Portland for a day - Help!

We are two women, traveling to Seattle for a conference this month. We have 24 hours free and thought we%26#39;d check out Portland for the day. Does anyone know if Greyhound or Amtrak are in a safe area, within walking distance to downtown?

We%26#39;d love any suggestions for a day itinerary. Thanks!

Portland for a day - Help!

Amtrak is a little north of downtown Portland, quite safe. It is a nice train ride down from Seattle. I like the Cascades train, but it sounds like they are mixing up the equipment while it is being serviced.

There is a lot of light rail in Portland making very frequent runs so it is quite easy to get around.

Portland for a day - Help!

If you like to shop, go to Pioneer Place, a pretty shopping mall with lots of great stores. The Portland City Grill would be a nice place for lunch, beautiful views here and very good Sushi. Higgins and the restaurant at the Heathman Hotel are both very good in the downtown area. Have fun! :)

From the train station it%26#39;s a short walk to the Pearl District, where you%26#39;ll find trendy boutiques, galleries, and a number of great restaurants. All that, plus the landmark Powell%26#39;s Books, the largest independent bookstore in the country/world/universe(?) From the Pearl District, hop on the streetcar to NW 21st and 23rd streets, another popular area for shopping and dining. Then, back on the streetcar to the downtown core, where you%26#39;ll find the usual national chain/department stores. Walk through Pioneer Square, Portland%26#39;s ';living room';.

If shopping isn%26#39;t your bag, how about gardens. The Classical Chinese Garden is a short walk from the train station. So maybe combine a visit there with one to the Japanese Gardens. Not as easy to get to the Japanese Gardens, but they%26#39;re worth a visit; beautiful, quiet, serene, plus great city views. And it%26#39;s near Washington Park (though the roses aren%26#39;t yet budding).

Here is the STreetcar website, they have a nice little map with all the stops on it. So you can plan your getting around easier if you walk and use the Streetcar.. time is of the essence! :)

The Amtrak station is not in a horrible area and just blocks to the streetcar line as well as the Chinese Gardens and Pearl and all kinds of good shopping/eating. I would skip shopping in Pioneer Place since it is all the same malls shops as everywhere in the US.

NW 23rd street is good for shopping in fun boutiques as well as the Pearl District. On NW 13th, is a nice place for lunch, or just drinks .. bluehour .. and in on that block, in the row of shops , is one called Babette. Shop there, you will be glad :)

http://www.babettesf.com/

And then there is Powells Books on 10th %26amp; Couch.. you have to stop there, you have to buy postcards there ( it is required of all visitors to do this) really ! :o)

Have fun ..

HERE is the streetcar website lol

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i1396-Portland_鈥?/a>

Thanks you, everyone!!

If you do choose to shop while you are here, I highly recommend that you ';hit'; the ';Made in Oregon'; store and ';The REal Mother Goose'; store. Both have great selections of locally made items- Mother Goose is more art/craft where Made in- includes lots of delicious food items as well as clothing and arsty items ( like Pendleton wools).

Both have locations downtown- I think they are near Pioneer Square.

Unless they%26#39;ve moved, Real Mother Goose is in the parking deck to the rear of Nordstrom%26#39;s, on the eastbound Max route.