There is no better place to branch out than in the "Greenest City in America" --
Portland, Oregon. The city's allure centers around its natural beauty, easy access
to the Willamette River, its bustling local scene, the seasonally-focused dining --
much of which can be accessed via the region's convenient and eco-friendly light-rail system.
:: FOR THINGS TO DO, GET STARTED HERE
......................................................
For things to do in Portland, you can get started here by visiting
Travel Portland which has a wealth of local information.
Download AMI Portland Walking Guide
AMI Meeting Maps :
Other Area Maps:
:: GETTING AROUND TOWN
......................................................
Portland's TriMet transportation system
Portland's TriMet transportation system includes bus light rail, commuter rail, and streetcar service around Portland and its metropolitan area. The MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar are FREE all day, every day within the Free Rail Zone, which includes Portland State University and most of downtown.
:: MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
......................................................
Oregon Historical Society
This museum houses over 85,000 artifacts of exploration and growth in the Oregon Country as well as the extensive OHS Research Library. Located in the SW Park Blocks and across the street from the Portland Art Museum.
Portland Art Museum
Tour the world through magnificent permanent collection galleries and six stories of modern art, all in the heart of the city's cultural district on the beautiful Park Blocks and within walking distance to the Hilton and PSU.
Portland ART Dealers Association (PADA)
PADA is a consortium of galleries in the Portland area. Responsible for initiating the ÔFirst Thursday' gallery openings, they are the source for anyone interested in viewing the local art scene.
Pittock Mansion
This architectural wonder sits over 1,000 ft. above Portland and offers breathtaking views, miles of hiking trails, and a glimpse into Portland's past.
Museum of Contemporary Craft
Home of more than 1,000 ceramic, glass, metal, fiber, and wood objects that highlight the Northwest's most important artists working in craft.
:: SHOPPING
......................................................
Portland Saturday Market
Operating since 1974 the Portland Saturday Market is the largest continually operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation. Centered in Portland's historic Old Town the Market is one of the most popular shopping destinations for local handcrafted goods. Open Saturdays and Sundays only.
Powell's City of Books
A book lover's paradise, Powell's City of Books is the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland and occupying an entire city block, The City stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.
Pioneer Place
In the heart of downtown, you'll find Pioneer Place -four city blocks filled with shopping, dining, and entertainment. Add tax-free shopping (there is an Apple store here), and you're certain to have the time of your life. Located at 700 SW 5th, it is a short walk from the Hilton.
:: OUTDOOR ACTIVITES IN TOWN
......................................................
Waterfront Park
Following the Willamette River through downtown Portland, this park is the center of activity in the city. Head due east from the Hilton and you will access this park.
Portland Spirit River Cruise Dining & Columbia River Adventures
The vessels and crew of Portland Spirit River Cruise Dining and Columbia River Adventures form the premier fleet of dinner ships in the Northwest. Offering Willamette and Columbia River cruises from downtown Portland, Oregon aboard the
Portland Spirit, Willamette Star, Crystal Dolphin and Outrageous Jetboat, and from Marine Park in the Port of Cascade Locks aboard the Columbia Gorge Sternwheeler. A lunch cruise, brunch cruise, or dinner cruise on one of our vessels is perfect for entertaining out-of-town guests.
The Portland Classical Chinese Garden
The Portland Classical Chinese Garden is an authentically built cultural heritage garden and living museum of Chinese trees and flora. Within this authentic Ming Dynasty scholar's garden, serpentine mosaic pathways lead to harmonious landscapes of plants, water, stones, pavilions, and poetry.
Washington Park:
A short light rail tip from downtown, home to the Japanese Garden, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, Oregon Zoo, International Rose Test Garden and the Children's Museum. Easy access to hiking trails that lead into Forest Park.
Forest Park
Over 70 miles of trails meander through over 5,000 acres of wildlife habitat in impressive park just minutes from downtown.
Portland Kayak Company
Offering guided kayak tours and classes for beginner to advanced kayakers. Kayak and all paddling gear is provided.
Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
This is a collection of more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants. Beginning in early spring and continuing into summer, they provide a magnificent display of color, giving visitors the opportunity to view many varieties rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest. Spring-fed Crystal Springs Lake surrounds much of the garden, attracting many species of birds and waterfowl.
:: SIGHT-SEEING OUTSIDE OF PORTLAND
......................................................
Mt Hood National Forest
Camp, hike, fish, or boat in this vast national forest just twenty miles east of Portland.
Multnomah Falls and Vista House at Crown Point
Plummeting 620 feet from its origins on Larch Mountain, Multnomah Falls is the second highest year-round waterfall in the United States.
