From dining to majestic views - and, of course, the NBA's Trail Blazers - there is so much to see and do in Portland, Oregon. To help you plan the perfect Portland getaway, here are 5 great things to check out.
Bring the camera: Portland, Oregon is nearby to some beautiful scenic experiences a vacationer can enjoy on the Pacific Northwest, including the Columbia River Gorge, located 35 minutes from downtown Portland that forms a border between northern Oregon and southern Washington. On this Clipper Vacations tour you'll see several waterfalls - Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Horse Tail Falls - and the second highest year-round waterfall in the U.S, Multnomah Falls.
Start wine-ing: Sip and swirl your way around Portland's wineries, located in the 150-mile stretch of land in Willamette Valley, a Pinot Noir-producing area with more than 250 of the state's 500+ wineries. Take the Clippers Vacations behind-the-scenes tours of award-winning wineries, test sugar levels and pH, load a de-stemmer and taste and even stomp some grapes - Lucy Ricardo would be jealous! A sample of the wine, with a side of local cheeses and meats, awaits your palate.
Deck the halls: Clipper Vacations does not take a holiday break because there is still so much to see when Portland turns into a storybook Christmas. You can't miss "The Miracle of a Million Lights," 2.5 acres filled with a million plus twinkling lights at the Queen Anne Victorian Mansion, a 5,500 square-foot mansion that is also decorated with old-world Victorian decorations, while women in costumes serve hot chocolate, apple cider and gingerbread cookies. Christmas Festival of Lights at the Grotto, includes 500,000 lights, 150 choral performances, a petting zoo, carolers, puppet shows and hot chocolate. Finally, not to be outdone, the Winter Wonderland at Portland Race Track has 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes to see.
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Taking it to the streets: Sometimes it's just great to get out and explore Portland, also known as "Rose City," on your own. Some of the highlights of the Clipper Vacations trolley tour include shopping at Pioneer Square and the 23 Street Shopping District. Definitely visit the huge Powell's New & Used Books where you will find something to read for everyone. You might want to see the lions, tigers and bears - oh my! - at the 64-acre Oregon Zoo. For nibbles, you can get your sea legs on with a variety of crustacean cuisine at SouthPark or find your fortune in ChinaTown.
Get in the spirit: If you would rather lay back then hop on and off a trolley, the year-round Portland Spirit Cruise is a perfect adventure. This 2- to 2.5-hour tour takes you on a relaxing tour of the Willamette River, Milwaukie Basin and Lake Oswego. Along the way, you'll see beautiful views of Portland and the Cascade Mountains while you enjoy some live entertainment.
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