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Day and Weekend Trips

Portland is in a great location to explore! Students can go on exciting day and weekend trips by car or short flights to some of the coolest cities in the US.

Day Trips

New students always want to know about the best places in Portland. PIA has put together some awesome adventures that students can enjoy in the Portland area.

By Bus:

North Portland: St. Johns

  • St. Johns is a quaint neighborhood near PIA’s campus at University of Portland. It has a lot of restaurants, such as the Sparrow Bakery, Cathedral Coffee, Tienda de la Cruz Mexican food, Signal Station pizza, Jamaica House Caribbean food, Urban German Wursthaus, and McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub.
  • St. Johns also has shops and entertainment options like The Fixin’ To, St. Johns Twin Cinema, Blue Moon Camera and Machine, and Wonderwood Mini Golf.
  • Cathedral Park is located under the St. Johns Bridge, a beautiful Gothic-style bridge that crosses the Willamette River at St. Johns.
  • St. Johns is about 35 minutes by bus from downtown Portland or 10 minutes from PIA!

Southeast Portland: Mt. Tabor and the Hawthorne District

  • Mt. Tabor is a volcanic cinder cone that has been turned into a beautiful city park with hiking trails and water reservoirs. Although it is considered a mountain, it is very easy to walk to the top. From the top of Mt. Tabor, there are lovely views of the city.
  • After a mild hike or a picnic under the cherry trees, you can walk west toward the Hawthorne shopping district. There are many great restaurants and shops between SE 42nd and SE 32nd.
  • Shopping recommendations:
    • Grab a snack at New Seasons.
    • Stop off at Blue Star Donuts, rated as one of the best donut shops in the US.
    • Visit the smaller Powell’s Bookstore.
    • Save some money while thrift-store shopping at Buffalo Exchange or Red Light.
    • Find fun treats at gift shops such as Presents of Mind.
  • Entertainment: If you plan ahead, you can catch a musical act at the Hawthorne Theater or a movie at the historic Bagdad Theater. Only four blocks north on Belmont Street, spend some quarters in the Wunderland Games video arcade and see a kid-friendly film for less than $5.
  • By bus, it only takes an 25 minutes to get to the Hawthorne District from downtown Portland.

Northeast Portland: North Mississippi and Alberta Street Districts

day and weekend trips

  • These vibrant art and shopping areas are full of entertainment and activities to fill a day or a night!
  • Start in the Mississippi area for shopping and food. Go to the Rebuilding Center to see a construction recycling center filled with old house parts. Keep walking north to try some yummy food at the vegan food cart of Wolf & Bear’s, or eat at restaurants like Laughing Planet, Gravy, or Mee Sen Thai Eatery. Try out a range of gourmet salts and chocolates at The Meadow. Be sure to have a look around the eerie Paxton Gate, filled with fossils, bones, strange plants, and other oddities.
  • The Alberta arts district starts at NE 14th Street. Bamboo Sushi is a local chain of American-style Japanese food. Then head east to Salt & Straw Ice Cream, where you can try olive oil ice cream and other incredible flavors. As you walk, check out the art galleries and shops such as Monograph Bookwerks and Ampersand Gallery. After dark, check out Alberta’s vibrant nightlife in restaurants and bars.
  • Entertainment: Look for music shows at the Alberta Rose Theater, Mississippi Studios, or Mississippi Pizza. Try some yoga at Blue Sky Wellness or Sun Gate Studios. Check out a movie for under $5 at the Kennedy School, where you can also take a soak in their heated pool.
  • From downtown, you can take a bus for 20 minutes to the intersection of N. Fremont and Albina. Then walk west to Mississippi Ave. and walk north. From N Skidmore Street, you can walk for 35 minutes over to NE Alberta St. and 14th Avenue. From there, walk east along Alberta St. until NE 33rd Avenue.

