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Vacationing In Portland
Here's a list of places I visited, ate at, or viewed while on a trip to Portland,…
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2011 Pacific Northwest Vacation
Seattle, WA Deer Harbor, WA Vancouver, BC Portland, OR La Push, Wa
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The Best of Portland
Places to not miss when running around our fair city.
Portland Walking Tours
Categories: Hotels & Travel Tours Arts & Entertainment Tours, Arts & Entertainment [Edit]
Portland, OR 97204(503) 774-4522
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10 am - 2 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
Michael S. said: "Prompt, friendly, clean cars. They call even if they're going to be 3 minutes late. I use them for all my airport transportation needs when I don't want to leave a car at the airport." read more »
81 reviews for Portland Walking Tours
81 reviews in English
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Review from Cindy M.
Portland, OR
10/23/2011
We had a group go on the Best/Worst of Portland underground Tour. Our guide Michael was great. We learned about the cast iron buildings, the crimpers, the "seamstresses" and the cribs. Lots of cool and funny stories about Portland's very colorful past and present.
The only less than satisfying part was the "underground"...it was basically a musty, dank room under the pizza place. I would have preferred to sit upstairs and have a beer... -
Review from Erin O.
Updated - 12/23/2011
3 stars for the Chocolate Decadence Tour (note 4 for Portland Walking Tour). When my chocoholic sister visited in November, we thought this tour would be right up her alley. And it was good. It just wasn't great. We got to sample chocolate drinks, nibs, pralines, and even chocolate vinegars. I didn't find the information that interesting and I was disappointed they didn't give us a list of the places visited so we could go back. (There was almost no time to buy anything on the tour itself.)
I'd still take any chocolate loving friends, but for me, it was just OK. But then again, I prefer savories over sweets, so that alone sways my vote.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/1/2009
I'm a fan of walking tours and this one did not disappoint. We took the 2 1/2 hour "Best of… Read more »
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Review from Tina S.
11/13/2011
This review is for the Underground Portland Tour.
Our tour guide was great, and very informative, full of historical references and great for history-loving people, but ...
I was disappointed that the tour was approx 2 hrs, with most of it being outside walking around and about 20 mins being underground. You don't even get to walk around under the labyrinth under the city street. Totally disappointed... cold, freezing, wet since it rained during the whole tour. I seriously thought I'd be walking in the dark for 2 hours in various parts of underground portland..... I WISH!! This tour was super depressing, and I found it ironic that a Californian was giving a Portland tour. -
Review from Mikhail H.
Beaverton, OR
8/21/2011
I cannot wait to do another one! For my first Portland Walking Tour I went on the Roses Gone Wild Tour. I felt horrible because, thanks to unexpected traffic delays, we were horrible late even with running like crazy people. She was amazing and greeted me by name! She had tried to call me and everything. She took us our for a special tour which was so sweet to work with the horribly late ladies!
I learned so much information on the tour though and wow she was great about answering questions we had. She was so friendly and I highly recommend learning more about this fun city of ours in this type of environment. Perfect also for out of town guests as well.Listed in: The Best of Portland
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Review from mercedes c.
Seattle, WA
1/18/2012
Standing in Pioneer Square in Portland, Oregon will never be the same again. Years ago when I was in college, I was there one sunny summer afternoon when the city was competing for the title of making the world's largest peanut butter and jelly/jam sandwich. It was a funky afternoon; there was also a live band (the 'jam') That day incapsulated my memories of Portland. Now - I have a lot more to add to my memories after taking the Best of Portland tour last weekend with Joe, our tour guide. He pointed out so many details in Pioneer Square and in the city itself. Things I walked by just the day before and never noticed. Joe had a love of architecture and opinions to share - all of which were interesting. He shared the ideas that went into planning Portland. There were a lot of "oos" and "ahs" - a tour guide that can garner that response while talking about urban planning gets five stars for sure. I had a great time on this tour, really enjoyed the guide!
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Review from Emily P.
Placentia, CA
8/4/2011
I'm torn between A-Ok, and Yay! I'm a fan, so I just went with the better one of the two.
We did the Epicurean Excursion with Herb, and he was FABULOUS!! He was friendly, funny, and for informative about Portland and all it has to offer. We got to experience Portland and all of its yummy goodness in a way we would not have been able to do with out the tour. We really enjoyed our time.
