Comments on: What to do in the Pacific Northwest next week?

Question: What to do in the Pacific Northwest next week?

vytae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:48:59 -0800

What should I do in Seattle, Portland, and points between, during the first week of December? I'll be in the Pacific Northwest December 5-9 (so, next Wednesday through Sunday). My current plan is to spend the 5th in Seattle, then drive down to Portland for the 6th and 7th, and be in Tacoma on the 8th. I leave from Seattle again on the 9th around lunchtime. (A whirlwind tour, I know, but it has a purpose.) I will have a rental car to take me wherever I want to go.

Are there any special events I should make a point of attending? Any fun winter/holiday/December-related activities I shouldn't miss? Any great and not-overly-expensive restaurants/coffee shops/stores I should visit? Any especially gorgeous scenery I should take in?

I'm a pretty outdoorsy, casual girl who would prefer a nice hike (weather permitting) or hour spent wandering a good bookstore, compared to visiting the trendiest bars. I do love a great meal, but I'm not likely to dress up too much for it. I spent a day in Seattle a couple years ago, so I've got the space needle and Pike Place market checked off my list. What else should I check out?

By: briank

briank — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:21:32 -0800

Seems like you ought to meet up with this guy in Portland and let him show you around.

By: pallak7

pallak7 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:27:56 -0800

Hmmm..."gorgeous scenery" and a "casual girl who would prefer a nice hike". Sounds like Snoqualmie Falls to me.

The Salish Lodge (at the top of the falls) has a nice restaurant or you can try The Attic Bistro.

By: vytae

vytae — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:28:46 -0800

briank, I saw that thread right after I posted this. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on it!

By: stilly

stilly — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:39:54 -0800

Since your last visit to Seattle, a couple of neat sites have opened:

(1) The Olympic Sculpture Park, an outdoor sculpture garden along the waterfront (about a mile north of downtown). Very enjoyable place to kill an hour, especially if it's a sunny-ish day. And it's free!

(2) The new Seattle Art Museum (SAM). Lots of great art (strongest collections in my opinion are the Modern and American, as well as Northwest native art), and a really sweet building-- the lobby has a bunch of early 90s Ford Tauruses hanging from the ceiling with fiber-optic lights sticking out of them. Lots of fun. Located right in the middle of downtown, at 1st and Union (about a block south of Pike Place Market).

Both are very enjoyable.

For coffee, I recommend Vivace in Capitol Hill... fantastic place.

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:43:20 -0800

You should visit Multnomah Falls. Drive east from Portland on I-84 and take the only left-exit between Portland and the Idaho border, and park. (The highway divides and the parking lot is between the sections; that's why it's a left exit.)

You can hike to the top of the falls and there's a viewpoint allowing you to look down it.

Multnomah Falls is the second tallest waterfall in North America, and it's amazingly beautiful. Pictures don't do it justice, but this will give you an idea.

(Here's the map location.)

By: hannahq

hannahq — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 11:51:08 -0800

Museum of Glass in Tacoma.

Powell's City of Books in Portland.

Lots of other things that I can't think of off the top of my head.. but I lived in Portland 15+ years and now am in Seattle so feel free to message me.

By: ryanshepard

ryanshepard — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:02:17 -0800

Seattle: Discovery Park, Two Bells Tavern, Elliot Bay Book Company, Ravenna Third Place Books, Ravenna Park, University District Farmers' Market, Asian Art Museum (and Volunteer Park), Globe Bakery and Cafe, Wayward Cafe, Lake View Cemetery, Lake Union and the Center for Wooden Boats, Monorail Espresso, Left Bank Books. Get up early in the morning and watch the sun come up over the Sound from Pike Place, then have a breakfast at Three Girls Bakery.

Portland: Reading Frenzy, Portland Art Museum, Forest Park, Paradox Cafe, Cup and Saucer Cafe, Hawthorne Boulevard Books, Muddy Waters Coffee House, Zell's. Seconding Mount Tabor (the view from the Pittock Mansion is also great). Take a walk across the Broadway Bridge or the Steel Bridge early in the morning before the traffic gets started.

By: cgg

cgg — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:11:49 -0800

It's been mentioned many times before, but you simply cannot miss Powell's. Simply the most amazing bookstore ever, if not a little overwhelming. An hour won't even get you started.

By: iamck

iamck — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:21:51 -0800

Do you like thrift stores? The Seattle Goodwill is the biggest and best.

Seconded on volunteer park. Also go up to the Columbia Tower observation deck for the best view of the city for $5.

In Chinatown, check out the Panama Hotel Tea House.

Walk around upper Capitol Hill and look at the big houses around volunteer park - a must!

On your drive to Portland, stop in Centralia for Mexican food at La Tarasca, the best Mexican food anywhere in the Northwest in an assuming place.

I'm a native Portlander, but I've been away too long to tell you about anything but the obvious - go to Powell's Books.

By: sevenless

sevenless — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:23:20 -0800

I second SCDB's Multnomah Falls suggestion. From there you can go east or west (mostly west for ones close to the road) on the Columbia River Highway (not the interstate--it will be obvious) to several other falls with parking lots and trails that you can go on for as far as you want. If you want to you can go all the way back to Portland (more or less) on the historic highway. It's a nice little drive. On a weekday you'll probably have most of the falls (except Multnomah) mostly to yourself. 100 yards up most any trail you'll definitely find some solitude. Bring a waterproof jacket and shoes if you have them.

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

By: Asherah

Asherah — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:49:22 -0800

You must try Crema for the yummy spanish lattes, Manchego & Mushroom corn biscuits or Ginger Orange scones...(I wished they shipped!)

By: cashman

cashman — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:12:35 -0800

Experience Music Project.

By: nomisxid

nomisxid — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:49:56 -0800

The underground tour is a lot of fun, especially if you go at night.
There's the troll under the bridge in Freemont.
Taking a ferry ride back and forth across the sound can be nifty, especially if you time your return trip to occur at night.

By: Packy_1962

Packy_1962 — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:07:49 -0800

Everywhere you go to eat a meal in Portland is pretty casual. There are a ton of good restaurants. I suggest eating a lot while you're there.

By: Sara Anne

Sara Anne — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:12:59 -0800

Thirding Powell's. On your way to Portland, stop by Cannon Beach. The weather'll probably be lousy this time of year, but it sure is pretty.

By: J-Garr

J-Garr — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:52:06 -0800

2nding Crema! They've got the tastiest pastries in town.

As others have said, there is no reason to feel like you must dress up at all to go to any restaurant in portland. Go where you want to go no matter how you're dressed. No one will treat you poorly because of your clothes.

If you like Thai food then go to Pok Pok. Totally different than any other thai food you've ever had. The Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings are simply amazing.

By: vytae

vytae — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 06:59:04 -0800

Ooh, you guys are great! I'm going to compile a big list to take with me, and see as much as I can. I also really appreciate the notes on not needing to dress up in Portland - sounds like my kind of place!

By: vytae

vytae — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:47:57 -0800

Well, I checked out Multnomah falls (it was on my way from Seattle to Portland, via the 7 1/2-hour I-5 detour), the Museum of Glass, Powell's, and the manchego & mushroom biscuits at Crema (oh my GOD so tasty!), among countless other attractions. I really regret missing the Olympic Sculpture Park, but hopefully I'll be back again sometime soon. It was a great trip. Thank you all for your suggestions!