Things to See and Do in Portland
While in Portland to attend SIGCSE, you might want to experience a
local sporting event, a museum, or a show. Downtown Portland is quite
compact and easily walkable. A streetcar ride will take you from one
side of downtown (near Portland State University) to the other (near
the Pearl District and train station).
Professional Sporting Events
Portland
Trailblazers (NBA) (Schedule for 2008 Season TBA)
Portland Timbers (Minor
League Soccer) (Schedule for 2008 Season TBA)
Portland Winterhawks (Minor
League Hockey) (Schedule for 2008 Season TBA)
Shows/Concerts
Broadway Series
- Twelve Angry Men - March 11 - 16, 2008
Oregon Symphony -
Tchaikovsky's Fourth - March 8 - 10, 2008
Oregon Symphony - Women in
Blues - March 15 - 17, 2008
Oregon Ballet Theater
(Schedule for 2008 Season TBA)
Portland Opera
(Schedule for 2008 Season TBA)
Museums/Attractions
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
(OMSI) - Exhibits, IMAX theater, planetarium, submarine
tours
Oregon Zoo - Exhibits, train
rides (seasonally), convenient via MAX line
Portland Chinese Garden
- Outdoor garden, convenient location downtown
Portland Japanese Garden -
Outdoor garden, located in Washington Park (service via Trimet bus)
Portland Art Museum - Art
exhibits, convenient location downtown
Portland Children's Museum -
Convenient via MAX line (located next to the zoo)
Portland Parks and
Recreation - Portland is home to many parks and hiking within the
city
Portland Aerial Tram - Ride
Portland's newest form of public transportation and view the
surrounding area
Portland Saturday Market -
Visit with and by from local artisans (Saturdays and Sundays), under
the Burnside
Bridge downtown
Sternwheeler Ride
- Seasonal boat rides along the Willamette River, service from the
Waterfront
downtown
Shopping
Oregon does not have sales tax, so many visitors take advantage of the
local shopping districts. Here are a few places to shop:
- Powell's City of Books (1005 W Burnside - downtown)
- Portland Saturday Market (Under the Burnside Bridge), Saturdays
and Sundays
- Northwest 23rd (NW of downtown along 23rd), eclectic and high-end
shops, several cafes and restaurants
- Hawthorne District (East of Willamette River along Hawthorne and
35th Ave), vintage stores, used books, art shops
- Downtown - Broadway boasts several stores, including Columbia
Sportswear (a Portland company)
- Lloyd Center (large mall near the convention center)
- Pioneer Place (mall with some high-end shops located downtown
near the MAX line)
For Free
- Ride MAX downtown in fareless square to get a sense of the
downtown area. MAX is free downtown and to the convention center.
- Visit Powell's
City of Books (1005 W Burnside) or Technical Books (33 NW Park Avenue)
- downtown within walking distance of the Hilton.
- Visit Portland's city parks. There are lots of hiking
opportunities in Forest Park.
- Walk the waterfront by the Willamette river.
If You Have a Car
- Drive approximately 30 minutes east on I-84 to Multnomah
Falls, a 620-foot waterfall. You may hike a steep, but short trail
to get to the top.
- Ski at Mt. Hood. Drive approximately 90 minutes to Mt. Hood and
ski at Timberline or Mt.
Hood Meadows. (Note: You will need to carry chains for this drive.)
- Take Highway 26 out to the Oregon beaches (approximately 90
minutes). Visit the towns of Astoria, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and
Tillamook along Highway 101. Even if it is raining, the Oregon beaches
are beautiful and well worth the drive.