However, the only down fall was that they talk a lot on the website about beer, wine and coffee tasting, but we did not get to try any of these. They informed us that the tour changes all the time, which it says on the website, but I thought with the amount they talk about it, we would be able to try at least one. Oregon is known for their great wines and beers, so it would have been nice to have heard more about them.
Other then that disappointment, it was great! -
Review from Carole B.
7/27/2011
So I booked 2 tours today - the "Best of Portland" and the "Epicurean Excursion".
First "Best of Portland". I have done quite a few similar tours around the world (always a good way to get to know the local area) and although informative, I was not blown away. Certainly however my objective of getting my bearings in Portland worked - though I have met more entertaining guides.
I was therefore a bit dubious of the afternoon tour booked with the same company.
I need not have worried. The Epicurean Excursion was every bit as good as the reviews I had read. Starting with a fabulous hot chocolate from Cacao (wow!!!) and a myriad of tastings in between I am both full and disappointed that I will not be able to sample again all the delights that Portland eating has to offer before I go home on Sunday - and that is 3 1/2 days away!!!
From flavoured salts (really) fantastic sandwiches, fresh oysters (and I thought I did not like oysters - I have changed my mind) tasty soup and finally (of course) Voodoo donuts, every step (and we did walk all over the city) was worth it.
So the Best of Portland gets a 3 star but the Epicurean Excursion for me was definitely a 5!!!! -
Review from Cynthia G.
Los Angeles, CA
8/29/2011
Have taken two tours with them.
Epicurean Excursion: Your culinary journey starts in a hotel lobby in downtown Portland. Our tour left the lobby and through an artisinal chocolate shop on the way to the sidewalk. Then we moved onto a Greek food cart that had super tasty falafels (one of the best I've ever had, really moist inside and crispy outside), onto the Pearl Bakery (hubby discovered gibassier) where we got a behind the scenes look at the art of bread making along with plenty of samples, then a local distillery/bar which provided us with shot glasses of award winning libations, then onto Hot Lips where we had a unique pizza with toasted hazelnuts and broccoli, then a wine bar where we got a lesson from the store owner and a generous pour of white or red, and finished off with gelato. The guide was knowledgeable, the walk/tour was well paced and my tummy was quite satisfied by the end.
Beyond Bizarre: Funny NY transplant was our tour guide. He brought out the electronics that you'd find on Ghost Hunters and other shows of that ilk. It was a lot of fun to stomp around, hear the haunted histories, and play around with the gadgets.Listed in: Portlandia
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Review from Caryn W.
6/4/2011
While booking my flight to Portland, one of the activity options that came up was going on a food tour with Portland Walking Tours. I figured it'd be a good experience for my fiancee and I to see what Portland has to offer.
We met our guide, Herb, at the Heathman hotel (beautiful place!) and talked story with him for a while before the others arrived. He gave us some good information on where the food trucks were and some other things to check out before we left town.
As we were on the tour, Herb gave us various tidbits about the city and some of the landmarks. I enjoyed all the history bits and the odd stories that he shared.
Some of the locations we checked out included:
- Cacao
- Benessere Olive Oils and Balsamic Vinegars
- Ziba's Pitas (food cart)
- Flying Elephants Deli
- The Spice and Tea Exchange
- Hot Lips Pizza
- Mio Gelato
We also went to a bar to try some beers, but I can't remember the name of it.
From what I understand, they change locations from time to time so no food tour is the same. I wouldn't mind going again, but the price is kind of steep, so I'd have to think about before booking with them once more.Listed in: Vacationing In Portland
Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 6/5/2011
Caryn, Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed the Epicurean… More » -
Review from Shaun F.
Denver, CO
6/22/2011
I can say my Epicurean walking tour was very lovely. I enjoyed getting to know Portland from the guide (sorry, I forget your name--I am terrible that recalling names, but if I saw you on the street I'd recognize you) who obviously has a passion and appreciation for all his city has to offer. I liked getting to meet many of the local artisans who make their coffee, chocolate, etc. And the weather didn't rain, so that was a bonus.
I really enjoyed the intimacy of the group. There were three of us and the tour guide. We had the opportunity to interact with each other quite a bit, which isn't always possible in tour situations.
