Things To Do In Portland, Beaverton, and Tigard! 

As Portland, Oregon’s 25-year vision plan elegantly notes “vibrant, diverse neighborhoods are home to all manner of people, but it’s the other things that give a place its soul – the cafes and markets, the art, parks, plazas, vistas and sanctuaries.” Portland’s districts do indeed possess distinct personalities, which is perhaps unusual for a relatively small city. The artistic Pearl District, sophisticated Nob Hill and bohemian Hawthorne are just a few neighborhoods that consistently draw enthusiastic crowds of visitors.  

Within these districts, the “Rose City’s” culture simmers in hip coffeehouses, Native American art galleries, ubiquitous bookstores and lively brewpubs. Like much of Portland, these areas encourage exploration on foot.
A slow, relaxed pace is the best way to people-watch, window shop and see the sites. Built on a European model, Portland is indeed a walker’s paradise. The city’s streets, which feature statues, fountains and half-size city blocks, prompts Portland’s selection as one of America’s best walking towns by Walking Magazine. Some historians claim that Portland’s people-friendly city blocks were designed by greedy developers who wanted to create more corner lots, which fetched the highest sales prices. Others, however, insist that the shorter blocks were specifically designed so that more natural light would fall down to the street level.  

For visitors covering a larger portion of the city, public transportation is both accessible and user-friendly. MAX Light rail trains, the Portland Streetcar and an easy-to-navigate bus system move riders through town efficiently – and all offer free service within the downtown area.  

If you prefer to see the area by bike, you’re in for a treat as well. Progressive urban policies and expansive bike-friendly paths have earned Portland, Oregon the distinction of being named Bicycling magazine’s No. 1 cycling city in America for the second straight year.  

One of Portland’s best cycling paths is along the downtown waterfront. Just follow the promenade in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park to the historic Steel Bridge. The park runs along west bank of the Willamette for the length of downtown. The 37-acre (150,000 m²) park was built in 1974 after Harbor Drive was removed and now plays host to large events throughout the year. Portland's downtown also features two groups of contiguous city blocks dedicated for park space; they are referred to as the North and South Park Blocks. On the lower deck of the bridge, visitors will find a bicycle/pedestrian crossing that links the downtown side of the Willamette River to Portland’s new Eastbank Esplanade. This 1.5-mile walking/cycling trail offers a great view of the city skyline and features a 1,200-foot floating walkway as well as easy access from four of the Willamette’s bridges.
 

Feel like a relaxing cup of coffee and a good book? Look no further – Portland, Oregon is home to countless one-of-a-kind java joints. Or perhaps you prefer another type of beverage. Portland and certain other Oregon cities (like Hood River and Bend) are well-known for their good beer. It is often said that Portland is the home of the microbrew revolution. Some illustrate Portlanders' interest in the beverage by an offer made in 1888, when local brewer Henry Weinhard volunteered to pump beer from his brewery into the newly dedicated Skidmore Fountain. However, the renown for quality beer dates to the 1980s, when microbreweries and brewpubs began to pop up all over the city. Their growth was supported by the abundance of local ingredients, including two-row barley, over a dozen varieties of hops, and the pure water from Bull Run and other watersheds of nearby Mount Hood.  

Today, with 33 breweries within the city limits, Portland is home to more craft brewers than any other city in the world. The McMenamin brothers alone have over thirty brewpubs, distilleries and wineries scattered throughout the metropolitan area, many in renovated theaters and other old buildings otherwise destined for demolition. Other notable Portland brewers include Widmer Brothers, Bridgeport Brewing Company and the MacTarnahan's Brewing Company. In 1999, "beerhunter" and author Michael Jackson called Portland a candidate for the beer capital of the world because the city boasted more breweries than Cologne, Germany. 

Portland hosts a number of festivals throughout the year in celebration of beer. One of them, the Oregon Brewers Festival, is the largest gathering of independent craft brewers in North America.
 

The rose has played a significant role in Portland's history and is the focus of the one of the city's nicknames. 

Portland is proud of its parks and its legacy of preserving open spaces. In fact, it has one of the highest parks-per-capita ratios among cities in the United States. 

Forest Park is the largest wilderness park within city limits in the United States, with over 5,000 acres (20 km²). Portland is also home to Mill Ends Park, the world's smallest park (being a two-foot-diameter circle, its area is only about 0.3 square meters). Washington Park is just west of downtown, and is home to the Oregon Zoo, the Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden. 

Portland is also home to Portland Classical Chinese Garden, an authentic representation of a Suzhou-style walled garden. Local construction workers provided the site preparation and foundation, and dozens of workers from Suzhou, using material from China, constructed its walls and other structures, including a tea house. 

The only state park in the area is Tryon Creek State Park; its creek still has a run of steelhead. Nestled within the park is the Tryon Life Community Farm, an aspiring urban ecovillage and educational center.
 

