So Amir and I are going to be in Seattle on August 8th for the Metallica concert, let's all
I know the Portland area so much better than Seattle so I would recommend...
- Multnomah Falls - it's a tourist must, but then after you stop there drive up to Cascade Locks and cross over to Washington on the Bridge of the Gods, head back towards Portland on Hwy 14 and stop at Beacon Rock. I think you have to pay $5 to park there, but you walk a mile up this gigantic rock right on the river and it's the most amazing 360 degree view.
- Powell's bookstore - the city of books. You will get lost.
- Doug fir lounge - my favorite place to see bands I've never heard of. They have shows almost every night
- car shows! Wednesday evenings at the Portland international raceway is a huge show with classic cars, drag racing, live music. Saturday mornings is cars and coffee at the world of speed museum. And Sunday nights is the red door meet, which is the most eclectic collection of cars... ricers, low riders, custom one of a kind stuff, lifted trucks... you name it.
- strip clubs - casa diablo is a vegan club, dancin bare is a dive, club rouge is kinda fancy, Mary's is the oldest club in Portland and fucking sketch but awesome, and acropolis has the best $6 steaks you can find.
- other night life - let me know what you're into and I can give you some recommendations
- beer - if you're going to be in Portland on the 7th or 9th let me know, I want to take amir on one of those brewcycle tours but need a group to do it
- Fort Vancouver - one of the most underrated places in the Portland area, especially if you're into history. It's a park with buildings ranging from the fur trading days to WWII. It's beautiful and a lovely place to walk around, you can also tour the Marshall House (built for George C Marshall of the Marshall Plan fame) and you can eat at the Grant House (built for Ulysses S Grant).
- kayaking - August is such a great time for kayaking, and I know a couple places that rent kayaks for good prices. One is on Lake River in Ridgefield, the river is a pretty easy one and goes through a wildlife refuge so it's pretty cool to keep an eye out for critters. They also give 5/7 lessons if you haven't kayaked before.
- other outdoorsy stuff - moulton falls is gorgeous and not well known to tourists. Mt. St. Helens is totally awesome and worth exploring, if you want to do the ape caves (you should) I can lend you some flashlights. Timberline lodge on Mt Hood is awesome, plenty of summer hiking in the area. If you're willing to drive a bit and stay in bend (another awesome city), the deschutes has some of the best white water rafting.
- museums - OMSI science museum is always a good time, Portland art museum, out in McMinnville is an aviation museum where they have the spruce goose.