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Portland?

Tom Henry

Tom Henry

Aug 2, 2014
176
182
imperial beach
soundcloud.com
#1
So my wife has never been to portland, and i've only traveled through and always wanted to explore it. With plane ticket sales being what they were, we planned a trip in mid september to portland.

What is cool to do in Portland? (besides food... wife has dietary issues and most restaurants won't work out for us:(

We like museums, funky one of a kind shops, music stores, goofy places like the mystery spot in santa cruz, etc....

Thanks!
 
#4
If it's Oregon, check out Jim and Patty's Coffee on Fremont. The Black Tiger espresso shake and a hand pie is what I'd recommend. It's in a cool neighborhood too.

Not much there for tourist activities, but the coffee is so worth it.

-Mike
 
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#7
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#8
There's plenty to do as tourist in Portland, even more if you travel around the state more. It is the best place I've ever lived, no question.
Powell books
The Waterfront
OMSI
Pittock mansion
The Shanghai tunnels
The pearl district
Pioneer courthouse square
Lots of great music venues
Tons of food, in restaurants that WILL accommodate your wives dietary needs, trust me, no matter what she can't eat, you will find several places that make food everyone can enjoy. This is the land of food allergies. I speak from experience here. My diet is also very restricted, and I never have a problem.
So many more things to do here.
Enjoy your visit. It's a great place to spend time in. And the people are still mostly as friendly as they've always been. Lots of outsiders moving in lately are changing that though.[/QUOTE]
 
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#9
Tom Henry said:
So my wife has never been to portland, and i've only traveled through and always wanted to explore it. With plane ticket sales being what they were, we planned a trip in mid september to portland.
What is cool to do in Portland? (besides food... wife has dietary issues and most restaurants won't work out for us:(
We like museums, funky one of a kind shops, music stores, goofy places like the mystery spot in santa cruz, etc....
Thanks!
Click to expand...
I went there for a wedding a very long time ago.
To be honest with you, I didn't "see" the city. I was mainly in Beaverton, a suburb of Portland.

Maybe this website might provide some ideas of things to do. Visit Portland, Oregon - Travel Portland
 
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#12
Tom Henry said:
So my wife has never been to portland, and i've only traveled through and always wanted to explore it. With plane ticket sales being what they were, we planned a trip in mid september to portland.

What is cool to do in Portland? (besides food... wife has dietary issues and most restaurants won't work out for us:(
Click to expand...

Never mind the food, can she drink beer?
 
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#13
OEW3 has her/his priorities in the right place with the recommendation at the top of the list. Powell's is amazing.

I haven't spent a ton of time in Portland, but I'll throw in a couple:

If you're into motorcycles, MotoCorsa is the #1 volume Ducati dealer in the world, I think. They're nice people, too. Last time I was there, they didn't charge for just looking!

And I know this is going to sound weird, but check out Sunlan Lighting. That whole neighborhood is really cool (OEW3, what is it called?) and I know that a light bulb store doesn't seem like it would be all that exciting, but I think I could have spent all day there. I am fairly easily amused.

Edited to add: Oregon Rail Heritage Center is great, too. Really great. Of course, it helps if you like trains.
 
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#15
blastoff99 said:
OEW3 has her/his priorities in the right place with the recommendation at the top of the list. Powell's is amazing.

I haven't spent a ton of time in Portland, but I'll throw in a couple:

If you're into motorcycles, MotoCorsa is the #1 volume Ducati dealer in the world, I think. They're nice people, too. Last time I was there, they didn't charge for just looking!

And I know this is going to sound weird, but check out Sunlan Lighting. That whole neighborhood is really cool (OEW3, what is it called?) and I know that a light bulb store doesn't seem like it would be all that exciting, but I think I could have spent all day there. I am fairly easily amused.

Edited to add: Oregon Rail Heritage Center is great, too. Really great. Of course, it helps if you like trains.
Click to expand...
I think that's in the Alberta neighborhood. I'm the type of guy who likes a good bulb store too.
 
#16
The Japanese gardens and the Chinese gardens are cool too.
Centaur Guitar, Trade Up Music, and Old Town Music, all three places have some decent gear most times I stop in. Lots of pedals.
 
#18
Music Stores:

Trade Up Music is my favorite, though the shop is kinda small, they are friendly and have different instruments every time I'm there.
If you're into drums Rhythm Traders has been recommended by pretty much every drummer here.
Portland Music Company is also great, especially the one on SE Martin Luther King Jr blvd (the owner is usually there and is a cool guy)

Food:

I know your said your wife has dietary restrictions, but maybe sneak out of the hotel at midnight and go over to Voodoo Doughnuts, it is worth the line.
Stumptown Coffee is my favourite local coffee shop
You are required to go to the food car block on SW Alder and 9th st.....
For dinner / drinks Bridgeport Brewing Company is king

Attractions:

Japanese Gardens and Rose Gardens at Forest Park
Chinese Gardens
Waterfront Park
Mount Taber Park
Sauvie Island
OMSI
Oaks Park
Powell's Books
The 3 Hipster walks (NW 23rd AVE, SE Division st from approximately 7th to 50th, and Hawthorne from approximately 7th to 50th)
THE SATURDAY MARKET (next to the Burnside Bridge around the SW Waterfront

Probably a lot I am forgetting, but someone else will probably cover it.

Also congrats, you will just miss the start of the rainy season! Expect weather with highs from the high 60's to high 80's with little to no rain and likely a mix of clouds and sun.
 
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#19
PortlandBass77 said:
Food:

I know your said your wife has dietary restrictions, but maybe sneak out of the hotel at midnight and go over to Voodoo Doughnuts, it is worth the line.
Click to expand...


Hey! The only reason I didn't mention this is that he said 'dietary issues' right off the top and I didn't want to be cruel!

Oh. We've all missed something really obvious: Weed's legal. :)
 
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