Portlandia is a sculpture by Raymond Kaskey located above the entrance of Michael Graves' Portland Building in downtown Portland, Oregon at 1120 SW 5th Avenue. It is notable for being the second largest copper repoussé statue in the United States after the Statue of Liberty. Installed in September 1985 after being floated up the Willamette River on a barge, the statue is based on the design of the city seal. It depicts a woman in classical clothes with a trident reaching down with right hand to greet visitors to the building.
The statue itself is 36 feet (11 meters) high. If standing, the woman would be approximately 50 feet (15 m) high. An accompanying plaque contains a poem by Portland resident Ronald Talney.
The statue is above street level, and faces a narrow, tree-lined street with limited automobile access. Occasionally, there are suggestions to move the statue to a more visible location, but these have come to nothing and the sculptor states that he designed the statue for its location and would not approve of moving it.
 

Speaking of traits Portlanders are extremely proud of, you don’t have to be in town long to hear locals bragging about Powell's City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore. Housing more than a million volumes, Powell’s occupies a full city block and boasts one of the world’s only three-door elevators.
Powell’s eccentric elevator is just one of the whimsical touches that make Portland, Oregon special.  

Add that to the nation’s smallest dedicated park (just 24 inches in size), Stark’s Vacuum Cleaner Museum, and a sculpture that daily predicts the city’s weather, and you’ve got a destination of unusual appeal. 

And Portland’s appeal isn’t limited to summer. The city’s annual “Big Deal” program offers terrific off-peak hotel rates (October-May) accompanied by a full menu of cultural events, tax-free shopping, dining discounts and more.
Culture and art are on display year-round at the Portland Art Museum. Following a $45 million capital and endowment campaign, the 110-year-old Portland Art Museum has set its sights a notch higher: opening new permanent exhibit galleries, installing an outdoor sculpture garden and aggressively competing to become the place in the Pacific Northwest to see many of the country’s most important traveling shows.
Rivaling the city’s manmade art are the spectacular masterpieces by Mother Nature.  

Crowning the city’s skyline is Mount Hood, the tallest peak in Oregon’s Cascade Mountain Range. Within the metro area are 37,000 acres of parks and green spaces that include sizeable chunks of prime downtown real estate, fabulous rose gardens, waterfront promenades and the brand new Portland Classical Chinese Garden. For serious hikers and mountain bikers, the city is proud to boast the nation’s largest urban wilderness: the nearly 5,000-acre Forest Park.
 

POPULATION AND LAND AREA 

• The annualized 2003 population of the Portland metro area is 2,009,350 (projected to be 2.1 million by 2005 and 2.3 million by 2010)
• The population of the City of Portland is 545,140 (2003 estimate: Center for Population Research & Census)
• A forecasted regional population growth rate of 1.8% annually through 2010
• From 1990–2003, the City of Portland's population increased by 107,821 people, a 25% increase
• Oregon's population is projected to grow by about 27% over the next 20 years
• Land area of Portland metropolitan area (2002): 462.2 square miles (1,197 square kilometers); the City of Portland covers 130 square miles
• Portland Metro Region's workforce has grown more than 91,000 since 2000
• Of Portland's land area, 15% (12,591 acres) is devoted to public park land and open space; including Forest Park, which at 5,124 acres and over 74 miles of hiking, bicycling and equestrian trails, is the largest urban wilderness area within a U.S. city's boundaries.
 

Beaverton 

Beaverton has the great outdoors in its backyard. Rolling hills, lush forests, rivers and wetlands abound in the Beaverton area. Ocean beaches and mountain skiing are little more than an hour away from Beaverton in either direction.  

In the city itself, there are 100 parks encompassing 1,000 acres - more designated "green space" than most cities of its size. The city features 30 miles of hiking trails, a 25 mile network of bike paths, and there is a park located within a half mile of every home. 

Beaverton's Farmer's Market, held from June to October, brings nature's bounty from local farms to Beaverton's sidewalks.  

Abundant hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, swimming pools, tennis courts, softball fields and golf courses enhance the recreation opportunities that Beaverton has to offer. Golfers have many courses to try, including Progress Downs Municipal Golf Course in the Beaverton area. Progress Downs (public) is an 18 hole course that is open all year. This excellent course has a driving range that is double decked, covered and lighted.  

Residents of Beaverton enjoy easy access to a well planned transportation network and the entire Portland metropolitan area, as well as to the westside's largest shopping district. It is well known for its many attractive and well planned neighborhoods, which offer a mix of high quality, diverse homes and affordable family housing. Two major highways and several large arterials serve the area, with an international airport only minutes away. All this and more contribute to Beaverton's growing popularity as a great place to visit, live and do business.
 

