Want to strike out on your own and explore Portland and the Pacific Northwest at YOUR speed?​

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Here's a few suggestions from the locals.

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Japanese Garden: Beauty and Zen in Washington Park. Very popular and parking is free but can also fill up as there are limited spots. Admission fee.

 

Lan Su Chinese Garden: Dragon dances, a giant koi pond, zen bliss and more in the heart of Portland’s Chinatown. Street parking only (use Parking Kitty) and there is an admission fee. 

 

VooDoo Donut and wedding chapel (downtown). Donuts sprinkled with plenty of Portland Weirdness. Also, feel free to get hitched after ordering a dozen bacon maple bars. Note: CASH ONLY and street parking.

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Sandy Hut Tavern Long a Portland scooter and motorcycle hangout, The Hut just recently celebrated its 100th birthday and occupies one of Portland’s “triangle” blocks along Sandy Boulevard. Good (cheap) beer, good people, and good times. Street parking.

14th and Sandy

 

Kelly’s Olympian - Located downtown, Kelly’s is another popular Portland moto hangout - and has motos hanging from the ceiling! Good food, live music and cozy booths make this vintage bar a top pick. 

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Multnomah Falls: 

Via Columbia River Scenic Highway (now open)

Via Interstate 84 to Corbett (shortest route):

Via State Route 14 in Washington and across the Bridge of the Gods:

 

Construction on the Columbia River Scenic Highway is complete, but we have removed Multnomah Falls from the group ride list and added it here since Multnomah Falls is very difficult when it comes to parking, especially for large groups. BE ADVISED: Parking in the small lot adjacent to the lodge costs $20 PER PARKING SPOT, so if you can cram five or six scooters into a spot, that cuts down on the cost. Also, on our test ride, there were essentially no spots available to park in the small lot. If that’s the case when you arrive, you will need to park in the “large lot” and that is only approachable by freeway (Interstate 84) and it also fills up, so plan ahead and check here on parking. Multnomah Falls in one of the most visited tourists sites in Oregon, so the parking fills up very quickly.

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BE ADVISED: BOTH highway routes (Interstate 84, and Highway 14 in Washington) to Multnomah Falls include riding for several miles on Interstate 84, which has a posted speed limit of 65mph and a realistic traffic speed of 75mph or faster, There are a lot of semi trucks, RVs and car traffic. It is often very windy on I-84 as well. 

 

Scooters under 250cc should not attempt this ride. Do not attempt this ride if you have no highway riding experience. Parking at the Falls costs $20 and is typically sold out. There is only a small number of motorcycle spots and they are usually occupied. ​

 

Shanghai Tunnel restaurant/tours: Back in the (very) olden days, if you got drunk and passed out in downtown Portland, you might wake up as an involuntary worker on a freighter headed for China. At that time, a series of tunnels beneath the downtown area connected businesses, laundries, and some rather unsavory characters looking for ship crews. Thus, the Shanghai Tunnels, which may also be haunted. Take the tour, or you can just grab a burger, beers, and check out a band at the Shanghai Tunnel restaurant, which is… underground, of course. There’s street parking.

 

Cathedral Park (nearish to hotel). A park under Portland’s most iconic and beautiful bridge. The St. Johns neighborhood next to the park features many cool shops, pubs, coffee houses, the Sabatino scooter/moto dealership and Forest Park across the bridge. Free. Street parking. 

 

Powell's City of Books. The best bookstore in the world (we might be biased). Set aside a LOT of time. Sizzle Pie pizza is across the street. Free, limited street parking. 

 

Pittock Mansion. Tour a real-deal Victorian-era mansion with all of the old stuff still in it. No McMansion here. Admission fee. Free parking.

 

Witches Castle in Forest Park. The Blair Witch Project was filmed here. OK, it totally wasn’t, but considering the extremely dark history of the structure (involving a guy named Mortimer Stump, love, and then a LOT of murder), it should have been. Free, except you’ll need to hike in a half mile into Forest Park (and then back out, so bring good shoes) to find it. Story and directions at the link. 

