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Portland Attractions
Bus and Train Tours
Gray Line offers various guided bus tours of Portland as well as the Columbia River Gorge, the Mount Hood loop and the northern Oregon coast. Most tours operate mid-February to late December. For schedules and reservations phone (503) 243-6789 or (888) 684-3322 , ext. 2.
Walking Tours
Maps to historic buildings, sculptures and fountains that can be visited on foot are available from the Portland Oregon Visitors Association, Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR 97204; phone (503) 275-8355 or (877) 678-5263.
Sports and Recreation
Portland offers a wide variety of sports, ranging from sailing to mountain climbing. The city's extensive system of parks provides jogging trails, bicycle paths, swimming pools, tennis courts and nature trails. Nearby state parks also have recreational and camping facilities.
Boating is available at many marinas on the Columbia and Willamette rivers as well as at state parks; most marinas have many types of craft for rent in the spring and summer.
Fishing opportunities abound on the Willamette River as well as in state parks and in area lakes and streams. Chinook salmon are present in the lower Willamette March through early May, while steelhead run throughout the year in the Clackamas and Sandy rivers. For more information phone the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 947-6000.
White-water rafting and float trips are offered throughout the state, usually April through September. Rates for such trips vary, but the average fee is $60 for a full-day excursion, or $280-$525 for 3-, 4- and 5-day trips.
Reservations for trips can be made through the following Portland area companies: Oregon River Experiences, 18074 S. Boone Ct., Beavercreek, OR 97004, (503) 632-6836 or (800) 827-1358; Zoller's Outdoor Odysseys, 1248 SR 141, White Salmon, WA 98672, (509) 493-2641 or (800) 366-2004; River Drifters, P.O. Box 7962, Bend, OR 97708, (800) 972-0430; and River Trails Canoe and Raft Rental, 336 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy., Troutdale, OR 97060, (503) 667-1964.
Hunting opportunities abound in the mountains and forests surrounding Portland. For information about hunting and fishing areas and licenses phone the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife at (503) 947-6000.
Hiking and horseback riding enthusiasts have miles of trails to explore in nearby state parks and national forests. Forest Service maps and other details are available from the U.S. Forest Service at Mount Hood; phone (503) 668-1700.
Mountain climbing and skiing are possible a short distance from Portland. Mount Hood, about an hour's drive from the city, is said to be one of the most climbed mountains in the world. Information about ski resorts and conditions is available from AAA Oregon/Idaho; phone (503) 222-6700. Information about mountain climbing is available from the U.S. Forest Service at Mount Hood; phone (503) 668-1700.
Bicycle trails wind through city parks; most connect with the statewide network of paths. Maps and route information can be obtained from Portland Parks and Recreation, 1120 S.W. Fifth Ave., Suite 1302, Portland, OR; 97204 phone (503) 823-7529. The 1.5-mile-long Eastbank Esplanade, between I-5 and the Willamette River, serves as a bicycle and pedestrian corridor; it includes a 1,200-foot floating walkway.
Tennis players have the choice of the city's indoor courts or outside facilities. Indoor courts must be reserved. Phone the Portland Tennis Center at (503) 823-3189.
Golf enthusiasts can play at any of 18 public courses, including Eastmoreland at 2425 S.E. Bybee St., (503) 775-2900; Heron Lakes, 3500 N. Victory Blvd. at West Delta Park, (503) 289-1818; Redtail, 8200 S.W. Scholls Ferry Rd., (503) 646-5166; and Rose City at 2200 N.E. 71st Ave., (503) 253-4744. Prices average $25-$30 for 18 holes, and about $15 for nine holes.
Swimming is possible early June through August at several parks in the metropolitan area, including Dishman Pool, 77 N.E. Knott St.; Grant Park, 2300 N.E. 33rd Ave.; Mount Scott Park, 5530 S.E. 72nd Ave. at Harold Street; and Sellwood Park, 7951 S.E. 7th Ave. Nominal admission fees may be charged; phone (503) 823-5130 for schedules and information.
Spectators will find there is much for them to watch. The Rose Garden Arena, at 1 N. Center Ct., hosts most of the city's sporting expositions and events. Here, the Trail Blazers plays professional basketball from mid-October through June. The Portland Winter Hawks plays semi-professional hockey from October through March. For ticket information, phone (503) 231-8000 for the Trail Blazers and (503) 236-4295 for the Winter Hawks.
