2005 Portland Frequently Asked Questions

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Convention update no. 1: Travel tips

Dear colleagues,

Now is a good time to start planning your trip to Portland for the 2005 convention, Sept. 14-17. Some of you have called asking for travel advice. Below are some highly subjective answers to 13 of your most frequently asked questions. See you in September, and happy traveling.

Best,

Susan Nielsen

Associate editor, The Oregonian

Convention chairwoman, NCEW 2005

Q: My spouse and I are thinking about tacking a few extra days onto our trip. What should we do?

A: If you have one or two extra days, stay in Portland and enjoy the city. You don't need a car. You can get around by light rail or streetcar or bus. You can even get a little outdoor fix by taking the light rail to Washington Park and hiking among the tall trees of Forest Park.

Q: What if we want to rent a car and get out of town? Where should we go?

A: I would recommend these three options, in order. First, drive 90 minutes west to the Oregon Coast and stay at Cannon Beach or Manzanita. Second, drive an hour east up the Columbia Gorge to Hood River. Third, take a little wine tour through the Willamette Valley. (For more information, go to www.winesnw.com . I like the Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston. It's about 45 minutes from downtown Portland.)

Q: If we go to the ocean, where should we stay?

A: Cannon Beach and Manzanita are about 20 minutes apart. Cannon Beach has the glorious Haystack Rock, an Oregon icon, and a bustling little downtown with galleries and shops. Manzanita is smaller, quieter and more relaxed. Very few cars. Good espresso bar.

If you go to Manzanita, I'd recommend the Inn at Manzanita. The web site is www.innatmanzanita.com. If you go to Cannon Beach, I'd recommend Schooner's Cove. The Web site is www.schoonerscove.com. You can also do Google searches (type the city's name and "lodging") to find places that are more affordable, luxurious, romantic, offbeat, etc. Make reservations early or you'll end up riding go-karts in Seaside.

A: If we drive up the Columbia River Gorge, where should we stay?

You can stay at the Timberline Lodge, a National Historic Landmark on Mount Hood. The Web site is www.timberlinelodge.com. It's one hour from downtown Portland. Heck of a place. You can also find a hotel in Hood River by Googling "lodging" and "Hood River."

Here are some other lodging recommendations from my coworkers:

1. "The Lakecliff B&B in Hood River is great. Only 4 rooms, beautiful house, nice owners, yummy breakfast. I think it was $125 a night. It's on the other side of the highway from downtown Hood River and it might seem a little odd because the entrance is pretty much right off the freeway but it's nestled back in there with a bunch of trees and a great view and the rooms are lovely. Ours had a fireplace."

2. "The Vagabond Lodge, right off the highway in Hood River, looks kinda weird but it has a great view for much less than the Lakecliff and many more rooms. That was our staging area for the wedding. The rooms are not fancy but are large."

3. "The Columbia Gorge Hotel is lovely and known throughout the land for their extraordinary Sunday brunch."

4. "The beautiful Skamania Lodge (on the Washington side of the Gorge) has a fun bar with great views from the back patio out the Gorge."

What should we do in Hood River?

A: I'm a big fan of Hood River, a classic Northwest town about 45 minutes east of Portland up the Gorge. If it's a windy day, you will marvel at the windsurfers and kitesurfers. If the wind is off, stop by a pub and enjoy the local microbrew. (Full Sail Amber Ale is the best.)

If you love trains, take the century-old steam train to Parkdale and back. Take one of the excursion trains (not the dinner train) through the hills and pear orchards, then enjoy an ice-cream cone in Parkdale. Check it out at http://www.mthoodrr.com/excursion.html. Here's a description: "In 1805 the Lewis and Clark expedition discovered the riches of the Hood River region, better known today as the Columbia Gorge. The Mount Hood Railroad reveals the beauty of this area as it travels 22 miles from Hood River to the base of the 11,235-foot Mount Hood in Parkdale. Because of the steep grades for the train to climb the 1700 feet to Parkdale it must use a switch back to get there. This railway is one of only four in the country that still uses switchbacks."

And don't forget, the Gorge is full of good places to hike.

Q: If you were a Portland tourist on foot, what would you do?

A: Here's a quick list.

1. Sleeping: Stay at the Benson Hotel, site of our convention. It's a four-star, historic hotel built in 1911 by a timber baron. Check it out at www.bensonhotel.com.

2. Reading: Go to Powell's City of Books, the largest independent collection of new and used books in the world. It's a five-minute walk from the hotel. Set aside at least an hour (preferably two) to browse.

3. Eating: Eat at Higgins or the Heathman or Southpark for dinner, and Mother's Bistro for brunch. All are within walking distance of the hotel. Get a chocolate shake for yourself and some hand-crafted artisan truffles for your sweetie at Portland-based Moonstruck Chocolate Co. at Sixth and Alder.