 

OMSI: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is an absolute Portland icon. It’s nerdy. It’s cool. It’s totally nerdy cool. They have a crazy huge IMAX spherical theater. They have a submarine! They have the Gravitram and a planetarium that still shows Pink Floyd laser light shows (as well as Billie Eilish and Daft Punk shows. Dispensaries are located nearby). Check the schedule to see which exhibits will be in town. Admission fee, lots of free parking. 

 

Portland Art Museum: Get your Monet on (no joke, they have a huge original Water Lillies) and check out some seriously psychedelic concert posters from the ‘60s along with a long list of other visual and historical treasures. Admission fee, street parking. 

 

Helvetia Tavern via Skyline Boulevard: The Helvetia Tavern is famous for its burgers (including an XXL option) but the best part might be getting there on Skyline Boulevard, a twisting two-lane road which traces along ridgetops and past seven-digit homes. Bring your turning skills. Another stop along the route is the Rock Creek Tavern, with an upstairs billiard table surrounded by mushroom sculptures. Here’s the route: 

 

The Zymoglyphic Museum Wanna deep dive some serious Portland weirdness? Here’s your spot. Check out the might/might not be real exhibits and stories, then head down to the nearby Belmont District and get some coffee while you process what you just experienced. Free. Street parking. Expect to wait a short while to get your chance to tour it. It’s in a garage. No joke. 

 

North American Bigfoot Center near Sandy, Oregon. Think Bigfoot is a hoax? This for-real and very serious museum/education center will change your mind. It’s near Sandy, Oregon, so it’s a bit of a ride, but a really good ride. Scoots 250cc and over can buzz out on Highway 26 (55mph speed limit) while smaller scooters can take some very scenic back roads. Admission fee. Free parking. Worth the trip. 

 

Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club: The only thing Portland has more of than pot shops is strip clubs, and this is one of the best and most unusual. And yes, the food is great. Full disclosure: Portland strip clubs are fully nude. 

 

Pixomatic Pastry Vending Machines Feeling peckish for a pastry at 3am? Saddle up and head for Pixomatic and take your pick of pastries from a cluster of vend-o-matics. Because: Portland. Open 24/7, free parking.

2225 East Burnside

 

Holmans Bar and Grill: After 90 years in business, Holman’s suddenly closed, much to the dismay of many Portlanders. The late-night dive bar was then bought and refurbished, and is now a whiskey-lover's hangout - but with the same great food and dark, hipster atmosphere. Before you pay your tab, spin the wheel and your meal might be free! Located close to the Laurelhurst Theater, another icon of Portland cinema and neon. Street and lot parking. 

28th and Burnside

 

The Old Spaghetti Factory Yes, you can get all kinds of pasta at this long-running Portland restaurant, but the bigger attraction is the incredible interior and riverside location. Lot parking (might be free for scooters).

 

Laurelhurst Theater: An iconic Portland theater fully refurbished with an incredible neon facade. Drink a beer while watching first-run movies on the cheap or their weekly throwback. Lots of cool restaurants, pubs. coffee shops and a Whole Foods right nearby on 28th Avenue. Lot and street parking. 

 

Kelly Point Park: This is where the mighty Columbia and Willamette rivers meet and head to the Pacific Ocean. A zen spot that is sacred to local First American tribes. Spot sailboats, birds and just have a relaxing stroll. Near St. Johns and the hotel. Free, parking lot. 

 

Ride to The Antennas through Washington Park. Ride through beautiful Washington Park on the way up to one of he highest points above the city. Then ride back down into Northwest Portland and stop at any of the many restaurants and shops. Doable on any size scooter. Watch for cyclists and pedestrians. 

 

Skyline Blvd to Rocky Point Road (super technical but also super fun)

 

Longfellows Inn Steak House in Scappoose (Via Skyline and/or Highway 30) . Dine like it’s 1984 all over again at this famous rural steakhouse, where you can cook your own steak or have the staff do it for you. Don’t forget to hit the salad bar, and then stop by the Dairy Queen down the road for dessert. The best part may be the ride there and back! 

Troutdale Station Food Cart Pod There are food cart pods, and then there’s the Troutdale Station. This collection of TWENTY FOUR food carts surrounds a huge wooden dining hall with long bench seating and some great people watching. Plus, it’s next to the launching point for a fun ride along the Sandy River.