<p>I’m going to tour Reed, but I’m also sticking around Portland a bit for sightseeing. The Seattle thread seemed really helpful, so I wondered if you all had some tips about cool things in Portland as well. I especially like outdoor places to walk around, cool cafes, interesting looking buildings etc. but would enjoy pretty much anything. I love going to places that are valued by locals but not necessarily well-known to tourists.</p>
<p>Thank you for any tips/ideas!</p>
<p>The big bookstore. Don’t know the name…</p>
<p><a href=“Info - Powell's Books”>Info - Powell's Books;
<p>“Powell’s City of Books is a book lover’s paradise, the largest used and new bookstore in the world. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon and occupying an entire city block, the City stocks more than a million new and used books. Nine color coded rooms house over 3,500 different sections, offering something for every interest, including an incredible selection of out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.”</p>
<p>We also toured Lewis & Clark. The campus is so beautiful, it is worth the trip just to walk around it. It was a wealthy person’s estate, donated to the college. The admissions office was his house, I think, with a clear view of Mt Hood (when there’s a clear view of anything). The rainforest-y canyon that separates residential from classroom parts of campus feels like Jurassic Park. The tour guide said it was even prettier in the rain. The library had a great collection of (guess what?) stuff about the Lewis & Clark expedition. Go see Lewis & Clark!</p>
<p>See the many fountains in PDX. Waterfalls in the Gorge. The microbrewers (+21yo-they do card). Drink the water, very soft.</p>
<p>Hawthorne district is close to Reed, with shopping, food and a more manageble size Powells.</p>
<p>Mt Tabor is fun to walk around-</p>
<p><a href=“http://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/[/url]”>http://web.pdx.edu/~nac/pdxdirtcheap/</a>
I love the Nickel Arcade</p>
<p>Eat lunch at Rose’s deli and bakery on 23rd near Good Samaritan hospital. That whole neighborhood has great funky little shops and cafe’s. I think there’s light rail service nearby. My D nearly went to Lewis and Clark just to live in Portland.<br>
If the weather is nice, try walking along the waterfront McCall park.</p>
<p>We prefer Kornblatt’s deli on 23rd. Seems more authentic NY right down to the staff.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you already have gotten your hotel- but I like the red lion by the convention center- you can bring your dog :), but also it is very convienent to the lt rail and it is a good value.</p>
<p>The coffee shop downstairs is kind of a pre dennys throwback- but the staff is nice & burgerville is across the street which makes the best french fries I have had in my life.</p>
<p>also if you are taking Amtrak- you can get a discount if a college visit- Reed also has a list of hotels that offer discounts for prospies.
Unfortunately the Mallory where we used to stay at isn’t in operation anymore- it was sold- still a hotel, but not the same.</p>
<p>Pho Van on Hawthorne is :D</p>
<p>Did you know that both Into the Wild & The Feast of Love were partially filmed at Reed?</p>
<p>Washington Park, the Japanese Garden–which is nearby–and the Zoo. Multnomah Falls and other smaller falls with nice hikes which are nearby–if you have a car so you can get there. The Springwater Trail, which goes from east of Gresham to close-in southeast Portland: great for walking or biking. If you are there from March onward, the Saturday Market (open weekends) is fun to explore: <a href=“http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/[/url]”>http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/</a>
Those are the first things that pop into my head.</p>
<p>Powell’s books downtown is in a neighborhood called the Pearl District which has shopping and galleries–some nice shops. Also, NW 23rd street has locally-owned boutiques which are fun. There is GREAT eating in Portland. Around Reed, there is a beautiful neighborhood called Eastmoreland. Near there (drive) is an antique district called Sellwood and Moreland - also fun browsing and shopping there. </p>
