Air New Zealand Flights from Vancouver, Canada (YVR) to Portland (PDX)
As part of booking roundtrip flights which depart from US airports,
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on Air New Zealand, which operates a daily non-stop flight from Vancouver, Canada (YVR) to Portland (PDX) regularly scheduled to depart at 2:55pm and arrive at 4:10pm. Usually a De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Vancouver, Canada to Portland, OR is 1 hour and 15 minutes.*
* Some flights must be used with additional international service on this airline.
During your Portland vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
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.
The Berry Botanic Garden
Originally founded as a private garden, the Berry Botanic Garden is now one of Portland's favorite public gardens. Among the highlights is a large, forestlike collection of mature rhododendron shrubs. There's also a native plant trail, a fern garden, and rock gardens with unusual plants. The garden is open by reservation only.
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.
Portland Marriott Downtown
Located just across Waterfront Park and Naito Parkway from the Willamette River, the high-rise Portland Marriott offers great views of Mount Hood from its upper east-side rooms, and this alone would be reason enough to stay here. That the park across the street serves as the site of virtually all of Portland's main festivals also makes it a good choice if you're in town for one of these festivals. (If you're planning a weekend visit, be sure to find out if there's a festival scheduled; depending on your interest in the event, you'll either find this to be a great location, or you might not want to deal with the crowds.) Otherwise, this standard corporate high-rise doesn't have a whole lot of character, though there is a nice Japanese-style garden outside the front door. Most of the guest rooms have small balconies, and if you ask for a room overlooking the river, throw back the glass door to the balcony and think about the fact that the view used to be of a noisy freeway (it was torn out to build the park). All the rooms have been recently redone.
The Mark Spencer Hotel
If you're planning an extended stay in Portland and need to be right downtown, this is the place for you. Although the hotel is not in the best neighborhood (there are lots of nightclubs and bars in the vicinity), it's just around the corner from both Powell's City of Books and Jake's Famous Crawfish, one of Portland's oldest and best seafood restaurants. The rooms and suites here have rather dated decor but all have kitchenettes, which is the main draw here for people planning on spending a week or more in town. The hotel offers afternoon tea, and there's also a great rooftop garden deck. The Mark Spencer is a favorite with the casts of touring Broadway shows, and is also a good choice for any gay travelers interested in checking out the nearby bars.
Four Points Hotel Sheraton
Overlooking Waterfront Park and located on the MAX light-rail line, this 1960s vintage hotel looks nondescript from the outside, but the inside has been renovated and given a contemporary look that makes it one of the most stylish hotels in town. You are only steps from the Willamette River (although not actually on the water), and are also close to businesses, fine restaurants, and shopping. Guest rooms are as boldly contemporary in design as the lobby and restaurant, which are sort of downscale Architectural Digest. If this is your style, make this your Portland choice.
