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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At a Glance

Lauded as one of America’s best big cities, Portland’s small town charm welcomes you with open arms, enveloping you in its beautiful setting between the sparkling waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Explore this “City of Roses,” with experts unveiling its early history, its political savvy and its boundless beauty. Walk its historic streets to examine architecture and bridges and stop to savor locally inspired food and drink.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2-3 miles on uneven surfaces with most days averaging 2 miles, climbing a few flights of stairs, and use of public transportation most days.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Experience Portland’s iconic landmarks from its famous bridges, on foot through its Art District and from the water by boat.
  • Explore exceptional gardens including the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden and the Suzhou-style Lan Su Chinese Gardens.
  • Learn historic stories of Native experiences from a local storyteller and history keeper of Kalapuya/Coos heritage.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Peter Chausse
A retired elementary and middle school teacher, Peter is a passionate local historian in Portland, Oregon. Peter currently works as an instructor of experiential Continuing Education courses through The Heritage Institute, a branch of Antioch University. In addition, Peter has operated a small walking excursion business in Portland for more than 20 years. He enjoys leading field trips for school groups and walks for Road Scholar programs, during which he shares his knowledge of local art, architecture and natural history.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Peter Chausse
Peter Chausse View biography
A retired elementary and middle school teacher, Peter is a passionate local historian in Portland, Oregon. Peter currently works as an instructor of experiential Continuing Education courses through The Heritage Institute, a branch of Antioch University. In addition, Peter has operated a small walking excursion business in Portland for more than 20 years. He enjoys leading field trips for school groups and walks for Road Scholar programs, during which he shares his knowledge of local art, architecture and natural history.
Profile Image of Nathan Hoover
Nathan Hoover View biography
Nathan moved to Portland in 2003 after studying fine arts and theater at the New College of Florida. Since that move, his creative projects have been covered in The Oregonian, published in Oregon Humanities magazine and awarded grant funding by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Nathan leads thousands of third graders—and many folks of all ages—on walks around, over, under and inside Portland’s downtown bridges. The walks he leads celebrate Portland’s special sense of place, inspired by his own love for this city.
Profile Image of Esther Stutzman
Esther Stutzman View biography
Esther is a native Oregonian and traditional American Indian storyteller of Kalapuya and Coos heritage, as well as an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. She has been sharing stories that she learned from her grandmothers for over 50 years. Esther works with Title VII Indian Education programs as a cultural resource specialist, has been a long-time presenter for the Oregon Chautauqua History Serie, and frequently lectures at colleges in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017, she received the Oregon Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Profile Image of Rex Burkholder
Rex Burkholder View biography
Rex is a trained biologist and holds an MA in urban and environmental policy. He is the founder of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, which launched Portland’s bicycle revolution. During his 12 years in government, Rex oversaw Portland’s original Climate Action and Equity plans and sustainable transportation policy. His greatest achievement was leading a statewide effort to fund universal outdoor school – weeklong science and nature camp – for every student in Oregon. His book, "The Activist's Toolkit," provides a practical approach to being an effective change agent.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Lecture
Portland, OR
D
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center

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 head.

DAY
2
Washington Park, Street Art, Native American Stories
Portland, OR
B,L,D
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center

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 in 1888. 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.

Lunch: In Washington Park, we’ll have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: 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 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: At a neighborhood food pod.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is at leisure.

DAY
3
Bridge Walk, Willamette River Cruise, OR Historical Society
Portland, OR
B,L,D
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center

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 yacht 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 will reconvene with our group and walk to the MAX station to hop aboard a Portland MAX light rail train and ride back to our hotel to freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
Historic Downtown, Farmers Market, Free Time
Portland, OR
B,L
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center

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.

DAY
5
Lan Su Garden, Japanese American Museum, OR Jewish Museum
Portland, OR
B,L,D
Courtyard by Marriott Portland City Center

Activity note: Use of public transportation. Walking about 2.5 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: We will walk a half mile to the Oregon Jewish Museum for a docent-lead tour of the museum's exhibits and rotating exhibitions.

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.

DAY
6
Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes
Portland, OR
B

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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