Road Scholar : Home
On the Move in Portland: Walking Its Cityscapes and Greenspaces

Program Number: 9581RJ
Start and End Dates:
9/4/2012 - 9/9/2012;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Portland, Oregon
Price starting at: $799.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Walking/Hiking Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 12; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

With every step you take, discover why Portland is considered one of America’s most livable cities. Experience its quirkiness and charm as you explore on foot and by public transportation its public art, architecture, numerous greenspaces and unique neighborhoods. Put on your walking shoes for an adventure filled with local color, learning and fun.




Highlights

• See public art in unusual places — along the light rail lines and in its tunnels — and rise 500 feet on an aerial tram for expansive views of the city.
• Explore Portland’s unique public park system from the urban forest of the Hoyt Arboretum, a global garden in the wild, to the restful Japanese Garden and the harmonious landscapes of the Lan Su Chinese Garden.
• Walk the Eastbank Esplanade along the Willamette River, and witness the Vox swift's annual migratory chimney dance.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to five miles on level surfaces. Terrain varies from paved city sidewalks to trails with uneven footing.



Coordinated by Road Scholar.




Portland (Oregon)

Portlanders live a life rich in the arts, surrounded by natural beauty and conveniently situated near the Pacific Coast and Columbia River Gorge. The City of Roses is a walker's paradise filled with parks, fountains and unique neighborhoods.
Accommodations
Centrally located hotel with indoor pool, fitness center, restaurant, free high-speed Internet.
Meals and Lodgings
   Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
  Portland, OR 5 nights
 Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Type: Full Service Hotel
  Description: The Courtyard Marriott is a beautiful and comfortable facility. The hotel is 9 miles from the airport, across the river from downtown, near the Willamette River, Waterfront Park, the Eastbank Esplanade and just three blocks from the nearest MAX lightrail station.
  Contact info: 435 NE Wasco
Portland, OR 97232 USA
phone: 503-234-3200
web: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pdxcl
  Room amenities: All guestrooms feature Marriott bedding with pillow top mattresses, triple sheeting and five plush pillows, wireless high-speed Internet access, iron and ironing board, hair dryer, coffee maker, large work desk and cable television.
  Facility amenities: Hotel amenities include: 202 rooms & suites, complimentary coffee in lobby, cocktail lounge, restaurant, full service business center, fitness center, indoor pool, room service, complimentary wifi throughout the hotel and a complimentary shuttle within a three mile radius (based upon availability). The complimentary business center includes: fax, copy machine and computer (with Internet access). Classrooms and hotel restaurant are on the ground floor. Guestrooms begin on the second floor. All rooms are accessible by elevator. This is a non smoking hotel. Smoking is allowed outdoors only.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Seasonal rates The Courtyard Marriott may offer a special rate for Road Scholar participants, based upon availability. Please make reservations for additional nights directly with the hotel. Be sure and tell whoever you speak with that you are with the Road Scholar group. Additional nights do not include breakfast or parking charges.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Seasonal rates The Courtyard Marriott may offer a special rate for Road Scholar participants, based upon availability. Please make reservations for additional nights directly with the hotel. Be sure and tell whoever you speak with that you are with the Road Scholar group. Additional nights do not include breakfast or parking charges.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Hotel check-in and program registration begin at 3:00 PM. You will be staying at Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland) that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends at 9:30 AM after wrap up session. Hotel check out by 12:00 PM. You will be staying at Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland) the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Participant information form.
  Parking availability:
Complimentary parking is provided for Road Scholar participants during the program. Parking fees apply for additional nights at the hotel (currently $15 a night self park, $19 a night valet).
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Portland, OR
  Nearest highway: I-84 and I-5
  Nearest airport:  Portland International Airport (PDX)
  From End of Program
  Location: Portland, OR
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Portland- Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$35-$45
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

Approximately 25 minutes. Could vary due to traffic. 
   

Taxis are available at the airport. Two local companies are Radio Cab (503-227-1212) and Broadway Cab (503-227-1234). If you need a taxi equipped to transport wheelchairs, contact Radio Cab (503-227-1212). Advance reservations are recommended for this service.
 