4. Transcending: Go to the exquisitely serene Portland Chinese Classical Garden, where we'll be spending Thursday evening.

5. Picnicking: Grab some sandwiches downtown and take light rail west from Pioneer Courthouse Square to Washington Park. At that light rail stop, you have several prime picnic sites, including the Japanese Gardens, the Portland Rose Gardens and the poignant and informative Vietnam Memorial. I love all three places.

6. Exploring: Explore downtown on foot. Enjoy a stroll along the Willamette River in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Sit in the sun and enjoy a coffee at Pioneer Courthouse Square, also known as Portland's living room. Ramble through the Pearl District and peek at the galleries and shops. Say hi to Abraham Lincoln in the Park Blocks and the Portlandia statue on Fourth and Main.

7. Viewing: Have a drink and admire the spectacular view from the Portland City Grill at the top of the US Bancorp Tower downtown. The lawn at the Pittock Mansion is a great place to see Portland as it is: a city nestled in the forest, guarded by Mt Hood to the east and Mt St Helens to the north.

8. Drinking. Portland is legendary for its microbrews. BridgePort IPA is my favorite. You might also enjoy the Rogue Brewery, McMenamins, Widmer Brothers.

Q: What if I'm a history buff?

A. Go to the Oregon Historical Society Museum on Broadway, about nine short blocks south on Broadway from the Benson. A special exhibit called, "A Fair to Remember: The 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition" will be showing until Sept. 18. If (and only if!) you're a real history buff, drive to Fort Clatsop, where Lewis and Clark spent a wet and miserable winter, or to the Vancouver National Historic Reserve, the Northwest's oldest military post.

Q: What if I love to shop?

A. Three words: no sales tax. Take the streetcar (or a quick bus or a cab) up to NW 23rd Avenue, a fun area of swanky shops and independent boutiques. Zip across the Willamette River and visit Rejuvenation House Parts at 1100 SE Grand Avenue, a mecca for Stickley furniture, clawfoot tubs, period furniture and lighting, and home renovation books. Visit the flagship store for Columbia Sportswear on Broadway. Swing into Pioneer Place, just east of Pioneer Courthouse Square, if you want chain stores like Saks, Eddie Bauer, etc.

Q: I plan on coming to Portland the weekend before the convention. I'm on a tight budget, I'll have a car, and I'm worried about the cost of parking overnight downtown. Where should I stay?

If you're willing to stay just outside of downtown Portland, consider one of the whimsical, quirky and historic McMenamins hotels. View them at www.mcmenamins.com. You could try the Edgefield Hotel in Troutdale, about 20 minutes east of downtown Portland. It's a local favorite. A room with a queen bed and bathroom down the hall is $50, for example. Here's the Web site description of the Edgefield property: "It is a world of relaxation that seamlessly blends Oregon's natural beauty with McMenamins' signature whimsy. .¤.¤. The lodging rooms at Edgefield feature whimsical artwork, comfy chenille-covered beds and vintage furnishings. Many of our rooms also feature original porcelain sinks and cotton bathrobes. Guests may choose from rooms with private baths or conveniently located common bathrooms."

A second choice would be the Kennedy School in Northeast Portland, an old elementary school turned into a trippy hotel, brewpub and movie theater. It's in a residential area 10 minutes away from downtown Portland, so don't stay there unless you 1) have a car and 2) understand that you will be Away From Everything!

If you want to stay in Portland, rooms at the Silver Cloud Inn are about $80 a night and include parking. I can't recommend this place, because some Internet reviews say it is generic and noisy, but it could work in a pinch.

Q: What if I want to go fly fishing?

A: I have no idea, Morgan! But people tell me the Deschutes is the river you want in September. Google "Deschutes" and "flyfishing" to read about some local outfitters with day trips.

Q: What is likely to annoy me as a traveler?

A: The parking at the Benson is $22 a night. The drinks at the bar tend to be spendy. You can visit "Oregon Wines on Broadway," a little nearby wine shop, if you somehow find yourself hosting a pinot party. If you're a volume drinker, bring a flask (or join the locals and switch to beer and lattes).

Q: How far away is Seattle?

A: It's a three-hour drive north or a 3.5-hour train trip. Take the Amtrak from one downtown to the other, and enjoy the beer and clam chowder. But really, Seattle is so 2000. You'd rather stay in Portland.

Q: I still have thousands of questions. What should I do?

A: Google or call the Portland Oregon Visitors Association. Go to your local bookstore or amazon.com and order "City Smart: Portland" or another travel book. And of course, keep watching for more convention updates.