Located in the Marine west coast climate region, Portland has a climate marked by both warm, dry summers and wet, cool-to-chilly winter days. This climate is ideal for growing roses. For more than a century, Portland has been known as the “City of Roses”, with many rose gardens – most prominently the International Rose Test Garden. The city is also known for its abundant outdoor activities, liberal political values, and beer and coffee enthusiasm. Portland is home to a large number of independent microbreweries, micro distilleries and legendary food carts that contribute to the unofficial slogan “Keep Portland Weird”. August temperatures range in the low 80’s during the day to high 50’s at night. Oregon’s Mt Hood is always in view with its majestic snow-capped peak. West of the city are the farms and vineyards and to the east, the rolling foothills of Mt Hood.
You may fax your registration form to AFR at 757-627-3807 or mail to Armed Forces Reunions, 322 Madison Mews, Norfolk VA 23510. If paying by credit card, please include your card number, exp. Date, name on card and signature authorizing the charge. A 3% convenience fee will be add to the registration total. Registrations will only be accepted on a space available basis. You will be notified if you are placed on a waiting list for any activities. Phone reservations are not accepted. The Convention schedule and tour descriptions are available here: Reunion Program
Make your hotel reservations online: at Click Here or by calling 1-503-226-1611. Our code for hotel reservations is SAF.
We will be staying at the downtown Portland Hilton and Executive Towers and have a great room rate of $109 a night! The hotel may be able to extend the rate of $109 per night for the 3 days before and 3 days after the Convention dates (which are 20-24 Aug 2015) depending upon bed availability. Please check with the hotel when you make your reservations.
The location is fantastic and the hotel amenities fabulous! It is truly downtown with a shopping center 2 blocks away, numerous economical places to eat, not to take away from the upscale food at our hotel! The Portland Pioneer Square, sometimes referred to as Portland Pioneer Courthouse Square, is a brick paved oasis across the street from the hotel with tasty food carts, a tour planning center, and a Starbucks. The staggering variety of people that are always drawn to the nearly endless barrage of events has earned this location the reputation of “Portland’s Living Room“. It’s also the central hub for the Downtown Portland shopping district centered around the popular Portland Pioneer Place mall.
Portland Parks and OSU Master Gardeners offer free, guided tours daily at 1:00 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Meet at the Rose Garden store. Founded in 1917, Portland’s International Rose Test Garden – overlooking downtown – is the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States. Currently, the garden features over 10,000 rose bushes representing more than 650 rose varieties.
The renowned Powell’s City of Books is only a few blocks from our hotel. You will find new, used, out of print and rare books on 5 floors and a full city block!
Highway 47 is nicknamed the “Sip 47 Wine Route” and a winery tour was selected by you in the 2015 pre-convention surveys…more touring details to come! The Columbia Gorge and Multnomah Falls (the state’s 620 feet high cascading falls) will be another tour offered along with a city tour. We are working on a few other tours as well so stay tuned. Chinatown is the home of the Lan Su Chinese Garden which is a serene city block filled with structures inspired by Suzhou, a city in China. The garden is filled with show-stopping year-round foliage and an authentic teahouse.
Tucked into the scenic West Hills of Portland, above Washington Park and near the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden is a haven of meticulously maintained, tranquil beauty. Proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of Japan, the 5.5-acre space includes an authentic Japanese teahouse, meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood. Founded in 1963 as a symbol of healing between the World War II adversaries, the grounds feature five separate garden styles, working in harmony to create a sense of peace.
The Waterfront Park with its long green lawns, riverside paths and refreshing fountains is a magnet for walking and jogging locals and visitors alike. See the Battleship Oregon Memorial that was built in 1956 to honor an 1893 ship. It was nicknamed ‘the Bulldog of the United States Navy’ and fought in many famous battles before it was retired from service. On July 4, 1976, a time capsule was sealed in the base of the memorial. The time capsule is to be opened July 5, 2076.
Celebrating its 41st season in 2014, Portland Saturday Market is the city’s largest outdoor arts and craft market. Operating every Saturday and Sunday from March through December 24th, the market offers 251 spaces for local artisans to show their skills and sell their handmade wares. The Saturday Market is located in the North Waterfront Park. It is open on Sat. 10-5 and Sun 11-4:30.
The hotel does not provide an airport shuttle. We recommend using the Super Shuttle ($14) to the hotel. A taxi costs about $35. Detailed transportation information will be in the registration packet mailed to you late April or early May. If you are driving, parking is expensive. Public parking garages charge $27/per day to park and most do not allow In/Out privileges. Our hotel charges $27.00 per day but does allow In/Out privileges. You may want to consider parking at the airport and using the Shuttle from the airport, then use public transportation in town. Portland has a MAX light rail trail and a trolley (a.k.a. Portland streetcar) with very frequent and convenient stops to get around the city. Both stop at the Pioneer Square next to our hotel. Their schedules will be in the registration packets for you when you register at the SAFN Convention. The concierge at our hotel is always available to call a taxi for you. There are numerous “Pedi-cabs” to pedal you around the neighborhood’s attractions. A great help when you have “shopped til you dropped”.
Portland is home to 58 breweries and counting — more than any other city on earth. Since the early 1980s, Portland brewers have been hard at work, pioneering the craft beer movement with fresh ingredients like Willamette Valley hops and barley and Bull Run water. Along with bustling brewpubs and a calendar overflowing with beer-themed events, their innovative, tasty brews help the city to continually earn its “Beervana” nickname.
For more information about Portland, visit http://www.travelportland.com