This was a great way to get familar with the city. I just wish it wasn't my last day in Oregon, since I would have liked to check out the recommendations for dinner and other things. Maybe next time.
The only thing I didn't like was the chocolate sipping at 10am. I would have liked the chocolate with something to dip and not so early in the morning. Otherwise, it was super duper fantastic.
Thanks Portland Walking Tours. You made my visit to Portland much more enjoyable. -
Review from Miranda B.
Anaheim, CA
4/17/2011
I love walking tours, but the "Underground Portland" tour was a bust! The title itself is misleading, and before we set off the guide told us that 95% of the tour would be above ground. The "underground" referred more to the seamy side of Portland.
That said, throughout the tour our guide digressed repeatedly. We heard a long discussion of sewage in the Willamette River; the escapades of former governor Tom McCall; WAY too much discussion of Voodoo Donuts (and a single gross donut creation to be passed around 15 people - yuck). Our guide got facts wrong - stating that the use of "shanghai" as a verb first took place in the 1970's (wrong ... late 19th century per the Oxford English dictionary). She dated a controlled power flight by Silas Christofferson with a date that would have made him beat the Wright Brothers. She rambled and blathered. Nice lady, boring boring boring tour. And misleading.
Definitely would NOT recommend it. Buy a guidebook at Powell's Book Store or if you've got a smartphone, get Deston Nokes' "Portland Essentials." Put on your walking shoes, bring an umbrella, and roam around (or jump on the rail). You'll have lots more fun and it's free.Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 4/26/2011
Miranda, We're sorry you had a disappointing experience on… More » -
Review from jenny m.
5/18/2011
I was in town with my sister & a friend and it was the first time for all three of us in Portland. We thought what better way to get familiar with the city, get some insight in to what makes Portland, Portland, and see some interesting sights we might not have known about otherwise, then to do a walking tour (we did the Best of Portland tour). It was a really enjoyable time and our guide Devon was fantastic.
It was a little over a 2 hour walking tour. It was not strenuous at all, although you are on your feet the whole time so it could be a bit tiring for those with a physical limitation.
Now I'm not gonna list out everything we did/saw - that's for you to find out when you take the tour! I also have a feeling that depending on the day, time of year, and the guide, the tour is never quite the same. I will say that we learned a lot about Portland - where the name comes from, why it's laid out the way it is, some of the history of the city, why it's so 'green' etc. Which I found to be really interesting. Our guide was super knowledgeable but also fun. You could tell she really enjoyed her job which made the tour all the enjoyable to be on.
And at the end of the tour, Devon hung around to answer questions or give suggestions on all things Portland. I think we picked her brain for about 15 minutes on everything from where to eat, the best food cart to try, where to hike and what we have to see/do. She went way above and beyond her walking tour duties and that was really appreciated. Not sure that you can expect that from all the tour guides, but Kudos if that's encouraged by the company!! -
Review from W B.
Portland, OR
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Did haunted tour with Todd as our guide. Had great time. Start w dinner at old town pizzaget discount if doing tour. Be prepared to do quite a bit of walking dress appropriately for the weather. Get about 30 mins in 'underground' to make contact w spirits.Captured cool images on camera. Have fun and enjoy.
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Review from Samantha E.
Alexandria, VA
9/15/2011 12 photos
I am not one for tours but my sister made last minute reservations for their underground tour when our morning in Portland had turned out less than satisfying. We figured it may be similar to the Seattle underground tour and might make us more partial to the city itself. We were able to hit up some landmarks and learn a lot about the Portland's seedy history. Our guide was friendly and helpful and was happy to tell us more than just the good things about the city.
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Review from Allyson M.
Irvine, CA
11/5/2010
We did two of the tours - Beyond Bizarre and Underground Portland.
The first was Beyond Bizarre. First, for my own memory, I have to say our guide Jacob had a Jack Black vibe. He kinda looked like him crossed with the dude from that game show "Street Smarts." LOL!
Anyway, we first went down to the basement of Old Town Pizza where a hooker died. It was kinda creepy. We kinda sat there with our little ghost hunting devices (EMF readers) and for this one dude in our group, there did seem to be some activity. My bf tried talking to the ghost, but I guess we weren't interesting because nothing really happened.
