Tours

Portland Area Tours - Don't Miss Out!

Consider taking a tour of Portland or the surrounding area during PLA 2010. This year, choose from several different tour options all focusing on various aspects of Portland culture and history.

You can register online here, or click here to download a PDF registration form.

Day Tour Time Cost

Tuesday, March 23 Explore Cannon Beach 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. $ 56

Tuesday, March 23 Maritime Adventure 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. $ 81

Tuesday, March 23 Wine Tasting Adventure 12:30 - 5:30 p.m. $ 78

Tuesday, March 23 Gorge Waterfall Adventure 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. $ 44

Tuesday, March 23 Portland Highlights Tour 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. $ 60

Wednesday, March 24 Columbia River Gorge Highlights 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $ 47

Wednesday, March 24 Mt. Hood & Timberline Lodge Adventure 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. $ 78

Wednesday, March 24 Portland Highlights Tour 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. $ 60

Wednesday, March 24 Art Trek in the Pearl District 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. $ 51

Saturday, March 27 Portland Highlights Tour 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. $ 60

Saturday, March 27 Gorge Waterfall Adventure 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. $ 44

Saturday, March 27 Portland Garden Lover's Tour 1:30 - 6:00 p.m. $ 65

Tour Descriptions

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Explore Cannon Beach

On this full day tour, guests will have the opportunity to spend a day at the scenic Oregon Coast. Travel West through fir forests and the Coastal Mountain Range to Cannon Beach, located at the northern end of the Oregon Coast. This artist's community, often referred to as the "Carmel of the North" was named for the cannons that washed ashore from the wreck of Sloopof- War Shark in 1846. While at Cannon Beach, guests can see the Haystack Rock, the third largest monolith in the World. On the seven-mile stretch of beach, guests can explore tide pools, bird watch, beach comb for sea treasures and revel in the beauty and strength of the Pacific Ocean. In town guests can visit the many art galleries; charming shops and delicious eateries (time will be given for guests to have lunch on their own).

Tuesday Hours: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Price: $56.00 Per Guest

Maritime Adventure

On this exciting tour, guests will travel by motorcoach to the mouth of the Columbia River and Astoria, the oldest American settlement in the West. Here, guests will visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum containing artifacts covering 200 years of Pacific Northwest Maritime history. Guests are able to view exhibits on shipwrecks, fishing, sailing vessels as well as the actual navigation bridge of the WWII destroyer U.S.S Knapp. Guests will be given time to enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants in town and along the wharf. Following lunch, take in a spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the Columbia River, Saddle Mountain and the Pacific Ocean from the Astoria Column, atop 635-foot Coxcomb Hill. Then follow in Lewis & Clark's footsteps with a visit to Ft. Clatsop. Here the Lewis & Clark story is told further through exhibits and audio/visual program at the Park center. This exciting adventure tour is sure to impress every guest!

Tuesday Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Price: $81.00 Per Guest

Wine Tasting Adventure

On this wine tasting adventure, guests will travel past rolling hillsides, picturesque vineyards and tidy orchards. Guests will visit three different wineries each providing delicious wine varieties. Learn even ore about the winemaking process with a guided tour at one of the local wineries. This beautiful scenery and climate is perfect for winemaking and is why Oregon produces some of the best tasting and world-renowned wine in the United States. Guess are sure to enjoy the fruity, earthy and tart tastes during this wine flight tour!

Tuesday Hours: 12:30pm - 5:30pm
Price: $78.00 Per Guest

Gorge Waterfall Adventure

Discover the glory of waterfalls in one of the world's most magnificent landscapes, the Columbia River Gorge. Guests will take a leisurely drive along the Old Columbia Gorge Highway and experience the grandeur of the Gorge with its charming waterfalls and compelling vistas. Feast your eyes on Wahkeena Falls, a Yakima Indian word meaning "most beautiful". Guests will stop at Multnomah Falls, the most spectacular of all waterfalls and the fourth highest in the United States, plummeting 620 feet. Take a short walk up the paved trail to the Simon Benson Bridge or just stand at the base of the falls and revel in its splendor. While at Multnomah Falls, guests will have time to explore the gift shop and interpretive center.

After visiting Multnomah Falls, guests will continue to Horsetail Falls. Gaze up at the 176 foot waterfall before traveling back to Portland along the mighty Columbia River. On the way home, keep an eye out for many seasonal waterfalls.

