Portland Spoke – The Official Blog of Travel Portland – Travel Portland's Staff Blog

Check out our new radio ads, in which the City of Roses — brought to life by Live Wire radio’s Courtenay Hameister — invites Seattleites to come down for a different kind of weekend getaway, and different kind of discount: $72 off a two-night stay.

In these spots, produced by our friends at Sockeye, Courtenay gives our neighbors to the north four great reasons to visit: Powell’s, Pinot noir, food carts and tax-free shopping.

To which I would add one more: attending a taping of Live Wire, the spirited, literate and laugh-out-loud radio show that resumes its live shows Feb. 18 at the Alberta Rose Theater.

So, what’s on your list of can’t-miss Portland experiences?

Travel Portland – Get Different by sockeyesounds

The vineyard at Elk Cove in Gaston, Ore.

Okay, so maybe you won’t go wine tasting every day, but in Oregon, you could go wine tasting on any day. The winter is one of the best times to do it, because the tasting rooms are quieter, and you’re likely to find the winemaker around during their slow season to chat about their wines.

Some wineries do shorten their hours during this time, but luckily there is a group of wineries, Pinot 365, that are open every day. And these are some of the Willamette Valley’s best. Among them are Bergstrom, Elk Cove, Ponzi, Willakenzie Estate, Archery Summit, Sokol Blosser and more. Go to www.pinot365.com to see the whole list. Cheers!

With a new year upon us, most people take stock of what they’d like to accomplish in the next year – everything from exercising more, losing weight and breaking bad habits. However, I’m focusing on my Portland New Years’ resolutions – to explore more of the city, and its surrounding adventure, in the next year. Here are a few items on my annual “bucket list”:

Fertile Ground Festival: This 10-day festival of new works features plays, including “(I Am Still) The Duchess of Malfi” at Artists Repertory Theatre, as well as dance performances, staged readings and a compilation of short films.

Belly dance classes: Yes, I’m joining thousands of other Portlanders who take continuing education classes through Portland Community College. I’ll be learning new things and trying to NOT trip over my two left feet!

Spend a night (or two) at Timberline Lodge. Who knows, I may even add “skiing lessons” to my list!

Rendering courtesy of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation.

Out of the six largest operating steam locomotives in the world, Portland owns two — more than any other American city. These engines and more Oregon rail transport history (which predates the transcontinental railroad), will be showcased at the new Oregon Enginehouse and Rail Heritage Center set to open later this year in Portland’s Central Eastside. You may even catch traveling exhibits such as the luxurious New York Central-3 passenger car, originally owned by Harold Vanderbilt.

The fall opening of the new eastside Portland Streetcar line will complement the center. Whether you’re looking for an activity with dinner or enjoying spare time before a Blazers game, the streetcar can get you to and from the center and plenty of nearby attractions.

Dozens of volunteers worked three decades to preserve this slice of rail history, restoring the SP& S 700 and the better-known SP #4449, which pulled the 1975-76 American Freedom Train in celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. For the full story, check out this video from the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation:

Cute kid alert: I was digging through my e-mail and came across this photo from my colleague Megan, whose daughters enjoyed a holiday shopping spree in downtown Portland.