Post w Portland, Oregon, United States

Here are a few resources: Best hikes: http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2016/05/the_7_most_iconic_hikes_in_por.html Best Cheap restaurants: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland_cheap_eats/2017/03/cheap_eats_2017_99_delicious_d.html

Not much in the way of jazz in Portland. I think the main jazz club closed down in Portland recently.

A hike through Washington or Forest Park up to Pittock Mansion is a classic that never gets old. You can walk there from downtown or take the blue or red line MAX light rail to Washington Park Station and look for the Wildwood Trail. Pittock Mansion can be busy with tourists on a sunny day but that's because it has great views of the city and the building itself is neat. I suggest starting at Lower MacLeay Park and hiking through Forest Park to the mansion. It's a nice hike and the forest is amazing. Bus #15 goes near Lower McLeay from downtown. Get off at NW Thurman and 29th. https://www.google.com/maps/place/NW+Thurman+%26+29th/@45.5357874,-122.7108991,17.74z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x549509e9f2adf02d:0x1b3668a7adc941d9!2sLower+Macleay+Park!8m2!3d45.5359671!4d-122.7125142!3m4!1s0x549509e99e9fd82f:0xa53877eddf7a8b0e!8m2!3d45.5353368!4d-122.7110691

Mount Tabor in Southeast Portland is also a nice place to get some good views of the city and take a walk. It has a big reservoir and beautiful sunset views.

For eating, it wouldn't be the Portland experience without trying some food carts. To start off, go to SW 10th and Alder. That's the biggest pod downtown. Another great pod is https://www.facebook.com/tidbitfoodfarmandgarden/ . Street food will be your cheapest option.

If you've got a bit of money to splurge, Tasty 'n Sons is a good place to go for breakfast. It'll set you back maybe $20-30 but it's well worth it.

I haven't explored the jazz scene... something I'd like to do. So, I can't recommend anything there.

Great streets to check out are NE Alberta, N Mississippi, SE Hawthorne, SE Division.

Feel free to reach out if you need someone to hang out with. Welcome to Portland!

There is a lot to do on 23rd Avenue in Portland. If you find yourself here, there is a jazz bar with live music called Jo Rotisserie & Bar. It is connected to Papa Hayden's (which is a great spot for desserts). Just double check that Joe's has live music the night you are going. There is a great tea bar on 23rd called Tea Chai Te. It is upstairs above some shops. Pretty much anywhere you go for food will be top notch. I love Toro Bravo, Papa Hayden's, and Boxer Ramen (their salad is amazing and their ramen is inexpensive).

Anything you do in the Gorge will be nice. It is about a 40-minute drive from the city. Check the condition of these hikes, since September's fire softened the soil a lot. If you do go here, Angel's Crest is a favorite of mine.

It's true that Jimmy Mak's closed not long ago, there are still plenty of places to see jazz if you're interested. Try Solae's Lounge on Alberta, the Jack London Revue downtown, or Produce Row on the inner east side. My friend Haley Horsfal has a very good trio that plays at Wilf's, which is the restaurant in the train station. Portland is known for being in the vanguard of the "farm to table" movement, and there are any number of fantastic restaurants that don't qualify as "cheap eats" that you should definitely try if they fit your budget: https://pdx.eater.com/maps/38-best-portland-oregon-restaurants

Jazz is sorta weak in this town. Nothing like what you might see in SF, Chicago, or NY since it is more of a tween "alternative" music scene. Do have a look for Jazz in local alternative newspapers and others have mentioned the few places that do offer jazz performances. I have found Jazz here to be rather standard stuff - not interesting to me.

Everything else about Portland is befitting a second tier US city that boasts of good farm to table (like most every city), good beer (like most every city), good donuts (like most every city), and good coffee (like most every city), and legal marijuana (like just a few cities but soon most I bet). Bring a rain jacket. You might need it.

You cannot do justice to all of the amazing eating joints in Portland if you had 2 weeks! Tons of great options for every dietary preference and in every price range! Eater PDX typically lists the hottest restaurants in town and updates the list every month. The city isn't particularly known for jazz music (unlike Kansas City, Chicago, NYC etc). But when it comes to hikes and good food, you can't beat Portland :)

The townie hikes are okay, the 'must' hikes are east, in Columbia River gorge. Cape Horn, east of Vancouver, and further east, Beacon Rock, and Hamilton Mountain. Places to find jazz, with dancing, Blue Diamond, and Secret Society on NE Russell

Lower Mcleay trail to pittock mansions a good in city hike. Lots of hikes are closed because of fires but Latourell falls is a nice easy trail and it’s open, if you can make it out (you’ll need a car) start at vista house And take the historic Columbia river hwy instead of the freeway. It’s more of a scenic route :).

Any food pods/carts, pips donuts is good...but go during the week to avoid a long line. Goodfoot on a Friday night is fun. Departure and Revolution Hall have great rooftop views.

Blue Diamond is fun for jazz it’s usually a lot of older folks but a fun place to dance.

Sellwood is a nice park (dog park area) that has a chill vibe by the sand/ water.

Hope this helps a bit

Jazz: Spare room on NE 42nd near Killingsworth - more hip, casual place

Hikes: Oaks Bottom (short), Tryon Creek (many short-medium trails) - both are accessible by bus and near the city

Food carts - Hawthorne and 12th, Portland Mercado on Foster, Cartlandia

Food: Food court at The Zipper on Sand, food court at NE 24th and Glisan, SE 82nd Ave for Chinese and Vietnamese food