Portland River Front Pub Walk

Date of Walk: September 04, 2003

Length: 2 miles round trip
Time to Walk: 40 minutes sober, 70 minutes with pubs
Type of Walk: Pubs/Water Front/Dining
Location: Portland, Oregon
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How To Get There / Parking
Portland is the largest city in Oregon. It is on the northern border of Oregon state. The main freeway to Portland from Vancouver is Interstate 5. We parked at a pay parking lot between 2nd and 3rd Avenues on Ash Street (see the star on our map).

Let's Go!
We looked longingly at the Portland Steak and Chophouse but we hadn't drunk any beer yet and you can't eat on an empty stomach. Instead, we headed east along Ash Street toward the Willamette River. It was difficult to resist dropping into the Ash Street Saloon and the Bar 71.

When we got to the river we saw the park running along the river front. We turned right and headed south, next to the water. We passed the Morrison and Hawthorne Bridges. If you're feeling nautical, cruises of the river are available on the Portland Spirit. The RiverPlace Hotel marks the end of the park.

The RiverPlace Hotel Hotel is the start of the RiverPlace Esplanade, an upscale collection of shops and a marina. Bill wandered the shops until he found McCormick & Schmick's where we enjoyed their selection of local beers.

Our thirst temporarily slaked, we headed west up Montgomery Street. The road curves right to Harborside Drive which is the western boundary for the park. We walked past a fountain to Taylor Street. We turned left (west) and at long last found ourselves back in the pub section. Wallbangers is located at Taylor Street and Second Avenue. Turning right, we walked north on 2nd Avenue and as we crossed Yamhill Street, we noticed the Yamhill Pub, 1/2 block west of 2nd Avenue. We stayed on 2nd Avenue and went to the Rock Bottom Brewery at Morrison Street and 2nd Avenue. David, worn from the trek to date collapsed over a cold one.

We walked past the Elephant and Castle at 439 2nd Avenue and on to Kells Irish Pub which was across the street from the parking lot. We stopped here for our traditional walk-ending beer. Being responsible beer guzzlers, we had a designated driver for the trip home.