Planning a visit to Portland next year sometime (hotels, neighborhoods)

[raubre]

Hello. I am thinking of planning a trip to Portland for sometime next year (spring or summer.) Can you give me some ideas of how I could spend my time, places to see or do neighborhoods to visit, place to stay etc.

A bit about myself and intrerests..

I am year old male who doesn't drive (I get around by bus.) I enjoy going to see live music (indie, rock, hard rock, new wave, adult alternative.) I enjoy trying different places to eat, quirky art galleries, zoos, shopping and simply just exploring. I am also a gay (not much into bars, but am willing to visit some.)

Also what would be an ideal place for me to stay (centrally or in one of the suggested neighborhoods)?

Also how is public transportation? Does it run pretty late?

Thank you for your help!

[DLJ67]

For visitors to do it right, there's not much choice other than staying downtown. Pearl District and the surrounding neighborhoods have numerous somewhat trendy boutique hotels. You can start here:
Pearl District Neighborhood Portland Oregon
...and check it out, as well as the neighboring areas.

Or, I can recommend the Jupiter Hotel across the river on the Southeast side of town, which is next door to the Doug Fir (music venue) and has quirky themed rooms...and it's a quick bus ride into downtown for day sightseeing.

In the summertime, the Alberta Arts District has an event called Last Thursday, held on the last Thursday each month, where the local galleries stay open late and it's basically a street fair atmosphere centered around their art & gallery scene.

You mentioned the zoo, which Portland has (the Oregon Zoo), and in the summertime there is a concert series - nothing too edgy, pretty mainstream acts. The zoo itself is OK - I've seen better, but it's not depressing like some I have visited. There are also numerous live music venues concentrated downtown, and scattered about the city. Your best bet would be to check out the online copies of Willamette Week and the Portland Mercury, a week or 2 before you arrive, for upcoming events.

Other sights / places to consider: Saturday market (which is open Sat and Sunday most of the year); Powell's books; Counter-Media books (near Powell's, for more alternative books & magazines etc); Thai Peacock for Thai food (also near Powell's - a friend from Thailand said it's the best Thai he's had in the USA); Masu for sushi; The Roxy for good greasy late-night breakfast; maybe take a tour of Portland's Shanghai Tunnels; wander around Old Town and our tiny Chinatown during the day (it can get kinda sketchy at night but still generally OK); not sure what you like to shop for but NW 23rd Ave has some trendy / indie boutiques, as does the Pearl District... The Hawthorne District has some good shopping opportunities as well.

Public transit varies by where you are and where you want to go - check trimet.org for schedules and routes. Your trip from the airport to downtown is pretty straight-forward on the light rail MAX system and takes about an hour +/-. If you're staying downtown, there is a large area called the fareless square where public transit is free (MAX light rail and street car - buses used to be free there as well but I'm not sure if they still are - trimet could tell you). Frequency of service is less often later at night - some routes stop running and others run very infrequently. Taxi drivers here don't respond well to be hailed, but you can sometimes catch one that way...otherwise program either Yellow Cab or Radio Cab #'s in your cell phone before you get here, so you have it when you need it.

[raubre]

Thank you so much!

[EnricoV]

Another option of places to stay are one of McMenamin's two hotels in the downtown area. The Crystal Hotel is new and right downtown, and more expensive. The White Eagle is smaller and on the east side, industrial area, but on a MAX line. It's cheap. They have "bunk" rooms as low as $40.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Another option of places to stay are one of McMenamin's two hotels in the downtown area. The Crystal Hotel is new and right downtown, and more expensive. The White Eagle is smaller and on the east side, industrial area, but on a MAX line. It's cheap. They have "bunk" rooms as low as $40.

Hmmmm, that's a good idea! Thank you!