Visiting Portland from Seattle (2 nights only)

[Legacy Bear]

Originally Posted by leastprime

McMenamins.com
Which one? About a dozen of them, most do their own brews.
PDX has many brew-pubs only to be matched by Bend with 40+.
Skip Chinatown, nothing there unless you want to do the traditional house. Skip Voodoo donuts.
Do Saturday Market which is Sat/Sun and the SeaWall, Oyster House, couple of brewpubs,
Zoo is accessed by TheMax.
Learn the StreetCar, Trolly, and TheMax transit System.

Where are you coming from?

From Tacoma, WA. We will mostly be there for the middle of the work week. I thought Voodoo donuts was a popular venue. haha.

We will be driving because of family needs and prefer that way. Mass transit may be a bit difficult and hassle for us. Is it possible or preferable to drive to the Zoo?

[Legacy Bear]

Originally Posted by Haley James

Jake's for seafood:

Seafood Portland - Jake's Famous Crawfish Portland | McCormick & Schmick's

The Crystal McMenamins is on West Burnside & 12th and within blocks of Jake's, Powell's, etc.

McMenamins - McMenamins Crystal Hotel - Portland, OR (503) 972-2670 - Portland Oregon Hotels

We are trying to find a convenient location for the stay. Thank you for those eatting spots. Looks good.

The McMenamins looks like a franchise? Will it be okay for family? Looks cool.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

It would help to know what sorts of things you like. Tourist things, greenery, scenery, nightclubs, restaurants, city-scapes?

My friends who come down from Seattle always hit the outlet mall at Woodburn. There are some fairly good prices and no sales tax. They also have some computer parts store where they load up on electronics. The lack of sales tax can make for huge savings.

I always recommend Multnomah Falls to people who like scenery,

Both the rose garden and the Japanese Garden are attractive.

There are lots of art galleries if you like that sort of thing. If you like books, there is Powell's Books and if you have good timing, the actors from Grimm sometimes shop at Powell's.

There is a nice park along the river where there are sometimes craft fairs or things going on. There's probably a schedule online.

If you are interested in sea lions, drive out to Astoria and see thousands of them. Eat lunch at the Bow Picker for fish and chips.

There are at least two ships that give river tours out of Portland.

[Legacy Bear]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

It would help to know what sorts of things you like. Tourist things, greenery, scenery, nightclubs, restaurants, city-scapes?

My friends who come down from Seattle always hit the outlet mall at Woodburn. There are some fairly good prices and no sales tax. They also have some computer parts store where they load up on electronics. The lack of sales tax can make for huge savings.

I always recommend Multnomah Falls to people who like scenery,

Both the rose garden and the Japanese Garden are attractive.

There are lots of art galleries if you like that sort of thing. If you like books, there is Powell's Books and if you have good timing, the actors from Grimm sometimes shop at Powell's.

There is a nice park along the river where there are sometimes craft fairs or things going on. There's probably a schedule online.

If you are interested in sea lions, drive out to Astoria and see thousands of them. Eat lunch at the Bow Picker for fish and chips.

There are at least two ships that give river tours out of Portland.

We want to go to the Rose Garden/Zoo and Japanese Garden for sure. The Woodburn sounds like a good spot as well.

Do you guys have any ideas on the hotel spots? Noticed the downtown hotel spots don't have free parking?

Looking at:
Park Lane Suites & Inn
McMenamins Crystal Hotel

Thanks

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by Legacy Bear

From Tacoma, WA. We will mostly be there for the middle of the work week. I thought Voodoo donuts was a popular venue. haha.

We will be driving because of family needs and prefer that way. Mass transit may be a bit difficult and hassle for us. Is it possible or preferable to drive to the Zoo?

Check out Blue Star Donuts and yes you can drive and park at the zoo.

[Legacy Bear]

Do you guys know why the parking for some of these downtown hotels to be separate and paid? Does that mean they don't have their own lot?

[CanuckInPortland]

Originally Posted by Legacy Bear

We kind of want to go to the Oregon Zoo and mostly want to find a place of convenience to see things. We read about the Chinatown area, but read mixed things.

Everyone will tell you not to go to Chinatown, it's pretty small and kind of sad these days(especially the homeless camp right near the Chinatown Gate), but the Chinese Garden is worth it. I've been to the ones in Suzhou, China that influenced the style of it(and my mom is Taiwanese Chinese), and I'll say it's a remarkable Chinese garden and great place to check out(very peaceful and beautiful) and the little tea house there is good if one wants to try some tea and have some traditional Chinese snacks or small dishes. (The Chinese restaurants around Chinatown aren't great but Good Taste Noodle House is fairly good along with Golden Horse--but the best Chinese food in Portland is actually way over on the eastside of the city on SE 82nd.)

Also, one of the nicest walks downtown is down the South Park blocks--maybe stopping at the art museum and then through Directors Park and then over the 10th Ave towards Powell's Books. You pass a lot of good places to eat including South Park for seafood, Shigezo for Japanese food, and Jake's Grill(and Jake's Crawfish is right up the street), but also the best street cart pod around SW 10th and Alder(great for lunch). This area of downtown is also more pleasant and interesting than the Old Town area around Voodoo Donuts and Saturday Market.