Portland- Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown

 

From Train Station

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Courtyard Marriott shuttle
phone: 503-234-3200

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Complimentary
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5-10 minutes 
   

The Courtyard Marriott offers a complimentary shuttle from the Amtrak train station, the Greyhound bus depot and the MAX light rail stop. The shuttle does not run on a continuous schedule, so please call the hotel to say that you have arrived and would like to be picked up. There may be a wait for this complimentary service. The shuttle is a large white van with “Courtyard Lloyd Center” printed on the sign.
 

Portland- Courtyard Marriott Lloyd Center Downtown

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Public Transportation
Tri-Met- Max Light Rail
phone: 503-238-7433

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$2.35 adult all zone ticket, $1.00 honored citizens (65+)
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

33 minutes (including 6 minutes walking) 
   

One convenient travel option is to use Portland’s light rail system, known as MAX. Instructions from the Airport MAX Station: 1) Purchase one ALL ZONE ticket for each person in your traveling party. 2) Board MAX Red Line towards City Center & Beaverton TC. 3) Exit MAX at Convention Center MAX Station. 4) Walk 0.2 miles north (slightly uphill) to Courtyard Marriott (435 NE Wasco St). Additional information included in the preparatory materials.
 

Portland- Lloyd Center

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Blue Star Airporter
phone: 503-249-1837
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$14 one way per person or $24 round trip
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

Approximately 25 minutes. Could vary due to traffic. 
   

To schedule the shuttle or for questions, call 503-249-1837 or visit www.bluestarbus.com/airporters. For shuttle service, proceed outside from baggage claim level to Ground Transportation Area.

 

Portland- Lloyd Center

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
White Van Shuttle
phone: 503-774-9755
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$25 for the first person, $5 each additional person
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

Approximately 25 minutes. Could vary due to traffic. 
   

White Van can be contacted at 503-774-9755 or can be found online at www.whitevanshuttle.com. For shuttle service, proceed outside from baggage claim level to Ground Transportation Area.

 
Driving Directions
  Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland, OR) Portland Airport/I-205 Proceed out of airport onto Airport Way. Continue for approximately 1 mile. Merge onto I-205 South toward Portland/Salem Take exit 21B for I-84 West. Take exit 1 for Lloyd Boulevard. Continue straight onto Lloyd Boulevard. Turn right onto Grand Avenue. Turn left onto Wasco. The hotel is on the right. Travel time is approximately 20 minutes (depends on traffic).
  Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland, OR) driving north on I-5 Take Weidler Street exit 302A toward Rose Quarter / Broadway Turn right onto NE Weidler St Turn right at first light onto NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. / 99E Take 2nd left onto NE Wasco St. The hotel is on the left.
  Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland, OR) driving south on I-5 Take the Rose Quarter/City Center exit 302A Follow ramp towards Rose Quarter, staying in left lanes Turn left onto N. Weidler St. Turn right onto NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. / 99E Take 2nd left onto NE Wasco. The hotel is on the left.
  Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland, OR) from Amtrak / Greyhound Stations Turn right onto NW Broadway Cross over the river on the Broadway Bridge As it becomes N Broadway, turn slight right onto N Weidler St Turn right onto NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd./ 99E Take 2nd left onto NE Wasco St Hotel is on the left
Equipment Requirements: Sturdy walking shoes, water bottle
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Registration/Orientation/Eastbank Esplanade
(Tuesday, September 4)
   
 Afternoon: Check in and program registration. There will be a brief orientation with an overview of the program and an opportunity to meet other participants.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
 Evening: After dinner, take a stroll along the Eastbank Esplanade and enjoy spectacular evening views of the Willamette River and the downtown Portland skyline. The Esplanade is the largest floating walkway in the US and the area is alive with activities from walkers, bikers, and rollerbladers to boaters and fishermen. Catch the lightrail back to the hotel or walk if you want more exercise.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Downtown architecture/Local art and culture along the light rail line/Lecture: Sustainable Architecture
(Wednesday, September 5)
   
