What to do in Portland - non climbing stuff
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I'm heading to Portland for a business trip a the end of the month. Unfortunately between meetings and client dinners I won't be able to get any climbing in, but will have a few hours here and there to get out and see the town. Where should I go, what should I see? Also, where is the best place to go to find a new favorite IPA? Will be staying downtown and will have a rental car so I'm really looking anywhere within an hour of downtown. |
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eat. I haven't lived there in a few years, but the food scene is unlike anything else I've experienced. |
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More high quality local IPAs than you can shake a stick at. Portland is Beervana. You'll get a million opinions on this one. If you are downtown, Rogue's place in NW is awesome. If you're in inner SE, the Lucky Labrador is a perennial favorite. http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/?PropertyID=1113&action=ViewPark The Pittock Mansion, an old newspaper magnate's home from the robber baron era, is a stunning place, worth the $8 or so admission. Only open until 4pm this time of year. This guy had like surround jetted showers 90 years ago, just amazingly beautiful architecture, furnishings, and art, and hard to believe some of the amenities for the period. Also in a beautiful setting overlooking the city from the hills. pittockmansion.org/ Those are a couple places I'd usually take family visiting from out of town. Along with favorite restaurants and such. Great city, great food, great people. Of all the places I've lived (and it's been WAY too many places) this was my favorite town by far. |
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Thanks for asking this question! I, too, am staying in the vicinity but cannot get out climbing, so I've been looking for good things to do in the area. |
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Powell's Books and Washington Park (pay to see the Japanese Gardens, it's worth it). |
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Get your hands on a bike and ride it all around the city. |
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Yeah, Terminal Gravity is a great IPA. I've done some ice climbing with the owner out there in the Wallowas. They are out of eastern OR though, but you can find it on tap plenty of places around town. |
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There is a super neat city hike that involves the street car, a lil hiking and then the tram from OHSU. That a great way to see the city and only take a few hours. |
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All the in-town suggestions are ok, but if you want to 'see' the area then drive up to Hood River and back on I-4 through the Columbia River Gorge. |
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Ben Beckerich wrote:No one has mentioned Hopworks Urban Brewery? 23rd or 26thish and Powell... Organic IPA on tap, good food.I was there last night. The organic IPA is indeed excellent. The food is mixed; some is good (calzones), some is mediocre (some of the pizzas). Lucky Lab has good beer but I'm not a fan of their food. At least their Hawthorne location; I think they have different menus at each bar, but I've only been to the one on Hawthorne. The McMenamins bars are all over and have good beer but again mediocre food. The exception is the Crystal Hotel, along Burnside, that has pretty good food and the same beer. There's my take on a few of the bigger/more well-known brewpubs. There are tons more. It's pretty rare to find great food in a brewpub; there are lots of great brewpubs, and lots of great or at least interesting places to eat, but rarely do they mix. For non-brewpub things to do, driving out on I-84 and stopping to see the waterfalls is pretty good. The Chinese garden (right in the city) and Japanese garden (right on the edge) and rose test garden (right next to the Japanese garden, and free to visit) are all worth seeing. Powell's is a lot of fun if you like to browse books. Etc. |
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Food - |
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Sassy's is a must visit for any Portland adventure. They have a lot of the above mention taps and quality music. |
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Wow, thanks for all the responses! I think I've got good start for bars/brewpubs here. One thing I forgot to mention is that I'd love to hit up a good seafood place. I'm thinking local oysters and some crab if it's still in season. No white table cloth necessary, in fact I'd prefer it if my server was wearing a t-shirt and shorts and it's even better if my tablecloth is made of newspaper. |
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Agreed with Ryan - don't miss Sassy's. |
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Seafood? Jake's Famous Crawfish, at 12th and Stark in SW is great. 100+ year old, great bar, great food, cool ambiance. The original McCormick and Schmicks was hard to beat, closed I heard. Same people own them both, went corporate in the mid 00s then taken back private. |
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PDX: has some of the best strip clubs around. I vote Sassy's and the Acropolis for sure. |
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Will S wrote:Seafood? Jake's Famous Crawfish, at 12th and Stark in SW is great. 100+ year old, great bar, great food, cool ambiance. The original McCormick and Schmicks was hard to beat,+1 to Jakes. I worked at Jakes Steakhouse for close to a year and really have to say the quality of that organization is pretty top notch. The McCormick and Schmicks at Harborside is a pretty sweet experience. Their beer selection is lacking (They are partnered with Full Sail) but they have a kick-ass happy hour menu, awesome seafood and a menu that changes every single day based on what kind of fish is available on the market. Plus you can sit outside right on the Willamette, watching boats drift pass. They usually have at least 6 different types of oysters as well. ETA - yes, the Acropolis is the shit! Eggs and legs, tits and grits! Best $3 12-egg omelet in the world! |
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Oh right! I totally forgot about the A-crop. Their steak bites are not to be missed. Tho I must say they dont have the talent that Sassy's does and it's really in Milwaukee(Gross!) Mary's is great if you're into freakshow-style entertainment. Another must visit is Union Jacks on Burnside. |
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A little past your hour's drive window Steve. |
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Some great food ideas in there but you guys are missing the best ones! The food carts! You can find large groups of them all throughout downtown and I haven't found a cart that I haven't liked yet. There's also Cartlandia over in Clackamas with some great food. |
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Bickle wrote:PDX: has some of the best strip clubs around. I vote Sassy's and the Acropolis for sure.Union Jack's! If you're into running you should head up into Forest Park via Mcleay Park; it's the best way to get out of the city while still being in the city. Lower Macleay trail to Wildwood and up to Pittock Mansion is a fantastic hill climb if you're looking for a good burn. |