We walked passed and through other "haunted" places. We didn't seem to encounter anyone from beyond the grave. The scariest things we saw were probably "drunk gay guys" (quoting Jacob). Near the end of the tour, we each got a donut from Voodoo Doughnuts. It's a good thing too because my bf and I never went back (maybe next time).
The next day, we went on the Underground Portland tour. Our guide was Terry. This guy looked like a cross between Jimmy Carter and Mr. Furly, er, Don Knotts (RIP), except younger... and alive.
Terry was a pretty funny guy. My first impression was that he was gonna be like my dad (retired military dude who knows a lot about history and "tries" to be funny). So, yeah, once again, I was proved wrong.
Towards the end of our tour, some weirdo chick joined our group for a block. She was fascinated with the fact that in Portland, you can be nude in public (but engaging in self-pleasuring or simulated self-pleasuring is prohibited). Another thing I learned is "Couch St." is not pronounced like the word for sofa, but a slang term for a part of the female anatomy.
Anyway, unlike the Seattle Underground tour, most of the underground tunnels in Portland are filled up. So, it was a little disappointing, but educational nonetheless.
Because of Tom Leykis, I didn't have high expectations for this city. However, now that I've been there, I can't wait to go back - maybe even permanently!
I highly recommend both tours. They're basically similar routes but with different information. Plus, the first tour was at 10 PM and the second one was at 2 PM. The foodie one sells out quick, so book in advance! -
Review from Laura K.
Hillsboro, OR
10/25/2010
On time, interesting facts/stories, professional and engaging tour guide, and decent pricing.
I had a guest in town and we actually signed up for a tour w/ American Hub Tours because we had Groupon Coupons--but they didn't even show up to pick us up!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, at the last minute, we booked with Portland Walking Tours on my phone and walked to the meeting spot. Thank god for technology and online payments!
I'd be really interested in checking out the other tours (underground, epicurean, etc)!
Bring an umbrella just in case. -
Review from jason b.
Beaverton, OR
1/17/2011
Beyond Bizarre Ghost Tour a serious flop.
I love tours. I like walking around a city learning about the history, structures, oddities, etc. Sadly, this tour was awful. The first 25 minutes were cool while we got to explore the basement of Old Town Pizza, from there on... over 2 hours we just walked around the sidewalks of Portland being shown where someone once saw a ghost, then the next building someone once saw a ghost.... but then the exciting part, yet another building where on the 3rd floor on a Wednesday night in 1988... someone saw a ghost. We spent $19 each for a group of seven for my 40th birthday... was a waste of money but more importantly A WASTE OF TIME. We got bilked. -
Review from Etta T.
11/12/2010
We did the "Beyond Bizarre" tour and just loved it! No one in my party was a "ghosty" or even a skeptic really... we were there for fun and hoping to get some history about the area.
Our tour guide Jacob rocked! Though the ghost stories he told were plenty, he never tried to force the idea that any of them were totally true... and didn't say anything that made me question his sanity and/or trustworthiness.
It is a bit of walking - and almost entirely outdoors - but they disclose this on their website and the ticket confirmation so we were prepared! The stories and the history told along the way are all very interesting. Jacob even gave us some facts about the architecture of some of the buildings! Everyone had fun playing with their EMF's -- the room under Old Town Pizza is pretty damn unnerving.
I was so interested in the Parking Lot that I went home and spent an hour online trying to find more info. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I was still feeling a bit unsettled from the tour and didn't have the nerve to look for the picture Jacob says was taken at the base of the stairs in the Benson until morning!
Show up early and get some Pizza at Old Town beforehand -- that place is fantastic -- and fascinating!
I plan on doing the "Best of Portland' tour next summer, and if it is as fun as this one was, I know we will have a great time!
Many, many thanks to Jacob and Portland Walking Tours (and our awesome group!) for making this such a fantastic night! -
Review from Mark V.
Chicago, IL
10/19/2011
We had an awesome time on the Epicurean Excursion tour. Our stops included a chocolate shop, a food truck for asian-themed tacos, The People's Sandwich, Dan & Louis' oyster bar, a salt/spice store, a frozen yogurt place, and a balsamic vinegarette tasting room (who knew such a thing existed?) Our guide was very knowledgeable and we learned as much about the non-foodie aspects of the city as we did about what we were eating. A great way to see the city, and a lot of great food!
