Green Living 101: The best places to enjoy a Portland “staycation”

July 22, 6:41 PMPortland Green Living ExaminerMaureen Mackey

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Splash by StuSeeger, www.Flickr.com

Summer vacation conjures up images of loading the family station wagon to drive across the country, or boarding a plane to an exotic locale. Those typical vacations are expensive and leave a sizeable carbon footprint. And neither scenario makes much sense in these carbon- and cost-conscious times.

So why not save both money and carbon emissions by taking a “staycation,” and have fun without going out of town? It will give you a new appreciation of our beautiful city and all it has to offer.

Here are some great ideas to make your Portland “staycation” memorable:

* Spend the day at the Oregon Zoo. Bring a picnic lunch or eat at one of the many onsite eateries. Ride the train and check out the exhibits, including the new Predators of the Serengeti. The zoo offers discounts to MAX riders, and group discounts for 20 or more. Also, admission is just $2 the second Tuesday of every month.

* Take a bike trip. The Eastbank Esplanade hugs the Willamette River shoreline, offering great views of downtown, and the chance to ride across the Steel Bridge. Or you can take a longer ride into Portland’s east side on the Springwater Corridor Trail. Here’s a link to five great bike rides.

* Tour Portland’s city fountains. The Portland Water Bureau has mapped out a self-guided, downtown walking tour that covers 12 municipal fountains along a 2.6 mile route, taking approximately 2 hours. The map, which you can download here, also displays a photo and a brief history of each fountain.

* Wade in the simulated tides at Jamison Square in the Pearl District. Cascading water forms a shallow pool, ringed by a tree-shaded lawn. If you or the kids get hungry you can walk across the street to the Ecotrust building for a slice of Hot Lips pizza or a burrito from Laughing Planet.

* Visit one of Portland’s beautiful gardens. The Classical Chinese Garden and the Japanese Garden charge admission, but you can see the world-famous International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park for free. Other free gardens worth a visit are Bishop’s Close and the garden at Pittock Mansion.

* Delve into Portland’s questionable past by taking an Underground Portland tour of  the tunnels under the oldest parts of the downtown waterfront area. Find out if they were really used to kidnap and transport unsuspecting laborers to the waiting holds of ships. If you are curious about Portland’s haunted history, too, look into the Beyond Bizarre tour.

* Ride the roller coaster or the Ferris wheel at Oaks Amusement Park, one of the oldest continuously-operated amusement parks in North America. It has 20 amusement rides, and one of the largest roller skating rinks on the West Coast. You can even bring a picnic.

* Splash in one of Portland’s public pools. You can find the one nearest you by clicking here.

* Groove to the music at one of the many free evening concerts in numerous city parks around town.

* Bring your family to a free, outdoor movie night. There’s Movies in the Park in the public parks and Flicks on the Bricks in Pioneer Courthouse Square. Beaverton, Lake Oswego and West Linn also sponsor family-friendly movie nights.

* Set out on a Portland walking tour, and get a fresh perspective on Portland’s charming neighborhoods.

* Discover the Tualatin Parks and Recreation District’s newest addition, Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Or admire the eagles, blue herons and ospreys as you hike through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.

With a little planning, you can make this the best summer vacation you’ve ever had, just by staying inside the metro area. Who knew you could have so much fun without leaving home?

For more info: Make your staycation even greener by using public transportation. Use TriMet’s trip planner and interactive map to figure out the best bus and train routes to your destinations.