OT: Portland here I come!!
 

I am finally taking a trip to Portland. I am going to make a two or three day trip anytime from the last week of Nov to the first week of Dec. Is there anything going on around that time?? I could structure my visit around that event. I was hoping to stay at a hotel that has access to nice public transportation. Portland is not set in stone...but I would like to go to OR do some shopping (time for a wardrobe) and site seeing! I live in WA and I think it time for me to start going to the states around me. CA and Canada are on my list too :carrot:

I have to make reservations pretty soon... Thanks for any suggestions!!

I was just going to remind you to bring your raincoat, but you live in WA so you already know that. :)

Don't know too much about Portland but Couer D'Alene in Idaho is just a day trip away and is just beautiful.

I'm not a local so can't speak to what may be going on when you visit, but I love visiting Portland! I have a good friend who lives there, so have been out there 3 or 4 times, and had a great time with each visit - including my most recent trip a month ago which was for me to run my first marathon!

A few suggestions for destinations - Multinomah Falls, or some of the local parks are lovely to hike around. The coastline is really beautiful and not a far drive, if you want to spend a day or two there. Powell's bookstore is a great place to hang out and look for something interesting to read. The "Pearl" district has lots of good restaurants.

I used to live in Portland. I second the Powell's bookstore recommendation. It is like NOTHING else. You just have to see it!
There is usually a lot of good live music in Portland too; pick up a Willamette Week and see what's going on.