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Review from Tami G.
Herndon, VA
9/1/2010
I took the "Best of Portland" tour on 8/25/10. I use to live in Portland, but always took downtown for granted. So my mom and I decided to get some history while we were back in town on vacation.
Our tour guide Terry, was fantastic. We had a smaller group- 5 people (and a guide dog!) total. YES- guide dog. One of the guys on our tour was blind (we'll call him "D" for this review).
The tour itself landed a rating of 4 stars, but I bumped it up to 5 because of how Terry interacted with "D." Terry was comfortable with "D" holding on to his arm during the tour, and would describe in great detail the things we stopped to talk about.
Terry was both knowledgeable and funny- I honestly learned a lot about Portland.
The Best of Portland Walk is well worth the $ ($19) and in my opinion is a must do when visiting (or living) in Portland. -
Review from miss b.
Albany, CA
8/15/2011
Took the "Underground Portland" tour. We saw some pretty cool spots but I would have liked to have heard more shady information about Portland since it is obvious that it's not all that great of a place (oops did I say that?). We heard a lot about booze and prostitution, but what about more issues like the obvious homeless problem? I just think more could have been covered. It was cool to see an underground tunnel and some of the tourist spots. Just give me more gritty details!
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Review from Natalie C.
Fort Worth, TX
6/28/2010
The Epicurean Excursion was so much fun and such a great way to see the city! I did the 10am tour on a Wednesday, and we lucked out with a small group of only 6. The stops were very fun and definitely gave us a variety of flavors and perspectives. This particular tour included stops at: Hot Lips Pizza, Cool Moon ice cream parlor, Pearl Bakery, Cacao, Stumptown Coffee, Flying Elephants deli, TeaZone, and In Good Taste. From what Alissa (our guide) told us, every tour is different, but some of the stops repeat, depending also on whether you do the morning or afternoon tour.
I wouldn't arrive for this particular tour on an empty stomach, but certainly don't arrive full. I had a coffee and protein bar about an hour beforehand and found it the perfect foundation for all the tour treats! Definitely wear comfy shoes and dress cooly/warmly (depending on weather) as you will be outdoors for the most part. They will provide bottled rain water for you to sip on. The guides are also great about catching you up on Portland history in general, and they'll take pictures for you if you'd like. (I did this tour by myself while visiting friends in the city, and I found myself most comfortable.)
They will also do their best to accommodate their guests, so if you have any food or beverage allergies/preferences (for example, I'm vegetarian and we had one vegan on our tour), just make a note of it when buying your ticket (there will be a space for comments). -
Review from Keith S.
Philadelphia, PA
8/25/2010
What a jam packed schedule! We have done walking tours in other cities but this one had the most stops (10) of any tour we had previously been on, especially for only 3.5 hours. It was a great way to see the city and experience a wide variety of the food options that are available.
In addition to the local food experiences and tastes our guide offered many great insights into local Portland history and culture.
I would recommend this to anyone with an afternoon in the city and looking to learn more about the history and food of Portland.Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 8/25/2010
Wow! Thanks Keith! We are glad that everyone enjoyed their… More » -
Review from Stef M.
12/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is a review for the Epicurean walking tour. I have done it twice and it was great both times! It seems pretty expensive for what you get, especially considering you should tip your tour guide at the end too. But it was fun.
I went on the Epicurean walking tour of Portland with 2 friends, and it was a blast. If you're into food, beer, or both, you absolutely have to do this tour when you're in town! It seemed kind of pricey at $59 per person, but it's totally worth it - it's basically a tour, which is probably going to cost half that much anyway, PLUS a moving feast and 4-hour brunch as you wander around the Pearl District, sampling food and drink from different places along the way.
You get a backstage view of the Pearl Bakery (croissant, baguette, chocolate muffin, and a brioche-like bread studded with anise and candied orange peel), Flying Elephant Deli(tomato soup made with fresh orange juice), Bridgeport Brewing Co.(we tried 3 different brews here), Via Delizia (gelato, sorbetto, and ice cream, as well as Illy coffee and some tiny melt-in-your-mouth chocolate truffles), Hot Lips Pizza (seasonal pizza with broccoli, cheddar, and hazelnuts, and a fresh apple soda to wash it down), and In Good Taste (we sampled a local Pinot Noir and a few different mustards).
