Best Bets

Portland Spirit Explore the Willamette’s magnificent waterways aboard Portland’s only luxury cruise dining ship, the PORTLAND SPIRIT. Enjoy a Brunch or Lunch cruise, a romantic Dinner cruise, or a sightseeing excursion. A MUST FOR ALL VISITORS. For reservations call 503-224-3900. www.portlandspirit.com

Portland Saturday Market Stroll down row upon row of handmade arts and crafts in the nation’s largest open-air arts market. Open every weekend March through Christmas Eve. Sat./10-5, Sun./11-4:30. Smart Park validation or Tri-Met ticket w/$25 purchase. SW Ankeny & Naito Pkwy. 503-222-6072. www.PortlandSaturdayMarket.com

Oregon zoo Visit the plains of Africa, the flooded forest of the Amazon, the rocky coast of Peru and the crest of the Cascade Mountains… all in a day. An innovative zoo in a beautiful setting. Open daily at 9am. 5 minutes from downtown Portland off Hwy 26 West, or take MAX. 503-226-1561. www.oregonzoo.org

Old Town Pizza Portland’s Haunted Pizzeria Legend has it ghosts haunt this award-winning turn-of-the-century pizzeria. During the early 1900s, hundreds were kidnapped and enslaved through trap doors from the Shanghai Tunnels below. Visitors include Rachael Ray’s Tasty Travels and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. ‘An icon, a must, something to check off your To Experience Before You Die List’ says PortlandPicks. 226 NW Davis (NW 2nd & Davis). 503-222-9999. www.oldtownpizza.com

Portland Japanese Garden Five garden styles on 5.5 acres of tranquil beauty. Open daily. (Apr. 1 – Sept. 30: 10-7; Oct. 1 – Mar. 31: 10-4; Mondays, open at Noon.) 611 SW Kingston Ave. www.japanesegarden.com. Gift Store: 503-223-5055.

Portland Children’s Museum Hands-on exhibits, performances, arts and crafts, stories and music for kids age 10 and under, and their grown-ups. Hours & schedule of activities at 503-223-6500 or portlandcm.org

World Forestry Center – Discovery Museum Located in Portland’s beautiful Washington Park. The Discovery Museum has hands-on, interactive exhibits that are fun for the whole family. Explore the beauty and benefits of our world’s forests. You can raft Class IV rapids without getting wet, try your skill at smokejumping, explore under the forest floor, and visit the forests of Russia, China, South Africa, and Brazil. Unique items in the gift store, many made in Oregon. 503-228-1367. www.worldforestry.org. Take MAX right to our front door.

Jake’s Famous Crawfish has been a downtown Portland Landmark for more than 100 years, considered one of the top ten seafood restaurants in the nation, featuring menus printed twice daily. In addition to serving the freshest seafood in a timeless setting, the restaurant features a lively bar offering hand-shaken cocktails with fresh-squeezed juices. 401 SW 12th Avenue at Stark Street. 503-226-1419.

THE REAL MOTHER GOOSE Fine American Craft. 1,000 artists & 2 Portland locations showcasing jewelry, glass, ceramic, wood, furniture, wearable art & more. Celebrating 41 years, this award-winning gallery is located on both the MAX and Trolley lines with parking above. 9th & SW Yamhill. 503-223-9510. www.therealmothergoose.com

Pittock mansion Nestled high in the West Hills, Pittock Mansion soars 1000 feet above the city’s skyline. Surrounded by 46 acres of natural beauty, no other place in town offers a more breathtaking view and revealing glimpse of Portland’s past. Two miles west of downtown off West Burnside at 3229 NW Pittock Drive. Closed January.

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) OMSI is 219,000 square feet of brain-powered fun! Five enormous halls bring science to life with hundreds of interactive exhibits and displays. You can experience an earthquake, participate in lab demos, enjoy a film in the OMNIMAX Dome Theater, explore the universe in a world-class planetarium, tour a real submarine and dine at Theory, where you can learn about the science of food! 1945 SE Water Ave. 503-797-4000. www.omsi.edu

THE PEARL DISTRICT is Portland’s premier destination for shopping, dining, furnishings, art, culture and more! Voted the most walkable neighborhood in Oregon, the Pearl District is safe and easy to navigate. There’s something to do all year around for families, art enthusiasts, romantic couples and tourists with great places to see and dozens of events/activities to enjoy. Considered one of the nation’s preeminent examples of urban renewal! Learn more at ExploreThePearl.com

