Books.

Deschutes Brewery's Public House has some cool beers you won't get elsewhere, and above-average grub, too (the Brewery Pretzel is amazeballs).

I haven't spent any non-work time there in a while, though, so I'm not as up on the fun stuff other than good restaurants on an expense account.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[yoink 321]

Rogue Brewery is worth a beer. Good chocolate there too.

[riggerrob 643]

Depending upon the type of "high" you are seeking, you could either ride the street cars and cable car up to the hospital over-looking downtown Portland ....... or you could buy a variety of recreational drugs from the amateur pharmacists who sell their wares closer to the river.

[JerryBaumchen 1,467]

Hi Matt,

Quote

My girlfriend and I are going to be spending a weekend in Portland

Crazy human nature: I have lived here almost all of my life and then get perplexed when someone asks about what to do.

There is a lot to do & see. Powell's bookstore on 10th & Burnside is a must do. You will be amazed.

Lots of craft/micro breweries if you like that kind of beer.

The Oregon coast is only 90 minutes away and I recommend taking a day & going to Cannon Beach; IMO you will not regret it.

Lots of great restaurants, Google is your friend here.

If downtown, spend some time just people-watching at Pioneer Square. And get your pictures taken with Umbrella Man at Pioneer Square.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allow_Me_(Portland,_Oregon)

And if you really get bored, give me a call: 503-481-4714

JerryBaumchen

PS) Maybe your brother & you could go to the coast and I'll watch your girlfriend for you.

[Amazon 7]

JerryBaumchen

Hi Matt,

Quote

My girlfriend and I are going to be spending a weekend in Portland

Crazy human nature: I have lived here almost all of my life and then get perplexed when someone asks about what to do.

There is a lot to do & see. Powell's bookstore on 10th & Burnside is a must do. You will be amazed.

Lots of craft/micro breweries if you like that kind of beer.

The Oregon coast is only 90 minutes away and I recommend taking a day & going to Cannon Beach; IMO you will not regret it.

Lots of great restaurants, Google is your friend here.

If downtown, spend some time just people-watching at Pioneer Square. And get your pictures taken with Umbrella Man at Pioneer Square.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allow_Me_(Portland,_Oregon)

And if you really get bored, give me a call: 503-481-4714

JerryBaumchen

PS) Maybe your brother & you could go to the coast and I'll watch your girlfriend for you.

Oh we HAVE to send them to people watch in the Hawthorne District... 35th to 39th and Hawthorne on the east side. There is also the same 35th to 39th area just to the north on Belmont too for the same vibe.
You too can see the real people who inspire the antics of the TV Show.. Portlandia.

Go see a [url "http://www.mcmenamins.com/219-bagdad-theater-pub-home"]movie at the Bagdad.. you will NOT regret it or the people watching opportunities there.

[lawrocket 3]

[Reply]If you're any kind of book nerd, go to Powell's Books.

[JerryBaumchen 1,467]

Hi Jeanne,

Quote

Oh we HAVE to send them to people watch in the Hawthorne District...

A great suggestion. And my favorite restaurant is nearby:

http://www.wildabandonrestaurant.com/

As others have noted, it is a great city for things to do.

JerryBaumchen

[billvon 3,116]

Stay at the Crystal Hotel downtown.
Breakfast at Old Wives Tales, a classic Portland cafe.
Hike in Forest Park.
Matinee at The Baghdad (old movie theater that serves beer and pizza, and has tables in the theater) or the Mission (similar.)
Walk by Voodoo Donut. Don't go in, just walk by and take a picture of yourself there, so that when people ask "did you go to Voodoo Donut?" you can say yes.
Browse used books at Powell's.
Beer tastings at Cascade, Hopworks, Rogue (be sure to do the bathroom tour, avoid Voodoo Donut beer) and Bridgeport.
Walk around Pearl District.
Dinner at Deschutes Brewery

You can trolley/walk most of this.

[mrubin 0]

Thanks for the great ideas everyone. Keep them coming. It's great to be able to have so many ideas to choose from.

And Jerry, now I'm going to keep a close eye on my girlfriend.

"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

[kawisixer01 0]

I second cannon beach, beautiful. I spent several weeks working at our plant in Vancouver. The one super fun day I had was just driving back roads over to cannon beach, then north up the coast and a loop into Mt St Helens. (LONG DAY!)Multnomah Falls is a pretty nice hike and neat area. We had lunch at a place called the Grant house, which is President Grant's old quarters, turned into a restaurant. I checked out the Mt. Hood area for an afernoon and it was gorgeous. If you have never seen a lock and dam operate you could drive up the Columbia Rive to the next one upstream. It's not overly exciting but interesting if you've never seen one operate. We ate at a place place called Island Cafe once in Jantsen Beach area.