Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour
10 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4 p.m.
Start at DIRECTOR PARK
Our downtown Portland, Oregon walking 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, it’s most complicated and conflicted, as well. In an ever-changing world we continuously change the story of the city. We walk about 2 miles/3 km.
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.
Must be able to walk 1-2 miles
Options
The soul of the city
The soul of the city
What's included in Intro to Portland Small Group Walking Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Director Park
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.
South Park Blocks
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.
The Portland Building
From cast iron-fronted buildings to the grandly disastrous post-modern Portland Building, we trace our history through architectural choices our city planners made.
Inclusions
- Certified Guide
- Gratuities (always appreciated)
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- DIRECTOR PARK, 815 SW Park Ave, diagonally across Yamhill Street from Nordstrom and across from the Elephants Deli. We'll meet you near the paved fountain on the north end of the park, the NE corner of the park.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
You only need to provide the traveler’s name upon meeting your guide. Please note that we cannot wait more than five minutes for late arrivals and we cannot contact the guide after they depart from the tour start location.
