<p>Hey folks,</p>
<p>DD (30) and I are planning a few days trip from SF to the Pacific NW. Fly one way, Amtrak the other; Wednesday to Sunday.
Planned to hit both cities, now reconsidering.
Which would you pick/suggest, and why?</p>
<p>What should we not miss?</p>
<p>Portland is much easier to get around on public transit but less to see.
What are your interests?
Food, music, museums, art?
Ferry boats, mts, airplanes, Space Needle?
I think its half of one…</p>
<p>Well, yes! to Food, Music, Museums, Art.
Would hit the must sees, but open to quirky neighborhoods, local favorite eateries, etc.</p>
<p>Our travel time is not flexible (Wed-Sun).
Not sure if we would be disappointed to leave either city after 2 days, to head to the other. That is why we thought of only staying in one.</p>
<p>I find Portland rather uninteresting, even though many of our homeless and freaky types moved down there. I’ve been there many times, but really haven’t thought of a whole lot to do there besides walk around downtown. What time of year are you visiting?</p>
<p>@busdriver, Mid April.
My question is really, 2 days in both Seattle and Portland, or 4 days in only one? Or should we do 3/1?
How wonderful is the scenery on the train between the cities?</p>
<p>I have lived in both cities for several years and 25+ years in the Pacific Northwest. IMHO, Portland is a better place to live but as emeraldkity said, you’ll have more options at Seattle. When do you plan to visit?</p>
<p>That’s a tough one, mominva. I really favor the things around Seattle, but maybe someone will speak up about Portland. The train is pretty cool, but it’s been so long since I did that route, I don’t remember the scenery. The train between Seattle and Vancouver, Canada, has a beautiful route, right by the water.</p>
<p>I was going to recommend going to Mt Rainier, which would take a full day, but not in April. Too much snow to even go on a little hike.</p>
<p>I like Portland, visiting my daughter in college was fun & if you had someone to visit there, there is lots to do.
But in terms of being a tourist, more stuff in Seattle.
Both have good restaurants, but frankly, I dont think we have much on San Francisco in that line.
Id go to Pioneer Square & the Pike Place market & maybe a ferry ride in Seattle.
One of Tom Douglas’s restaurants.
I personally also get a kick out of the underground tour.
My H has never gone, but I must have gone half a dozen times over the years with various groups.
<a href=“http://www.seattle.gov/tour/underground.htm”>http://www.seattle.gov/tour/underground.htm</a></p>
<p>@emeraldkity4, No need to beat SF (or theDC area, from where I live) on the food front, as long as the food is good when I eat it ;-).
@UWHusky, Neither of us have been to either city. Just read some cool stuff about a Portland Segway tour.</p>
<p>Spent a lot of time in both cities on business. Much more to do in Seattle, including taking the ferry to Bainbridge Island, plus the scenery is great. (Not bad in Portland, but better in Seattle). Portland is quirkier, and has funky shops, but more options in Seattle and the views from the waterfront restaurants are stunning. </p>
<p>The scenery on the train between Seattle and Portland is only great between Tacoma and a little north of Olympia. It goes along the water and if it’s a nice day, the scenery is worth the train ride. If I recall correctly, you can also see Mt. St. Helens north of Portland but the weather would have to be very nice in order to see it. Just a warning that the train isn’t usually on time so don’t plan any guided tours near the time the train should arrive in either Portland or Seattle. </p>
<p>In Seattle I would visit Experience Music Project at the Seattle Center if you are interested in music. There is also a Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit at the Seattle Center that I really enjoyed: <a href=“http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/”>http://www.chihulygardenandglass.com/</a> Also at the Seattle Center I would go up the Space Needle if it isn’t cloudy. If it is cloudy, don’t waste your money on the elevator ride to the top. If you want a better view of Seattle from a building, visit the Sky View Observatory: <a href=“http://skyviewobservatory.com/”>http://skyviewobservatory.com/</a> </p>
<p>You can take the monorail between the Seattle Center and Westlake Center (a few blocks from the Pike Place Market). </p>
<p>I would also visit Pike Place, the first Starbucks (right across from Pike Place), and the Seattle Art Museum if you are interested in art. I second the suggestion of the Underground Tour. I also enjoy the Ghost Tour at Pike Place. Make sure you see the gum wall at Pike Place also (gross but interesting). </p>
<p>As a previous poster suggested, take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and back but only do it if visibility is good that day. It’s a cheap way to see Seattle and the surrounding area from the Puget Sound. If you’re into Native American culture, try the Tillicum Village tour: <a href=“Blake Island - Argosy Cruises”>http://www.argosycruises.com/tillicum-village/</a> You’ll also want to visit the Seattle waterfront (which is where you catch the ferry and the boat to Tillicum Village).</p>
