Weekend in Portland

Hiking the trail at Multmomah falls in the early morning hours was fabulous - a must see.

Quick Tips:

We got lucky and hit Portland on a beautiful weekend. However, I've heard that it rains a good bit of the time. Be sure to bring an umbrella or raincoat.

Best Way To Get Around:

Portland has an exceptional mass transit system. You do not necessarily need to have your own car. The city blocks are very small and esthetically pleasing, making walking a pleasurable experience. However, you may want to rent a car for the day if you wish to drive out to the Columbia River Gorge to see the waterfalls or to Mt. St. Helen's which is about an hour or so drive away.

The Days Inn City Center is located in downtown Portland, walking distance from many area attractions. The rates are probably the most reasonable that you will find downtown. The rooms are somewhat small, beds a little hard, and the decor was average, but will do if you are not too concerned about where you stay. We were plagued with problems, however. It began with the air conditioner that wouldn''t work. Now, my sister and I are two country girls from south Louisiana and are used to stifling heat, but the temperature in this room was unbearable. We had to call the desk several times before they responded. Then we went to take a bath - I''m not against mineral baths, but water orange from rust is not quite what I had in mind. After yet another call to the front desk, the management had us change rooms. Finally, the air conditioner worked, but we still had orange tinted water. One thing I can say, however, is that once the staff responded to our concerns, they were very friendly and accommodating. Still, if I ever visit Portland again, I think I''ll try a different place.

By far the best Greek food I've ever tasted was at Greek Cusina - hell, make that some of the best food I've ever tasted period. It was so good, that I didn't care that the service was pretty lousy. It is has a somewhat small dining area which was filled to the brim when my sister and I arrived. We opted to sit on the outdoor patio, providing a constant view of the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland. We sat for almost half an hour before someone even brought us a menu. But once we ordered and received our meal, it was heaven. First we were brought warm pita bread with a sort of olive oil, red wine vinaigrette mix - unbelievable. We just about filled up on that alone. For my meal I ordered appetizers of hummus and mini gyros. My sister had a puffed pastry with a mix of cheese and other good stuff that I can't recall. It was so good I want to cry when I think about it - yes, it was that good. My only regret is that we ate so much that we didn't save room for any of the luscious looking desserts on display in a cooler at the restaurant's entrance. We heard from others, however, that the desserts are just as good as the rest of the menu. I suggest that if you only eat once in Portland, try Greek Cusina. Restaurant info: Mon-Thu 8:00am-12:00am Fri 7:00am- 2:30am Sat 9:00am- 2:30am Sun 10:00am-12:00am Tel: (503) 224-2288 Fax: (503) 224-1444 American Express, Check, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Check out the Saturday market in an outdoor pavillion downtown Portland. You can find unique gifts, jewelry, food, ect. There are also musicians performing for your enjoyment. Though it is called the 'Saturday Market', it is also open on Sunday, March through December.

We visited the falls in late September, before the weather turned very cold. We packed water and snacks and left early one Saturday morning, before the sun came up. We drove about an 35-40 minutes out to Multnomah Falls, all the while taking in the breathtaking views of a sunrise over Portland and the Columbia River Gorge. We arrived right after sunup and began our hike up to the top of the falls. We were the only people around - it was awesome! We took several side trails, having no clue where they led, but paying attention on how to get back. With our detours, it took us about 3 hours to get to the top of the falls. My sister, an avid photographer, took so many pictures that her finger must have been numb. It is a truly beautiful area. When you are nearly to the top of the falls, you are given a choice to go right to the top of the falls, or left to another scenic area. Make sure you go left! There are some pretty areas where the water flows of the rocks. We climbed around on the rocks just for fun and were cutting up, which eventually cost me my camera. (We cajun's talk with our hands, I got a little too excited, and my camera took a swim.)

We did not see anyone else until we began our descent. By the time we got back down, there were many other people and the area was getting quite crowded. We visited the gift shop for a bit then headed back to the city for lunch. On the way back we also stopped briefly to check out a few smaller waterfalls. So, in only about 3-4 hours we were able to have a fulfilling experience of Oregon outdoors.

Find out why Portland is called the City of Roses. Visit the International Rose Test Garden to view some of the biggest, most beautiful roses you have ever seen. You will also get a fabulous view of the city from the gardens as well. There is no cost to enter the gardens, but there is a box where you can contribute donations. Stroll around the gardens at your own pace while enjoying soothing music played in the background. There is an amphitheatre on the grounds which would be nice for a picnic, so pack a lunch. The Japanese gardens are right across the street - you probably want to make a day of it and tour both of them.

Note: If you walk a short distance outside the gardens, there is a park to the right of the property that would be great if you have small children.

Simply strolling through downtown Portland is an experience in itself. The downtown's short blocks and scenic fixtures make for a pleasant walk. There are also many retailers, restaurants, galleries, and specialty shops. What I most enjoyed about down town were the many waterfalls constructed in the area. You may also want to visit Pioneer Square, a sort of commons area with an amphitheatre where many people (young and old, but mostly young) hang out and visit. At noon each day a sort of weather machine emerges to display the current weather conditions. So put on your walking shoes, grab a cup of coffee -Starbucks are located about every 10 feet- and take in the downtown Portland culture.