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OT: Suggestions for things to see & do in Portland area?

PSUSignore

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May 29, 2001
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I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, but my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.
 
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I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, by my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.
Pok Pok for Thai food. Causal, unique place. You won’t find Pad Thai on the menu. Get a reservation!
 
I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, by my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.

All the waterfalls in the Columbia Gorge. Beer Breweries like Full Sail. Pearl District downtown Portland. MT Hood and MT Hood National Forest. Apizza Scholls, Pok Pok, Voodoo Donuts, Blue Star Donuts, Food Carts, Cannon Beach, etc

If you have some time Bend Oregon and all the national forests in that area are amazing.
 
As others have mentioned, the Columbia Gorge & Mt Hood are must sees.
If you already have that planned then you could head to the Japanese Garden for a bit and you gotta get some ice cream from Salt & Straw! Worth the wait or skip the line and pick up a pint to go.
 
Voodoo donuts. The Rogue Brewery. Nike was an old client of mine and I always liked walking around their campus in Beaverton.
 
Been to Oregon and Portland twice - mostly for wine in the Willamette Valley. Lots of fun things to do though in the ABC District in Downtown Portland. Its called ABC because the streets in that part of the city from east to west are in alphabetical order. North to South streets are numbered so very easy to figure out where you are. Great brewery/food in district is Deschutes Brewery. Gets busy because it is so popular. We also hit the Lucky Lab and McMenamins in the district. On the other side of the river, we liked Hair of the Dog, Base Camp, Cascade(sours), and Rogue. There are 2 trolleys that run in the district that are cool. One goes to the other side of river past Portland Trailblazer's arena and near the breweries. Beware all the homeless. Lots of druggies/homeless in Portland now.
 
I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, but my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.
I could say that you can watch masked anarchists beat up people while the Portland police do nothing, but I won't. It's a shame that such a beautiful city is being ruined by these thugs while the feckless mayor condones this behavior by taking no action.
 
Portland has a pretty solid music scene, lots of jazz. Devin Phillips is from New Orleans, killer sax player. Look for him and if he is laying it down, go. BTW, my one son is his bass player.

If there is live music at the 1905 on a Friday night go, plan to stand, seating is limited.pizza slices are excellent, bar is busy, house rocks.

Peruse the Wineries in the Willamette Valley, lots of fun places to do tastings, play bocci and listen to music ( sometimes ) as well.

Great trails on the coast and just about everywhere inland. Both my kids do a ton of hiking out there.

There are many cool neighborhoods to check out where the Main Street is restaurants, bars, music shops, other shops, etc. etc.

Go to Proud Mary’s for breakfast, sit at the counter.

If you can get a seat at a communal table at Han Oak grab it.

Screen Door, another killer spot for Brunch. My sous chef son digs Nomad.

One of my favorites is Laurelhurst Market. Stand outside on the patio, have a glass of Pinot Noir before being seated. Great place.

If you like books, Go to Powell’s downtown, a full city block of happiness. Very cool to experience.
 
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Leave your MAGA hat at home.....


This

Keep up with any protest that may be happening and do what the locals do. Stay away. Antifa, Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer, they all have the ability to be a nuisance from time to time.
 
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Voodoo donuts is a tourist trap. They were cutting edge at one time... a long time ago.

Head out to the coast, it’s gorgeous and DeGarde is out there in tillamook. Plus cheese. You could also tour all the goonies filming locations.
 
Voodoo donuts is a tourist trap. They were cutting edge at one time... a long time ago.

Head out to the coast, it’s gorgeous and DeGarde is out there in tillamook. Plus cheese. You could also tour all the goonies filming locations.
Meh. You should once just to say you did it.

Like eating at Primantis it’s just something you can say you did -just because it’s there.
 
Watch two or three seasons of Portlandia....and watch this first:

'Portland is the city where young people go to retire...' LOL.

 
Meh. You should once just to say you did it.

Like eating at Primantis it’s just something you can say you did -just because it’s there.
I live in Austin and we have a Voodoo location here so I don't have plans to go there in Portland.
 
Portland has a pretty solid music scene, lots of jazz. Devin Phillips is from New Orleans, killer sax player. Look for him and if he is laying it down, go. BTW, my one son is his bass player.

If there is live music at the 1905 on a Friday night go, plan to stand, seating is limited.pizza slices are excellent, bar is busy, house rocks.