HOYT REALTY GROUP Experts in Urban living. We know the Pearl District like no one else. Representing the largest Pearl District Developer since 1998. 503-227-2000. Liveinthepearl.com

THE DAPPER FROG is a glass lover’s paradise with one of the best displays of art glass in the NW, plus sculpture, jewelry & fine ceramics for every budget. 915 NW Davis St. 503-224-4000. www.DapperFrog.com

PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET Discover why the Portland area is celebrated for its agricultural bounty as you fill up your market basket with farm fresh produce, sparkling seafood, pastured meats, farmstead cheeses, artisan baked goods, boutique wines, colorful flowers and more. Shop local year-round at one of 7 open-air markets throughout the city. For more info, visit www.portlandfarmersmarket.org or call 503-241-0032

Finnegan’s Toys A Portland icon in a new location! Bursting at the seams with classic, contemporary and weird toys and gifts for kids and adults. We wrap/ship. Find us at 820 SW Washington. 503-221-0306.

SAINT CUPCAKE GALORE Cupcakes, cookies & cinnamon rolls, coffee & a sweet array of delectable delights handmade and baked to perfection from scratch with all natural ingredients. This onestop shop for all around goodness satisfies cravings of any kind, any time. SW 12th & Morrison 503-473-8760. saintcupcake.com

DRAGONWELL BISTRO Fine dining Chinese cuisine in a modern upscale atmosphere. Happy hour starts at 3pm weekdays. Homemade menu items, full bar with specialty cocktails, local wine, exceptional sake, and premium Chinese tea. A staple in downtown for over 10 years. Free Wi-Fi. Located at SW 1st and Yamhill, conveniently next to Yamhill District Max Station. 503-224-0800. www.dragonwellbistro.com

Portland Aerial Tram Everyone agrees; no visit to Portland would be complete without a ride on the Aerial Tram! Linking Portland Streetcar & South Waterfront to Marquam Hill and OHSU, this uncommon form of public transportation climbs 500 feet above Portland. Hop on for great fun and unbeatable views! www.portlandtram.org.

TARTBERRY SELF-SERVE FROZEN YOGURT Where “Kindness and Laughter Translate in Any Language.” Located in the heart of Portland’s Restaurant and Cultural District and on the PSU Campus, featuring 15 rotating YoCream flavors and over 100 different toppings of fresh cut fruit, chocolates and assorted sundries. Make it your way; weigh and pay by the ounce. Create Your Own Masterpiece! Upbeat and fun. Open late 7 days. Downtown 915 SW 9th Ave, 503-295-2700, and PSU Campus 536 SW College St., 503-241-3700. facebook.com/tartberryfroyo

GRAPE ESCAPE winery tours Escape with us to the beautiful Oregon Wine Country… or our tres hip Urban Wine Country… right here in Portland. We’ll pick you up downtown, then our esteemed ‘escape artist’ will host you at select wineries, sharing fun info, matching food to wine and more. We offer Joinable Tours on Fridays and Saturdays from Spring to Fall. We also offer Private Tours matching wineries to you throughout the year. View our website www.grapeescapetours.com for details, or call us at 503-283-3380 to secure your space. Grape Escape… 19 years and running!

Gray Line of Portland – Gray Line Tours Big Pink Sightseeing This is the best way to see Portland and its premier attractions. The narrated Hop-On/Hop-Off tours depart from Pioneer Courthouse Square on the hour from June to September starting at 10:00 AM and include 11 Hop-On/Hop-Off stops. Buy your tickets at any stop. We also have daily tours to Multnomah Falls/Columbia River Gorge or Astoria. Call 503-241-7373, or visit www.graylineofportland.com

MOTHER’S BISTRO & BAR Willamette Week’s ‘restaurant of the year’, Mother’s serves comfort food classics made from scratch, perfected in the hands of four star restaurant-trained chef Lisa Schroeder. With melt-in-your-mouth biscuits, pot roast, chicken & dumplings and a decadent, different marcaroni & cheese daily, home cooking is elevated to high art for breakfast, lunch & dinner. 212 SW Stark. 503-464-1122. www.mothersbistro.com