Just as the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of freedom, the Vista House serves as the symbol of the Columbia River Gorge. Sitting atop the Crown Point, the Vista House was built in 1916 at the same time as Highway 30 (what is now the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway, and the only way to reach Crown Point). The popular clifftop viewpoint recently underwent a $3.2 million restoration to repair and rejuvenate the building's key historic features.
Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery
Located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, 40 miles east of Portland, Bonneville Lock and Dam spans the Columbia River and links two states. The US Army Corps of Engineers operates and maintains Bonneville Lock and Dam for hydropower production, fish and wildlife protection, recreation and navigation. Since 1938, Bonneville Dam has supplied the region with inexpensive electrical power. Be sure the see the viewing window for migrating salmon and Sturgeon viewing pond.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
Located less than a hour from Portland in Oregon wine country, this museum is home to the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose," which boasts the largest wingspan and height of any aircraft in history Ð and was crafted almost entirely from wood due to WWII material restrictions.
Historic Aurora
Founded as a communal society over 150 years ago, the settlement long ago dissolved but left behind a wealth of history including furniture, musical instruments, quilts, and much more. Aurora was named the first National Historic District in Oregon.
Mt Hood Railroad
The Mt Hood Railroad offers spectacular scenic rail tours of the Hood River valley (60 miles east of Portland). The railroad served as an economic lifeline for the valley, carrying fruit and forest products to market since 1906. In the 1920s and 30s the railroad was used as a commuter train by area residents. While still an active freight line, the rail tours also offer visitors some of Oregon's most breathtaking scenery-from the town of Hood River toward the base of Mt Hood.
:: WASHINGTON STATE LOCATIONS
......................................................
Maryhill Museum of Art
This eclectic museum is housed within Maryhill Mansion, overlooks the Columbia River Gorge, and includes a full-sized, astronomically-aligned replica of Stonehenge. (Note: Maryhill is located in Goldendale WA, about 100miles east of Portland.)
Mt St Helens National Volcanic Monument
Since the eruption in 1980, the 110,000-acre area around Mt. St Helens has been converted to a National Volcanic Monument for research, recreation, and education. Inside the Monument, the environment is left to respond naturally to the disturbance. The Visitor Center, which features walk-through interpretive exhibits and award-winning theater programs to educate the visitor on the tale of events that lead to the 1980 eruption, is an approximately 1 hour drive from Portland.
:: FAMILY FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
......................................................
Oregon Zoo
Located inside Portland's Washington Park, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo in America west of the Mississippi River and is host to a summer concert series.
Portland Children's Museum
Children of all ages will enjoy this museum of educational hands-on exhibits, art studios, and live performances.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
The OMSI is located along the Willamette River and features numerous exhibit halls, a planetarium, a submarine exhibit, and an IMAX theater.
:: ENTERTAINMENT
......................................................
Toad's place
Bands and musicians visiting Portland are likely to stop by this new two-story music venue located in the heart of Shockoe Slip.
Portland Center for the Performing Arts
The PCPA is a premier arts and entertainment venue serving the Pacific Northwest and features concerts, theater, ballet, jazz, and symphony performances.
Aladdin Theater
Originally built as a vaudeville house, this theater now features live music of all varieties and stand-up comedy.
Candlelight Room
A small venue near PSU perfect for blues aficionados, the Candlelight Room is known for its first class music, live (and no cover!) every night at 9:30.
McMenamins White Eagle Saloon
Famous (or infamous?) for its nightly live music tradition and unlikely truths of record-breaking tequila consumption, ladies of the evening, Shanghai tunnels and paranormal residents,
the legendary White Eagle Cafe', Saloon & Rock 'n' Roll Hotel makes for memorable lunches or after-work gatherings with coworkers and friends. Enjoy a pint on
the outdoor deck and beer garden or head indoors where dinner and a show are served up nightly at this Portland legend - one of the city's oldest bars.
Widmer Brewing Gasthaus Pub
Brothers Kurt and Rob Widmer founded Widmer Brothers Brewing Company in 1984, in Portland where people know a thing or two about good beer. Ever since, the Widmer brothers have created deliciously original American and European style beers and have overseen the entire brewing process from fresh grains to finished beers in the proud tradition of craft brewing.
Jimmy Maks
"Jimmy Mak's is just about exactly what you'd expect of a jazz club"
- Sunset Magazine
"One of the world's top 100 places to hear jazz." - Down Beat Magazine
Good place to enjoy great food and music!
