Portland - early May!
catspaw
Registered Users Posts: 1,292 Major grins
I'm extending a little trip (semi work related) in Portland, OR so I have a few free days. I'm ALL for exploring - indoors, outdoors, food, whatever. However, I know there's a lot in the area and while I'm willing to drive a bit I do not know where to even start looking.
Any favorite spots (photography a huge plus, but I'll never say no to 'adventure' either) that you'd suggest someone hit up who has never been there before? Mind you, I'm totally happy to get up before dawn and stay out late! Vacation does not equal 'rest' for me
(and anything from cool areas to street shoot, landscapes, fun drives, etc!)
Any favorite spots (photography a huge plus, but I'll never say no to 'adventure' either) that you'd suggest someone hit up who has never been there before? Mind you, I'm totally happy to get up before dawn and stay out late! Vacation does not equal 'rest' for me
(and anything from cool areas to street shoot, landscapes, fun drives, etc!)
//Leah
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heh, good point. THE Portland, OR :P Portland Maine is nice but so teeny.
Check out the book, "Photographing the Oregon Coast" if you're really interested in cool coastal locations. It's around $11 on amazon.
If you're into food, you're in luck. There are food carts galore in town which could also make for cool street photography. They're clustered in different areas including on SE Hawthorne and 12th (open late into the night). More info here
The Columbia Gorge is awesome too. Tons of locations to shoot there (again, it may be rainy) and that's about a 30 minute drive east of Portland. Multnomah Falls is the obvious spot but there are many waterfalls worth hiking into. A loop trip up the gorge to Hood River and then Hwy 35 over Mt. Hood and back to Portland via Hwy 26 would be a nice all day trip with stops for shooting photos.
Just a couple of ideas. There are great downtown views of the city from the east bank. That's where most of the trailer for "Portlandia" was shot! A slight familiarity with that show (or at least the trailer) will start many conversations for you
Portland, Oregon Photographer Pete Springer
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I've only blown through there very briefly once, but the St. Honoré French boulangerie that a certain mutual French friend recommended was incredibly good.
Yah that is not at all photography-related, but you can't shoot without fuel.
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
NW Portland is fun for food and street shooting too. 23rd is the focal point, and there were a couple organic/vegetarian restaurants there last time I was "home". Of course, there are lots of excellent brew pubs and nothing is more organic than barley, hops, and water all from within 50 miles of the brewery.
May can be beautiful with mild temps and sun, or rain all day. Take your chances and be ready. Go outside either way, or they'll know you're a tourist.
http://nikonic1.smugmug.com/
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Thank you so very very much! once I get the days lined up I'll be doing just this.
You won't find a shortage of organic food here. There's tons of it. Everywhere. All the time.
In terms of gluten-free food (I assume that's what you meant
- Old Wives Tales, SE 13th & E Burnside. Delicious and local and they list all of their ingredients and have some great GF choices.
- New Seasons Markets, numerous locations around town. Fantastic, locally- and sustainability-focused supermarket, and they have a nice GF selection of stuff. Sometimes, they have GF dishes in their deli. It's not the cheapest place in town but it's competitive with other organic supermarkets, and hey, you get what you pay for. The owners are really cool, too.
- Corbett Fish House, 5901 SW Corbett Avenue. It's an amazing fish house, they do all kinds of yummy fish without gluten. There's one on SE Hawthorne, too, if you're in SE.
- Sweetpea Bakery, SE 12th & Stark. This is a fantastic all-vegan bakery and they have some good GF options. It's right by my office, we go there all the time, it's awesome, and if you ever thought vegan food was "boring", this place will change your mind.
- Food carts. There are a couple of vegan food carts around town, and as was previously mentioned, you can find info on those on the web. The good one I know of is at SW 4th and Hall, can't think of the name but it's the only vegan one in that pod, and I believe they have some GF stuff.
As far as places to go and shoot, the ones already mentioned are great. If you're looking for a gritty sports opportunity, check out any of the many skateparks around town. If you want gritty urban scenery to go with the skatepark, check out the Burnside Skatepark (under the east end of the Burnside Bridge), which is in the Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID). I love to go shooting in the CEID, mainly in the part west of SE Martin Luther King Boulevard and between the Hawthorne and Burnside Bridges. It's great and lately there have been a spate of new restaurants and cafés opening there, so lots of good eats in the vicinity for when you need a break.
And oh yeah-don't miss the Eastbank Esplanade (easily accessible from the CEID) for great shots of downtown and the West Hills.
Definitely looking into the Columbia River Gorge area, especially as she and I wanted to hit up the wineries too. I'll google the Eastbank Esplande next.
Contacting people, thank you ALL so much!
I think there are some wineries near Hood River and maybe on the Washington side of the Gorge, but what most people consider "the wine country" around here is the opposite direction, SW of Portland, in Yamhill County. Just about 20-30 minutes SW of town on Highway 99W.
I'm not really one to sit around and watch the leaves grow on vacation
(unless I've a macro set up going on)