Things to Do and See I N A N D A R O U N D P O R T L A N D, O R E G O N Portland is one of the nation s most livable, enjoyable cities, and its wealth of attractions and activities make it easy to understand why. The city has a lively arts and culture scene, with several large museums, a dozen or more performing arts organizations, and several interesting districts, each with their own distinct character and shopping and dining offerings.
Local Attractions Portland s Cultural District is home to many cultural and historical attractions including Pioneer Courthouse Square, the Portland Art Museum, Oregon History Center, Central Library and Old Church. The light rail system makes it easy to navigate the city, from downtown to various districts to outlying parks and attractions. There s a lot to celebrate here, from the region s microbreweries and wineries to its inspired cuisine, diverse cultural traditions, arts and music. Sports enthusiasts will always find an event going on, whether at the Rose Garden or Portland International Raceway, and they can get into the game at one of the city s many parks and golf courses. Walkers will enjoy downtown s many historical landmarks and pedestrian-friendly streets, and nearby Tom McCall Waterfront Park offers great city views and access to the new Eastbank Esplanade.
Golf & Wine Country Fore! Many golf courses are within a short distance from the hotel including Heron Lakes, Broadmoor, and Colewood. For the avid golfer, no trip to Portland would be complete without visiting Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course or The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Course, two courses famous for hosting professional events. If you re yearning for the great outdoors, you need not venture far, for Portland sits in the midst of splendid natural beauty that offers easy access to rivers, mountains, forests and coastline. It s also not far from you guessed it Oregon s famed Willamette Valley wine country, where you can sample some of the world s finest pinot noir vintages. Visit Sokol Blosser, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Duck Pond, Montinore Vineyards, Kings Estate and many, many more.
Local Places of Interest Just three miles from downtown, Audubon House and Nature Store is 150 acres of forested land are home to an impressive variety of plants and animals. Four miles of maintained trails wind through interconnecting sanctuaries and are open to the public every day from dawn to dusk. The Grotto is a lush 62-acre sanctuary and botanical garden is a serene setting for quiet reflection. Established in 1924, The Grotto is one of Portland s internationally renowned visitor attractions. This natural gallery offers spectacular views of the Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Mountains Nestled in the scenic west hills of Portland, Oregon, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of tranquil beauty which has been proclaimed one the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan. Ancient Japan is recaptured at the scenic Japanese Garden featuring 5 traditional gardens and an authentic pavilion and tea house. Called a virtuoso ensemble by the Washington Post, the Oregon Symphony is the oldest major orchestra in the West and one of Portland s great cultural attractions. The symphony performs over 120 concerts annually at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Marvel at the beauty and history of one of our region s great mansions The Pittock Mansion. Learn about Henry and Georgiana Pittock and the estate which symbolizes their contributions to the growth of Portland. Browse at the gift shop or enjoy a lunch or a dessert at the Gate Lodge Restaurant. Just below the Rose Garden is a sprawling, brightly-colored play space designed for people of all ages and abilities. The playground at the Rose Garden Children s Park is a wonderland of structures and includes wheelchair accessible swings, sand tables, water spouts, ramps and activity areas. The Oregon Zoo, ranked one of the top zoos in North America, is a state-of-the-art, naturalistic exhibits have won many national awards. During the summer, board the zoo train for a ride through the wooded hills of Washington Park to the International Rose Test & Japanese Gardens. On some summer nights, enjoy outdoor concerts, and in October take the ZooBoo train for Halloween chills & thrills. Experience more in a single day than you ever imagined on elegant, high-speed Great Rivers excursion boats on a Willamette and Columbia River Cruise. Day trips to the Columbia Gorge, Astoria, Mt. St. Helens and Hood River. The vessels feature inside decks with spacious booths and table seating. All tours are fully narrated and provide all-weather comfort. Stand face to face with a Pyg fig tree or hike through an exhibit of old growth forests at the World Forestry Center. Gift shop, free parking. Although springtime is the best time to see the spectacular Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, summer is a time to enjoy the tranquil and wooded gardens. Ducks and other waterfowl nest and feed in this natural habitat. The seven acre garden is perfect for a picnic. Living history interpretation, exhibits and multimedia dramatization immerse visitors in the dreams, desires and adventures of those who made the journey west at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center.
