Help- Portland, Oregon
 

We will be staying in the Portland area and plan to do some sightseeing. Would it be better to stay in the downtown area or the Columbia River area? Any suggestions of what to see and do while there? Thanks for any help.

I would not stay in one place unless you want to do a lot of driving.

Hood River is a good location for the gorge.

Canon Beach is a good coast location

Sisters Oregon is great for Mt. Bachelor

The Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA. is a good place to stay near Portland. Another option would be McMenamins school hotel in NE Portland

I'd stay downtown.. Very cute. Plus you'll want to eat and shop downtown. Nothing to do out of the city but hike.

Welcome to Portland/Vancouver (Washington - not that Canadian city...). Portland proper has decent public transportation and so if you are car-less I would stay downtown - a great waterfront city. With a car I'd still opt for central but check parking costs (outlying areas no cost). The Heathman in Vancouver is nice - but lots of freeway intersection construction currently nearby. The Columbia River Gorge is a must-drive. So much to see. Write for more info if you wish.

Stay downtown. Tons to do, great restaurants and shopping. With a downtown location, you even get a river -- the Willamette.

For a restaurant, we'd recommend OBA in the downtown (north) area. Just awesome; about $15-$20 range per person, sans alcohol.

NW 23rd (west of downtown about a mile) is a fun district for eating and shopping.