Duff's Garage
"...one of the best roots-rock/ Americana rooms in the city, a place where you can hear the rockabilly of Cave Catt Sammy one night and hot jazz from the Kung Pao Chickens the next." -The Oregonian, A&E
Located in North Portland's burgeoning industrial district (a block away from the MAX Yellow Line), the pub boast the joint's original oak back-bar and ceramic-tiled floors. Giants of rock and blues have strutted their stuff for decades on the corner stage.
:: PORTLAND NEIGHBORHOODS
......................................................
Feel like exploring Portland's streets on your own? With its intimate size, it's easy to hop from one neighborhood to another for food, shopping, and entertainment.
Downtown Cultural District
The heart of downtown Portland is home to many museums, performing arts venues, and fine art institutions as well as Portland State University and the Portland Farmers Market.
North Portland and Mississippi Avenue
There are many reasons to visit Mississippi Avenue-food, beverage, and clothing. So keep Mississippi Avenue in mind for all of your shopping, eating, drinking, and entertainment needs!
Pearl District/Northwest
The ultimate in convenience, this prime destination neighborhood features stylish boutiques, specialty retailers, grocery, and book stores, up-and-coming art galleries, and trendy restaurants. The Portland Streetcar serves the Pearl District and runs a 4.8 continuous loop from Portland State University District to Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital at NW 23rd Avenue. World-class artists are emerging from Pearl District art galleries. First Thursday is a popular event, with galleries showcasing the best of local artists as well as live music and wine tasting. Some of The Pearl's finest galleries are Butters Gallery (link www.buttersgallery.com) and the Laura Russo Gallery (link: www.laurarusso.com). Contemporary favorites include the Mark Woolley Gallery (link: www.markwoolley.com) and the Blackfish Gallery (link: www.blackfish.com) . Bullseye Connection Gallery (www.bullseyegallery.com) and Gallery 33 both feature art glass and the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art is a venue for performance and visual art.
North/North East
Wander down Northeast Alberta and Broadway Streets to visit a diverse selection of galleries, clothing boutiques, and restaurants.
Hawthorne District
The Hawthorne District is a popular avant-garde neighborhood just across the Willamette River from Downtown that runs along Hawthorne Boulevard between 17th and 43rd Avenues.
The Boulevard is lined with locally-owned coffee shops, antique stores, cafes, and trendy clothing shops, many with a bohemian flavor reminiscent of the 70's.
Hawthorne Boulevard has a rich nightlife and many of the pubs have sidewalk seating. Favorite fare at the Bridgeport Ale House
is their oven-fired pizza. The Lucky Labrador Brew Pub produces hand-crafted ales and even allows patrons to bring their dogs to enjoy the fun on the back patio.
Sellwood
If Antiques Roadshow were a place rather than a TV program, it would be Sellwood-a neighborhood in southeast Portland where some two dozen antique stores stretch for several blocks along the main drag, 13th Ave. A short distance away, the antiquing gauntlet revs up again at the area's other business district, Westmoreland. There, three big antique malls - each packed with dozens of knickknack-crammed booths-cluster near the corner of Bybee Boulevard and Milwaukie Avenue. But far more is happening in Sellwood than shopping. In this neighborhood of century-old homes and stores, you can go for a spin on the carousel at a historic amusement park, take a cooking class from a celebrity chef, and hike through a wildlife refuge.
:: DINING NEARBY
......................................................
:: Dining near Portland State University - LUNCH FARE:
Victor's at PSU
An all-you-can eat dining hall, is located on the ground floor of The Ondine.
Nel Centro
Exploring classic dishes of the French and Italian Riviera, this upscale restaurant serves local, seasonal food for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Paccini Restaurant & Bar
A friendly restaurant and bar serving made-from-scratch pizza, pasta, and panini
Abu Rasheed.
Middle Eastern, Greek and Mediterranean
Cheerful Tortoise
restaurant and sports bar
Thanh Long
Restaurant & Bakery
Chipotle
Mexican Grill
Pizzicato
Pizzicato makes a good thin-crust pie with creative toppings. They also offer fresh inventive salads.
Baan-Thai Restaurant
Authentic Thai food served in a casual environment.
Hot Lips Pizza
HOTLIPS has been a family-owned business since it began making pizzas in 1984. In 2005 they began producing fresh fruit soda. Their mission is to preserve culture and celebrate humanity through our rich culinary traditions and by joining with others in finding new, sustainable ways of doing business.
Food Carts near PSU
Portland has a proliferation of Food Carts. Some might call them lunch wagons, taco trucks, or even snack shacks, but whatever you call them, they are truly a phenomenon in Portland. Set up in parking lots, sidewalks, and parks, the offerings are varied. The food carts also often illustrate the delicious benefits to a growing ethnically diverse community, as many immigrants own and operate them and make and serve some pretty tasty ethnic specialties.
