Trip Planning - Portland

[Blueberry]

Happy New Year, everybody! I'm taking advantage of the day off to do a little advance planning to make sure I actually *ahem* take vacations.

We are contemplating an early March trip to Portland, OR (not ideal, I know - but it's when I have time). Favorite things to do? Things not to miss? Are we absolutely crazy?

The other option is a Seattle trip, but I actually plan to try to do that over the summer, I think - hopefully with the San Juan islands attached.

[emily_in_nc]

I know nothing about March there, but we went in mid-September 2014 and loved it. Lots of great cycling, and the public transportation is the bomb. Our blog posts might help you plan some of your adventures:

Day 1 -- Urban riding in Portland and visiting the famous Voodoo Donuts:
http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...t-of-doughnuts

Day 2 -- Rural riding on the Vernonia-Banks Trail followed by some unique eats in town
http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...r-with-friends

Day 3 -- Taking the MAX downtown and exploring on foot -- plus more good eats and donuts!
http://travelingtwosome.weebly.com/t...hy-vegan-lunch

I'm sure the TEers who actually live there can help even more, but these posts may help you get a tourist's perspective.

[Crankin]

I have never been to Portland, but we did the Seattle/San Juan Islands thing a couple of years ago. All I can say is that it was a very long day getting to Friday Harbor from the east coast. Non-stop to Seattle, 2 hour van ride to Anacortes to catch the ferry, then a long (2 hrs.?) ferry to Friday Harbor. We brough our bikes with the couplers, so we each had 2 suitcases, big ones, one with bike inside (regular airline regulation size) and one full of 2 weeks of regular/cycling/hiking clothing. Getting the bags up the ferry plank and through the terminal was hard. On the way back to Seattle, people were giving me dirty looks as I was struggling with the load, like I was some kind of rich b*, who needed a lot of clothes. Finally, I looked at one guy and said, " What? It's a bike in there," in my most obnoxious Bostonian way, and their attitude changed. We had friends pick us up in Friday Harbor, though, which was good. On the way back, we spent 3 days in Seattle, so it didn't feel so stressful, before flying home.
ETA: While getting there was stressful, we loved the San Juans. I loved Seattle, too, and even got to have lunch with 2 TEers while there. We spent an afternoon/night in Seattle, also last winter, on the way to and from the Methow valley.

[rebeccaC]

great blog posts emily!!!! and +1 on voodoo donuts!!!!

I can spend hours in powell’s city of books in portland and i could spend years in the san juans ….and of course in portland there is salt and straw ice cream on nw 23rd. The Saturday market in waterfront park is a great place to wander though too. Some great craft breweries if you like beer. Some great contemporay art galleries including the oregon center for photographic arts (blue sky gallery). Portland is one of my favorite cities and home to my best friend from college who always takes me to the most interesting places....and caused me to do and have a great time on the seattle to portland bike ride.

a harbor view room at the friday harbor house hotel was a great place to stay on san juan island. a great view of the harbor, a fireplace and oversized jetted tub. it also has a very good restaurant.

the inn at the market in seattle was also a great hotel and location for being downtown. great views of puget sound and the oympic mountains on a clear day. You have the pike place market, the seattle art museum, great restaurants, belltown and incredible *hot chocolate*!!!!! at cafe campagne within quick walking distance

[Crankin]

We stayed there, also. It was perfect.

[khg]

I haven't biked much in Portland, but I'll give a thumbs up to visiting Seattle in summer! (Keep in mind that our summer doesn't tend to start until July 5th... Pretty much a law here that it has to rain for the fireworks on the 4th, then turn sunny and dry for the next two months straight.) There's a really great variety of bicycling here. There are some fun urban routes--even some relatively flat one--easy ferries to scenic and challenging riding on Vashon and Bainbridge islands, and good mountain routes not too long of a drive away. It's also just a good way to get around the city.

If you end up visiting Seattle, feel free to drop me a line if you have questions or want suggestions