Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour
Overview
Start at DIRECTOR PARK
Our downtown Portland, Oregon tours are engaging, well-paced and colorful: the Best of the City! It’s a weird city, but there are stories in every building, park and brick. We’ve organized our city’s best things -- and of course, its most complicated and conflicted, as well. In an ever-changing world we continuously change the story of the city.
Much of Portland’s history can be told through the buildings and street layouts including the prioritization of parks in the city center. It’s not a dry history: full of back-room deals, early deaths and greed; and then there were hippies!
How did Portland become the 1st city on the West Coast with a fine art museum? How did the city's early cultural reputation influence its mid-20th century; and how did it become such a lightning rod for racial justice protests? We'll discuss what was, is, and will be the soul of the city.
We keep groups to no more than 15 for personalization and safety.
Inclusions
- Certified Guide
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Director Park, 815 SW Park Ave, Portland, OR 97205-3084
All tours start at DIRECTOR PARK. We'll meet you in the southeast corner of this urban hardscape park, near the intersection of SW Taylor and SW Park Ave. Our meeting spot is across the street from entrance to the Regal Fox Tower.
Parking is available on the streets nearby or in lots in the adjacent building. The MAX light rail comes just a block away, at the Pioneer Square stop.
Duration: 1 minute
Stop At: South Park Blocks, Southwest Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97201
Much of Portland’s history can be told through the buildings and street layouts; most importantly, the prioritization of parks throughout the city center. We'll walk through the park blocks and learn why they were laid out this way; and what the park blocks' designer didn't do before he died.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: The Portland Building, 1150 Southwest Fifth Ave, Portland, OR 97204
From cast iron-fronted buildings to the grandly disastrous post-modern Portland Building, we trace our history through architectural choices our city planners made.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave Broadway between Morrison and Yamhill, Portland, OR 97204-1410
No tour of downtown Portland, or history of the city's relationships with hippies, would be complete without a visit to Pioneer Courthouse Square. From its past as the center of education to the drive to keep out the "dirty hippies, " we'll learn how and why this square has never been far from the minds of Portlanders and the city's visitors.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
Otniel was very energetic and full of Information. He also had a good sense of humor. He definitely gave us a bit of history about the city and showed us around in the SW part of the downtown area. A very good tour overall.
Otniel was very energetic and full of Information. He also had a good sense of humor. He definitely gave us a bit of history about the city and showed us around in the SW part of the downtown area. A very good tour overall.We had a great time and learned a lot about Portland with the limited time we had in the city. The tour was 2 hours. Rachel is wonderful!
We had a great time and learned a lot about Portland with the limited time we had in the city. The tour was 2 hours. Rachel is wonderful!I had a great time learning about Portland’s history and insights of the development as a city. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Would do it again for sure!!
I had a great time learning about Portland’s history and insights of the development as a city. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Would do it again for sure!!Rachel was everything I wanted in a guide for my first visit to Portland. Knows the city, loves the city, sees the city. I'd sign up for any tour she did.
Rachel was everything I wanted in a guide for my first visit to Portland. Knows the city, loves the city, sees the city. I'd sign up for any tour she did.Rachel was an awesome tour guide filled with interesting and historical stories and tidbits! Highly recommend!
Rachel was an awesome tour guide filled with interesting and historical stories and tidbits! Highly recommend!Wow! What a wonderful tour! My guide Nanci knew so much, and she was able to answer all of my many questions about Portland's history and present. This was my first time in Portland, so this tour was perfect for me. I got a great overview of all the points of interest in town, and it's made i...
Wow! What a wonderful tour! My guide Nanci knew so much, and she was able to answer all of my many questions about Portland's history and present. This was my first time in Portland, so this tour was perfect for me. I got a great overview of all the points of interest in town, and it's made it easy for me to know what I want to visit during the rest of my trip here. There's so many cool little spots and quirky historical facts about this beautiful city that I got to explore during my two hours-- great investment of two hours of my time. If you can get Nanci as your guide, she's great! Sarah with the main office is also very quick to respond if you have any questions about the tour at all-- she got right back to me when I had a question while booking. Great experience all around! High recommend!