from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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Portland,
Oregon |
Portland
Oregon is many things to many people. It is an amiable city, its climate
generally favorable, and although it is not known for having many large tourist
attractions, it does have a number of smaller attractions such as museums, galleries
and parks. All this makes Portland a great base for touring the northwest coast
of the United States. This continually growing
city of nearly two million people has come a long way since the days of trading
with Chinook Indians, and currently holds a comfortable place among its contemporaries
in both business and leisure activities. Portland stretches from the foothills
of Mount Hood in the south, popular with skiers, snowboarders, mountain bikers
and hikers, to the coastal range. The character and style of the eighth largest
city in the western USA are as rich and colorful as its history.
HISTORY
Settled in the 1800s, Portland grew out of the pioneering efforts of early
trading with Chinook Indians along the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Over
the years a clearing of around one acre developed and in 1829 the future “City
of Roses” got its first building. In the early 1840s, 1,000 pioneers and 5,000
heads of livestock left Independence Missouri
for a new life in the West. Overcoming drought, storms, disease and threat
of hostile natives, these courageous adventurers traveled more than 3,200 Km
(about 2000 mi) over what would come to be known as the Oregon Trail. The “Great
Migration” began. The spirit of adventure upon which Portland was founded influenced
everything, including the choosing of a name. Legend has it that this decision
was more difficult than expected, and each founding member wanted to name their
new home after their own hometown. The decision was made with the toss of a
coin. Co-founder Francis Pettygrove won, and Portland was born.
Over the next few decades,
continued trade, the gold rush and Indian Wars led to steady growth, carrying
Portland through the Civil War. In 1883 the coming of the railroad connected
the young city to the rest of America, and Portland defined its future by claiming
the title of the mercantile and shipping center of the north west. There is
no doubt that this status was enhanced by its ideal location along the Columbia
River, so close to the Pacific Ocean. This applies today, and Portland remains
one of the nation’s leading export centers.
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Columbia
River Gorge |
One of the more defining characteristics of Portland is a love of nature, a
prominent influence on growth and development since 1852, when citizens planted
the South Park Blocks, a 25 block oasis of trees popular with shoppers and employees
in the downtown. In 1900 Donald Macleay reinforced this feature when he donated
105 acres of forested land to the city on the condition that wheeled vehicles
never be allowed to enter. Portland kept that promise, and now boasts more than
200 parks, from the 4,800 acre Forest Park to the 24 inch Mill Ends Park. The
smallest city park in the USA has quite a history behind it. In 1946, Dick Fagan
returned from the war to his office at the Oregon journal. Through his window
he could see a space in the median intended for a street light. The light never
came so Fagan filled the eyesore with flowers and wrote about the many “events”
of the new park in a column he called Mill Ends. His fictional stories, often
about the only leprechauns west of Ireland, became very popular with locals.
Today stories include flying saucers, picnics, bands and diving boards for butterflies.
Several parks in Portland include statues and sculptures by local artists, fountains
and venues for open air concerts. Portland’s love of nature has even made its
way to city hall, leading to a city ordinance restricting buildings to a maximum
height of 40 stories.
CLIMATE
The Portland climate is generally
mild, with summer temperatures typically hitting averages in the 70s Fahrenheit
(20s Celsius) and low to mid 40s (around 5 Celsius) in the winter. In the spring
and fall Portland sees a fair amount of rain, averaging around 36 inches. In
spite of all that rain and humidity, however, Portland doesn’t get much snow
over the winter months. With only a few inches each year, if it does snow visitors
can expect the fall to be light and not stay long.
TRANSPORTATION AND GETTING
AROUND
The Willamette River splits
the city into east and west. There are many one way streets, especially in the
downtown area, but the major roadways are all easily accessible. Parking is
one of the more challenging aspects of driving in Portland, especially on the
streets, but there are many parking lots in the downtown. Have plenty of change
on hand as you can expect to pay up to $3.00 an hour the closer you get to the
city centre.
Public transportation is an
attractive alternative, as it is easy to use and less expensive than parking
lots. Much of the transportation in the downtown area is free. Transportation
shelters also offer interactive computer terminals, complete with schedules,
for visitors unsure of how to get where they want to go. Simply enter your location
and destination to find the best route. Downtown Portland also offers an airport
shuttle service, running between the airport and most major hotels.
