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Oregon

Signature City Portland

Program No. 18533RJ
Learn about the “City of Roses” from acclaimed speakers and discover local history and culture as you explore the Portland Art Museum, Lan Su Chinese Garden and more!
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  • Signature City Portland Oregon
Regional StudiesSignature CitiesSmall GroupCity Discoveries
Length
6 days
Rating (4.79)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,599
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
12 meals ( 5B, 4L, 3D )
3 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
We will begin our exploration of Portland with a local expert who will give us an overview of the city’s culture and history. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Use of public transportation. Walking up to 3 miles; city-streets and sidewalks; standing for extended periods of time; closed-toe shoes required for the bridge walk. Getting on/off a boat.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll start our day with a walking field trip to explore the bridges of Portland with one of the city’s outstanding bridge experts. We will have great views of the living city as we learn how Portland became “Bridge Town”and how engineers have kept the spans functioning for a century. Because Portland is situated at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, river culture plays a big role in the community, from Rose Festival dragon boat races and Fourth of July festivities to biking and art along the Esplanade. We will end our walk at the Salmon Street Springs dock and board the “Portland Spirit,” a 150-foot space with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate controlled.
Lunch:
Aboard the “Portland Spirit” as we glide along the Willamette River with narration by the ship staff and enjoy the sights of the city from our vantage point.
Afternoon:
We’ll take the MAX train to the cultural district for a field trip to the Oregon Historical Society Museum. There we will see an expansive collection of artifacts and exhibits on a self-directed exploration. The museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret Oregon’s past in thoughtful, illuminating, and provocative ways. We'll then return to our hotel where we will have some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Use of public transportation. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 1 hour and standing for extended periods.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will walk to the MAX station and hop aboard a Portland MAX light rail train and ride to the authentically built, awe inspiring, Suzhou-style, Lan Su Chinese Gardens. The Gardens were created as a collaboration between the cities of Portland and Suzhou, Portland’s sister city in China’s Jiangsu province famed for its beautiful Ming Dynasty gardens. A docent will lead our exploration for an experience based on a 2,000-year-old Chinese tradition that melds art, architecture,design, and nature in perfect harmony. Next, we will walk to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon where we will enjoy an expert-led visit. The Japanese American Museum of Oregon strives to preserve the history of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest. We’ll learn about the Japanese American experience during WWII, immigration and early life in Oregon, and their role in Oregon’s multicultural community.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will walk several blocks to Powell's City of Books for a behind the scenes tour of the the largest new and used bookstore in the world, housing approximately one million books. We will reconvene with our group and walk back to our hotel where we will gather in our meeting room for an expert-led lecture and story-telling performance. Native American culture is central to the Oregon experience and can be seen in the naming of mountains, rivers, cities and streets to the Maya Lin Confluence Project documenting the journey of Lewis and Clark. Back at our hotel, we will listen to modern and historic stories of Native experience as told by a local storyteller and history keeper of Kalapuya/Coos heritage.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will enjoy dinner at a local food truck pod and all are welcome to join, or the GL will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Use of public transportation. Walking about 2.5 miles over the course of 2 hours, periods of standing; city streets and sidewalks. Extent of walking and other free time activities due to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we’ll set out on an expert-led walking field trip through Portland’s historic downtown. We will encounter delightful public art, intriguing architecture, and learn about the history of the City of Roses on the street. Our field trip will conclude at the Portland Farmers Market.
Lunch:
At the Portland Farmer’s Market with provided vouchers to have what you like from a variety of vendors.
Afternoon:
Following our lunch at the market, we will be joined by a local farmer and food artisan for a lecture on how various vendors work together to share in the abundance of this region. Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. The Group Leader will accompany those who wish to return to the hotel via MAX.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 13 miles, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles and periods of standing; unpaved paths and some stairs at Gardens.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and set out on field trips featuring exploration of two exceptional green spaces in Washington Park. First is the International Rose Test Garden overlooking the city. Known simply as the Rose Garden, it covers 4.5 acres in Washington Park and features more than 650 varieties of roses, producing more than 10,000 flowers each year. The Portland Rose Society was established in1888. In 1915 as World War I raged in Europe, newspaper editor Jesse Currey persuaded city officials to establish a “test garden” to protect and preserve European hybrid roses in danger of being destroyed. Fortunately, the roses outlasted the war. Portland today is known as the City of Roses. The primary purpose of the garden today is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. The City of Portland Gold Medal Awards are issued annually to the best introductions. Afterwards,we’ll continue to the Portland Japanese Garden, acclaimed as “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” There are five distinct areas that establish a sense of peace, harmony, and tranquility. A docent will lead our exploration of the garden that includes a Japanese Tea House as well as arbors, bridges, pagodas, stone lanterns, water basins, and an unsurpassed view of Mt. Hood. Oregon’s multicultural community.
Lunch:
In Washington Park, we’ll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
Next, we will board the motorcoach for a field trip to the Pittock Mansion. Oregon Trail pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock became hugely influential in Portland's history. Henry launched the newspaper which became today's Oregonian, and Georgiana offered her backyard for the first rose show of the Portland Rose Society. In 1912, construction began on their famous French Renaissance style mansion, where they took up residence in 1914. Now the mansion is cared for by the Pittock Mansion Society, and remains an architectural and historical wonder. We will enjoy a private guided tour of the inside of the mansion. For our next field trip, we will board our motorcoach travel to the Alberta Arts District. Here we will be joined by a local expert for a walking field trip exploring some of Portland's street art and murals .After our guided walk, we will have a short time to explore the neighborhood on our own. We'll then reboard our motorcoach and return to our hotel to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure after our closing session in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 p.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll gather with our Group Leader for a wrap-up session to review program highlights and say farewell to new Road Scholar friends. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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