Along the way, our guide Natalie told us stories about Portland, where the Pearl District got its name (officially AND unofficially), and data about how fast the area is growing and what interesting buildings we were passing. (Such as the Otis elevator building, which has ... only one floor.)
This tour was great - I thought 4 hours would be kind of long, but it flew past. We hopped on the streetcar a couple of times to go longer distances, and also walked around. We spent about 20-30 minutes at each place, which was just enough time, and visiting 8 or so places was a good amount to see for one day.
I do wish we could be provided with a list of the places we've gone, maybe at the end of the tour, but we were given different items throughout the tour, like a business card/coupon for a free latte, or a schedule of cooking classes at In Good Taste. That's really great. And you can re-use the button you're given to wear for the tour so you can get a discount on another tour. Good deal! -
Review from Graham I.
7/5/2010
Did the Best of Portland and BeyondBizarre in March and the Epicurean tour at end of June.
Really enjoyed Best of Portland - we are from out of town and although we had spent some time here before it was a good primer on local history. Guide was terrific. He had been in Animal House! Well spoken and very enthusiastic. He kept three 40 something adults and teenage daughter interested and engaged throughout.
Beyond Bizarre was fun but not as great as the Best of Portland. Guide was good but thrown off a bit by a 5year old on tour 5 year old was a great kid but threw the guide out of her groove it seemed. Tour was ok but I would have enjoyed more history or more ghosts or more something. Judging from other reviews of this tour it may be due for a rewrite.
Epicurian tour was not high gourmet but that suited us fine. Cacao was great. Stumptown made a couple of really poor carafes of coffee - maybe they should be dropped because the coffee was really poor and the standing on sidewalk outside did not contribute to the experience. The Pearl bakery was really good, also enjoyed Hot Lips pizza, the tea place was informative and interesting, our favorite was Cool Moon ice cream where the owner gave us a very enthusiastic talk and sample was amazing. Our guide was really very good - she was enthusiastic and well informed. More stops with interested and engaged owners like Cool Moon and less sidewalk purgatory at a disinterested Stumptown would be my suggestion.
I think walking tours are a great way to be introduced to a city and Portland Walking Tours has enthusiastic guides with a ot of passion for their city. Recommended.Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 8/23/2010
Hi Graham. Wow! Three tours. It looks like the only one you… More » -
Review from Doni W.
Portland, OR
9/2/2010
We were visiting Portland this last weekend, and went on the Portland Walking Tour - specifically the Sunday, 10AM tour on 8/29. Our tour guide was Herb, and he was awesome!
It was the BEST possible way we could've experienced the food scene in Portland. Herb was not only SO very knowledgeable about Portland and all of the eateries we toured, but he was FUN. The tour was tasty and entertaining. I learned so much about the city itself and about the restaurant and shop owners.
The selection of food stops on the tour was perfect - I got to try new things, sample local wines, and learn about restaurants and shops in the area.
Speaking of local - that's another great thing about the tour. There's so much emphasis on local and sustainable in Portland, and you really get a sense of that on this tour.
I'd do it again, and plan to! -
Review from Kori S.
Vancouver, WA
7/10/2011
Took the Chocolate tour. Not great, folks. Tour-guide Bob was very nice and had a good sense of humor. No complaints there. Chocolate was hit and miss, mostly miss. When your hostess asks you what your sample tastes like and you reply "tabacco" , not good. Just because chefs in Portland can invent chocolate mixed with anything, doesn't mean they should. They seem so anxious to impress you with exotic pairings..." oohh, chocolate and beetle dung", they don't understand that it needs to taste good! You've got some work to do on this one.
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Review from Avitania B.
6/7/2009 2 photos
My review is of the Epicurean Tour, which was a 4 hour walking tour -- which was way too long and nowhere close to what I would really call "epicurean." Well, I suppose it would be, if your idea of fine food includes a selection of salad and breadsticks from the Olive Garden.
Our tour leader was friendly and pleasant... but really didn't seem to know much about food, pronouncing amuse bouche as "amuse boo-shay" and basically using the Slow Food movement as an excuse for the slow, boring pace of the tour.
