portland visit

[pinoy]

need suggestions for things to do in portland, OR. i know we'll be shopping for sure. no sales tax!!! will be driving the pilot there.

[PNW-Pilot]

I don't think they will still be blooming, but a visit to portland with going to the Rose Test Gardens in Washington Park is a crime. SO is not visiting Washington Park.

http://www.neworegontrail.com/roses/

The zoo is top notch.

http://www.zooregon.org/

Downtown offers alot, walking along the River at the park. I think a Must do is the Portland Saurday market (open Saturday and Sunday), they have all kinda of handmade local stuff. Powell's books, the 10's of hundreds (seaminly) local breweries. The south park blocks, the Portland Art Meusem, Pioneer Courtyard Square.

Portland's beautiful, keep in mind that in downtown all the buses and light rail are free to travel.

A good general website are:
http://www.travelportland.com/
http://www.downtownportland.org/

[Stevie B]

Head over to the Widmer Brewery/Restaurant in N. Portland:

929 N. Russell. It's just northwest of the Rose Garden and west of Emmanuel hospital.

Check out all of the MeMenamin's joints here.

[PILOTinginCO]

Head a little more than an hour west to Cannon Beach on the coast.... you won't be disappointed.

[sfhondapilot]

pinoy, we are headed up to Seattle, Victoria and Vancouver. NOT taking the Pilot, though. Taking in a Mariners / Angels game on Sunday, but anything on your "must do / must see" list? While in Seattle, we are staying in the downtown area.

Thanks, in advance.

[PNW-Pilot]

As a tourist around here before I came to live here. My must hit list was:

Baseball Game (you have that covered)
Space Needle (the view is incredible on a clear day)
Pike Place Market (it gets crowded in summer)
Seattle Center (park around the space needle)
Walk Along the Boardwalk
Seattle Art Meusem
Meusem of Flight @ boeing field (get to see the concord)
Blake Island (dinner with the native americans)
Watch the Sea Planes at Union Lake.
Go for a swim in Lake Union
Go to the zoo (in woodland park)
Go to the Aquarium (on the boardwalk, pier 59)
Get some Clam chowder from Ivar (on the boardwalk near pier 59)
Visit Mt Rainer, Olympic Mountains, or Hon rain Forest.


There is just so much fun out there and a million things to do. Here are some website to get a idea.

http://www.museumofflight.org/index.html
http://www.seeseattle.org/
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/html/visitor/
http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washingto...seavisitor.htm
http://www.digitalcity.com/seattle/visitorsguide/
http://www.nwsource.com/visitorsguide/
http://www.spaceneedle.com/

Hope i helped out. I also ahve been to Victoria and Vancouver and could give tips too if asked.

[sfhondapilot]

PNW-Pilot, that's a great list. Thanks for the info.

Without threadjacking pinoy's thread (hope that's okay since pinoy posted in the PNW forum), I would appreciate your offered suggestions on Victoria and Vancouver.

[PILOTinginCO]

In Vancouver, check out the China Town area. My wife and I also had a good time at the Vancouver Aquarium.

The shopping in Vancouver is also incredible. The city has a beautiful downtown area.

The waterfront is something to spend time on as well.

In Victoria, the main thing to see there is Buchart (sp?) Gardens. It's spectacular!

[pinoy]

in seattle
-space needle a must
-if you like thai food go to bahn thai which is in the seattle center area close to tower records.
-alki beach during sunset(in west seattle)
-pike place market
-chinatown
-broadway area
-greenlake (close to woodland park zoo)
-university district (where university of washington is)
-westlake center in downtown seattle
-for big shopping malls go to bellevue square, northgate mall or southcenter mall
-mt. rainier if you have time
-northwest trek
-mt. st. helens

in vancouver
-chinatown for sure (look for lanzones at the fruit stands along pender street. lanzones are from the philippines. peel the skin and make sure you don't eat the seeds)
-downtown area
-queen elizabeth park
-stanley park
-capilano suspension bridge(make sure you cross the bridge to make it worth it going there)
-granville island

[PNW-Pilot]

Originally posted by sfhondapilot
PNW-Pilot, that's a great list. Thanks for the info.

Without threadjacking pinoy's thread (hope that's okay since pinoy posted in the PNW forum), I would appreciate your offered suggestions on Victoria and Vancouver.

To quote PilotinginCO: Buchart gardens is a must

Victoria:

Buchart Gardens, It the 100 anniversary
http://www.butchartgardens.com/

Craigdarroch castle is fun, it's a 188X castle with original furnishings. Fun tour.
http://www.craigdarrochcastle.com/

The undersea gardens is fun.

Miniature world.
http://www.miniatureworld.com/

Waterfront

the Fairmont Empress hotel
http://www.fairmont.com/empress/

Royal British Meusum
http://rbcm1.rbcm.gov.bc.ca/

Vancouver:
downtown shopping

Stanley Park (rent a bike, roller skates)
http://www.seestanleypark.com/

Capilano Bridge
http://www.aviewoncities.com/vancouver/capilano.htm

Grouse Mountain
http://www.grousemountain.com/

[PNW-Pilot]

Originally posted by PILOTinginCO
Head a little more than an hour west to Cannon Beach on the coast.... you won't be disappointed.

Yep, no dissapointment there. Also if you head to the coast, go on the Tillamook cheese factory tour.

[Stevie B]

Don't bother going to Tillamook. I lived there for a while and the cheese factory isn't worth making the trip. Tillamook county does have the highest number of parolees residing within its limits.

[jay]

Originally posted by Stevie B
Don't bother going to Tillamook. I lived there for a while and the cheese factory isn't worth making the trip. Tillamook county does have the highest number of parolees residing within its limits.

Well, who else would cut the cheese?

[kemosabe]

While one person says...

Originally posted by PNW-Pilot
Also if you head to the coast, go on the Tillamook cheese factory tour.

And someone else says...

Originally posted by Stevie B
Don't bother going to Tillamook. I lived there for a while and the cheese factory isn't worth making the trip.

Reminds me of the famous crossroads that all men face at one time or another...

[sfhondapilot]

I appreciate everyone's input.

In addition to the Mariner's game, we have a reservation for tea at the Empress Hotel in Victoria.

Any helpful suggestions for the drive from Seattle -> Victoria -> Vancouver -> Seattle? I have the ferry schedules but are there any stops along the way that we should budget time for?