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Northwest Airlines Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Northwest Airlines, which operates 3 regularly scheduled daily non-stop flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX), departing between 1:00pm and 8:00pm. The average travel time from San Francisco, CA to Portland, OR is 1 hour and 42 minutes.
During your Portland vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Portland Saturday Market
The Portland Saturday Market (actually held on both Sat-Sun) is arguably the city's single most important and best-loved event. For years the Northwest has attracted artists and craftspeople, and every Saturday and Sunday nearly 300 of them can be found selling their creations here. In addition to the dozens of crafts stalls, you'll find ethnic and unusual foods and lots of free entertainment. This is one of the best places in Portland to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts. The atmosphere is always cheerful and the crowds colorful. Located at the heart of the Skidmore District, Portland Saturday Market makes an excellent starting or finishing point for a walk around Portland's downtown historic neighborhood. Don't miss this unique market. On Sunday, on-street parking is free.
International Rose Test Garden
Covering 4 1/2 acres of hillside in the West Hills above downtown Portland, these are among the largest and oldest rose test gardens in the United States and are the only city-maintained test gardens to bestow awards on each year's best roses. The gardens were established in 1917 by the American Rose Society and are used as a testing ground for new varieties of roses. Though you will likely see some familiar roses in the Gold Medal Garden, most of the 400 varieties on display here are new hybrids being tested before marketing. Among the roses in bloom from late spring to early winter, you'll find a separate garden of miniature roses. There's also a Shakespeare Garden that includes flowers mentioned in the Bard's works. After seeing these acres of roses, you'll understand why Portland is known as the City of Roses and why the Rose Festival in June is the city's biggest annual celebration. The small Rose Garden Store (tel. 503/227-7033), is packed with rose-inspired products.
Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close
Set on a steep hillside above the Willamette River between Portland and Lake Oswego, this was once a private garden but was donated to the local Episcopal bishop of Oregon on the condition that it be opened to the public. The mature gardens are at their best through the spring and early summer. There's also an excellent view of Mount Hood from the grounds.
Make your reservations for discount hotel rooms in the
Portland area, including:
Silver Cloud Inn Portland Airport
Conveniently located right outside the airport, this hotel has one of the best backyards of any hotel in the Portland area. A lake, lawns, and trees all add up to a tranquil setting despite the proximity of both the airport and a busy nearby road. Rooms are designed primarily for business travelers, but even if you aren't here on an expense account, the rooms are a good value, especially those with whirlpool tubs (and you even get free local calls). Some suites have gas fireplaces. Best of all, with the exception of two suites, every room has a view of the lake. An indoor pool is another big plus here. To find this hotel, take the complimentary airport shuttle or head straight out of the airport, drive under the I-205 overpass, and watch for the hotel sign ahead on the left.
Silver Cloud Inn Portland Downtown
This hotel is located on the edge of Portland's trendy Nob Hill neighborhood, and though it faces the beginning of the city's industrial area, it is still a very attractive and comfortable place (ask for a room away from Vaughn Street). Reasonable rates are the main draw here, but the rooms are also well designed and filled with plenty of conveniences, like free local calls. Although the minisuites have wet bars, microwave ovens, and separate seating areas, the king rooms with whirlpool tubs, which happen to be the most expensive rooms, are our favorites. However, the best thing about the hotel is its location within a 5-minute drive (or 15-min. walk) of half a dozen of the city's best restaurants. To find the hotel, take I-405 to Ore. 30 west and get off at the Vaughn Street exit.
The Heathman Hotel
With its understated luxury and superb service, The Heathman, which abuts the Portland Center for the Performing Arts, is one of the finest hotels in the city. Although this is primarily a top-end business hotel, it's also the address of choice for visiting culture hounds, with its proximity to the theater and an outstanding collection of art ranging from 18th-century oil paintings to Andy Warhol prints. Don't look for a bowl-you-over lobby here; although there is plenty of marble and teak, the lobby itself is tiny. However, just off the lobby is the Tea Court, where the original eucalyptus paneling creates a warm, old-world atmosphere.The basic rooms here tend to be quite small, but are nonetheless attractively furnished and set up for business travelers. There are no real views to speak of, but rooms on the west side of the hotel look out to a mural done just for the hotel. Basically what you get here is luxury in a small space. Ask for a corner room, which gets more light and feels more spacious.The Heathman Restaurant and Bar is one of Portland's finest, with a menu that emphasizes creatively prepared fresh local produce, seafood, and game. Afternoon tea is served in the Lobby Lounge, and there's usually live jazz nightly. There are also complimentary wine tastings several nights a week.
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