The samples from the restaurants were pretty lame, too. The Heathman provided as an "amuse boo-shay" a bland, pedestrian deviled egg (!!) (which tasted as if it were procured from the local Safeway) while patting themselves on the back about having a James Beard award-winning chef in their kitchen. Most of the places we visited (Cacao, Flying Elephants Deli, Yoga Pearl, etc) we didn't speak to or even SEE the principals of the places we were sampling. Which means, I guess, that those vendors think this tour is a piece of crap, too.
The only standouts were the visits to the Rogue Brewery, which included a great presentation and tastings of their spirits hosted by their distiller, and a stop at Sweet Masterpiece, where we were treated to a presentation of wine and chocolate pairing. These visits were the only worthwhile parts of the tour.
I'd recommend that this tour company take a few epicurean tours in other cities (the Savor Seattle Gourmet Tour, for example, is amazing) and find out what makes a worthwhile tour. Otherwise, I'd say this one in its current form is overpriced and not really worth the time.Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 6/25/2009
Your June 5th guide, Herb, *does* knows how to pronounce… More » -
Review from Robb R.
Seattle, WA
2/19/2009
What a great set of tours! On a recent trip to Portland, I got to experience both the epicurean and best of Portland tours. I had a blast getting to learn about all Portland had to offer.
The epicurean tour was both fun and tasty and I got to learn about some amazing places to eat, but also about the businesses themselves and the culture of the food in Portland with a focus on local organic and sustainable food.
The best of Portland tour was also a great time, understanding the values of Portland, the history of the city (and those ubiqitous bubblers) and gave me a renewed sense of appreciation for the city to the south of Seattle.
The tour guides obviously enjoyed what they did very much, which only added to the great experience. I had a great time and would recommend these tours to anyone. -
Review from Elizabeth M.
Austin, TX
5/12/2010
I really wish that I had Yelped this before buying my ticket. The Beyond Bizarre is a no-go, folks. I won't go into all the gory details, but let's just say that our tour guide made a woman cry. And it wasn't from fright. Possibly from boredom, but most likely from cruel words.
I genuinely wish that, had I chosen one of their tours at all, I would have chosen the Epicurean Excursion instead.
The only saving grace is that when I contacted them to file a complaint, I did receive a wholehearted apology. -
Review from Jennifer F.
Beaverton, OR
10/22/2010
I went on two tours a week ago with my husband. We are locals, who know almost nothing (apparently) about our city! We went on the Underground tour during the day with Jared and we went on the Beyond Bizarre Tour the following night with Donna. Both guides were fantastic, funny and very knowledgeable. The tours themselves were great. We learned so much and had an absolute blast. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the city, wants to have a good time doing it, and is interested in the more... "dirty" side of history.
Great fun. I recommend the day time tour for older teenage kids, and the night time tour I took was for 18 and over. -
Review from Darkling S.
Chicago, IL
9/4/2010
So I struggled with how many stars to give the Epicurean tour ... I settled on only two because it failed in the food category. It was educational and entertaining because Alyssa was able to answer all questions and offered many insights into local culture.
As for the "food" I was disappointed. Everyone agrees that the bakery and Cacao were positive experiences. But this tour does not offer a true representation of the host of wonderful and fresh dining choices in the city. In Good Taste was a waste - 3 crackers + mustard and ketchup?!?!? With Pinot Noir?!?!
Definitely NOT worth the price. This was billed as a foodie tour, not a city tour! -
Review from Emily H.
McLean, VA
4/15/2010
I was told that this was a "do not miss" tour when visiting Portland. So I did just that, I arranged to take the tour on a Monday and had a wonderful time. We were able to taste some great places and learn some history along the way.
There are three places that really stand out in my mind: Cacao Chocolates where you can drink delicious chocolate, Pearl Bakery which has delicious croissants and baguettes, and Flying Elephants Deli which had a delicious tomato and orange soup. I also enjoyed Hot Lips pizza and their spinach and alfredo sauce pizza.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. We walked all over town and had a wonderful 4 hour tour. -
Review from A K.
Seattle, WA
9/1/2010
My husband and I only had a few hours to get to know Portland, so the walking tour (Best of Portland) was a nice introduction. Good guide, nice background on the city, and felt like I got more out of it than I would have, had I explored on my own.
Didn't get five stars because of a larger group size and some obnoxious older adults who kept making snide comments. -
Review from Angelyn N.