<p>Jazz festival is happening - as the date for your visit gets closer, look at Willamette week (alternative newsweekly) online for upcoming music and arts events. [Willamette</a> Week | Monday, February 11th, 2008](<a href=“http://www.willametteweek.com%5DWillamette”>http://www.willametteweek.com)</p>
<p>so, where you be from, ‘dis-grace?’</p>
<p>If you want to visit a museum, Portland has a very nice museum called [the</a> Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)](<a href=“http://www.omsi.edu/]the”>http://www.omsi.edu/), which currently has a fascinating exhibit on Chinese Dinosaurs. </p>
<p>If you are going after March 1st, there is the [Portland</a> Saturday Market](<a href=“http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/]Portland”>http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/), which has interesting arts and crafts, food, and performances.</p>
<p>I second the previous suggestion to go to the 23rd Avenue area. There is a pizzeria there called Pizzicato that has some of the best pizza this side of Rome!</p>
<p>And as others have mentioned do not miss the main Powells on Burnside. It is, IMHO, the best bookstore in the United States, and you can get lost there for hours.</p>
<p>NW 23rd is a great neighborhood to walk around in. I second the Kornblatt’s Deli recommendation, or just about anywhere in that neighborhood. Portland is a great city for food, and walking and young people.</p>
<p>Powell’s Books is the best bookstore in the world, period.</p>
<p>Voodoo Donuts is the best donut shop in the world, period. I had no idea there was any ranking of donut shops, but I turned to Google to back up my claim and was instantly vindicated: [Slashfood</a> Ate (8): Best Donut Shops - Slashfood](<a href=“http://www.slashfood.com/2006/05/10/slashfood-ate-8-best-donut-shops/]Slashfood”>http://www.slashfood.com/2006/05/10/slashfood-ate-8-best-donut-shops/)</p>
<p>Skyline Restaurant… 73 years old now and possibly still the greatest burgers in America.</p>
<p>I don’t recommend OMSI if you have just a weekend, it’s nothing too special. Very comparable to other science museums in America.</p>
<p>I recommend the Oregon Zoo only if you don’t have a good zoo in your hometown. It’s an incredible zoo and I visit very frequently (my girlfriend just got a job in the main restaurant), and there are excellent Northwest themed areas, but it doesn’t define Portland.</p>
<p>Japanese Garden, Chinese Classical Garden, Pearl District, Powell’s, 23rd Ave. You said you like walking, try the Eastbank Esplanade if it’s a nice day: </p>
<p>[Portland</a> Parks & Recreation :: Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade](<a href=“http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=105&action=ViewPark]Portland”>Eastbank Esplanade | Portland.gov)</p>
<p>Since we’re talking delis, I’d eat at Kenny and Zuke’s in conjunction with your visit to Powell’s. This is a whole 'nother level. I challenge you to find better pastrami (made in-house) anywhere in the world:</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to Kenny & Zuke’s, A Jewish Delicatessen in Portland, Oregon](<a href=“http://www.kennyandzukes.com/]Welcome”>http://www.kennyandzukes.com/)</p>
<p>mount hood! :)</p>
<p>Oh, and if you’re in the Pearl District, have lunch or grab a pastry snack at the Pearl Bakery, one of my favorite bakeries in the US:</p>
<p>[Pearl</a> Bakery](<a href=“http://www.pearlbakery.com/index.html]Pearl”>http://www.pearlbakery.com/index.html)</p>
<p>Wow, thank you. I think there needs to be a series of CC tourist guides published… Powell’s books sounds amazing, and I can’t wait to eat my way through Portland. </p>
<p>thisoldman: Ohio, but I’m in Olympia visiting with family at the moment. I had never been to the west coast in my life before now.</p>
<p>[My daughter was always too busy to go here](<a href=“http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/”>http://web.reed.edu/sports_center/cabin/</a>)</p>
<p>I don’t know how often college students go to the pearl- it was a little too high end for my daughter- but she went here quite a bit
[Limbo</a> Inc - PORTLAND, OR 97202 - Reviews: Fresh Produce](<a href=“http://www.insiderpages.com/b/5440525094]Limbo”>InsiderPages - Recommendations that matter most.)
and there is a trader joes next door :D!</p>