Would you visit Portland in November?
October 23, 2010 5:10 AM Subscribe
I've visited Portland Oregon once before and loved it. But that was summer time - would you recommend a visit in November? Or should I wait for the sun to come back?
I'm British and will be over in the US next month. I've got some free time and the opportunity to do a bit of travelling. A few years ago I visited Portland and loved it - one of the friendliest cities I've ever visited.
BUT that was in the summer. Will I be disappointed if I visit again in November? I won't have a car, so will I just get wet and miserable?(Because I can do that just fine at home in London!).
It would be great to get your take: Will the weather be too bad to enjoy the city? Does the season change the vibe of the city? Is there much to do if it does rain all week?
In summary, would you recommend I visit next month, or perhaps put it off for sunnier times? Thanks
I'm British and will be over in the US next month. I've got some free time and the opportunity to do a bit of travelling. A few years ago I visited Portland and loved it - one of the friendliest cities I've ever visited.
BUT that was in the summer. Will I be disappointed if I visit again in November? I won't have a car, so will I just get wet and miserable?(Because I can do that just fine at home in London!).
It would be great to get your take: Will the weather be too bad to enjoy the city? Does the season change the vibe of the city? Is there much to do if it does rain all week?
In summary, would you recommend I visit next month, or perhaps put it off for sunnier times? Thanks
PNWer here. I'd recommend waiting for the sun.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:10 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 6:10 AM on October 23, 2010
Yeah, if you asked me this when I was younger and had only ever lived in Los Angeles, I would have given you the crazy look that's so hard to communicate online. But it's still Portland, and really not that bad. Personally, I love the surrounding areas too much to go carless (when I was a kid, Portland was where we were going to escape once my dad found a job there) but if you know you like the city and you can handle the objectively not that dreary weather, go for it.
I stick to my "there's no good reason to visit Cleveland or Detroit in January" policy, however.
posted by SMPA at 6:12 AM on October 23, 2010
I stick to my "there's no good reason to visit Cleveland or Detroit in January" policy, however.
posted by SMPA at 6:12 AM on October 23, 2010
In my experience, Portland is more often cloudy and gray than it is actually rainy. It shouldn't prevent you from doing too much, although if you're mostly going for outdoor activities, the summer is probably a better time. However, in fall the beer, food and coffee are still great. The city is still a bit weird and the public transportation will still get you most places.
It might be argued that if you've only seen Portland when it was sunny, you haven't really seen it in its natural state.
posted by Muttoneer at 7:10 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
It might be argued that if you've only seen Portland when it was sunny, you haven't really seen it in its natural state.
posted by Muttoneer at 7:10 AM on October 23, 2010 [3 favorites]
In my experience, Portland is more often cloudy and gray than it is actually rainy.
Yeah, this is true. Still a fair amount of rain, but it's not guaranteed wall-to-wall precipitation in the winter. So, it's a crapshoot: you might get a week of constant rain, you might get a week of dry grey skies, you might even get a week of cold clear blue sky days like we just had. Good chance you'll get a mix of that.
As a local who lives here partly for the weather I'm too biased on that front to be usefully objective, but a big part of what I like about the town is the stuff inside buildings—doesn't matter if it's raining cats and dogs if you're eating a tasty meal or drinking a nice beer or a cup of coffee, and the preponderance of those is a big part of the appeal.
Busing around you may get wet, though there's large shelters at major transit stops and small shelters along most of the main lines. And no one will actually attack you for using an umbrella if you want a little insurance.
So, I think it comes down to your priorities: if you want to spend a lot of time outside not being wet, it's a gamble. If you're okay with that gamble, go for it, I think Portland is pretty awesome in the fall and winter. If your priorities are more indoors—food, drink, museums and galleries, music shows—then it's basically a non-issue, especially since even when the weather is bad the locals are used to it so it doesn't really put a damper on the indoor scene.
posted by cortex at 8:01 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah, this is true. Still a fair amount of rain, but it's not guaranteed wall-to-wall precipitation in the winter. So, it's a crapshoot: you might get a week of constant rain, you might get a week of dry grey skies, you might even get a week of cold clear blue sky days like we just had. Good chance you'll get a mix of that.
As a local who lives here partly for the weather I'm too biased on that front to be usefully objective, but a big part of what I like about the town is the stuff inside buildings—doesn't matter if it's raining cats and dogs if you're eating a tasty meal or drinking a nice beer or a cup of coffee, and the preponderance of those is a big part of the appeal.
Busing around you may get wet, though there's large shelters at major transit stops and small shelters along most of the main lines. And no one will actually attack you for using an umbrella if you want a little insurance.
So, I think it comes down to your priorities: if you want to spend a lot of time outside not being wet, it's a gamble. If you're okay with that gamble, go for it, I think Portland is pretty awesome in the fall and winter. If your priorities are more indoors—food, drink, museums and galleries, music shows—then it's basically a non-issue, especially since even when the weather is bad the locals are used to it so it doesn't really put a damper on the indoor scene.
posted by cortex at 8:01 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
I sincerely vote that you wait for sunnier days.
