Portland City Tour: Views and News (Our Best Selling Tour!)
Description
Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or simply looking to explore the city's sights, this tour promises an enjoyable overview of Portland's unique charm. As you drive through historic districts, your guide will provide fascinating commentary on Portland's evolution from a dense forest, to rugged pioneer "Stumptown," to the lively tourist destination it is today. One of the highlights of the tour is a visit to the historic Pittock Acres, where you can admire the beautiful landscape and catch a magnificent view of Mt. Hood. Another not-to-be-missed stop is the International Rose Test Garden, home to over 300 colorful varieties of roses, offering a sensory experience unlike any other. We will cross the Willamette River on an iconic bridge, then explore unique east side locations beloved by locals. No matter the route, you'll witness both historic and emerging neighborhoods, a testament to Portland's rich heritage, architectural diversity, and continual evolution.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will tour the grounds, hear the history, and take in the spectacular view.
Get a taste of Washington Park on the way to the International Test Rose Garden. Washington Park has a zoo, forestry museum, arboretum, Japanese garden, amphitheatre, memorials, archery range, tennis courts, soccer field, picnic areas, playgrounds, public art and many acres of wild forest with miles of trails.
Let's stop and smell the roses - more than 10,000 when they're in bloom! Even out of season, this is a beautiful stop with a wondrous view!
Pass through Old Town on your tour of downtown Portland, and hear the history of the city's rough and tumble beginnings.
We will pass through and learn about Portland's famous shopping district, as well as Old Chinatown, the cultural district, and the government district.
See the largest bookstore in the world, with approximately one million books.
We will drive along this historic park and hear the fascinating history of its origin.
(Possibly on itinerary, depending on guide and weather) One of twelve Portland bridges that crosses the Willamette River, the Hawthorne Bridge is a truss bridge with a vertical lift. It is the oldest vertical-lift bridge in operation in the United States.
(Possibly on itinerary, depending on guide and weather) This is another location with interesting history and an amazing view of the city.
(Possibly on itinerary, depending on guide and weather) This offbeat hotel in a restored 1915 elementary school. Quirky, artisan decorated.
(Possibly on itinerary, depending on guide and weather) Named because of the epic bridge towering above, Cathedral Park is steeped in history. It is believed to be one of the 14 Lewis and Clark landing sites in the Vancouver-Portland area. This spot had been a fishing and camping site for many area Indian tribes. In 1931, the St Johns Bridge was built on the site with 400-ft towers and a main span of 1,207 feet. It is the only steel suspension bridge in Portland.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The remaining hours are for travel time and for passing by in a different location.
Reviews(249)
I found the tour to be very informative. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about Portland. I thought it was a good value for the money.
Eric was great. Even though I had seen most of the sights, my family had not. Good info, fun facts. I have been to many of the eating places he recommended and he was spot on. Highly recommend even if you think you know Portland!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re glad Eric’s fun facts and local dining recommendations impressed even a longtime Portland visitor.
This was a small group in a van. Damon, our guide spent the whole 3+ hour tour giving us a history and current info on each of the Portland neighborhoods we traveled through or stopped at. We have lived in Portland suburbs for 50+years, but we don’t get into the city very often. This was a great tour for us to get reacquainted with Portland, and to see it from a tourist perspective. The other 4 people in our group were all from the east coast, and summer in Oregon is a nice break from the heat and humidity of their current weather. It would have been the perfect day for a Portland tour if not for the haze from wild fires. My spouse and I have taken a few tours this summer of “our city” and this was the best so far. Learned a lot, caught up on changes to the city, and loved that this tour covers all of the inner city and the burbs. This is the perfect time of year for tourists to see Portland. Thanks Damon.
Thank you for exploring Portland with us! We’re delighted Damon helped you reconnect with the city, discover what has changed, and enjoy a fresh perspective on your longtime home.
Excellent tour. Damon was engaging, knowledgeable. Interesting highlights and history of each area visited. Highly recommend.
Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad Damon’s knowledge and engaging storytelling made the tour memorable.
Eric was a great tour guide and told us about all the amazing places to eat and get coffee and donuts around the city. Highly recommend!
Thank you! We’re delighted Eric shared so many helpful recommendations for Portland’s food, coffee, and doughnut scene.
Our tour guide, Damon, was just great! He was funny, informative and knew so much about every neighborhood in the city. I really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more or learn what it where they might want to revisit.
Thank you for the wonderful recommendation! We’re glad Damon’s humor and neighborhood knowledge helped you discover places you would like to revisit.
Eric was a fantastic guide. So knowledgeable about all things Portland and especially food options. We got to a lot of locations all over the city so we knew where to go afterwards on our own. We liked the history and loved the Rose Gardens stop.
Thank you for joining us! We’re delighted Eric helped you experience so much of Portland and provided useful ideas for exploring on your own afterward.
The tour was very interesting, history packed, comfortable and not rushed! Damon answered all our questions and gave us great information. We enjoyed to tour very much.
Thank you! We’re so glad you found Damon’s tour informative, comfortable, and unhurried. We appreciate your kind feedback.
Excellent tour. Great overview of the area. Guide/driver Eric was very pleasant and a fountain of information.
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re glad Eric provided an enjoyable overview of Portland and plenty of helpful information.
It was interesting. The tour guide was knowledgeable and very helpful. He was always checking in to see if we were having a positive experience. I would do another tour with him.
Thank you! We’re delighted your guide’s knowledge, helpfulness, and attentiveness made the experience so positive. We would love to welcome you on another tour.
