Hi All,



I have an 8 hour layover in Portland this Sunday and am looking for advice on things to do. I definitely would like to hit Powell's Books, grab some vegetarian lunch, poke around in interesting little neighborhoods and maybe hit a thrift store, all on public transportation.



any advice/recommendations?



thanks in advance!

Hi, great! you can do it.

Hop in a cab, they are in a line outside the airport door..quick trip into town. Tell the driver to take you to Powells, Burnside and 11th.

You can browse there, walk in any direction for a block or two and find food, shops and the Streetcar which can be hopped on to on 11th or 10th.

SushiLand is on Davis and 10th..conveyor belt fresh sushi, great lunch!

A block past is Yoshidas and there is a wonderful vegetarian menu in the little shop there, tables outside..

You can get Gelato at Mio Gelato across the street from Powells..

You can hop on the streetcar and go to the 23rd and Marshall stop, when you get off, go right, there is Miso Happy..Viet/Thai...great Pad Thai :) and a great spicey soup..

You will have more choices than you can deal with lol so I will just wish you a good trip and enjoy your 8 hours in Portland :)

Hop on MAX (lightrail) at the airport. It'll take you downtown, where you should get off around 10th (next stop after Pioneer Square), and then catch the streetcar north to the first stop past Burnside. That will put you on the edge of the Pearl District and within a few blocks of Powell's. The Pearl is one of the city's hottest dining and shopping areas, but I don't think you'll find a thrift store there. To do that, you'd jump back on the streetcar towards NW 21st and 23rd streets, another hot dining and shopping area. There's a thrift store a half block off NW 23rd, on Glisan I think.



I'm not vegetarian, so had to Google for restaurants. Blossoming Lotus (http://www.blossominglotus.com/) and Tao of Tea on 21st and Hoyt were the only two I could readily find in either the Pearl or NW. It appears that most are on the other side of town.

Given you only have 8 hours and 4 mjay be taken up with airport security I agree with the others that MAX is the best option. Lunch almost where ever, almost all have vegetarian. Powell's is a few blocks off the MAX stop as is Buffalo Exchange. This will all be downtown Portland. For neighborhood poking around you will need more time. When you have a chance check out Alberta Street, The Pearl, 23rd Avenue and North Mississippi. Meanwhile,have a wonderful time!i

Ack! I forgot to tell you about the Thrift shop..

Across Burnside is Buffalo Exchange, used clothes. Big big store. :O)

Scarlett you may be right cab best way. I just don't like paying cab fares, and should not try to convince others to not use cabs.



I have become an advocate of public transport in non-familiar cities. It really came clear to me when we got totally confused on a sunday afternoon in Dublin when trying to drive rental car. I already could handle the left side drive, but the street patterns were absolutely confusing. Said never again will I drive in downtown in strange city and haven't. the bus from our b&b in Dublin then Edinburgh worked just fine, and train in London. Tokyo Paris, NYC etc



Anyway tend to drift to that suggestion without thinking

Light rail is easy way to town. station right in terminal almost. last two trips out we have used it to airport. Pretty cheap. It does take forever to get through downtown. You could get off at Sat Market, then decide if you want to walk to Powell or Pearl, or get back on light rail. It is free downtown. and follows mistletoes suggestion. mI

Having only 8 hours total to see as much of town, I thought a cab would be quickest. During the day, we are across the river and back in minutes..the 8 blocks or so to Powells takes no time.



But, here is the website for TriMet :)



http://portlandstreetcar.org/index.php

Oh phirl, I agree with you completely! Our car sits for weeks in our garage without being driven , if we can't walk, we use the Streetcars...but when time is short, and one is new to the area and not sure of which way to go, cabs are what I would do.

Remember, I am from a Cab Mentality lol I lived in NYC :)

Sat market second stop after you cross river.