Where to stay and what to see in Portland?

[GLC1968]

And if you head out to the Willamette wine country area, you can swing by our place and pet goats if you'd like.

[shootingstar]

We went up to the botanical large garden in Portland. Beautiful. Last time we stayed at the Sheraton Nines for a flippin' good deal since the hotel was aggressively promoting themselves after just opening. You can see Mt. Hood (am I right??) I'm partial to botanical gardens on top of big hills and offer mountain views. (Vancouver BC has one.)

Probably wrong time of year for next month, but another time when we were in Portland in summer, we cycled to Columbia Gorge area, etc. You can use light rail to cut down part of journey if the weather looks iffy.

[radacrider]

... You can see Mt. Hood (am I right??) ...

Yes, that is Mt. Hood to the east. The Japanese Gardens and Rose Test Gardens are right next to each other. From the Rose Gardens, you can enjoy views of Mt. Hood, provided the weather cooperates, of course.

[oxysback]

I recommend visiting some vineyards down in my neck of the woods (about 45 minutes SW of Portland). If you really want a long day trip, I suggest taking the "Three Capes" scenic drive. You can either start at Lincoln City or Tillamook. Either way, the drive offers gorgeous views, a visit to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, a working lighthouse at Cape Meares, fabulous chowder at the Pelican Restaurant right on the beach in Pacific City, and lots of fun shops and an outlet mall in Lincoln City.

Here's my facebook album of a cost trip we took a few years ago...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=99d1120be1

Also in my neighborhood is the Evergreen Aviation Museum, which houses the famous Spruce Goose. There are lots of other planes there, and a separate space travel building. We always have a great time when we go there.

Here's another facebook album with pictures of the museum...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=885f5893f8

Hopefully everyone can see the FB albums. I think I have my settings for everyone...

[Aggie_Ama]

I saw the Spruce Goose when it used to be housed near Los Angeles, I think I was 7.

[jelee1311]

There are great internet coupons on94.7 knrk website go to portland perks half price deals. Right now they have half price gift certs. For the Benson hotel in downtown PDX for like 110 dollars. We stayed there last year and had a blast just hitting happy hours in lots of bars and hotels (the Brassarie Monmarte was fun good music and baby lobster).I love going to the Chinese garden downtown, plus go up to NW 23rd for fun shopping. In the gorge my fave easy hike is up Horsetail falls. Its easy,beautiful,and takes you behind the waterfall. I would just check in at the ranger station at Multnomah Falls to see what trails are open, we had a little snow & ice in the gorge last week. There is so much to do but the weather has been very wet as usual. What a great way to spend your 30th birthday,have fun!

[Kimmyt]

Take a day trip down the coast. Start out at all the cheese places (the Tillamook one is huge, not as fun as the smaller ones, I remember a brie place called Blue Heron maybe?). Buy some cheese and food for a picnic lunch. Drive down the coastal highway, look for whales and random places to park. All the beaches are public, so you can easily find hiking trails that lead down to secluded rocky beaches where you will be all by yourself. Have a picnic lunch. Stop for dinner in one of the amazing small harbor towns, we found a seafood restaurant that sold all local fresh caught seafood, you could see the name of the boat that caught it and find it out in the harbor. Watch the seals bark on the piers.

That was one of my favorite days around Portland, although we also did the waterfall hikes thing and my favorite hike when we hiked up to the glacier on Mt. Hood. Although we did that in the summer, I'd imaging now it's probably more like winter mountaineering up there so that might not be an option for you guys.