I can hike around 4 mph with breaks, and may be with a group going slower at some points. I am considering renting a bike for a day and exploring, is that a solid idea/where should i bike and walk around and where should i take the public transport system? bars, shows next week, radio station recommendations, and anything you want to share would be appreciated.If you are going to the beach and plan to stay overnight the Sou'wester is a fun place to stay. It's a bit of a drive. POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS is the largest new/used book store in the world. If you like books you should go. Right around the corner from Powell's is my favorite coffee shop Courier Coffee. Multnomah Falls offers some easy hikes and beautiful scenery. Forrest Park is one the nations largest urban forests. You can take public transportation (MAX train) to the park and check out the rose or Japanese gardens if that's your bag. The Chinese garden downtown is also popular. There are some good hikes and an arboretum. Eat at some food carts! There are a ton of food carts and there must be something you'll like. I think most of the big festivals have already happened this summer but there must be things going on. Most the things on my schedule are small neighborhood things and I don't know what's happening outside my neighborhood. I'm so far outside the loop on bars and shows anymore I really can't help you on that front. My favorite place to drink is at Krugers Beer Porch, a fantastic cart complex with a good tap selection in out of the way North Portland.
Mount Tabor Go to the coast (Cannon Beach) and rent a surfboard In the SE check out Hawthorne, Clinton, Division, and Belmont Sts In the NE check out Alberta and Mississippi Sts Smoke a lot of weed and drink mead at Skidmore Bluffs If you're there on a Monday go to Colonel Sumners park in the evening for Monday Funday Watch a show at The Goodfoot (free on Tuesdays)
I'm a big fan of the Japanese garden, which cgod mentioned. And Powell's should be seen whether you like books or not, because it's a spectacle. Portland's public transportation system is pretty strong. I advocate against the bike unless you really wanna go for a bike ride; it's much easier to take Lyft and not have to worry about what to do with a bike. That said, I ride a bike 150 miles a week so I understand the impulse.
The Alberta Arts district is some fantastic fun, and totally walkable. It is east of I5 in the northeast corner of Portland. Alberta street is an east-west street that crosses I5. By 19th Street, you will be deep into the Arts area, and will be surrounded by groovy cafes, galleries, clothing shops, music stores, and bars. The Nest is my favorite dive bar in Alberta Arts, and its back yard connects directly to my best friend's house. (The purple one. Home of Rose City Vaudeville and First Thursday's art walk and fire performances.) OMSI is a great museum. And - if you are into that kind of thing - Devil's Point and Mary's Club are two of the most fun strip bars anywhere in the world. Not dirty or sleazy... just good sexy fun, and the girls and patrons are having a blast.
I don't drink, so I can't speak to the wine, but my friends and I did wine country about an hour out of Portland and the experience was really nice. Ditto what cgod said about food carts - Portland has a great scene (in my limited experience). Portland basically has great parks, a great downtown, great nature and hiking, friendly and wacky people... I love it there. I've haven't done the Oregon coast since I was kid, but people seem to love it.