Historic Sights & Museums Fort Vancouver national historic site was originally a British commercial enterprise ran by Hudson s Bay Company, headquarters for the fur trade in the Northwest. This reconstructed fort offers exhibits, educational films, cultural demonstrations and an audio tour. Enter the dramatic galleries and explore the sights, sounds and stories of Oregon through a variety of exhibits for the entire family at the Oregon History Center. At the Portland Children's Museum the mission is to inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning in children and adults by inviting moments of shared discovery. Portland Children's Museum was founded by visionary Dorothea Lensch in 1946 as part of Portland Parks and Recreation. The Museum is now the sixth oldest children s museum in the country, and each year the Museum welcomes more than 245,000 children from birth to age ten and their caregivers. Time prints of the millennia are boldly etched on the walls of the Columbia Gorge. They record a 40-million-yearlong story of change, endurance and majesty. The first human imprints in the Gorge were left by the Indian cultures that flourished here for thousands of years, drawing both spiritual and physical strength from this bountiful place. When you visit the Columbia River Gorge Interpretive Center Museum, you are able to visualize and participate in the bountiful life of the Columbia River Gorge. Visitors will also find a 37-food fishwheel, the world s largest rosary collection, an art gallery and American Indian artifacts. Portland was founded as a river port, and to this day the metro area, the entire state and the communities of Southwest Washington share a vital connection to river marine and recreation. The Maritime Center & Museum mission is to provide, operate and maintain facilities dedicated to the collection, preservation and public display of maritime objects; to collect and preserve maritime records for scholarly use; to provide public meeting opportunities for maritime interpretation and education and to encourage interest and educate the public in the past present and future maritime heritage of Oregon and the Columbia river basin. This museum stands as a tribute to an industry which remains an important part of the state s history. Two floors of exhibits and models as well as the restored Sternwheeler Portland, which is docked at the front door, are part of the museum tour. Step through the doors of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and enter a world of discovery and imagination! An array of interactive exhibits, live demonstrations, planetarium presentations, laboratory experiments and off-site classes and camps offer people of all ages an adventure. Climb onboard and tour an actual submarine and learn about the technology of underwater exploration. The state-of-the-art OMNIMAX Theatre utilizes a five-story domed movie screen to create a cinematic experience unlike any conventional flat-screen theatre. You can always count on finding something new and exciting at OMSI. The Portland Art Museum is internationally recognized for its collection of more than 42,000 objects reflecting the history y of art from ancient times to today. Spanning 35 centuries of Asian, European and American art, the museum regularly features national and international traveling exhibitions and offers a full program of tours, lectures, films and special events.
Shopping Located at the gateway to Portland International Airport, Cascade Station is a vibrant, mixed-use project that features major retailers such as IKEA, DSW Shoes, Target, Best Buy, Staples, Ross and Marshall s. Cascade Station is adjacent to a MAX light rail station and offers convenient access to I-205 and Airport Way. The Columbia Gorge Factory Stores have over 40 factory outlet stores with brand named merchandise, all at 25% to 65% savings every day. With 58 stores within walking distance from the Red Lion Hotel on the River, the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter is a convenient stop during your stay. Jantzen Beach is taking a fresh look at modern-day retail. Combining top national retailers, conveniently surrounding the mall in an openair setting, with an interior mall of local and one-of-a-kind merchants. Home of the largest running wooden carousel in the country, the 1921 CW Parker Carousel is the jewel of Jantzen Beach and is open daily. Featuring over 200 specialty stores at Lloyd Center Mall, you are certain to find your favorite food around every corner. Featuring an Olympic-quality ice skating facility, a food court and a multiple movie theatre complex inside the mall. Lloyd Center is anchored by Macy s, Nordstrom, and Sears and is located at the corner of 9th and Multnomah. The region s most fashionable shopping destination is located in the heart of downtown Portland. Pioneer Place offers more than 70 distinctive shops, completed by Saks Fifth Avenue, open onto a spectacular glass-covered atrium. Eighteen eateries, offering a broad menu of international foods, are available at the Cascades Food Court.
Churches Central Lutheran 2104 NE Hancock Portland Evangel Baptist Church NE 29 th & Flanders Portland First Covenant Church 107 NE 45 th Portland Fremont United Methodist 2620 NE 17 th Portland Greek Orthodox Holy Trinity 3131 NE Glisan Portland Holladay Park Church of God 2120 NE Tillamook Portland Holy Rosary Catholic Church 375 NE Clackamas Portland Mormon Temple 13600 Kruse Oaks Blvd Lake Oswego Temple Beth Israel 1931 NW Flanders Portland The Grotto NE 85 th & Sandy Blvd Portland Calvary Baptist Church 2400 East Fourth Plain Blvd Vancouver St. James Catholic Church 218 West 12 th Street Vancouver Church of Christ 800 NE Andresen Vancouver First Baptist Church 108 West 27 th Street Vancouver
The Scenic Oregon Coast Visit the scenic Oregon Coast where you will find old lighthouses, the Tillamook Cheese Factory, sand dunes, and a lot more or spend the day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. A slice of Oregon s rugged coastline is replicated on the shores of Newport s Yaquina Bay. More than 190 native species of marine animals live among the aquariums six acres of high cliffs, yawning caves, rocky pools, rolling waves and spacious indoor galleries. Seaside has been the Northwest s most popular ocean resort for over a century and only 90 minutes from Portland, Oregon. It is a destination paradise for a wide variety of reasons: its spectacular ocean views, miles of public beach, unique natural setting, mild ocean climate, outdoor activities, year-round events, excellent shopping, and unforgettable dining. Visitors delight in dozens of unique boutiques, specialty shops, art galleries and antique stores. Our 1.8-mile long ocean front Promenade is perfect for strollers, joggers and bike riders.
The Breathtaking Columbia River Gorge Explore Multnomah Falls and the spectacular Columbia River Gorge a gorgeous, natural wonder, the gorge offers scenic wonders for everyone and is a haven for mountain biking, wind surfing, camping, fishing, boating, sailing, wildlife watching, birding, wildflower viewing, photography, picnicking, and rock climbing. Bring your hiking shoes as there are several trails that take you exploring through the woods to find mother nature at her best! Travel further East to Hood River and you will find the windsurfing capitol of the world! Maybe you will be here in time to catch the beginning of the Hood River Valley Blossom Festival or take the historic Mt. Hood Railroad for a train ride through the valley s orchards. Continue up the loop to Mt. Hood and find Timberline Lodge.