Places to visit on public transport from Portland, Oregon.

[Brent pigeon]

We are coming to stay in Portland, Oregon, late July, early August and we want to know whether there are any excusions to places of interest, we do not drive.
Is there a train service or bus line that can take us to the coast or to other places of interest?

[Buenchico]

Train services (other than some urban commuter routes in some areas) are very thin on the ground in the USA . Where we Brits might expect to have 30 to 50 departures per day running on a route between major cities, US train operators like Amtrak often only run one or two trains per day on similar routes. That certainly seems to be the case at Portland Union Station. For information on public 'transportation' (to use a horrid American word!), please see here:
http://www.travelportland.com/visitors/transpo rtation.html

You might find some suitable tours by checking out the web links from here:
http://www.travelportland.com/visitors/tours.h tml

Americans think of flying much more than we do. Seaport Airlines will fly you to Astoria, on the coast (well, on a river estuary anyway) for $98 return. It only takes 35 minutes.:
http://www.el.com/to/astoria/
http://www.seaportair.com/

Chris

[KARL]

Chris is correct, by comparison with Europe the US has virtually no surface public transport bar in the largest urban centres. Americans either hire a car (unless they start from home, in which case they will possibly have a choice of more than one) or fly (unless it is short enough for a taxi). This is why the US is difficult for strangers to move around (except by hiring a car) and it is the world's highest polluter per capita by far. Just last week, when explaining to a visiting American the London congestion charge and stating by comparison the dominance of the car in the US, I was instantly and angrily accused of hating Americans. Mind you, I referred to the car as being (a) god - big mistake with a foaming-at-the-mouth religious zealot. Tread carefully when there because alarmingly many of them are very insecure and see everyone as a potential (perhaps mortal) enemy. I did not know Portland had the reputation you mention, but I venture that simply means it is a tinder box with the conservative right about to trey to wipe the unamerican opposition out.

[sitges]

If you can get past Karls ranting and raving, Portland does have pretty good transportation within the city. there is a light rail that is being expanded each year, and public buses and trollies that can get you around Portland proper and the outlying area's. there are also tours through Grayline that can take you up the Columbia River and other area'sof interest Portland is very eco friendly and a lot of people ride bikes. You can rent bikes at several places around town if you desire. Hope you enjoy Portland..

[Brent pigeon]

As we are coming in late July I wondered if it would be possible to swim in the river. Do peope do this?
I am very pleased with all the useful advise that I have been given but I do not know how to get to specific beauty spots such as the surrounding mountains. Is there a lake?

And can anyone recommend any particular microbreweries, especially around Downtown as that is where we are staying?

Which local wines should we look out for?

[KARL]

I could have sworn you had two posts on Portland and one of them referred to a left wing tendency - but now nothing is there, am I wrong ? It was to the latter I was referring in my above answer which now looks completely out of place. The sudden outburst when I was explaining the congestion charge took me completely by surprise, and I am still coming to terms with the violence of the reaction. Trying to get over the advice that some people are very touchy has now solicited an accusation of ranting and raving. The fact is some people do not like uncomfortable/unpalatable truths and blame the messenger and it is as well to beware. There are of course plenty of nice people in the US as anywhere and I hope you only meet them.

[sitges]

You don't say how long you are going to be in Portland. If you have time you should go see Crater Lake and you can go on a tour bus, however it is in the southern part of the state and Portland in as far north as you can get. It is still worth the travel time (about 4 hours) to see it. there are several lakes with in an hour or 2 from Portland. Lake Oswego (town and lake) is just across the river from downtown Portland. Portland city proper probably has 12 micro brewers so your best bet is to just walk around the area you will be staying in and you will surely find something or someone who knows where there is one. Have you gone on line and looked up Portland Oregon to see what is available in the surrounding area??? Try www.TravelPortland.com