early morning in Portland

My husband and I are planning to visit the busy wineries on Sunday, May 24th and we%26#39;re staying at the Westin in downtown Portland. We%26#39;re arriving from the east coast the day before and I know we%26#39;ll be up fairly early. I also know wineries don%26#39;t open until around 11.

So.... what can non-churchgoers do in Portland on a Sunday btwn 7-10am other than breakfast? At first I was thinking of hitting the Sunday version of the Saturday market, but the website says it%26#39;s not open until 11AM. Perhaps a scenic walk? Suggestions please!

early morning in Portland

Sounds like you will have a car?

Parking is free downtown on Sundays and if you get in early you can park downtown and take a stroll along the Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

You could also drive up to the Rose Garden and stroll through there, enjoying the beautiful view of Portland and possibly Mt. Hood if it is a clear day.

If it is a wet day you could kill a couple of hours at Powell%26#39;s Book Store on 10th and Burnside. This is a locally owned book store that takes up an entire city block. They sell new and used books, magazines, gifts, great greeting cards, etc. It is what I consider a place not to be missed during a visit to our city.

early morning in Portland

Go to the Pearl Bakery and hopefully if the weather is good, sit outside, otherwise, sit inside and enjoy fresh baked on premises wonderful pastries, rolls, gilbasier ( my favorites) and excellent coffee ..

You would take the Streetcar to 10th %26amp; Couch and walk down to 9th .. you get off at the Powells stop, just go right instead of left to Powells.

Powells has a coffee shop inside also, or was that mentioned already? Fullers is at the end of the block that the Pearl Bakery is on, there you can get downhome fries and eggs etc in a great very casual Sunday morning atmosphere..

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lol, I saw breakfast and thought that was part of the question .. sorry.

You can take the streetcar to NW 23rd and wander, the same around the Pearl is pleasant , but quiet on Sunday mornings, the Park Blocks there are quiet but nice , we spent many a morning with coffee sitting on a bench while Pup sniffed around :) .. everyone goes to breakfast/brunch and relaxes and reads the Willamette Week or the papers.. Powells is also a good spot to get souvenirs/gifts.. postcards etc.

There have been times I have been in downtown by 8am and needed something to do for a couple hours. The Rose Gardens are perfect for that. Also, a good breakfast somewhere is nice. A few places I like include Mother%26#39;s, Lorn %26amp; Dotties, and Everett Street Bistro.

The wineries do open later, but remember you will want to leave Portland about an hour before as traffic down here in the wine area gets really busy that weekend. I will be at a winery helping a friend out:)

Sleep in. Read the paper. Have a nice breakfast and then head up to Washington Park. Great views of the city, beautiful grounds. Walk through the Rose Garden. Then maybe have a coffee or tea and head out to Dundee for a great lunch at the Dundee Bistro at 11:30. Visit the wineries. Drive back carefully.

Ah, just an FYI...a few wineries will open at 10AM that day. They also close earlier to keep those who are only trying to ';drink'; from coming in late.

Beaux Freres, Brick House and I believe Patricia Green all open at 10AM.

Archery Summit and Belle Pente are also 10AM openings on Memorial Day Weekend.

thanks for all the suggestions! i definitely have lots to work with now. as for the sleeping in suggestion... it sounds very delightful, but i%26#39;ll be lucky if i can sleep until 7am that day! i have a pretty rigid schedule of getting up at 7am every day on the east coast, so i find when i go to the west coast, i%26#39;m up terrrrribly early the first few days.

it%26#39;s helpful to know some of the wineries open early.

Downtown is REALLY quiet on Sunday and REALLY REALLY quiet early Sunday morning. Might be a good time to explore by bike - you%26#39;ll have the roads to yourself.

http://www.waterfrontbikes.net/index.html

Definitely work in a breakfast after. That%26#39;s where everyone will be. Search for breakfast and you%26#39;ll see a ton of recommendations.

Just so ya know..... Since many area wineries are only open to the public a few times each year, they typically make a big deal of it, offering cheese, pate, and other stuff to nosh on while tasting. But, they don%26#39;t do it for free. Brick House was asking $25/person last Thanksgiving weekend. They%26#39;re on the high side, but expect $15 and up.

Also, plan on a good 45 minutes from Portland to wine country. Be nice to hit a couple wineries in the morning (Brick House, Patricia Green, and Beaux Freres are almost neighbors), have a nice lunch somewhere (Carlton or McMinnville), then ';work'; your way back towards Portland.

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