Written by Sylvia Longmire, Spin the Globe, January 14, 2024
DAY 1
For years, I’ve been seeing beautiful photos of the Oregon coast, filled with the famous stacks of rocks along the shoreline and long stretches of sandy beaches. Cannon Beach is one of the most well-known, featuring prominently in the 1980s movie The Goonies. I knew it would it be impossible for me to ever see it as a solo power wheelchair traveler, but as soon as I had somebody who could travel with me and drive an accessible rental van, I knew I had to try to go! I was thrilled when Travel Oregon agreed to host me to write about the wheelchair accessibility of the region, and it turned out to be a life-changing experience. Here are the details of my 4-day wheelchair accessible adventure in Portland and the Oregon coast!
Day 1 – Portland
Check-In/Breakfast at the Heathman Hotel. One of Portland’s most recognizable landmarks, the iconic Heathman Hotel blends rich history with a reverent appreciation for the arts. A cultural fixture since the day it opened in 1927, the hotel balances its vibrant past with modern sensibility. My accessible room was very spacious, the bed was low enough for me to transfer into by myself, and there was room under the bed for a hoist. They did not have a room with a roll in shower available, but the accessible tub had a fold down bench and several grab bars.
Before starting the day, we had a delicious breakfast at The Tavern, the restaurant located inside the Heathman hotel. The Tavern celebrates collaboration, innovation, and the spirit of culinary artistry, allowing you to experience a symphony of tastes, leaving a lasting impression. In collaboration with Oregon’s most celebrated artisans and makers, farmers, and fishers, the restaurant is connecting their place to the heart and soul of the Pacific Northwest. Their culinary offerings are designed to represent the people, produce, farms, and fisheries that distinguish the region.
The Oregon Historical Society. The Oregon Historical Society is dedicated to making Oregon’s long, rich history visible and accessible to all. For more than a century, the Society has served as the state’s collective memory, gathering and preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, films, manuscripts, books, and oral histories. Researchers from around the world travel to the library, unearthing information that challenges conventional thinking. Curious individuals come to explore their family trees or discover the history of their homes or neighborhoods. Archaeologists, environmentalists, filmmakers, architects, novelists, artists, and others visit, asking questions, making discoveries, creating knowledge. They share the vast collection through thought-provoking museum exhibits and robust digital platforms. The wheelchair accessibility is fantastic, with plenty of space to maneuver between exhibits, an elevator to all three floors, and wheelchair accessible bathrooms.
Portland Museum of Art. This beautiful museum in downtown Portland is internationally renowned for its own experiences in the heart of the city’s cultural district on the beautiful South Park blocks. The museum presents exhibitions ranging from single artist retrospectives to historical surveys to major touring exhibitions from museums around the globe. Exhibitions feature works of art from the museum’s collections, as well as masterpieces on loan from museums and private collections worldwide. The wheelchair accessibility is fantastic with huge elevators, wide spaces for maneuvering, and accessible bathrooms.
Portland Farmers Market. The Portland Farmers Market is a nonprofit organization operating five different markets in the city. The markets provide a direct connection to more than 200 vendors with deep roots in Oregon and Southwest Washington, including farms, nurseries, bakeries, meat and seafood providers, cheese makers, and specialty food producers. The flagship market, which is the one downtown, is on the campus of Portland State University in South Park Blocks between Southwest College and Montgomery streets. The hours are every Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Some bathrooms in the PSU buildings are open and available for use to shoppers.
Portland Japanese Garden. When His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, visited Portland Japanese Garden, he proclaimed the Garden to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” The Garden sits nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon’s iconic Washington Park, overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike. Designed in 1963, it encompasses 12 acres with eight separate garden styles, and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood. Most of the paths are paved, but others are packed gravel that should be easy for power wheelchair users. Manual chair users might need a little bit of assistance to get through the thicker gravel. Some parts of the paved paths are steep, so care should be taken going downhill. The shuttle that goes from between the ticket kiosk and visitors center to the gardens is accessible and comes by every 5 to 10 minutes.
Lunch at the Chart House. From its vantage point at the top of historic Terwilliger Boulevard, the Chart House seafood restaurant boasts some of the best seafood in Portland, as well as some of the city’s best views. I actually ate here during a business trip in 2007, and I was so happy to see that the views of Mount Hood from my table are just as majestic! In addition to unrivaled scenic dining, the Chart House also offers some of the most unique culinary creations you’re likely to find anywhere. Combining local ingredients with creative takes on steak and seafood, it’s no wonder that diners consider it to be among Portland’s best restaurants.
Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Tour. This stunning tour through the Columbia River Gorge takes advantage of the golden hours before sunset, giving you plenty of time to explore the area and capture stunning photos. The comfortable 14-passenger accessible van features large windows, offering unobstructed views of six stunning waterfalls, including Horsetail Falls, Multnomah Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Shepperds Dell, and Latourell Falls. In addition, you’ll stop at the Crown Point Vista House and Oneonta Gorge for even more views. Your local guide is knowledgable and loves to share stories about the area while answering any questions you may have. Most of the 3 hour tour is spent exploring the waterfalls and learning about the area. You’ll have time for your own exploring as well as hearing from your guide what makes that place special.
The waterfall tour is family-friendly and suitable for people of all ages and abilities. They welcome families with children and elderly people. They do not have child seats, but do have a wheel chair ramp. Please notify them ahead of time at (541) 224-6717 if there is a need for the wheelchair ramp.
Check back tomorrow for Day 2