Once upon a time, Portland, Oregon was considered a budget destination. Yet as its stature has grown, costs have, too – and today it’s easy to splurge at the city’s fabulous restaurants, hotels and boutiques.
Luckily, there are still plenty of free (or almost-free) things to do here, and most of them don’t require much if any advance planning. Here are 10 of my favorites.
The west bank of the Willamette River that runs through Portland has Tom McCall Waterfront Park –and the east bank has the Esplanade. This paved 1.5-mile path gives you a lovely panoramic view of downtown Portland’s distinctive skyline, from the West Hills to the Burnside and Hawthorne Bridges. Dotted with sculptures and other artworks, the Eastbank Esplanade is a great spot to wander with a cup of coffee to go or to pedal along by bicycle. Among other things, you’ll pass by the USS Blueback, a former navy submarine.
Local tip: If you continue south on the esplanade path, you reach pedestrian- and bicycle-only Tilikum Crossing Bridge, great for nighttime photos. The path continues southward as Springwater Corridor for about 3 miles to Sellwood, where you can cross a bridge to make a nice loop.
This dormant volcano in Southeast Portland, now a city park, draws hikers and joggers to its trails – and it truly shines in the golden hour. Hike up to the hilltop around twilight and you’ll have the makings of a postcard-perfect (or Insta-worthy) sunset shot of the glittering city framed by giant trees. Strategically placed benches let you bide your time as you wait for just the right light.
Local tip: Climb uphill via two sets of narrow stairs starting at SE 60th Ave, then past the reservoirs, for the best vantage point. Bonus: you’ll have gotten in your cardio for the day.
Yes, Powell’s City of Books is technically a store, and thus stays in business thanks to paying customers. Yet at this emporium – whose downtown location takes up a whole city block and has multiple themed rooms – browsing for hours is encouraged, with no purchase required. (Though that well-loved paperback will sure be tempting.) In the evenings, you might catch a reading (also free) by a new or best-selling author visiting the Pearl Room.
Whether you’re here for the art, the outfits, the crowd or (let’s be honest) the free wine, First Thursdays are the best time to take a wander through the galleries of the Pearl District. Streets are closed off, local musicians perform and artists hang around to talk about the work on display, providing a priceless ambiance that’s open to all.
While you’re in art-appreciation mode, stop by the Portland Art Museum, where admission is free from 10am to 7pm on First Thursdays.
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I'm driving bleary-eyed from Los Angeles to the vineyards north of Santa Barbara when I decide to roll the windows down and turn up the Dead, winding my way up the Pacific Coast Highway and into the slotted canyons of the Saint Ynez Valley. My exhaustion isn't due to overindulgence the night prior, though. It's because of a 4 a.m. wake up call to catch my flight from the East Coast—all so I could get myself to Buellton.
The holiday season is nearly upon us, which means it's time to book those flights to see your parents, in-laws, siblings, family, friends, or even that solo getaway you so desperately need at the end of the year. But before you do, make sure to consider all your flight options because some airports are simply better than others for holiday travelers. To help you find the right ones, MarketWatch conducted a survey of 3,000 Americans to learn more about their holiday travel habits. The team found that 61 percent of respondents plan to travel this holiday season, 36 percent intend to fly for the holidays, and they expect to pay an average of $1,869 on holiday air travel.
A getaway to warmer weather just got easier and cheaper.Avelo Airlines recently announced four new routes from the Orlando, FL area, and is celebrating with $46 fares. With the expansion of new routes, Avelo will be opening a new crew base at Lakeland International Airport, which is one hour and 15 minutes south of Orlando Airport, and one hour east of Tampa Airport, making it an alternative option for passengers visiting each of the two major Florida cities. From Lakeland, Avelo will launch service to Rochester, NY, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Concord, NC (which is near Charlotte, NC) and Manchester, NH (which is near Boston, MA). The low-cost carrier operates its flights from regional airports that are adjacent to major cities, which explains the Manchester and Concord airport options. Each new route will operate twice weekly, and Avelo states they are the only airline to operate direct service between each of the markets.
It’s a season of savings for travelers seeking flight deals.Spirit Airlines has dozens of flight deals with one-way fares under $50 to popular destinations including Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, and more. The lowest price spotted in the promotion was just $11, for a flight from Las Vegas, NV to Sacramento, CA. The airline also has a variety of $20 flights including Dallas, TX to Atlanta, or Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas. The deals are listed on the “Popular Flight Deals” within Spirit’s website.
Saying that American Airlines mistreated disabled air travelers who use wheelchairs, the U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday announced a $50 million fine against the carrier. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the agency’s penalty the highest ever levied against an airline for violating protections for fliers with disabilities.
Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will roll out a brand new system that will allow guests to join a Lightning Lane queue without a reservation — but it'll cost you.The Lightning Lane Premier Pass will use dynamic pricing based on demand and date of visit. Prices will also vary by theme park and are expected to range from $129 to $449 per person, per day — with the highest prices will occur during peak travel periods, like Christmas and New Year’s. Those eligible can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to seven days before their date of check-in at 7:00 AM ET and for their entire length of stay, up to 14 days. The pass can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app.
The 70 miles of California coastline that makes up the unincorporated area of Big Sur has a storied, almost mystical allure, largely thanks to its staggering beauty. With redwood forests, stunning Pacific views, winding rivers and natural hot springs, the area has for decades attracted celebrities, artists and millions of visitors. So many visitors in fact, that these days, Kirk Gafill, the president of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce, estimates that 90 percent of the local economy is tourism-dependent.