Portland, OR
11/9/2009
If you are from out of town, it looks like based on other reviews, that you may like this.
If you are actually wanting to learn more about the city you love, STAY AWAY. You can learn more in a Willamette Week.
I went on a ghost tour on halloween night. It was embarassing how bad it was. Like, I almost felt sorry for our tour guide, it was that bad. And for the price of the ticket ($29!!), I would have had more fun with a few friends at an amazing restaurant for happy hour.
They did not follow through on what they promised on the website, and the stories they told were lame. Perhaps because we Portlanders love this town so much and appreciate her history, we venture to learn some on our own, or maybe it's because we expect more from the folks who claim to love her the way we do. In my opinion, this walking tour company might have been a group of folks who *used* to love Portland like the rest of us, but somehow decided making money off her beauty was more important... and thus the magic is lost.
I would highly recommend you find some amazing hidey-hole in portland (because we are a town famous for really awesome things to do) and enjoy your night NOT on a Portland walking tour. -
Review from Robyn T.
5/7/2009 2 photos
This is a great way to learn more about Portland in an informative and fun atmosphere.
I took the Best of Portland walking tour which was just under 2.5 hours. I'd been to Portland once before and felt like I learned a great deal about the city's history (you see the actual penny used in the infamous coin toss - Portland of course won out but the city could have been called New Boston?); architecture (Portlandia's hand is about 5'4 and the repousse technique used to create her is the same as the Statue of Liberty); and culture.
Our guide Bob was friendly. It was just my friend (a Portland native) and I on the tour so things were pretty casual and we asked a lot of questions.
I would definitely go again next time I visit...I'd love to try the Epicurean tour. -
Review from Tina W.
Santa Ana, CA
9/20/2011
Our first day in Portland we went on the Downtown Walking Tour with Bruce. Had an awesome time. Bruce is very knowledgeable and fun! The tour went at the perfect pace. Highly recommended.
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Review from Dan M.
Portland, OR
2/6/2010
I went on the Epicurean Excursion with several relatives visiting from out of town. Wow, what a great way to introduce them to Portland for the first time! Not only was our guide, Damon, a fount of knowledge about this city, but the experience was all the more fun because we got to eat and drink our way through it! Damon had a conversational way of rattling of answers to any question we gave him; there seemed to be nothing he didn't know. In addition, when I informed him of my dairy allergy at the beginning of the tour, he went out of his way to find dairy-free alternatives everywhere we stopped. I didn't go hungry for one moment.
Some of the places we visited were familiar favorites of mine (McMenamins, Hot Lips Pizza), but most of them were new discoveries for this Portland resident of three and half years. They were all located in downtown and the Pearl District, so it was easy to get from one location to the next at a leisurely stroll over the four-hour tour.
The emphasis of the tour was on providing a historical and cultural context for food and beverages in Portland, emphasizing in particular the elements of FLOSS: fresh, local, organic, sustainable, and seasonal. The tour guide informed us that as a result of this emphasis, the foods sampled on the tour change with each season. Knowing that, I would definitely go on this tour again and try other foods the next time I have out-of-town visitors.
My relatives and I gushed about the walking tour for the rest of the day. Every one of us had an amazing experience. -
Review from Taylor K.
Everett, WA
Updated - 7/15/2010
A little update to my Bizarre tour experience...A few emails and things were taken care of. It seems there is some new employee's and that may be the reason the tour was off on my evening.
Through email exchange I received some great customer service and a full refund of my ticket fees.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2010
We attened the late night Beyond Bizzare tour, and walked away shortly after. This was a joke, and… Read more »
Comment from David S. of Portland Walking Tours 7/14/2010
Thanks for the feedback Taylor. I'm sorry to hear that the… More » -
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Review from Barstow F.
Seattle, WA
1/29/2011
The Portland "Underground Tour"
Don't be deceived by the name (a clear "bait & switch") as this tour has almost nothing to do with the Shanghai Tunnels. It is 98% an above-ground walking tour that is pleasantly historic but little more.
Whatever you might have been expecting (and I wish they would just come right out and say this up front) you won't be in any tunnels, you won't see any cells, artifacts or trapdoors. The only "underground" is a few minutes dodging low pipes in the basement of a pizza joint. Totally misleading.
