Friday, April 4, 2008

Saturday in Portland

Given our schedule, many of you will have some time on your hands on Saturday to enjoy Portland. That is totally awesome for you. If you take the max downtown, you can easily enjoy the following activities:

Portland Saturday Market, outdoors, rain or shine :)--a couple densely packed blocks of vendors, many selling their own craft work. Max stop is Skidmore Fountain, but it will be hard to miss.

Chinese Gardens. These gardens take up a walled off city block. They are very beautiful, but a little expensive ($7 adults/$6 seniors). Still if you want the best of both worlds (to see downtown Portland and Nature's glory all in one day) you can't beat it. Inside there is a little tea shop called the Tao of Tea, which we recommend for tea, snacks and light meals. Max stop is Old Town/Chinatown stop (right before Skidmore fountain, and right after the bridge if you are coming from the East). Get off and walk two blocks Northwest--eh, voila!

Powell's City of Books. If you are a literate human being you will kick yourself for missing this place. Coming from the East (that includes the Saturday Market/Chinese Garden area) get off at "the last stop in fareless square" aka Galleria/SW 10th, walk North on SW 1oth .2 miles to 1000 W. Burnside. And if you are a friend of a book lover, but not one yourself, you will find Powell's surrounded by big city shopping opportunities.