I mean, Portland is always amazing, but it's practically magical in the summer.
posted by smirkyfodder at 8:07 AM on October 23, 2010
I mean, Portland is always amazing, but it's practically magical in the summer.
posted by smirkyfodder at 8:07 AM on October 23, 2010
I'm British
If this is what you're familiar with as far as winter weather, then there shouldn't be that big of an adjustment. As others have said, the city itself will otherwise be the same cool place you recall.
posted by 5Q7 at 8:51 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If this is what you're familiar with as far as winter weather, then there shouldn't be that big of an adjustment. As others have said, the city itself will otherwise be the same cool place you recall.
posted by 5Q7 at 8:51 AM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
The primary reason I would advise summer over November is the daylight. If you come November 1, the sun doesn't rise until 7:50 am and sets at 5:58 pm. November 30th the sun rises at 7:29 am and sets at 4:30 pm!! (The first weekend in November is the end of Daylight Saving Time.)
The real best time to visit Portland is September, usually. This year was a big disappointing exception.
posted by peep at 9:34 AM on October 23, 2010
The real best time to visit Portland is September, usually. This year was a big disappointing exception.
posted by peep at 9:34 AM on October 23, 2010
If you're British, then you know exactly what Portland in November will be like. It's not terrible. It is, as peep said, dark early but again as a Brit it's nothing you're not used to. I've lived in Portland for almost 10 years now and in Seattle for most of the rest of my life, and I find I need some sun after 6 months of dreary grayness, but if you're only coming for a long weekend or a week you'll be fine, because the inside of things in Portland is the same rain or shine.
A nice side benefit of coming during rainy season is that you don't have to hear people complain about it being 89 degrees outside. Which people actually do, believe it or not.
posted by pdb at 9:56 AM on October 23, 2010
A nice side benefit of coming during rainy season is that you don't have to hear people complain about it being 89 degrees outside. Which people actually do, believe it or not.
posted by pdb at 9:56 AM on October 23, 2010
Blurgh, unless you like gloomy weather, wait for a sunnier time of year.
posted by thatone at 9:58 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by thatone at 9:58 AM on October 23, 2010
Didn't something like this happen to Bill Walton (mid-70's professional basketball player.) He signed with the Trailblazers in the summer and discovered to his dismay that Portland during the rest of the year was a very different thing altogether.
posted by mojohand at 11:00 AM on October 23, 2010
posted by mojohand at 11:00 AM on October 23, 2010
The rainy weather won't ruin the vibe, though. Grey/overcast/drizzly happens about 9 months out of the year - residents are used to it and they don't let it stop them from going out, so there will still be plenty happening, just less outdoors.
You can still browse Powell's bookstore, go to brewpubs, see shows at the Schnitzer, and even stroll the Japanese Gardens when there's only a drizzle. Check out OregonLive.com for special events by date.
posted by Knowyournuts at 11:16 AM on October 23, 2010
You can still browse Powell's bookstore, go to brewpubs, see shows at the Schnitzer, and even stroll the Japanese Gardens when there's only a drizzle. Check out OregonLive.com for special events by date.
posted by Knowyournuts at 11:16 AM on October 23, 2010
It's been so beautiful here lately. I love Portland this time of year. I actually like the dreary, grey late fall. The city gets so much calmer, the tourists leave, all the huge downtown festivals (which are great, but...) wind down, and it settles back into that coffee and beer fueled season of weird art projects and house parties and reading and cooking.
If you've been in the Summer already, I definitely recommend visiting in November. It's a different sort of city, but still has everything (the food, the beer, the people, the music, the pubs, the weird ass events - HUMP! (nsfw) is in early November, e.g.) that make it awesome.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:14 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
If you've been in the Summer already, I definitely recommend visiting in November. It's a different sort of city, but still has everything (the food, the beer, the people, the music, the pubs, the weird ass events - HUMP! (nsfw) is in early November, e.g.) that make it awesome.
posted by Lutoslawski at 2:14 PM on October 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Heh, I went to Portland this year in June and it was still rainy and cloudy. (Though sunlight was seen for a couple of hours a day too.) The o-dark-4:30 might give me pause, though.
I guess what it really boils down to (especially what with you being British and used to it!) is, did you want to do indoor things or outdoor things?
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:16 PM on October 23, 2010
I guess what it really boils down to (especially what with you being British and used to it!) is, did you want to do indoor things or outdoor things?
posted by jenfullmoon at 3:16 PM on October 23, 2010
i can remember novembers past here in portland when it rained every single day. not just mere gray and dreariness, but relentless, pissing rain.
wait until another time. not november.
posted by hollisimo at 5:25 PM on October 23, 2010
wait until another time. not november.
posted by hollisimo at 5:25 PM on October 23, 2010
The best time of the year for the NW is the summer. Pretty much by a mile. The rest of the year.. eh. A common attitude is "you don't let the rain change your plans" which is a necessary attitude here if you like doing stuff, but.. unpleasant if you're not in that mindset. I say come back next year.
posted by devilsbrigade at 9:39 PM on October 23, 2010
posted by devilsbrigade at 9:39 PM on October 23, 2010
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I'm from the east coast, so the fabled "dreary" Portland winter never really bothered me on any of my visits. It's still way less cold and potentially-snowy than I'm used to.
posted by clango at 6:04 AM on October 23, 2010