Northwest Portland: Pittock Mansion, Forest Park, and Washington Park

  • Visit the beautiful 100-year-old mansion of a wealthy family that had a major influence on Oregon’s culture. The unique home was designed and built by local experts using materials from the Pacific Northwest.
  • After Pittock Mansion, take a trail down the hill into Forest Park to explore. If you want a real hike, head south on the Wildwood Trail for 7 miles. You will end up in the Washington Park area. Otherwise, take a bus or MAX train to the Oregon Zoo stop.
  • In Washington Park, explore the various trees of Hoyt Arboretum, the many roses of the International Rose Test Garden, or the Zen beauty of the Japanese Garden. See the wild animals of the Oregon Zoo, or learn about the timber industry at the World Forestry Center.
  • A trip by bus and walking to Pittock Mansion takes about 40 minutes from downtown, while the MAX  to Washington Park takes 11 minutes. A bus and MAX trip between Pittock Mansion and Washington Park takes about an hour.

By Car:

The Woodburn Outlets

  • One of Oregon’s most visited sites, the Woodburn Outlets have 110 stores with great discount prices, sales-tax free! Check out Adidas, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, Coach, North Face, Tommy Hilfiger, Disney, or Columbia for great deals on name brands.
  • Only a 45-minute drive from PIA, it’s easy to visit the Woodburn Outlets after classes (on a light homework day, of course).
  • Check out all the stores here: www.premiumoutlets.com

Columbia River Gorge

  • The Gorge is a delightful and beautiful place. Waterfalls stream out of tall cliffs that are covered in trees and flowers. Try a hike on one of the many trails, or drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway—one of the first scenic highways in the US.
  • Learn more at: columbiariverhighway.com

Coast

  • The Oregon Coast is famous for its beauty and great surfing. Start off in Cannon Beach to see the most famous of the many haystack rocks that line the beaches. Head north to Seaside for a traditional US boardwalk experience in the arcade. Try some seafood in the many restaurants, or go shopping in the galleries and fun stores.
  • The drive to the coast is a little over an hour and a half. A trip to Seaside is only 15 minutes more.
  • Learn more at: visittheoregoncoast.com

Mt. Hood

  • Mt. Hood is the tallest peak in Oregon. In the winter, Mt. Hood offers winter sports such as snowshoeing and skiing. In the summer, students can enjoy hiking, fishing, and camping.
  • Learn more at: http://www.mthood.info/

Weekend Trips

day and weekend trips map

Seattle

  • Seattle is an exciting urban city, surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests in the state of Washington. Some popular sites include Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, the first Starbucks, the Fremont Troll, Kerry Park, and more!
  • It only takes three hours to drive to Seattle from PIA, and it takes less than an hour by plane. Various public transportation options are also available.
  • Want to know more about Seattle? Go to Visit Seattle.

San Francisco

  • San Francisco is in northern California. It is a unique and breathtaking metropolis. Many locations in San Francisco have been used in both US and international movies and TV shows. The Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf are the most popular sightseeing spots.
  • It takes less than two hours to fly from Portland to San Francisco.
  • Want to know more about San Francisco? Go to San Francisco Travel.

Los Angeles

  • Los Angeles is a world-famous city in southern California. There are many places students can visit— Hollywood, Disneyland, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Venice Beach, and more! It is one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the US. It is also where many Hollywood celebrities live.
  • It takes a little over two hours to fly from Portland to Los Angeles.
  • Want to know more about Los Angeles? Go to Discover Los Angeles.

Las Vegas

  • Las Vegas is a fabulous resort town in southern Nevada. It is known for its 24-hour casinos and endless entertainment options. The iconic main street, called the Las Vegas Strip, is just over 4 miles (6.5 km) long. Many elaborate themed hotels are on the Strip. Also, a spectacular circus group, Cirque du Soleil, performs shows all year long.
  • It takes two hours to fly from Portland to Las Vegas.
  • Want to know more about Las Vegas? Go to Las Vegas.com
  • You can also visit Cirque du Soleil to find out about their shows!

British Columbia (BC), Canada

Vancouver

  • From Portland, you can easily visit Vancouver, BC. This ethnically diverse city is near the border with the northwest United States. Although it is a big city, it is surrounded by mountains and attracts many tourists who enjoy outdoor sports all year long.
  • It takes five to six hours to drive to Vancouver from Portland, and it takes a little over one hour by plane. You can also take a bus or ride an Amtrak train.

Victoria

  • Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is a beautiful island with many historic buildings. The city is also known as “The Garden City.” You might feel like you are traveling somewhere in Europe.
  • Want to know more about Vancouver, Victoria, and the rest of Canada? Go to Super, Natural British Columbia, Canada.