Hey, tomorrow (May 20th) Boy Next Door and I are celebrating our 16th wedding anniversary by driving down to Portland, OR. We’ve only got one day (and one night) there. We’re staying at The Benson Hotel, going to dinner and a jazz show at Brasserie Montmartre, and we’re definitely gonna hit Powell’s Books.
Any other suggestions?
I’ve only been to Portland once, but I highly recommend the Portland Brewing company for lunch.
If you like roses the Portland Rose Garden is worth a visit.
If you like steam locomotives, find the roundhouse. The southern Pacific Daylight (#4449) locomotive is there, kept in working order, and really beautiful! I went there a few years ago, and, although it’s not a tour or anything, the guys working on the boiler were happy to let me come in and look at her. They don’t get much company.
Oh, the London Grill at the Benson is a great restaurant. You’re lucky you are staying there. The Benson is still the hotel in those parts.
The waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge
One day in Portland and the world’s your oyster…
Both the Japanese and the Chinese gardens are superb and easily accessible using public transportation. The Japanese garden is especially cool on rainy days (which, in Portland, you’re likely to encounter).
The gardens are indeed nice-- the rose garden is very close to the Japanese garden so that’s easy. Bridgeport is also a nice brewpub for lunch and a beer.
If you go to the Rose Gardens, make sure and swing by the Japanese Gardens (just up the hill).
Probably the most peaceful I’ve ever felt in Portland.
Powell’s book is cool, so keep that in.
I remember the zoo being pretty nice. I saw McCoy Tyner perform there with a jazz trio one night.
I had a nice little stone on, the sun was setting, the temperature was perfect. A beautiful, memorable night.
Grab a coffee and hang around Pioneer Courthouse Square for twenty-thirty minutes. And after Powell’s, step across the street and grab something fruity from Mio Gelato. Trust me.
If you like little hole-in-the-wall places with great food, check out a place called Aroy’s (it’s downtown somewhere–I don’t remember exactly where) for Thai food. The place serves an addictively yummy hot shrimp soup. (the name of the soup sounded like “toom nyong gom” to my totally ignorant, non-Thai speaking ears.)
NOt that my ears speak any language, mind you. My mouth is the part of my anatomy where spoken words come out from time to time.
Sheesh.
Thanks for the advice, y’all. Wish I’d seen some of those later ones before we left. It was a quick trip, and we pretty much hit the spots listed and not much else. I’ve got good fodder for the next time!