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Any pacific northwesters out there?
Jeff and I are going to Portland in August for my mom's wedding, and we want to make a little trip out of it. We're considering flying into/out of Seattle and spending time there (and taking the Amtrak to Portland), or just spending the whole time in Portland. Anyone have any suggestions for things we could do while there? Any particularly awesome restaurants worth trying? A vote for Seattle vs Portland?
I've never actually been to Seattle, and flights are cheaper there so we're giving it some heavy consideration, but obviously PDX would be easier and would require booking at only one hotel. OTOH, being in Seattle for a bit would physically separate us from my family and give us alone time, where we can enjoy our trip without feeling obligated to hang out with anyone. The activities in one city vs the other may sway our choice.
Re: Any pacific northwesters out there?
I am not a pacific northwestern nor have I ever even been there but I have always wanted to go to Seattle so I will vote anyway to go to Seattle and spend some QT time just the 2 of you.
Sorry but I'm not from Portland or Seattle, nor have I been there but I've always wanted to go to Seattle. DH's aunt just moved about 45 mins from Seattle so we might go visit her in the near future.
My aunt has been to both and she loved it. They have great wineries and seafood. Sorry if I'm not much help.
I've never been to Seattle but Portland many times.
I think Portland is beautiful and has a lot to offer but it's really full of hipsters that can get overwhelming here's, IMO an accurate portrayal of PDXers
http://www.hulu.com/portlandia
Everyone I know that has been to Seattle loves it, you can go to Pikes Place and see the fish market AND the original Starbucks. If you have any additional time you can take a ferry to the beautiful outlaying islands. If you go, say hi to Derek and Meridith for me.
I've been to and enjoyed both (on different trips) Portland and Seattle, but there was much more to do in Seattle.
H and I went to Seattle as our first little trip away, and did it for a 3-day weekend. Museums, outdoor sculpture museum, ferry to whatever island that is that is close and we walked around for a few hours, and just general walking around. We stayed at the Hotel Max in Seattle; got a deal through Orbitz or something. It billed itself as an 'adult' hotel, and we didn't really know what that meant. Um, there was a dildo in the mini bar, y'all. Ick! But otherwise it was pretty and modern and conveniently located.
I do have a few restaurant recs in Seattle from my wino friends, but I've got to look at Gmail at home (can't access at work), so I'll update later. There was one French place that was amazing. We had dinner reservations but H's douchey friend who lives in Seattle told us an hour before that he was bringing 3 friends, and they couldn't accommodate the larger group, so we went for breakfast instead. It was so freaking good, and totally reasonable.
For Portland, I went with ex-bf, and have another restaurant rec for good but really really cheap food - I'll have to look it up online as well. They serve wine in little jelly glasses, and have really eclectic art on the walls. And they serve you a heaping bowl of yummy pasta for cheap. It is, however, under a freeway.
For fun in Portland, we went to this rose garden thing you can walk around, and to the original Powell's books, which ex-bf realized was like Mecca for me, and to the flea market downtown, where I got this little mosaic mirror that I still have.
ETA: Derr, I meant to say that since you obvs have to to go Portland, I think it's good to add Seattle to your itinerary, because there's lots of cool stuff to do, and it's worthwhile since you'll already be so close.
Okay, so the Portland restaurant we went to is Le Bistro Montage, or just Montage. The menu and online say it's actually creole, which makes sense because the bf had only recently moved from Atlanta, and he really liked Southern food. Anyway, it was good! Read the reviews, though, because it might not be your kind of place. It apparently has communal seating, but we must not have been near anyone, because I don't remember that.
http://www.montageportland.com/default.aspx
Annnnd, now Seattle:
These two we went to, and highly recommend. The other restaurants we actually went to were nothing special. One night it was an Irish pub, per the request of the douchey friend who crashed with 3 extra buddies. Urgh.
Le Pichet - this is the amazing place we just loved. Seriously, we got this simple poached egg, gruyere cheese and ham dish that we loved so much we figured out how to recreate it.
Maximilien - this is actually in Pike Place Market, and if I recall correctly had a great view of the water, as it was on the far inside of the market. We had an amazing meal here, some Sunday (I think?) fixe prix menu that was so, so good.
These two were recs from my wino/foodie friend, but we couldn't make it to them because of time constraints due to meeting up with the douche:
Dahlia Lounge - wood burning grill, friend said this was his #2, after Le Pichet, and they have a bakery next door with great sweets.
Lola - sister restaurant to Dahlia Lounge, apparently across the street, mediterranean style.
Thanks so much, especially MushE!! I'm going to share the recs with Jeff. I have been to the rose garden in Portland, and now my mom is considering getting married there instead of her backyard. I'm thinking it might be booked, though - she doesn't seem to realize how little time she has and how much planning would be involved in that, she just thinks it would be a nice idea.
Jeff and I are big foodies and HUGE Starbucks junkies, so we may just have to go visit the original!