Peruse the Wineries in the Willamette Valley, lots of fun places to do tastings, play bocci and listen to music ( sometimes ) as well.

Great trails on the coast and just about everywhere inland. Both my kids do a ton of hiking out there.

There are many cool neighborhoods to check out where the Main Street is restaurants, bars, music shops, other shops, etc. etc.

Go to Proud Mary’s for breakfast, sit at the counter.

If you can get a seat at a communal table at Han Oak grab it.

Screen Door, another killer spot for Brunch. My sous chef son digs Nomad.

One of my favorites is Laurelhurst Market. Stand outside on the patio, have a glass of Pinot Noir before being seated. Great place.

If you like books, Go to Powell’s downtown, a full city block of happiness. Very cool to experience.
Wait, what? Can I ask who your son is?
His first name isn't eric is it?
I never played with devin but know s bunch of musicians that have.
 
I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, but my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.
Cannon Beach
 
Wait, what? Can I ask who your son is?
His first name isn't eric is it?
I never played with devin but know s bunch of musicians that have.
Ross. He arrived less than a year ago and now plays with Devon, Brent Follis, Noah Simpson, Dom Castillo, and many others. He is teaching, arranging, gigging, and seems to be putting it all together.

Are you in Portland? I will be in town later in October and would be happy to buy you a beer.
 
Wait, what? Can I ask who your son is?
His first name isn't eric is it?
I never played with devin but know s bunch of musicians that have.
I sent you a PM. Look at the mail icon upper right.
 
Look for the Portland Cement cracks of the week, and that wasn't one of them
He could visit the Portland Cement Building at 111 SE Madison Street.:)
1200px-Oregon_Portland_Cement_Company_-_Portland_Oregon.jpg
 
Ross. He arrived less than a year ago and now plays with Devon, Brent Follis, Noah Simpson, Dom Castillo, and many others. He is teaching, arranging, gigging, and seems to be putting it all together.

Are you in Portland? I will be in town later in October and would be happy to buy you a beer.
Cool! Haven't met him yet, but I'm very good friends with Brent. He plays on all of my recordings.

Let me know when you're in town.
 
Spent 6 days in Portland a couple of years ago.

Day 1 Columbia river gorge
Day 2 Drive to the coast
Day 3 - Drive down to wine country
Day 4 - Mt Hood.

All were easy day trips with plenty of time to spend at each. Made it back to Portland in time for a nice dinner out. We stayed at The Nines in Portland which was very nice and walked to every restaurant.
 
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I could say that you can watch masked anarchists beat up people while the Portland police do nothing, but I won't. It's a shame that such a beautiful city is being ruined by these thugs while the feckless mayor condones this behavior by taking no action.
I could say that your comment is foolish and ignorant.
 
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I have a cousin that lives there with her husband and kids (she's about my age, early 50's). She and her husband followed The Dead for over 3 years solid, true hippies. Even she says Portland is way to wacky these days.
 
THIS. I was going to suggest looking for "Brunch Village" so you can stand in line all day for marionberry pancakes.

...Or the nice restaurant where, before you order chicken, you can ask the waitress for the chicken's birth certificate, and documentation (with photos) of the chicken's happy life growing up on a beautiful farm.

Watch two or three seasons of Portlandia....and watch this first:

'Portland is the city where young people go to retire...' LOL.

 
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If you like steak go to the Ringside downtown. A great long established restaurant.
Also Jake's Crawfish house is a long standing Portland restaurant.
 
I'll be taking my first ever trip to PDX soon and am looking for suggestions for things to do relatively close to the city. I already have some hiking and camping planned for other parts of Oregon, but my city itinerary is largely unplanned aside from a trip to visit some of the nearby waterfalls. Restaurant and brewery recommendations are also welcomed. Thanks in advance.
Tgar's restaurants suggestions are all very good. Apizza Sholls and Pok Pok also very good.
If you give me more specifics on what you like, I can give you some more suggestions.
If you don't have a place to stay already, my neighbors have a nice Air BnB that is separate from their house (1BR), in a great neighborhood close to downtown.
Feel free to PM me as well.

Oh, and this...
https://www.eemportland.com/
 
Meh. You should once just to say you did it.

Like eating at Primantis it’s just something you can say you did -just because it’s there.

Any place worth going to only once is not worth going to ever. I can't imagine going to a place just to be able to tell someone I went there.
 
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