More than just a basic Portland city tour, our half-day Portland City Tour will reveal the laid-back small city feel of this fun and thriving downtown. You will experience the best Portland sites including the International Rose Garden, Pioneer Courthouse Square, NW 23rd (the best shopping area in Portland), the Pearl District, the South Park Blocks, the PSU Farmers Market (on Saturday AM tour only), and N. Mississippi (Monday-Friday & Sunday AM tours). Learn about the modern heart of the city, Portland’s downtown, and the historical importance it has played in the state’s history. Enjoy the sights of Pioneer Courthouse Square, fondly referred to as Portland’s Living Room. This community space opened in 1984, and has become the center of the city’s social activity with over 300-programmed event days. Pioneer Square is the perfect spot for people-watching and observing Portland culture at its best: everything from fresh-food markets to beer festivals to political protests to the city’s largest community sing-along. More than 10,000 individual rose bushes bloom in the International Rose Test Garden from late May through October, representing over 610 different rose varieties. The majority of roses in the Garden are commercially available. About 10 to 20 varieties are replaced each year with some of the best new roses released onto the market. We will visit the rose garden seasonally. Drive through NW 23rd Avenue which is the heart of the Nob Hill District and is filled with century-old Victorian and Craftsman-style storefronts housing unique boutiques alongside national retailers, interspersed with coffee shops and on-trend restaurants like Salt & Straw Ice Cream. In short, it’s a shopper’s and diners paradise. Drive through Portland’s Pearl District, which is the realization of a big dream. What was once a largely abandoned industrial district is now one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in the city. Scattered throughout, you will find cobblestone streets, loading docks, and lofty buildings that offer a glimpse into the district’s grittier past. It is an urban renaissance with its own unique blend of artistry, and productivity. On Saturday visit the PSU Farmers Market is a world-class farmers market that contributes to the success of local food growers and producers, and creates a vibrant community gathering space. The Portland Farmers Market at Portland State is large, spanning almost three blocks throughout the Portland State University campus. This means there is no shortage of vendors for the whole family to love. The options of where to buy and eat are truly endless at this market. The market also has musicians and a Chef in the Market series which is a showcasing of cooking with seasonal marketing ingredients from local chefs. The PSU Farmers Market will only be visited on our Saturday Morning Portland City Tour and you will have time to walk around and explore the market.