College students need to have fun, too. Not the typical “let’s go to that house party again” fun, but real, grown-up fun that needs to be at least slightly planned in advance. This kind of fun requires leaving Eugene.
Though it’s probably safe to say that most University students call Eugene home, there is something refreshing about a change in scenery. Routines develop here, which isn’t a bad thing. Routines can be steady and comfortable, but if left unchecked, routines can also leave students in an unsatisfied rut.
Spring break is a week-long gap in students’ routines, and those who can’t afford a trip to Cabo can still seize this opportunity to do something different. Whether students desire an extended escape or just a day trip, Portland can offer visitors a relatively frugal change of pace.
Getting there
If you don’t have a car or just don’t feel like taking one, the Amtrak train from Eugene to Portland is an option. Tickets are about $25 each way, but the absence of freeway signs or traffic is usually worth it. Another way to get to Portland is by taking the Greyhound bus which costs about $24 each way.
Where to stay
Crash on a friend’s couch or bring a few with you to get a hotel room to share. Hotel rates vary, but unless you like bedbugs, be prepared to spend a little money.
Check out the Holiday Inn downtown where rooms are about $120 nightly. The Double Tree Hotel, right across from the Lloyd Center, costs about $90 per night. The hotel staff also provides guests with complimentary cookies and cider in the lobby.
Where to eat
When it comes to food, Portland native and University sophomore Sarah Hsu said it best. “I would say some of the specialties in Portland are the food carts downtown. There is a huge variety of cheap food,” she said.
Portland’s food carts are typically grouped in pods; one of the major pods is located on Alder Street between 9th and 11th. Mother’s Bistro and Bar serves customers inexpensive comfort food (including breakfast until 2:30pm) on the corner of 2nd Avenue.
For plates that look like they belong on competitive cooking shows, try Andina’s Peruvian restaurant on Glisan Street.
In the rare case of beautiful weather, The Little River Cafe is perched right next to the Willamette River with quaint outdoor seating. The cafe serves espresso drinks, wraps, salads and other cafe-like foods.
And if none of these fit your fancy, Voodoo Doughnut probably will.
Where to drink
Hopworks Urban Brewery on Southeast Powell Boulevard serves the most Portland-like beer; literally everything is organic and all products are sustainable — even the building. Hopworks received two gold medals in the 2009 Great American Beer Festival Competition.
Another option is Paddy’s bar on southwest Yamhill Street. Paddy’s is a popular, old and elegant Irish bar in downtown Portland that serves more types of liquor than most can even wrap their minds around. The website claims its “wall” contains arguably one of the biggest whiskey collections on the West Coast. If nothing else, though, Paddy’s is home to the largest back bar in the state of Oregon.
You could also check out the Holocene Dance Club on southeast Morrison Street for live music, drinks and dancing. The club looks like it partners with Urban Outfitters. Seriously. So blend in, wear plaid, drink a “Lawn Chair” cocktail, and dance like you are the most trendy and original person in Portland.
What to do
Even if this is just a mini-vacation, boredom is not an option. You can be bored in Eugene.
The Portland Trail Blazers have three home games at the Rose Garden for about $10 a ticket during spring break. Games are on Sunday March 25, Tuesday March 27, and Thursday March 29.
If shopping is on your agenda, The Pioneer Place Mall in Pioneer Square has an enormous assortment of stores as well as a sky bridge that connects one end of the mall to the other. Thrift boutiques also fill the city; a few in particular are Magpie and Ray’s Ragtime on Southwest 9th Avenue and Morrison Street.
However, if your goal is to experience Portland — not just to eat or be entertained — go to the Saturday Market or the Farmer’s Market.
“One of the best places to get a concentrated dose of everything is to go to the Portland Saturday Market,” said University freshman Sage Cruser, who hails from the Portland area.
The Saturday Market is next to the Willamette River on southwest Naito Boulevard from 10-5 on Saturdays and 11-4:30 on Sundays. Artists from all over the city come to showcase and sell their handcrafted jewelry, candles, glass art, woodwork, and more.
The Farmer’s Market, on the other hand, sells food. There are seven Farmer’s Markets throughout downtown and each has a wide variety of local foods to choose from. Typically vendors sell produce, dairy, and baked goods, all of which are local and most of which are organic.
And if you think you can’t experience nature while living in a city, think again. Forest Park, the largest urban park in the nation, has 70 miles of recreational trails in its total 5,000 acres. The park is west of downtown Portland.
“Forest park is just amazing, and so quintessentially Portland,” said University sophomore Schuyler Durham, who spent a lot of time there growing up.
He described it as a labyrinth of paths and plants to explore, set against a metropolis. Forest Park is an excellent reminder that planning a trip to one of the most earth-friendly cities doesn’t mean sacrificing time in nature for time in a dance club.
And planning a trip somewhere outside of Eugene – even if that means taking a train and getting a hotel – doesn’t mean sacrificing credit card debt for a much-needed excursion.
