Portland

A compact city of hills and dales, rivers, harbors and many bridges, and one of the most livable and talked-about cities in the country, Portland is always on the move, as are those who attend meetings in the Rose City.

With some of the most innovative transportation systems in America, Portland has the ability to transport delegates quickly, efficiently and cheaply to the city's meeting venues and its hidden treasures.

Improvements in transportation have been an important focus on the Portland convention and meetings front, making the city even more user-friendly for groups.

The city has recently augmented its transportation systems with everything from a light rail line between the airport and downtown to new streetcars to free bus and light rail service linking downtown attractions with the Oregon Convention Center, Rose Garden arena and Lloyd Center shopping mall across the river.

Attendees won't need a car or taxi to get around Portland.

Plane to Train and Beyond

In September 2001, Portland initiated the West Coast's first plane-to-train service, according to the Portland Oregon Visitors Association. Using the MAX light rail system, visitors can now board a train right next to the airport's south baggage claim area under a weather-protected canopy and hook into the 33-mile Blue Line light rail system that whisks passengers to and from downtown Portland in 38 minutes. The low-floor trains allow luggage to be rolled easily on and off at the airport or downtown terminals, with no stairs to negotiate. And many of Portland's downtown hotels are within walking distance from the light rail terminals.

The MAX light rail system is also the perfect way to reach the attractions on the west side of Portland. At its Washington Park Station stop, passengers can disembark for the Oregon Zoo, the World Forestry Center Museum, the Hoyt Arboretum, the Japanese Garden, and the relocated CM2— Children's Museum 2nd Generation. This museum is far from dull; its hands-on exhibits for children under age 12 include the Magical Forest for babies and toddlers and a Water Works, where bigger kids can make a splash.

The light rail also has plenty of stops downtown, including one at Portland's famous Saturday Market, which is open Saturdays and Sundays from March until Christmas in Portland's Old Town. In its 29th year, this is America's largest open-air market for handcrafted goods and food booths.

Fareless Square

Also last year, downtown's 300-block Fareless Square zone, in which bus, trolley, streetcar, and light rail passengers get a free ride, expanded to encompass 30 more blocks in the Lloyd Center District.

This district is located east across the Willamette River from the main downtown shopping and dining areas. Four stops on the MAX light rail system on the east side of the river are now designated as "fareless," and they are next door to the Lloyd Center Mall, the Rose Garden arena and the expanding Oregon Convention Center. The expansion of free public transport was designed in large measure for convention groups, which place delegates in the hotels downtown and rely on quick light rail shuttles to and from major meeting sites on the other side of the river.

Within the Fareless Square are many of Portland's best-known attractions, from Old Town to Chinatown, as well as a few hidden treasures, including the American Advertising Museum, the only one of its kind in the country. The facility showcases a comprehensive collection of advertising in all media—from old TV commercials to original Burma Shave signs. Sports fans can haunt the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum, and shoppers can wind their way among the downtown emporiums, including Nike Town, Columbia Sportswear, Nordstrom, and Nordstrom's irresistible bargain-basement annex, The Rack.

A Streetcar Named Portland

This summer, the city added two new streetcars to Portland's five-car fleet. While Portland streetcars may not quite rival those of San Francisco, they are a delightful way to get around town. The $56.9 million streetcar system links downtown with the Pearl District, filled with antique shops and art galleries; the Northwest/Nob Hill neighborhood, renowned for its restaurants, brewpubs and upscale shopping; and Portland State University, site of the Portland Farmer's Market. Sleek, Euro-designed streetcars now sweep along a 4.8-mile loop. Each vehicle carries up to 100 passengers and boasts air conditioning and easy wheelchair access. As with the light rail and city buses, there is no fee charged to ride streetcars within the Fareless Square. Portland streetcars come by every 12 minutes and make stops every two to four blocks.

The streetcar is certainly a convenient way to find one of Portland's best-kept secrets, the Portland Farmers' Market. It's a favorite of Portlanders, who come to buy local produce, fresh flowers, seafood, breads, and nuts, and an often-overlooked place to pick up gifts that truly convey the flavor of the region. The market is held on Saturdays from May through October at the campus of Portland State University and on Wednesdays at Southwest Park Avenue at Salmon Street downtown.

On the other end of the line in the Pearl District, delegates can treat themselves to a taste of Oregon's famous wine country at Urban Wineworks, which offers tastings of the state's boutique wines. Visitors can also create their own cuvee on the spot by blending three pinot noirs to taste. Wineworks then bottles and packs the creation for visitors. This is also the neighborhood containing one of Portland's premier attractions, Powell's City of Books, the nation's largest independent bookstore.

Bridging the Gaps

With a river (the Willamette) running through it, Portland is a city of bridges, all of which are illuminated at night. Seeing Portland often requires crossing a span or two, many of which have their own interesting stories.

The Steel Bridge, for example, is the world's only telescoping, double-decker, vertical lift bridge (meaning it opens for passing ships), while the Hawthorne Bridge, built in 1910, is the oldest lift bridge in the world, and the Fremont Bridge is the longest tied-arch bridge in America. The Gothic-towered St. John's Bridge was the longest rope-strand suspension bridge in the world at the time of its construction in 1931.

While many of Portland's bridges over the Willamette River open for ship and boat traffic, the longest drawbridge is the Broadway Bridge, which has been in operation since 1913. The Steel Bridge is a double-decker, with freight trains running on the lower level, and cars and MAX light rail above. This is the bridge that connects the light rail in its run between the airport and downtown. Its lower deck was recently fitted with a $2.5 million pedestrian and bicycle crossing that links the new Eastbank Esplanade and floating walkway to a waterfront park on the downtown shore.

For true bridge nuts or anyone interested in an unusual perspective on the city, Bridge Tours & Urban Adventures (503.222.5535) offers walking tours of several bridges for groups.

Esplanade Endeavors

The new Eastbank Esplanade, a 1.5-mile trail that runs along the east side of downtown Portland's Willamette River, enables visitors to make a three-mile loop by foot or by bicycle, with unparalleled views of downtown and the harbor.

Opened in spring 2001, the Eastbank Esplanade extends from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge and is connected by a total of four bridges to the downtown shore and Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park. The Steel Bridge now contains a pedestrian and bicycle crossing at riverbank level. Along the route is a new 1,200-foot floating walkway that sits atop the Willamette River, allowing access to a public boat dock and displays of public art.

The esplanade will eventually extend southward to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and incorporate scenic overlooks, a boathouse and a new riverside park.

Already, the Eastbank Esplanade is a hit with locals and visitors who enjoy the cityscape, river and fresh air.

Riding on the River

Rather than crossing the river by bridge or strolling next to it, groups might prefer a more firsthand experience of the water.

The most thrilling way to ride the waves is aboard Willamette Jetboats, which depart from the submarine dock at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). The excursions, operated from May through mid-October, offer a breathtaking whirl upriver past waterfront homes, a wildlife sanctuary and Willamette Falls. The return trip takes in Portland's skyline and its extensive shipbuilding and dry dock facilities.

For those who prefer to cruise at an old-fashioned pace, the stern-wheeler Rose also departs from the submarine dock at OMSI. The vessel is a working paddle wheeler offering one-hour harbor tours in the summer and charter cruises year-round that can feature brunch or dinner. Another choice is the stern-wheeler Columbia Gorge, which accommodates groups of up to 400 people.