Oregon
Signature City Portland
Program No. 18533RJ
Learn about the “City of Roses” from acclaimed speakers and discover local history and culture as you explore the Portland Art Museum, Lan Su Chinese Garden and more!
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Protecting the Environment
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6 days
5 nights
12 meals
5B 4L 3D
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner, Lecture
Portland, OR
4
Historic Downtown, Farmers Market, Free Time
Portland, OR
6
Wrap-up Session, Program Concludes
Portland, OR
At a Glance
Lauded as one of America’s best big cities, Portland’s small town charm welcomes you with open arms, enveloping you in its beautiful setting between the sparkling waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. Explore this “City of Roses,” with experts unveiling its early history, its political savvy and its boundless beauty. Walk its historic streets to examine architecture and bridges and stop to savor locally inspired food and drink.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2-3 miles on uneven surfaces with most days averaging 2 miles, climbing a few flights of stairs, and use of public transportation most days.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Experience Portland’s iconic landmarks from its famous bridges, on foot through its Arts District and from the water by boat.
- Explore exceptional gardens, including the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden and the Suzhou-style Lan Su Chinese Gardens.
- Learn historic stories of Native experiences from a local storyteller and history keeper of Kalapuya/Coos heritage.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Nathan Hoover
Nathan moved to Portland in 2003 after studying fine arts and theater at the New College of Florida. Since that move, his creative projects have been covered in The Oregonian, published in Oregon Humanities magazine and awarded grant funding by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Nathan leads thousands of third graders—and many folks of all ages—on walks around, over, under and inside Portland’s downtown bridges. The walks he leads celebrate Portland’s special sense of place, inspired by his own love for this city.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Nathan Hoover
View biography
Nathan moved to Portland in 2003 after studying fine arts and theater at the New College of Florida. Since that move, his creative projects have been covered in The Oregonian, published in Oregon Humanities magazine and awarded grant funding by the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Nathan leads thousands of third graders—and many folks of all ages—on walks around, over, under and inside Portland’s downtown bridges. The walks he leads celebrate Portland’s special sense of place, inspired by his own love for this city.
Esther Stutzman
View biography
Esther is a native Oregonian and traditional American Indian storyteller of Kalapuya and Coos heritage, as well as an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. She has been sharing stories that she learned from her grandmothers for over 50 years. Esther works with Title VII Indian Education programs as a cultural resource specialist, has been a long-time presenter for the Oregon Chautauqua History Serie, and frequently lectures at colleges in the Pacific Northwest. In 2017, she received the Oregon Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Eric Wheeler
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Eric Wheeler has over twenty years of experience as an architectural historian. He has written numerous National Register nominations, taught graduate level classes in architectural history and consulted with architects and realtors. Eric discovered the Pacific Northwest several years ago and continues to explore and interpret the captivating built environment of Portland and environs. Currently Eric designs and leads outings for his architectural walking Meetup group: Positively Portland Walking Tours. Eric has been leading walking excursions for Road Scholar since 2017.
Rex Burkholder
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Rex is a trained biologist and holds an MA in urban and environmental policy. He is the founder of the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, which launched Portland’s bicycle revolution. During his 12 years in government, Rex oversaw Portland’s original Climate Action and Equity plans and sustainable transportation policy. His greatest achievement was leading a statewide effort to fund universal outdoor school – weeklong science and nature camp – for every student in Oregon. His book, "The Activist's Toolkit," provides a practical approach to being an effective change agent.
Suggested Reading List
(15 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Signature City Portland
Program Number: 18533
Coyote Was Going There: Indian Literature of the Oregon Country
A collection of 116 traditional American Indian stories from Oregon tribes, which include songs, speeches, personal memoirs and peace treaty speeches, among other published works.
Insiders' Guide to Portland, Oregon
An essential source for in-depth travel information, written by a local. This will guide anyone interested in exploring the gorgeous city of Portland, Oregon.
An Architectural Guidebook to Portland
Filled with history that demonstrates why Portland is one of the most admired cities across the country. Intertwined with photos presenting the balance of modern architecture and historical architectural traditions.
Portland: A Food Biography
Chronicles Portland's rise from the Wild West's salmon, berries, hazelnuts and beer to the progressive town full of food trucks, brewers, oyster parlors, and more! A culinary landscape of Portland then and now.
In Search of Ancient Oregon: A Geological and Natural History
Oregon's fascinating geological story is folded in between the pages of beautiful photography of the state. A perfect read for those interested in Oregon's landscapes and environments, written by a passionate and professional geologist who spent hours in the field.
Willamette Landings: Ghost Towns of the River
The Willamette River was the primary means of transportation for people and goods during the second half of the nineteenth century in the Willamette Valley. Reading Willamette Landings will take you on a journey into a time when the Willamette River was the center of commerce and settlement. It includes maps and numerous historic photographs in this new edition.
Up the Capitol Steps: A Woman's March to the Governorship
A personal and political memoir by one of the few women governors in the history of the United States, Up the Capitol Steps details the successes and the frustrations of a woman's life in politics. Roberts embroils herself in controversial policies and challenging elections on the road to Oregon governorship.
Oregon's Promise: An Interpretive History
This detailed look into the history of Oregon offers jarring perspectives that clash with traditional stereotypes of the state and its residents. The author focuses on those that have been left out of the prosperous society that the pioneers originally looked to create and gives fresh insight into some historical assumptions that, upon further review, may not have been so true.
The Portland Bridge Book
This detailed guide to the bridges of Portland and Vancouver blends engineering, poetry, history, and more to provide a complete picture of these striking landmarks.
Portland Hill Walks: Twenty Explorations in Parks and Neighborhoods
With questions such as: What street used to be a row of floating homes? What eastside peak, with its "healthful air," was home to tuberculosis sanatoriums? and What Portlander modeled swimwear in the U.S. Senate? This unique travelogue is full of questions that you never would have thought that you wanted to know.
A Guide to the Indian Tribes of the Pacific Northwest
A guide that offers detailed descriptions, in alphabetical order, of 150 Pacific Northwest tribes. With an emphasis on Native voices and tribal revitalization, this book serves as a reference on these diverse peoples and reflects on the many recent political, economic and cultural developments amongst the Native communities.
Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark
This guide includes 53 Lewis and Clark sites and museums and cites 44 landmarks/intriguing events the Corps of Discovery experienced. A brief summary of their trip includes the Louisiana Purchase and color codes states in the Union during the expedition.
Oregon Trail Stories: True Accounts of Life in a Covered Wagon
Read through the exhilarating narratives from real letters, diaries and more. These first-hand tales of death, love, adversity and exploration offer insight into the lives of the early Western Pioneers.
Classic Houses of Portland, Oregon, 1850-1950 (The Classic Houses Series)
More than 200 plans and drawings and over 600 photographs both historical and contemporary, fill this book with houses from the past and the present. Escape into this fascinating home tour, featuring more than 300 residences representing twenty-three distinct architectural styles from Greek Revival, Queen Anne, and Tudor to Bungalow, Prairie and the Northwest Style.
Portland in Three Centuries: The Place and the People
Abbott's history of Portland spans from the first European contact to contemporary times, highlighting the well-known Portland leaders as well as Portland's everyday movers and shakers. It makes an excellent primer on Portland's history and character.