Stretching the length of downtown Portland, Oregon, Waterfront Park is a 29-acre green corridor with a wide, paved walkway for strolling, biking, people-watching or just relaxing on one of the many park benches looking over the water. Downtown Portland office workers take lunch walks here, while joggers, couples and families with baby carriages flock to the park on weekends. Salmon Street Springs, a fountain at the end of Southwest Salmon Street, is a highlight of the park, especially in the summer when children come to splash in the dancing jets of water. Waterfront Park is also a busy event site, beginning with the huge Cinco de Mayo fiesta in May and the city’s signature Rose Festival in early June. Wine, food and art festivals take turns throughout the warm months, leading up to a free outdoor Oregon Symphony concert each year in late summer.
For a perfectly lovely stroll – or bike ride – along Portland's downtown waterfront, follow the promenade in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park north, past the Portland Saturday Market to the historic Steel Bridge. On the lower deck of the bridge, visitors will discover a bicycle/pedestrian crossing that links the downtown side of the Willamette River to Portland's new Eastbank Esplanade. This 1.5-mile pedestrian/cycling trail offers a great view of the city skyline and features a 1,200 foot floating walkway as well as easy access to four of the bridges that cross the Willamette River. Crossing the hundred year old Hawthorne Bridge over the river will get you back to Waterfront Park.
To get a different perspective of Portland, Oregon – get on the river! If you like the wind in your hair and aren’t afraid of a little speed, hop aboard the Willamette Jet boats. Enjoy the area’s sights, history and scenic beauty while experiencing the fun and excitement found only in a jet boat. See giant ships, bridges, elegant riverfront homes, historic Oregon City and the majestic Willamette Falls.
The Portland Spirit (a large cruising vessel) is a more tame approach…or at least a different speed. Daily lunch and dinner cruises offer a perfect opportunity to surround yourself with unmatched views of the Portland skyline. Freshly prepared cuisine, full-service bars and live entertainment complete a river experience unlike any other.
Whether from the Esplanade or from the river itself, you’ll see Downtown Portland in new ways each time you go. The different seasons, exciting events, and bustle of everyday life make the Waterfront a new adventure each time you visit!
When our kids were younger we would bike as a family from Willamette Park all the way through John's Landing and down to the Riverplace Marina for lunch. This is a fun, safe trek and there is a lot of activity to watch in the form of people, pleasure boats, kayaks, dragon boats, jet skis and so on. This is a very active waterfront. If you time it right you can even catch an outdoor concert. Make sure you pick a sunny day for the best experience.
www.downtownportland.org
www.travelportland.com
www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com
www.rosefestival.org
www.willamettejet.com
www.portlandspirit.com |
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