Hotel at a Glance: Park Lane Suites & Inn

Park Lane Suites & Inn is within a mile of three of Portland’s most famous attractions: Powell’s City of Books, the Portland Japanese Garden, and Pioneer Courthouse Square. Short city blocks make it easy to explore every corner of downtown, which you can reach on light rail or on foot in about 15 minutes.

• Go shopping on NW 23rd Street (a 5-minute walk away). You’ll find Urban Outfitters, Pottery Barn, and other big-name stores alongside indie boutiques that are truly representative of Portland.
• Catch a movie at McMenamins Mission Theater, a historic building a half mile from the hotel.
• Modern guest rooms feature free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, and bamboo flooring.
• Book a suite for extra space: Standard suites are 480 square feet, while deluxe suites offer 576 square feet. Each has a fully equipped kitchen.

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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