What to do on a Seattle Wa / Portland OR Vacation?

Great area to visit.

Portland has many Heritage and Cultural Societies: African American, Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese, Native American. It has a very nice Cultural District.

I recommend the Portland Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Craft, Chinatown, the Chinese Garden, and the Oregon Maritime Center and Museum

I love lighthouses and there are some nice on the Oregon coast, not all open to the public: Tillamook Head (Off shore between Cannon Beach and Seaside); Cape Meares (Tillamook Cape Meares State Park); Yaquina Head (Newport); Yaquina Bay (Newport);

Heceta Head (Florence); Umpqua River (Reedsport/Winchester Bay); Cape Arago (Charleston); Coquille River (Bandon); Cape Blanco (Port Orford); Pelican Bay (Harbor)

Lighthouse hunting is a great way to explore the coast and participate in other activitties such as Bird and /or Whale Watching. There are also many museums, historic places, wineries, breweries along the way on the coast.

Seattle is packed with many museums (art, science, history). Must dos: The Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Seattle Aquarium and the Seattle Waterfront. Woodland Park Zoo is also cool. So is Tillicum Village on Blake Island. Definitely visit Snoqualmie Falls.

Good lighthouses: Alki Point, Cape Disappointment, Cape Flattery, Cape Destruction, Grays Harbor, New Columbia River lighthouse, West Point Light, North Head Light, San Juan Islands, New Dungeness, Lime Kiln, Cattle Point, Burrows Island, Admiralty Head, Bush Point, Mukilteo, Browns Point, Dofflemyer Point, Gig Harbor, Point Robinson, Point No Point, Skunk Bay, Marrowstone, Point Wilson, Slip Point

Enjoy.

Powells Books, pure and simple. That place will change the way you think about books. It's 100% amazing. The Beaverton Powells at Cedar Hills is decent too, although the main location on Burnside cannot be beat.

Walk around the Pearl District, as well as downtown by Pioneer Square. There are so many interesting things to see.

Take a ride around the Tri-Met lightrail system- it will give you a great view of what Portland has to offer.

Check the Portland Center for Performing Arts' website to see if anything extraordinary is going on.

Drive the Columbia Gorge. That has to be one of the most beautiful areas in the Northwest. Don't miss Multnomah Falls!

If you are animal people, explore the Oregon Zoo. The habitats are well-done and it has a lot to offer.

I work in a hotel in Downtown Portland and direct people around the city all the time...literally as a career. I specialize in Portland, not Seattle, so I'll work accordingly.

The main highlights in Portland are:

- Washington Park - it's easy to take public transportation to and has the Japanese Gardens, International Rose Test Gardens, World Forestry Museum, Hoyt Arberetum & Oregon Zoo.

- Chinese Gardens (in downtown) NW 4th & Davis

- Powells City of Books (largest independant bookstore in the US. It covers a whole block. The entrance is on NW 10 & Burnside

- Portland Art Museum - SW Park & Madison

- Oregon Historical Society - SW Park & Jefferson

- Nob Hill - is a great strip to walk around, mainly on NW 23rd. It has shops, cafes etc...

- Pearl District - is one of the most attractive areas in Portland. It has a lot of modern and hip restaurants, shops, cafes, art galleries etc...

As for coffee...

Stumptown Coffee Roasters (SW Stark between 10th & 11th) is the best in Portland. Not to mention is Portland's old nickname.

Record shops...

EM (Everyday Music) should have everything you could want. They're on NW 14th & Burnside. Jackpot Records (Burnside & SW 9th), 2nd Ave Records (SW 2nd & Stark **NOTE ROCK ONLY**) are some good ones too.

Seattle has some cool places. Like the EMP (Experience Music Project), the ever-famous Space Needle and Pikes Place Market (where you'll find the famous fish throwers and original Starbucks).

Of course I'm bias with Portland by living there, working there, and telling people how great it is everyday. I think it's a friendlier city too, and has better public transportation. Plan on not needing a car to get around. If you have any other questions send me an email:

I'm a lifetime Portland resident (except for the last 2 years where I've been living just out of the city and I miss it dearly) so I'll stick with that.

Powell's Bookstore on 10th & Burnside---Agree with prior posts, AMAZING bookstore with new and used books tucked into every nook and cranny.

Multnomah County Library---a few blocks south of Powell's on 10th, it also has an amazing collection of books in a huge National Historical building.

NW 23rd---great collection of shops, cafes, nightlife....if you're in to independent movies (or occasional reruns of classics like 2001 Space Odyssey, or Lawrence of Arabia), check out Cinema 21.

Waterfront Park/Riverfront----Waterfront Park runs right along the front of downtown on the beautiful Willamette River. You can walk from there down to the Riverfront Area which has a small collection of shops/restaurants. I HIGHLY recommend eating dinner at McCormick & Schmicks there on the riverfront.

If you have a car, drive east of Portland into the Columbia River Gorge (about 30-40 miles) where you'll find one the highest concentrations of spectacular waterfalls in the country, and many are easily accessible. The most noted one in Multnomah Falls. Definitely worth the drive.

If you can, I recommend travelling between Seattle and Portland by Amtrak train. There are 4 (?) trips daily each way. It's inexpensive, comfortable, and scenic, and both train stations are right in the heart of their respective cities.

Definitely check out Pike Place market. It's a very fun area with a lot of neat shops and restaurants. I'm assuming you have hotel already, but if you don't, check out Hotel Monaco. It's only a few blocks from Pike Place market, great location, great hotel. In Portland, go to the Art Museum, and the Pearl District.

http://www.explorethepearl.com/

http://www.pikeplacemarket.org/frameset.asp?flash=...

Seattle: EMP, Cupcake Royale

Portland: Saint Cupcake, Rose Garden, Burgerville, Voodoo Donut, McMenamins theatre, Powell's bookstore

Go to the Pearl District in Portland. Very cool. Lots of coffee shops.. shopping.

what thereale did not tell you is that if you want to visit Mt. Rainier . the glass museum (in Tacoma) and Northwest trek is that you will need to rent a car. Have fun in Seattle and take a bus to the "U" district and to Capitol Hill and just hang out and have some coffee. If you rent a car go to Alki beach its in west Seattle.

Here are the Google Maps I made of my trips to Seattle and Portland. There's a ton of stuff to do in both places. Enjoy your trip!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0...

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0...

GO TO TOUCHE IN NW PORTLAND ON WEEKENDS ITS REALLY FUN UPSTAIRS.

STAY IN NW PORTLAND EVERYTING YOUR ASKING FOR IS ON NW 21ST AND NW 23RD STREET...ALL FUNKY AND REALLY COOL EVERYTHING IN NW IS WALKING DISTANCE YOU WILL LOVE IT!!!

TOUCHE IS FUN UPSTAIRS THEY HAVE POOL TABLES AND VIDEO POKER...REALLY GOOD DRINKS PRETTY ALTERNATIVE AND HIP SO DONT LET THE PHOTO ON THE WEBSITE FOOL YOU THAT IS THE DINING ROOM DOWNSTAIRS. THIS BAR IS WALKING DISTANCE FROM NW 21ST AND NW 23RD

http://touchepdx.com/

RZ