Tuesday Hours: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Also available Saturday: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Price: $44.00 Per Guest

Portland Highlights Tour

Portland is an intimate city with short blocks, elegant parks, bridges, artwork, numerous fountains, intriguing architecture and fantastic views. This scenic windshield tour travels along Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the Willamette River, through the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District, Chinatown and City Center. Popular sights include the Forecourt Fountain, where 13,000 gallons of water per minute cascade through a series of terraces and platforms, as well as Pioneer Courtyard Square, a public center often referred to as the city's "living room". Guests will also view Portland's Cultural District which houses the Oregon Historical Society, Portland Art Museum and the Portland Center for Performing Arts. From downtown, guests will travel above the city into Washington Park, Council Crest Park and the city's Pittock Mansion, located 1,000 feet above the city. The Pittock Mansion was once the home of pioneers Henry and Georgina Pittock, who's empire included real estate, banking, steamboats, silver mining and sheet ranching. This highlights tour will end with the most exciting experience, a ride on Portland's newest attraction - the Aerial Tram. Guests are able to view Portland from above the city, making for a relaxing way to end the day.

Tuesday Hours: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Saturday: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Wednesday: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Price: $60.00 Per Guest

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Columbia River Gorge Highlights

Experience the grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge, and discover the ecology and history of one of the world's most magnificent landscapes. Travel along the beautiful Columbia River and stop at Multnomah Falls, the fourth highest in the United States. Explore the falls, visit the gift shop and walk across the Simon Benson Bridge offering one of the most amazing views of the falls. Next, guests will continued to Bonneville Dam one of the first eight federal locks and dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers. The Bonneville Dam produces over one million kilowatts, enough to supply the power needs of nearly 500,000 homes a year. Guests will be able to see fish migrating through the underwater fishways, as well as find out how ships navigate through the water before heading back.

Wednesday Hours: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Price: $47.00 Per Guest

Portland Highlights Tour

Wednesday Hours: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Also available Tuesday: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Saturday: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Price: $60.00 Per Guest

Art Trek in the Pearl District

Uncover hidden treasures in the Pearl District on this art tour. The Pearl District is Portland's premier art area. Discover the magnificent outdoor art installations that "animate the Portland landscape and contribute to the city's infectious vitality". Guests will visit the Museum of Contemporary Craft where a docent will share the Northwest's rich craft history. While at the Museum of Contemporary Craft, guests will view over 1,000 objects that reflect the area's most important artist's work in glass, metal, fiber and wood. Afterwards, guests will explore the nearby galleries and enjoy lunch on their own at one of the area's gems!

Wednesday Hours: 9:30am - 1:30pm
Price: $51.00 Per Guest

Mt. Hood & Timberline Lodge Adventure

Capture the Northwest Pioneer and Native American spirit of adventure as guests travel through the snow-capped Mt. Hood. The tour guide will share in the area's rich history as the coach travels through several small Oregon towns, into the Mt. Hood National Forest, along peaceful trout streams and through a magnificent forest of evergreens. The coach will ascend to the 6,000 foot level of Mt. Hood to what is considered the grandest example of Cascadian architecture, Timberline Lodge. Offering spectacular views of Mt. Jefferson and the Cascade Mountain Range, Timberline Lodge is inspired by pioneer, Indian and wildlife themes. Built during the Great Depression, Timberline Lodge is made from hand-hewn beams and hand-woven draperies. Guests will be given boxed lunches to enjoy on the way home from Timberline Lodge.

Wednesday Hours: 8:00am - 1:30pm
Price: $78.00 Per Guest

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Portland Highlights Tour

Saturday Hours: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Tuesday: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Wednesday: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Price: $60.00 Per Guest

Gorge Waterfall Adventure

Saturday Hours: 1:30pm - 5:30pm
Also available Tuesday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Price: $44.00 Per Guest

Portland Garden Lover's Tour

This tour explores two of Portland's world-class gardens, as well as Beverly Cleary's Neighborhood and Sculpture Garden. Discover the Classical Chinese Garden, the largest Suzhou-style garden outside of China! Located in the heart of downtown Portland, the Classical Chinese Garden is 40,000 square feet and offers elegant pavilions, ponds and arched bridges. Travel above the city to Washington Park and feast your eyes on the beautiful 5.5 acre Japanese Gardens, considered one of the most authentic outside of Japan. The Japanese Gardens features strolling ponds, natural sand and stone and Flat Gardens which are influenced by Buddhist philosophies. The last stop on this tour will be the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden. This famous author of "Ramona" and "Henry Huggins" has immortalized her characters in bronze for guests to enjoy for years to come!

Saturday Hours: 1:30pm - 6:00pm
Price: $65.00 Per Guest