Explore Portland

Meet Portland

“No matter what it is you’d like to be, do, eat or drink—even if you’ve never tried it before—You Can, in Portland.”

As host city for the 2019 Global Intergenerational Conference, the city of Portland offers a wealth of diverse intergenerational sites and experiences, plus easy travel and local attractions. Your stay in Portland will be rich in experiences both during and outside of the hours of the conference.

Spotlight on Local Attractions

Be sure to check out some of these sites and experiences recommended by our Host Committee:

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Also known as Portland’s Living Room, Pioneer Courthouse Square is an urban park located in the heart of Downtown Portland. Each year, the Square is host to over 300 events aimed at enriching the environment of the City of Portland. Its neighbors include the Pioneer Courthouse Mall (home to many upscale stores such as Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Michael Kors, along with some Pacific Northwest favorites like Made In Oregon and Bridge City Café), the Pioneer Courthouse, and Director Park (whose amenities include Teachers Fountain, public art space, and a giant chess board). Pioneer Courthouse Square is an easy 2-minute walk from Hilton Portland Downtown.

Washington Park

Washington Park is a pinnacle of Portland culture. The park offers gardens, museums, memorials, a zoo, wilderness, hiking spots, and more. Visit the International Rose Test Garden, home to over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties, where the peak blooming season happens to be in June. After stopping to smell the roses, check out the Oregon Zoo, home to more than 2,000 animals from around the world. Right next door rests the 12-acre Portland Japanese Gardens with eight unique gardenscapes (including the sand and stone garden, natural garden, a strolling pond garden, and a tea garden). Still want more natural landscapes? Hop on over to the Hoyt Arboretum, Portland’s “living classroom.” The Arboretum features 190-acres of more than 1,000 species of plants, 12-miles worth of hiking trails, and exotic trees like the Chilean Monkey Puzzle. Interested in history? Stop by the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, a contemplative and educational monument paying homage to Northwest residents and their family members who lost their lives in the Holocaust. No matter your fancy, Washington Park has it all. Hop on the MAX Red Line or MAX Blue Line for a 15-minute ride from the Hilton Portland Downtown.

Tom McCall Waterfront Park & Trail

Are you a runner? Check out the Tom McCall Waterfront Park & Trail. The riverfront park is a popular place for jogging, in-line skating, biking, and dog-walking. The 1.5 mile (2.4-kilometer) trail along the Willamette River is home to many events like the Portland Rose Festival, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and the Waterfront Blues Festival. Stop by the Park and you might just catch some Navy officers stepping off their ship to spend a few days immersed in city life. The Park and Trail are an easy 10-minute walk from the Hilton Portland Downtown.

Portland Food Culture

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention all the food Portland has to offer. Right across the street from the Hilton Portland Downtown rests the upscale Brazilian Steakhouse, with all-you-can-eat meat carving tableside, seasonal salads, fresh vegetables, imported cheese, and artisan breads. Next door is The Melting Pot – the original fondue restaurant – home to a wide spread of cheeses, chocolates, or broths. Want to try some Pacific Northwest Seafood? Check out Southpark Seafood, home to sustainable seafood plates and Oregon wine. And we can’t forget the infamous Portland food trucks. A mere 7-minute walk from the Hilton Portland Downtown is the Alder St. Food Cart Pod where you’ll find Thai food, reinvented grilled cheese sandwiches, Hawaiian staples, Chinese crepes, and vegetarian Whole Bowl.

Learn More at Travel Portland