Hotel at a Glance: DoubleTree by Hilton Portland

You can easily traverse all of Portland from the light-rail stop just outside this DoubleTree hotel. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, take the 15-minute ride (or 25-minute walk) to the Portland Saturday Market, just across the river. When it’s time to eat, you can pick from any of Portland’s culinary gems or head back to the hotel’s Gather Food & Drink. It’s one of two onsite restaurants helmed by executive chef Steven Ward, whose dishes emphasize the farm-to-table philosophy of using fresh, local, organic, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients.

• Don’t miss NW specialty drinks over breakfast or brunch at the hotel’s breakfast spot, Multnomah Grille.
• Savor local cuisine at Gather, where menu items include fresh-caught Columbia River salmon and homemade, seasonal soup & sandwich specials.
• Free perk: This Getaway comes with daily self-parking usually priced at $20 per night.
• Friend to the earth: The hotel holds a GreenLeaders distinction for its eco-friendly practices and was named No. 7 on Oregon Business’s list of the 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon.
• Recent accolade: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
• Across the street is the Lloyd Center Mall, featuring a newly-remodeled ice skating rink, and stores such as H&M, Macy’s, and Loft.

Portland, Oregon: Quirky Riverfront City Known for Its City Parks

Extensive bikeways, edgy chefs, indie-rock bands, and progressive environmentalists—counterculture is almost a way of life in Portland. And it’s certainly a source of civic pride. Locals have adopted the slogan “Keep Portland Weird,” which is brandished on bumper stickers in businesses ranging from an art-house movie theater to a donut shop that used to glaze its pastries with NyQuil. The city has always been a little ahead of its time; it was originally planned with strict urban-growth boundaries that left plenty of room for parks and other green spaces. Today, in new developments, shops are built at street level with apartments above them—following a European model that complements Portland’s slightly European, laid-back atmosphere.

The downtown area is a refreshing mix of the traditional and the offbeat: high-rise buildings are interspersed with clothing boutiques and restaurants serving sustainable cuisine. Streets here are narrow and the blocks are compact to encourage walking, which visitors are wont to do to take in the parks, plazas, and fountains. You can also get around the district on a vintage trolley. A popular place to hang out is Pioneer Courthouse Square, a 40,000-square-foot public space often referred to as “Portland’s living room.” In warmer months, the square hosts free shows and festivals, as does Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Located on the west bank of the Willamette River, the waterfront park was named 1 of 10 Great Public Spaces in America in 2012 by the American Planning Association.

Just north of downtown, the Pearl District, formerly a warehouse area, has recently sprouted a bevy of art galleries and specialty shops housed in lofts. It’s also one of the best bets for a good night out in the city, especially if you’re looking for a solid craft beer. Portland boasts one of the largest collections of microbreweries in the country, and a good number of them can be found in this neighborhood.

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