Off to Portland/Vancouver

Before we get started on our trip to Vancouver, I thought I would point out that your train trip from Denver to Truckee will be very scenic. You leave Denver at 8:05 a.m. and arrive in Truckee the next day at 1:04 pm. So it will be day light when you pass through Winter Park, Granby (Rocky Mountain National Park), Glenwood Springs (Aspen), and Grand Junction. From Grand Junction you travel up to Salt Lake City and arrive around 11:00 p.m.

So now that you have spent 4 glorious days in San Francisco, exploring, eating, and enjoying, it is time to leave for Vancouver. You will have to catch the shuttle bus from San Francisco over to Emeryville and it leaves in the evening. My suggestion is to check out of your hotel, take your bags over to the Ferry Street Station and check them in. I am currently verifying if this is indeed an option. Otherwise, your hotel may store your luggage until the evening when you are ready to depart.




Caltrain Station, 4th & King Streets - 8:50 p.m.
S.F. Shopping Center, 835 Market Street - 9:00 p.m
Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 - 9:10 p.m.
Ferry Building, Amtrak Station - 9:25 p.m.

and arrives in Emeryville at 9:50 a.m.


Your train then leaves the station at 10:12 p.m. for your trip to the Vancouver/Portland area. When you wake up the next day, you will be near Mt. Shasta, Dunsmuir, California. This trip should be scenic also with snow covered mountains, fertile valleys, and dense forests. You arrive in Portland around 3:40 p.m. or Vancouver at 4:36 p.m.




Now I have a friend who lives in the Portland/Vancouver area and I am sure that she could take me to all kinds of exciting places. What I am going to attempt to do is find some local interest hot spots and report what I find.


Let's begin with the beginning. In 1843 a man named Overton saw potential for a 640 acre site known as "The Clearing". He didn't have the quarter needed to file a land claim, so he made a bargain with his friend, Lovejoy, and they split the parcel. Growing tired of clearing trees, Overton sold his share to Pettygrove and when it came time to name the town, both men wanted to name it after their hometown. Pettygrove won, so Portland was named after Portland, Maine. Had Lovejoy won Portland would be Boston. Things that make you go hmmmmm.


Portland is located at the furthest point ships can travel up the Willamette and was a major port in the Pacific Northwest for much of the 19th century. Now Portland is rated as one of the top cities in the U.S. to live. Portland has the personality of a small town with the vitalities and activities of a large city. Because of their moderate temperatures, it is a great outdoors city. Forest Park has 40 miles of trails, streams and woods within the city. The city also boast several stunning gardens: Leach Botanical, Classical Chinese, Japanese or Rhododendron Gardens.

Festivals abound in this city. They have a Rose Festival, Festa Italiana, The Bite, and the list goes on. Check this link for a complete list, http://www.portlandguide.com/entertainment/festivals.phpdguide.com/entertainment/festivals.php


Portland, much like San Francisco, has it's own neighborhoods to boast on. Pearl District was once a decaying warehouse district and is now a urban-chic neighborhood with lofts, townhouses, and condos. Convenience abounds with stylish boutiques, specialty retailers, grocery and book stores, art galleries and trendy restaurants.



The South Waterfront District is the newest addition to the area. With condos and apartments much like those in the Pearl District, the area also includes an interpretation center with a pier and urban beach. Nob Hill is a sophisticated area that is between NW 21st Street and NW 23rd. Similar to the neighborhood of the same name in San Francisco, it features turn of the century Victorian houses, trendy shops, boutiques and book stores. Some of the best restaurants in Portland are located here, some with outdoor seating.






Chinatown/Oldtown is located south of the Broadway Bridge and behind a gate similar to the one in San Francisco. Interesting fact: Under the streets of Portland ran the Shanghai Tunnels. This was a set of underground tunnels along the riverfront that connected the brothels, gambling parlors and saloons. You can tour the tunnels today. Saturday and Sunday from late March through Christmas eve there is a market that features handmade crafts, art and food.



The Hawthorne District sounds like my kind of place. It is an avant-garde neighborhood that runs along Hawthorne Boulevard, which is lined with locally-owned coffee shops, antique stores cafes, and friendly shops. Many of them are bohemian in nature and have the flavor of the 70's, which would be my era.




Since we are only going to be in Portland for two days, my choice for day two is to get up bright and early and go to the Hawthorne District and then maybe over to Chinatown to check out those tunnels. Our train to the next stop, Glacier National Park, leaves daily at 4:45 p.m so we should have more than enough time to explore these two neighborhoods.

So, for day one, we are going to check out the day trips. I have heard Oregon makes a killer pinot noir. Sounds like another wine trip to me. Ciao