Although I’ve been in Portland for nearly 2 1/2 years, I haven’t had many of my East Coast friends or family visit me. To date, the only person was a high school friend who was in town for a conference earlier this year.
And now, my mother is visiting. Not just any visit, but she arrives in Portland on her birthday. No pressure on me! Over the past several weeks, I’ve become anxious, wanting to make sure my place was in good shape, getting all those home projects that were put off to enjoy the summer closer to done, the fun task of ordering a new bed for the guestroom, and so on.
Of course, that doesn’t even get into, WHERE AM I GOING TO TAKE HER?!?
Because she’s only in town for a long weekend (Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning), I’m torn between running her around town so she can see as much as possible, or picking a few must-see items in Portland that will give her an idea of why her Wacky Spinster™ of a daughter decided to quit her job, pack up her things, and move 2,500 miles away from the rest of her family.
So far, I think I know where I’m going to take her for her birthday dinner. The rest is a jumble of ideas in my head centered around the crafty shops around town since she loves crafts and sewing. The difficulty I’m having is I never really did the “tourist” sightseeing thing, whereas she may enjoy things like that.
And with that, dear Our PDX Network readers, I’m asking you for assistance. For those who’ve been in similar situations (out of town family visiting for the first time), where did you take them? And for anyone else who may not have experienced the same situation, what are your must-see items in town?
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With a name like Angel (aka Wacky Spinster™) Mom must have some lofty expectations! I’m guessing upstairs at the Viewpoint is out of the question…
For crafts, Saturday Market. Everything is hand-made, and it’s a nice blend of what gives Portland its reputation. And it’s free!
Does mom like a glass of beer upon occasion? A movie on the overstuffed couches at Kennedy school is a lot of fun, and if Mom is feeling *bad*? Send her to Detention for a shot of whiskey!
A quick foofy drink with a great view? Portland City Grill, but get there before happy hour. You might get a seat that way. If not, the restaurant on the 22nd (?) floor of the Hilton is much quieter. Get the waitress to tell you the lemon drop story.
On the sober side, a drive to the beach or up the gorge is a beautiful way to kill an afternoon, depending upon the weather.
Welcome to Portland, Mom!
Block out a half-day and go to Timberline Lodge. Maybe head out to Multnomah Falls “on the way.” Or in a different direction — Cannon Beach.
The tops of “tall” buildings in Portland won’t make much of an impression on anyone who’s been to the top of the Empire State, or to the Rainbow Room. Stay low. If bucks permit, spring for a great classic restaurant — Higgins, Genoa, etc.
If you drink wine, drink King Estate pinot gris or Archery Summit or Lemelson pinot noir. And of course, if beer is on the horizon, you can’t go wrong with anything brewed around here. Aviation gin, Cold Creek apple brandy, the local booze list is endless.
If the weather’s good, go to the Washington Park rose gardens, for the view if nothing else.
The Oregon Historical Society is cool. Ditto Powell’s.
Stay off the stupid tram.
Thanks for the suggestions so far! The Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden are definitely places I want to take her. Sadly, my mother doesn’t drink, so she probably won’t appreciate the brew/booze scene here as much as I do.
I second the Washington Park Rose Garden. Very mom-like.
Also, you can get a free pass for you and your mom to the Oregon History Museum, if you want to go on 9/27:
http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/index.html
Or to any of these:
Architectural Heritage Center
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
World Forestry Center Discovery Museum
I would actually recommend the Tram. Great views and a fun ride. Also, from there you could take advantage of the streetcar back into downtown.
I want to suggest Peninsula Park rose test garden, but I think it may be under construction.
If the day is clear, Rocky Butte is my fave – out where I205 and I84 converge is a hill with a fortress atop. Great views of the mountains and such.
Sauvies Island – great for a nice country drive or to check out the corn maze.
Pittock mansion in the west hills off Burnside – another great view and you may be able to take a tour. Former Oregonian publisher’s home.
Walk the waterfront loop – East side esplanade and west side Waterfront park. Maybe grab some food from one of the great carts downtown and then go for a nice walk.
Have fun.
The suggestions above are great ones.
Turns out my dad, 78, also is in town for the first time since 2002 (that was his first trip to that “weird Portland place”), and despite the fact that two of his three kids live here, he had refused to come back. (He believes it’s our job as loving kids to come to HIM.)
Now, he’s here for a sign convention (he owns a sign company in the Midwest). He’s also a small-plane pilot, but we did the Evergreen museum thing the last time he was here.
So what to do on Wednesday, the day he has penciled in as “spend time with kids?” Turns out that on his first day here, he drove down NW 23rd in the dark on the way to dinner at my brother’s and wants to see it in the light. Heck, after that, we can throw in Hawthorne, the Pearl, Belmont, Fremont, MLK and Interstate, Multnomah Village and we’ve got a day.
Not that he’s into shopping. He’s into signs. It’s amazing what REALLY interests parents.
So come to think of it, we need to do neon (he used to be a neon bender). Remind me quick — where are this city’s best neon signs?
So far, he’s not too impressed with Portland signage, particularly the readability of its street signs (“too damn small for people in cars.” My reply: “We don’t like cars here, Dad.” His reply: “Hurrrumph.”).
But I actually agree with him on the signage thing (and believe you me, this is a red-letter day) — Portland street signage sucks. (The quickest way from the neighborhood my brother and I live in to downtown is via I-405, but I knew those signs were so confusing that it was best to send him down NW 23rd to W Burnside to SE 3rd to get to his hotel. But the 3rd St. sign on Burnside is unreadable unless you ARE THIS CLOSE).
P.S. And we will do the tram — my brother has a post-surgery doctor’s appointment on the Hill so Dad and I will do the tram while the bro gets poked, prodded and x-rayed. I may not like the fact I, a taxpayer, am paying for a tram that pretty much just benefits OHSU (actually, I’m paying twice since I have to pay for our ride), but I do like the view.
Neon Signs, like the White Stag sign? But it might be more interesting to those of us who remember the original sign (before it was Made In Oregon)…
You might be able to find something – pictures or history – in a local museum about the White Stag… ?
Awesome, awesome! Thanks for all the comments, everyone! I’m still anxious, but it’s good to have some great ideas in my head.
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