 Breakfast: Complete buffet breakfast in hotel dining room
 Morning: Enjoy the morning exploring important architectural features walking through downtown Portland, including the historic Skidmore Fountain (dedicated in 1888), Pioneer Courthouse Square (Portland's "living room"), Portlandia (sculptural icon), and the Performing Arts Center.
 Lunch: Relax over lunch at an award winning seafood restaurant.
 Afternoon: Spend the afternoon discovering the blend of art, architecture, history, science and cultural diversity along Portland's newest lightrail line. We'll look at the contributions African Americans, Native Americans, Polish Americans and Japanese Americans have made in parks, churches and coffee shops. See neighborhoods off the beaten tourist path.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
 Evening: In an evening lecture with a local expert, learn about some of Portland's most interesting examples of sustainable architecture.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Parks & Fountains/Aerial Tram/Powell's Books/Vaux's Swifts
(Thursday, September 6)
   
 Breakfast: Complete buffet breakfast in hotel dining room.
 Morning: Start the day with a walk through downtown Portland to learn about the history and significance of the city's many parks and fountains. We'll ride the streetcar to Oregon Health & Sciences University, a world class teaching and research hospital, and ride the tram which rises 500 feet over Portland for a bird's eye view of the city, its rivers and the surrounding mountains.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant
 Afternoon: After lunch, tour the Pearl District, previously an industrial area which has redeveloped to host an eclectic mix of restaurants, unique shops and urban housing. Make a stop at Powell's Books, the largest independent bookseller in the world, for some book browsing time.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
 Evening: Travel to a local school in Northwest Portland in time for an amazing aerial performance at dusk by thousands of vaux's swifts funneling into the school's chimney to roost for the night. We'll learn about the importance of this ritual in the birds' preparation for their migration to Central America.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Portland's Waterfront/Chinese Garden/Convention Center/Ladd's Addition/Free Evening
(Friday, September 7)
   
 Breakfast: Complete buffet breakfast in hotel dining room
 Morning: Discover the Portland waterfront on the west side of the Willamette River. After a stroll across the nearly 100 year old pedestrian friendly iconic Broadway Bridge, learn about waterfront living along the McCormick Pier and how an area slated for a four lane highway became a waterfront park that hosts bicyclists, pedestrians, memorials and festivals all year around. Round out the morning with an exploration of the classically exquisite Lan Su Chinese Gardens, an authentic Ming Dynasty scholar's garden, with a local docent.
 Lunch: Lunch at a downtown restaurant.
 Afternoon: Heading back over to the east side of the river, visit the Oregon Convention Center to view one of the largest and most varied convention center art programs in the country. Pieces include delicate blown glass, vibrant abstract paintings, a uniquely designed dragon boat and colorful ceramic mosaics. Learn about Portland's funding of the arts through the Percent for Art program. Then take a walk through Ladd's addition, one of the oldest residential districts in Portland, and learn about its unconventional diagonal street design as well as its unique elm trees and rose test garden.
 Dinner: Dinner on your own to explore local fare.
 Evening: This is a free evening to go back to places you'd like to explore more or find new ones that you haven't been to yet.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Washington Park/Hoyt Arboretum/Japanese Garden/Oregon Field Guide
(Saturday, September 8)
   
 Breakfast: Complete buffet breakfast in hotel dining room
 Morning: After a quick ride on lightrail to lovely Washington Park, we'll explore the amazing underground tunnel that houses the lightrail station. Nearby, we'll walk some of the 21 miles of paths through the Hoyt Arboretum to learn about a few of the more unique trees in its collection of over 1,000 tree species from around the world.
 Lunch: Boxed picnic lunch at the Hoyt Arboretum.
 Afternoon: On the other side of the park, we'll visit the Japanese Garden, proclaimed as one of the most authentic outside of Japan, and the International Rose Test Garden where over 550 species of roses can be viewed against the backdrop of Mt. Hood and the city skyline. We'll take a short walk through the neighborhood to another lightrail station before returning to the hotel for dinner.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel.
 Evening: Relax after your busy day with an award winning producer of Oregon Public Broadcasting’s "Oregon Field Guide" who will share video and stories of the state’s scenic wonders.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard Marriott- Lloyd Center Downtown (Portland)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Wrap Up/Independent Departures/Optional - Saturday Market
(Sunday, September 9)
   
