<p>How funny Kelsmom - do you fly out of Detroit? I thought you were in MI. Did you decide on a place in Cannon Beach?</p>
<p>I will be flying out of Detroit, as a matter of fact. I prefer Flint, but SWA flies from DTW. I am still looking for a place at Cannon Beach. I saw some on VRBO, and am still looking … I would prefer not to be in a condo complex.</p>
<p>It’s been many years since we visited Cannon Beach, but I believe we stayed at the Surfsand Resort and thought it was nice. Long time ago.</p>
<p>Surfsand has very good reviews on Tripadvisor.</p>
<p>Surf and does look nice- I need to do some price comparing.</p>
<p>I ended up booking The Inn At Cannon Beach- it does not have a beach view but since we will be there not on Fri- Sat. I was able to take advantage of their promotion, 2 nights for the price of one. It’s a block to the beach but we are all very capable walkers and with all the other costs of this trip , couldn’t pass up the 2 for 1! </p>
<p>Now to keep watching flights and start researching car rentals!</p>
<p>Just thought I’d bump this thread up as our vacation is near and I believe another CC’er is in the coastal Oregon area just a few days ahead of me!</p>
<p>All reservations are in place. Used Costco for our car rental - Budget at the airport. Is it correct that we will go to car rental in the airport but that we will then take a shuttle a short ride to the actual Budget lot???</p>
<p>We will be driving from Portland to Pendleton with just a couple of hours to spare to stop on the way - any suggestions for waterfall/falls that are CLOSEST off the main road (forget the road name we’ll be traveling…) on this drive?</p>
<p>Our food is pretty much taken care of for the days in Pendleton thanks to the families hosting the weddings. Looking forward to a bed and breakfast brunch before we head off to Cannon Beach on a Sunday!</p>
<p>Any “must do” stops driving from Pendleton to Cannon Beach? Nothing too far off the beaten path.</p>
<p>Favorite eateries in Cannon Beach? Breakfast is provided at the inn we are staying at, but since I will have my three kids with me (16, 21 and 24) looking for lunch/dinner or late night “snack” places. Nothing fancy, just fresh and good!</p>
<p>Booked the night before departure hotel through Hotwire. Staying at Cascade Station near the airport. Should be easy quick ride in the morning on the hotel shuttle for our awfully early flight! </p>
<p>Will still just have one day to explore Portland. Guess we’ll do the quick and dirty tour. Actually we’ve kind of decided to just make it all about quick sightseeing and eating - do you have a favorite quirky lunch spot to recommend???</p>
<p>Really appreciated all the tips and suggestions thus far. I feel like I owe you all a $tip$ for helping me out!!!</p>
<p>Is it possible to enjoy Portland without a car? Can one get around with public transportation? I know we would miss most of what people are writing about here, but even so . . .</p>
<p>We had a rental car in Portland, but our friends who lived there for a few months swore it wasn’t needed. They do have good transportation options, including bus, light rail, trolley, but H & I are spoiled and used to having our own vehicle.</p>
<p>I really liked Saturday (and Sunday) market that is under the bridge [Portland</a> Saturday Market - Home](<a href=“http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/]Portland”>http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/). We had a nice meal there and bought a gorgeous purse for me made of elk.</p>
<p>Loved seeing all the lush vegetation and stately homes of Portland. It was a great visit–we were there for 5 days. Lots of good and reasonably priced food as well.</p>
<p>You are correct. For Budget (which we also had), you catch a short shuttle from the airport to get to your car rental place.</p>
<p>From Portland to Pendleton you will be driving on I-84. Once you get out of town the scenery is fabulous. The Gorge is full of beautiful waterfalls but many cannot be seen without a hike. Since you have so little time to spare Multnomah Falls is the obvious place to stop since it is right by the road. Then you if you have time you can hike partway up, or to the top (about a mile.) I’m hoping your drive is on a weekday because the Falls will be somewhat less crowded then.
On your return trip you might want to stop in Hood River for lunch if the timing is right.
Are you planning to go to Powells? A nearby place with excellent pastries and sandwiches is Pearl Bakery. Another place for a good sandwich (and various other choices) is Local Choice Market at 830 NW Everett. Not sure either of these qualify as “quirky” but they are both pleasant and convenient if Powells is on your itinerary. If these don’t appear there are many many other choices in the Pearl neighborhood as well. If you are in a big rush you could go to Little Big Burger. It’s a local chain and there’s one a block from Powells.</p>
<p>Redpoint–There’s is PLENTY you can do without a car as long as you are staying in a good location. Portland has streetcar, buses, and light rail. If you’re flying in, it is easy to hop on light rail (“the Max”) at the airport to get downtown. Tri-Met fare is $2.50. Buy a book of 10 tickets to make things easier. Or, if you are going somewhere on the streetcar and don’t need to transfer to a bus or train you can do this for only $1–something Tri-Met doesn’t publicize very well. Also, Portland is very walkable!</p>
<p>Oldest has lived in Portland since 2001 without a car, its very doable.
Youngest likes to go for lunch to the Deschutes brewery in the Pearl dtrict.( close to Powells)
But her favorite place ever is Pambiche in her sisters neighborhood.
[Pambiche</a> Cocina](<a href=“http://www.pambiche.com/]Pambiche”>http://www.pambiche.com/)
I like going for happy hour/lunch as the portions aren’t so big.</p>
<p>Powell’s is a possibility - guess I need to sort of plan a temporary “route” so that we don’t waste time “zigzagging” around town. </p>
<p>Portland is probably our least planned part of the trip at this point. Guess I need to pick a “top 5” spots to stop in Portland and then see if we can map them out. Powell’s would probably be one of those. My kids really want to go to Voodoo - I understand there are a couple of locations. Pittock Mansion has been recommended to us. (just a couple miles outside of the city?)</p>
<p>Abasket–rather than Pittock Mansion I would go to Washington Park for the Rose Garden and/or the Japanese Garden. (Warning–sometimes the line for VooDoo is ridiculous.)</p>
<p>^^^This line I have read about. 
I’ll look up Washington Park.</p>
<p>I vote for zoo over Pittock Mansion. :)</p>
<p>Visiting Pittock Mansion isn’t like visiting Hearst Castle.</p>
<p>Thanks so much! Can you tell me what area in Portland it would be best to stay in, if we don’t have a car. We want to visit Lewis and Clark, and take a train to Salem to visit Willamette. We don’t have to stay near L&C, but just for reference.</p>
<p>It depends what you are interested in, but I would not go to the zoo if I had only one day to spend in a new city. Abasket–if you start your day at Voodoo, then Powells, then drive up the hill to Washington Park (where you will find Rose Garden–very beautiful and pleasant for strolling–and Japanese Garden–supposedly the most authentic outside of Japan) you will be going in a line moving west with everything short distances apart. For lunch you could either eat in the Pearl District near Powells or take a picnic to the Rose Garden if nice day. (I don’t think food allowed in Japanese Garden). Just a suggestion!</p>
<p>Redpoint–Much as I hate to say it, for visiting L & C and Willamette I would recommend a car. Is there a particular reason you don’t want to drive? Depending on how much time you are staying you could arrive without a car and then rent a car in town (rather than at the airport) for the couple of days for when you are visiting those colleges. There are some car rental places centrally located and often this is cheaper than renting at the airport anyway. For getting around the city itself without a car, close-in Northwest (Nob Hill/Alphabet District) is good. If you come up with some options you can PM me for pros and cons of particular places/location.</p>