<p>Seattle is very walkable and when we visit we park in a parking garage near the Seattle Center and ride the monorail downtown. We then walk to the art museum, Pike Place, and the waterfront. Sometimes we go back to the monorail and go to the Seattle Center or we walk back to the Seattle Center from the waterfront (it’s uphill though). </p>
<p>Thanks, MSNDIS!</p>
<p>In Portland I would visit Powell’s Books if you like books. It is HUGE. <a href=“http://www.powells.com/”>Powell’s Books | The World’s Largest Independent Bookstore;
<p>There is also a comedy club that we like: <a href=“http://www.portlandcomedy.com/”>http://www.portlandcomedy.com/</a> (I’ve taken my teenagers and you might enjoy a less family-friendly club). </p>
<p>We also like eating at the brewhouses and pubs. </p>
<p>I’m not sure if the public transportation is still free in the heart of downtown Portland but it used to be free and you can hop on and off the lightrail all day. Portland is also very walkable so if you prefer, you can just walk everywhere. </p>
<p>You need to visit Voodoo Doughnuts. They have all sorts of weird doughnut flavors. <a href=“Voodoo Doughnut - The magic is in the hole! -”>http://voodoodoughnut.com/index.php</a> Make sure you go to the original location on 3rd. </p>
<p>In addition, Portland has a public market near the waterfront that I think is open just on the weekends. <a href=“http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/”>http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/</a></p>
<p>There is also a tram or something in Portland but I’ve never been on it but it might be fun: <a href=“http://gobytram.com/”>http://gobytram.com/</a></p>
<p>Both Portland and Seattle have a lot of homeless people in their downtown areas. I’ve always felt fairly safe in both cities.</p>
<p>I think there is less to do in Portland and it would require less time to see whatever you want to see. You can do a huge amount in Seattle in just a few days so unless you like to slowly wander through museums and/or the Pike Place Market, I think two days in Seattle is fine as long as you get there fairly early on the first day. </p>
<p>I forgot to mention that there is a Pike Place food tour if you are interesting in Seattle food: <a href=“http://seattlefoodtours.com/tours/pike-place-market?gclid=CJScqdC3rLwCFeE1QgodvloA9w”>http://seattlefoodtours.com/tours/pike-place-market?gclid=CJScqdC3rLwCFeE1QgodvloA9w</a> I haven’t gone on this tour so don’t know how good it is but I plan to take the tour at some point in time.</p>
<p>How much do you like Portlandia?</p>
<p>A full day trip from Seattle would be taking the ferry to one of the San Juan Islands. It’s so beautiful out there, but mostly on a nice day. People enjoy whale watching or renting kayaks.</p>
<p>And on a nice day, an Argosy cruise on Lake Washington is awesome. Of course, we’re planning on a lot of nice days during your visit!</p>
<p>Whichever way you fly, consider Alaska/Horizon between Seattle and Portland. Free local wine or beer for the 30 minute flight which is low enough and scenic enough to count as a Disney ride. Beautiful country.</p>
<p>If you have to choose, more stuff to see and do within 90 minutes of Seattle than Portland. Where are you thinking of staying?</p>
<p>UW Seattle campus is worth a visit when the cherry trees are in full bloom. This usually happens during late March/early April time frame.</p>
<p>Seattle Public Library is an interesting place to visit if you are into books and modern architecture.</p>
<p>We love going to Washington Park Arboretum ([UW</a> Botanic Gardens](<a href=“University of Washington Botanic Gardens | Plants for life”>University of Washington Botanic Gardens | Plants for life)) and it is very colorful during the month of April.</p>
<p>Seattle. I would take the ferry to Bainbridge Island whether or not the visibility is good. 
I’ll repeat several suggestions others have made. The Aquarium, Pike Place, and the waterfront. EMP and that area. Westlake Center for shopping. Has anyone mentioned Alki Beach, Woodland Park Zoo, Greenlake, Queen Anne, Fremont, even U Village? Maybe a museum or two or Benaroya Hall. Etc, etc, etc. Lots of choices, plenty of spots to explore. </p>
<p>This brings back my fond memory of taking my preschooler to the Oregon coast occasionally.</p>
<p>At one time, we purchased very fresh king salmon from a fisherman on the coast (forgot which town.) The fish was so large that we had difficulties in finishing it. (We are a very small family.) I took a picture of it when my wife held its tail with her two hands in the kitchen and the head of the fish got a half way to the floor. I think the fish was so heavy that she would not be able to hold it with one hand with ease.</p>
<p>Has anybody mentioned Mount Hood? It is relatively an easy drive from Portland. There is also a waterfall (With a name started with M) on the highway along the south side of Columbia river, I think.</p>