:: Dining near PSU or Hilton - DINNER FARE:
Southpark
Located downtown in the heart of Portland's Cultural District, Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar celebrates the best of northwest fishermen, farmers, growers, and winemakers.
Utilizing fresh local fish, meats, and produce combined with the finest imported ingredients, Southpark serves authentic Mediterranean inspired cuisine in a
lively urban setting. Southpark offers a wine experience unlike any other in Portland with an award-winning wine list, comfortable yet sophisticated
wine bar, and in-house wine shop.
Carafe
This French-inspired bistro offers traditional bistro fare and a wide selection of wines from both France and the Pacific Northwest.
Veritable Quandary
Founded in 1971, the VQ is a dining oasis in the heart of the city. The menu is market-driven by utilizing local farmers, with an extensive wine list. Ask for the patio seating in the back dining room.
Virginia Cafe'
One of the classic unpretentious restaurant/bars in downtown, here since 1914!
Pastini Pastaria
Portland's Italian bistro with a passion for pasta - Our reverence for the splendid noodle has inspired us to create over 30 classic and contemporary Italian pasta dishes using fresh, local ingredients in the tradition of the neighborhood bistros of Italy. Enjoy your meal in a warm, urban atmosphere of cozy wood booths, Italian tile and art glass lights, with friendly service from our knowledgeable staff.
Brew Pubs
BridgePort brewpub
Whether you drop in for a meal or stop by for a brew at the BridgePort Brewpub in the heart of Portland's Pearl District, you are sure to have a great dining experience. While so much has changed in this Historic Landmark Building (The Portland Cordage Company Building), you'll find a comfortable and familiar atmosphere, paring rustic brick, aged timber, classic iron, great food and of course, our award winning ales.
McMenamins
McMenamins has 16 breweries in Oregon producing from 1,500 to nearly 11,000 kegs per year, depending on location. Different breweries may have different keg varieties available, so calling around to various McMenamins breweries is always a good idea - there are many in the Portland area. For food options, make sure you visit a McMenamins pub.
Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub
A local favorite - The Portland Deschutes Brewery and Public House opened in Portland's Pearl District in May 2008 and has become a destination for great beer, delicious food, and a relaxed urban atmosphere. The pub's design is similar to a Scottish pub, but with a distinct Northwest style that brings a taste of Central Oregon to the heart of Portland.
The Portland brewpub produces all the traditional Deschutes year-round beers and seasonal offerings, including flagship beers Mirror Pond Pale Ale and Black Butte Porter. The brewpub's 18 taps also feature a selection of seasonal and experimental beers developed and brewed on-site exclusively for the Portland pub. This Portland Oregon restaurant takes great pride in producing the highest quality food from start to finish with all menu items made from scratch using the best possible local ingredients.
Lucky Lab Brewing Company
3 locations - all-accessible from downtown:
- Lucky Labrador Brew Pub (915 SE Hawthorne Blvd)
is located in an old roofing and sheet-metal warehouse. With high wood trussed ceilings, the Lab's warm rustic ambiance is a great place for a neighborhood pub. Founded in October, 1994, the Lab produces some of the tastiest brews in the northwest and serves up some simple, yet excellent, pub fare. Outside on the back covered patio is a great place to relax and converse with friends. A casual brew pub where people can enjoy quality products in an unpretentious atmosphere.
- Lucky Labrador Public House (7675 SW Capitol Hwy)
- Lucky Labrador Beer Hall (1945 NW Quimby)
Some Portland Classics (downtown area)
Huber's
Established in 1879, Huber's is ÒPortland's Oldest Restaurant." Specializing in a traditional turkey dinner Huber's also serves Certified Angus Beef, fresh seafood, entrŽe salads, and a variety of pasta dishes. Their signature drink is Spanish Coffee prepared tableside with great flair. Enjoy dining at their location inside the Historic Oregon Pioneer Building or pick up box lunches.
Dan & Louis Oyster Bar
This seafood restaurant has been located in downtown Portland since 1907. As the name suggests, oysters are the specialty here and are prepared six different ways. Non-seafood lovers can choose from chicken, steak, pasta, or salads.
Jakes Famous Crawfish
For more than 100 years, Jake's has been serving favorites like shellfish, steaks, and cedar-plank salmon. This Portland landmark, described as a "must visit" by The Oregonian, draws locals as well as tourists. It can get crowded, so get a reservation! A little boisterous at times, it is a fun nightspot and the atmosphere is the only advertising necessary.
|
