Suggestions for a Portland, OR trip in Feb?

**Trillianne** · 01-28-2013, 03:29 PM

Ok so... next month the man and I are traveling to Portland, OR for a work conference of his (ApacheCon). We will be driving down since its not that far for us and adding a few days to the trip.

I do plan to visit The Wet Spot (after seeing their many cool online auctions at Aquabid) but was wondering if anyone had some other suggestions for places to visit and see.

**Delphe** · 01-28-2013, 05:57 PM

There is a lot to see in Portland,
The Pioneer and the Art Museum, river front, Rose Garden (hum... it's winter :-)), Chinese garden, Japanese garden, The Pittock Mansion and a lot more...
If you come with kids, there is the zoo, the children's museum next door, OMSI etc...
Mount Hood of course beautiful
If you are willing to drive south a little my favorite coastal place is Newport (about 3hrs from Portland), there is the aquarium, the downtown is beautiful and authentic, a few miles in the bay there is an oyster farm (perfect for fresh oysters at dinner time :-)), lots of beaches and state parks where you can see wild life.

**Trillianne** · 01-28-2013, 06:49 PM

No kids... just us two immature adults!

I figured this time of year probably not the best for the rose garden.... ah well perhaps another time!

**Sandz** · 01-28-2013, 08:23 PM

Depending on how much you like the cold, the Falls are beautiful for the drive and the hike this time of year. The wet spot is a wonderful place, they know how to pack and ship for success so they could easily give you fish to take home. They specialize in cichlids. Many types of Appisto's, Malawi, etc. Also they have a crazy number of catfish from Cories rarely seen and pleco's. Be careful when you pull up there, depending on which way you are going the street is going to mess with you, its a Y intersection and you have to take the right on the Y and park on the street or the grocery store just past it.

I used to work at the Oregon Zoo, its one of the better small zoos in the nation. The polar bears should be really out and fun this time of year.

The street of dreams is pretty, and it really depends on what you consider fun. The gardens are going to be drab and ugly.

**Trillianne** · 01-28-2013, 10:54 PM

I will have a bit more free time than my bf, since I won't be going to the conference. Thanks for the tip on the directions to the fish shop! That sort of thing can be quite helpful.

**Sandz** · 01-29-2013, 02:06 PM

Trust me, I wish I had it first time I was finding them. I had a GPS and its telling me to turn right and there is no right...

**Delphe** · 01-29-2013, 09:59 PM

Originally Posted by Sandz

I used to work at the Oregon Zoo, its one of the better small zoos in the nation. The polar bears should be really out and fun this time of year.

The street of dreams is pretty, and it really depends on what you consider fun. The gardens are going to be drab and ugly.

That's wonderful, we've been members of the zoo for 2 years and member of the aquarium for 4 years now and no disappointment there. You are right about the gardens with the exception perhaps of the chinese one (love it :-)), rain or shine the architecture of the buildings are beautiful and there is no "dirt walk", you won't see blossoms but it remains interesting with chinese art exposition as well. .

OH forgot, this is the willamette valley, lots of wines and winery