Approximately 13 million people travel to and from Portland every year via
the Portland
International Airport, offering nonstop service throughout the USA as well
as to Vancouver, BC, Toronto ON, Asia and Europe. As an alternative, the Portland
Amtrak Station serves Seattle,
WA, Vancouver, BC, Los
Angeles, CA and Chicago, IL. Amtrak
offers Hertz shuttle service from the station to the downtown core.
FEATURED ATTRACTIONS
Portland Oregon is known for the little things—many little things. The Children’s
Museum, for example, is a place where curious youths can experience hands
on learning and creativity. Another attraction sure to draw attention is the
Audubon Society of Portland, which actually isn’t that little at all. The
Society includes a wildlife sanctuary of more than 160 acres, wildlife care
and rehabilitation center with educational exhibits and miles of walking trails.
A truly unique experience can be found at The
Grotto, a religious sanctuary and garden found at the foot of a ten story
cliff wall.
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Favorite
Pastimes |
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The relaxed atmosphere Portland
has had a strong influence on what visitors can expect to see and do. Being
so close to the mountains and having so many parks and rivers has made the pastimes
of camping, fishing, hiking, river rafting, biking, skiing, wind surfing and
kite flying. For those with an eye for more leisurely vacations, sites popular
with tourists (and citizens alike) are the Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park,
along the Willamette River and the Ira Keller Fountain near the Civic Auditorium.
This fountain, spraying 52,000 liters (13,000 gallons) of water into the air
every minute, is truly a spectacular site.
Parks are not the only plentiful
hideaway for Portland also boasts numerous gardens, as well as the Oregon
Zoo. Explore the worlds of mountain goats, or grizzly bears on the Alaskan
Tundra, black rhinos on the African Savanna, and monkeys, bats and birds in
the African Rain Forest, all with simulated environments. Those not interested
in walking all day can take a train ride through the exhibits to the Japanese
gardens for tea before hopping back on a train and returning to the zoo.
The planting of the first rose
bush in 1837, and the success of the Lewis & Clark Exhibition in 1905, spawned
what is perhaps the most popular annual event. The Portland Rose Festival is
the city’s traditional way to kick off the summer celebration. The fun begins
with rides set up in Waterfront Village. The month-long festival, which attracts
around two million people each year, continues with a variety of events such
as the largest children's parade in the USA, a hot-air balloon festival, dragon
b oat races, and an air show. Parades are also common during the Rose Festival,
and visitors can enjoy the Starlight Parade, the Junior Parade and the ever
popular Grand Floral Parade. The largest, single-day event in Oregon, includes
the crowning of the Rose Festival queen. So popular is the Grand Floral Parade
that families have been known to camp along the parade route days in advance
to guarantee a great view.
Portlanders are always looking for a good time, and the fun doesn’t stop with
the Rose Festival. There are a variety of musical events, like the Mount Hood
Jazz Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival, the second-largest blues festival
in the USA. There are events showcasing the local breweries such as the Oregon
Brewers Festival and the annual Bones And Brew, arguably the best barbecue event
of the summer. Also in Portland visitors find such fun events as the Big Stink
comedy festival and the annual Schmooz Crooz, a social gathering aboard a cruise
ship touring the Willamette River. Never wanting to leave anyone out, Portland
even plays host to the world’s largest relay event, the Hood to Coast Relay,
a 195 mile run from Mount Hood to the Seaside beach. So popular is this late
summer event that every year more than 100 teams are turned away.
NIGHTLIFE
Portland has a busy nightlife,
with many clubs for those looking for a fun night out. Some clubs, like the
Roseland Theatre, cater to different clientele on different nights. It is not
uncommon for bars to host reggae one night and classic rock the next. Be sure
to check what is on the menu before heading out to be sure you find the scene
you are looking for.
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Nightlife |
Those looking for a less common experience are always welcome at the Crystal
Ballroom, where night owls can hear everything from traditional jazz and blues
to the more psychedelic sounds of the 60s revival. The Crystal Ballroom is a
great venue for watching live acts.
Portland also has plenty of
room for those visitors not up for dancing. St. John’s Pub is one such example,
offering a mellow night of live acoustic music. Once a Lutheran church, this
historic landmark also played a prominent role during the World’s Fair of 1905
and stood as a post for the American Legion through the 1950’s. Today, the atmosphere
is less intense, and this popular nightspot won’t disappoint.
The Portland nightlife is not
exclusive to those of legal drinking age, and has a number of venues catering
to the “all ages” crowd. Klub Z offers a mix of techno, industrial and electronica,
B Complex entertains the alternative rock and jazz crowds, while the Viscount
Ballroom is the ideal venue for Latin and swing dancers looking to perfect their
art.