Next door, the Memorial Coliseum serves as a second site for spectator sports. PGE Park is home to the Beavers, the AAA baseball team, and the Timbers, Portland's soccer team. Baseball is played from April 1 through Labor Day, and soccer takes the field from late April to early Sept.; phone (503) 553-5555 for ticket information.
Auto racing can be seen in the summer at the Portland International Raceway in West Delta Park at 1940 N. Victory Blvd., (503) 823-7223. Horse racing with pari-mutuel betting takes place at Portland Meadows, 1001 N. Schmeer Rd., October through April; phone (503) 285-9144.
Note: Policies vary concerning admittance of children to pari-mutuel betting facilities. Phone for information.
Shopping
With the largest collection of cast-iron-fronted structures outside New York City, Portland has preserved a majority of them in two historic districts: Skidmore/Old Town and Yamhill. The two areas blend historic preservation with modern commerce, as many of these landmarks are filled with shops, galleries and restaurants.
The Skidmore/Old Town District straddles West Burnside Street between Davis and Stark streets. The area encompasses 21 blocks in the downtown/waterfront area and boasts many significant historic buildings.
From the Burnside Bridge between S.W. Front Avenue and S.W. 1st Avenue is the Portland Saturday Market, said to be the largest, continuously operated open-air market in the United States. Craftspeople, artists, entertainers, cooks and farmers come to sell their goods and/or entertain the public at more than 250 booths and a food court. Open Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 11-4:30, March through December, the market sells only handcrafted (or locally grown) items; phone (503) 222-6072.
Another notable building in this area includes the Skidmore-Fountain Building, a marketplace that has kept its late 1800s character. A few blocks south of the Skidmore/Old Town District is the smaller Yamhill District.
In stark contrast to these historic buildings are the World Trade Center Buildings I, II and III, which house businesses, restaurants and galleries.
The nearby waterfront between the Hawthorne and Marquam bridges has reverted from freeway to a pleasant strip of grass and trees, with an esplanade bordered by the shops, restaurants and residences of RiverPlace.
Before the restoration of the historic areas, many businesses had moved uptown to an area between S.W. 4th and 10th avenues. Such department stores as Meier & Frank and Nordstrom are here. One former department store has been transformed into the Galleria, 921 S.W. Morrison St. Pioneer Place offers more than 80 specialty shops, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany and Co. and a large movie theater.
There are other downtown places of note. Powell's City of Books, said to be the country's largest bookstore, covers an entire city block and holds more than one million new and used volumes. Nearby on the West Side is N.W. 21st and N.W. 23rd Streets, known as Nob Hill ("Northwest" by the locals), which contains an eclectic collection of 250 shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants, some within restored Victorian houses.
Outside the downtown area are several places of interest. On the East Side, at Grand Avenue and N.E. Weidler, is one of Portland's oldest and largest urban malls, the Lloyd Center, offering an indoor ice-skating rink. To the north of downtown off I-5 at the Interstate Bridge is the Jantzen Beach SuperCenter, with more than 50 shops.
The Old Sellwood Antique Row, southeast of downtown along S.E. 13th Avenue beyond the east end of the Sellwood Bridge, features some 50 antique and craft shops in a well-preserved community where decades-old buildings are marked with signs labeling past owners and building dates.
Shopping centers in the suburbs include the Clackamas Town Center, with more than 180 stores and a library, off I-205 and S.E. Sunnyside Road; and Washington Square Mall, off I-5 south on SR 217 in Tigard. Woodburn Company Stores , about 30 miles south at 1001Arney Rd. in Woodburn, is an outlet center with some 80 stores to choose from.
Performing Arts
The Portland Center for the Performing Arts is the focal point for the city's major cultural events. Unlike many such centers, this is a decentralized complex with three buildings in separate locations. They include the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, the Keller Auditorium and the New Theatre Building.
The Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, S.W. Broadway at Main Street, is a restored 1928 vaudeville house where the Oregon Symphony Orchestra performs. "The Schnitz" features other musical concerts, dance and touring shows.
Directly across the street from "the Schnitz" is the New Theatre Building, which encompasses two performance spaces: the 292-seat Dolores Winningstad Theater and the 924-seat Newmark Theater. These theaters are the hosts for performances by the Oregon Ballet Theatre, the Portland Center Stage and a number of choral and orchestral groups.
Several blocks away, at 222 S.W. Clay St., the Keller Auditorium showcases performances by the Portland Opera and various national touring groups. The Oregon Ballet Theatre also takes the stage here. For ticket and schedule information for the entire complex phone (503) 248-4335. Chamber Music Northwest, (503) 223-3202, performs concerts during June and July at the Catlín Gabel School or Reed College.
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