 Breakfast: Complete buffet breakfast in hotel dining room
 Morning: After a short wrap up session, participants depart independently although there will be an optional walk over to the Saturday Market if you need one more chance to bring home some souvenirs!
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Portland, OR Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden
The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden was originally developed as a test garden. The oldest rhododendron in the current garden was planted prior to 1917. There are more than 2,500 rhododendrons, azaleas, and companion plants in the garden. For additional information, visit www.portlandonline.com/parks
  International Rose Test Garden
With 8,555 rose bushes representing 722 varieties of roses, this garden is definitely worth a visit. Call 503-823-3635 or visit the website for additional information. For additional information, visit rosegardenstore.com/thegardens.cfm
  Lan Su Chinese Garden
Discover an ever-changing landscape of pavilions, stone, water, plants and literature. Call 503-228-8131 or visit the website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.portlandchinesegarden.org
  Oregon Historical Society
Experience the Oregon story, from its earliest inhabitants to the present day, with fascinating displays of rare Oregon treasures. Call 503-222-1741 or visit the website for more information. For additional information, visit www.ohs.org
  Pittock Mansion
The Pittock Mansion was home to Portland pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock from 1914 to 1919. During the late 1800s and the early 1900s, their lives and work paralleled the growth of Portland from a small Northwest town site to a thriving city with a quarter million population. With its eclectic architectural design and richly decorated interior, including family artifacts, the Pittock Mansion stands today as a living memorial of this family’s contributions to the blossoming of Portland and its people. Information from www.pittockmansion.org. Call 503-823-3623 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.pittockmansion.org
  Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest. The Museum’s collection includes works of European painting and sculpture, American painting and sculpture, English silver, Asian art, Native American art, Pre-Columbian art, Cameroon and other African art, contemporary art, sculpture, prints and drawings, and photography. Call 503-226-2811 or visit the website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.portlandartmuseum.org
  Portland International Airport
For information about airlines, parking, restaurants or shopping at the airport call 877-739-4636 or visit their website. For additional information, visit www.flypdx.com
  Portland Japanese Garden
This beautiful and tranquil garden features five gardens in 5.5 acres. Call 503-223-1231 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.japanesegarden.com
  Portland Spirit River Cruise
Portland Spirit River Cruises offer Willamette River cruises and Columbia River cruises from downtown Portland Oregon aboard the Portland Spirit, the Willamette Star, the Crystal Dolphin and the Outrageous Jetboat. Call 1-800-224-3901 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.portlandspirit.com
  Portland Walking Tours
Portland Walking Tours offers a wide range of walking tours- from the Best of Portland, to Underground Portland to an Epicurean Excursion. Call 503-774-4522 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.portlandwalkingtours.com
  Powell's City of Books
Powell's City of Books has over a million new and used books on the shelves. Get lost in the nine color coded rooms while searching through the 3,500 sections. This is more than just a bookstore, it's an entire block! Call 1-800-878-7323 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.powells.com
  Travel Portland
Portland's one-stop visitor center, includes local events calendar and trip planning information. Visitor's information center conveniently located in Pioneer Courthouse Square (also known as Portland's living room). Call 1-800-962-3700 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.travelportland.com
  Tri Met
Tri Met is Portland's public transportation system (includes lightrail, streetcar and buses). Call 503-238-7433 or visit their website for more information. For additional information, visit www.tri-met.org
  Waterfront Bicycle
Whether you're looking to rent a bike for a few hours or for a week, Waterfront Bicycle will have what you need. All rentals include a helmet, lock and handlebar bag. Choose from five styles of bikes. Website includes suggested rides. Call 503-227-1719 or visit their website for additional information. For additional information, visit www.waterfrontbikes.com
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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