Tigard 

While a few small farms remain in the city, for the most part they have been replaced by suburban housing. However, the John Tigard House, constructed by the son of Wilson M. Tigard in 1880 at the corner of Pacific Highway and Gaarde Street, remains, having been saved from demolition in the 1970s by the Tigard Area Historical and Preservation Association. It became registered as a National Historic Place in 1979, and now resides at the corner of SW Canterbury Lane and SW 103rd. 

Washington County is a fertile land of farms, fields, vineyards, fairways, and beautiful back-country roads. The hills around here produce a bounty of highly acclaimed wines. We do Pinot to perfection. Each winery will welcome you with open arms (and an open bottle) if you care to stop for a taste.

The rolling terrain is perfect topography for a premier golf course. We have several. Nationally recognized Pumpkin Ridge will host the U.S. Women’s Open in 2003 and the Senior Open in 2006. There are over 10 golf courses in Washington County, several of pro championship caliber. The Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club hosts the nationally televised PGA JELD-WEN Tradition. Pumpkin Ridge has hosted the U.S. Women’s Open (1997 and 2003) and the U.S. Amateur. Of course, there are many other less challenging options groomed for the non-pros among us.  

There are also over 200 parks and recreational sites here, shared by people and wildlife of all kinds. The Jackson Bottom Wetlands draws flocks of birdwatchers and Hagg Lake is a great haven for fishing, hiking and boating. For a sky-high view of it all, try a hot-air balloon ride.
Or, take a scenic country drive. You’ll encounter produce stands, farmer’s markets and some eclectic country stores (everything from antiques to unique handcrafted gifts). There are also historic museums, brewpubs, fine restaurants and yes, tax-free shopping. It all adds up to miles and miles of fun.  

As wine experts worldwide have noticed, the hillsides of Washington County produce some exceptional vintages, particularly Pinot. Wine tasting and tours, often served up with outdoor jazz concerts, draw thousands to this region. You may even happen upon a bocce tournament. If you have a taste for a tour, let us know and we’ll tap the right resources to make it happen.  

Colorful Festivals

There’s always something going on around here. You can see it (or smell it) in the air. The Sausage Festival in Verboort, The Crawfish Festival in Tualatin, The Elephant Garlic Festival in North Plains and the Onion Festival in Sherwood (bring mints). You’ll also find colorful events such as a Strawberry Festival, a Rhododendron Show, and the annual Portland Rose Festival. These are just a few of the homegrown celebrations that bring out the best in each community.  

Scenic Country Drives 

Winding through Washington County are some wonderful back-country roads where you can stop at fruit and vegetable stands, garden nurseries, wineries, farmers markets and charming country stores. Follow the roads for a relaxing rural drive, reminiscent of days of old. It will feel like going back in time – and you’ll be back in time for dinner.  

Fun Day Trips 

If you have extra time, we have interesting ways to fill it. Head west an hour to Oregon’s magnificent Pacific coast. Exploring the beach is a blast – by bike, horse or foot (watch out for sandcastles). An hour east is Mt. Hood and the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge. Bird-watchers can flock to Washington County’s wetland preserves. History buffs can venture to Fort Clatsop (Lewis & Clark’s winter campsite) and other historic sites. And Hagg Lake has hiking, picnicking, fishing and boating.
 

Hillsboro 

Hillsboro's downtown area is also a unique blend of old and new buildings. The historic Washington County Courthouse, with its stately sequoia trees, is across the street from the modern Civic Center, which was designed to be a people friendly gathering area. The Civic Center, which is part of Hillsboro's vision for its community's future, incorporates environmentally friendly construction and design with many beautiful artistic features, both inside and outside of the facility. The Hillsboro Saturday Farmers' Market is held May through October on the streets around the Courthouse and Civic Center. 

Being close to Portland means that Hillsboro residents can enjoy all of the urban fun, such as the Rose Festival, the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, the Portland Trailblazers in the Rose Garden Arena, and many other attractions. Trimet's MAX light rail system makes traveling to and from Portland easy. Board the train in downtown Hillsboro, and the line goes through Beaverton to downtown Portland. At the downtown Portland bus mall, buses, streetcars, trolleys and the MAX light rail are available for destinations throughout the metropolitan area, including the Portland International Airport and Gresham. 

There are several country wineries to visit in the Hillsboro area. Washington County, Oregon, resting between the Tualatin range to the east and the Coast Range to the west, is one of America's premier wine regions. The country's first pioneers brought European winemaking skills to their farms on the rolling hillsides. A half century later, beginning in the late 1960's, a second wave of pioneers came in search of ideal vineyard sites. Their vision was to bring the noble varieties of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling to the Tualatin Valley. They found the perfect combination of soil, climate and well-situated slopes here and the vines thrived. Through the years, the wines and vintners have confirmed the vision, attaining legendary status in the international wine world.
 

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