Still haven’t registered for the 2022 VetPartners Mid-Year Meeting? You might want to check out “6 Reasons You Don’t Want to Miss the 2022 VetPartners Mid-Year Meeting” for program details. But, if it’s the meeting’s location that’s holding you up, read on for our take on the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon.
We can’t think of a better place to connect with VetPartners members as we learn, network, collaborate, and strategize for the future of veterinary medicine. The meeting will take place September 28–30 at the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront, nestled directly on the riverfront and close to a variety of Portland’s best restaurants, breweries, and outdoor spaces. There’s so much to explore in Portland that we made a list of seven attractions you won’t want to miss while visiting this special city (during your downtime away from the meeting, of course).
#1: Visit the world’s largest bookstore
If your idea of a good time is devouring a good book, you must visit Powell’s City of Books. Powell’s is considered to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world, covering more than 68,000 square feet—an entire city block!—with nine color-coded rooms and over 3,500 different sections. No matter what type of books you like to read, you will find them at Powell’s, so leave some extra room in your suitcase.
#2: Stop and smell the flowers in the “City of Roses”
Portland is known as the “City of Roses” because the weather is ideal for growing the thorny beauties, and it just so happens you will be visiting during one of the best rose-viewing months. Take some time to connect with nature and yourself with a visit to the Portland International Rose Test Garden. Founded in 1917, it is the oldest continuously operated public rose test garden in the country, and it boasts more than 10,000 roses and spectacular views of downtown and Mount Hood. The garden is open daily and admission is free.
When you’re finished smelling the roses, head uphill to the Portland Japanese Garden, and continue your zen outing. Here, you’ll find an authentic Japanese tea house and meandering streams that will leave you feeling peaceful and inspired.
#3: Get your animal fix at the Oregon Zoo
We’re all animal lovers here, so indulge your passion with a trip to this renowned sanctuary. The Oregon Zoo is home to more than 2,600 animals from more than 215 species. Take a stroll around the zoo’s 64 acres, as you explore 23 exhibits and “ooh” and “ahh” at the adorable critters.
#4: Get inspired at Portland’s museums
The Portland Art Museum is the largest art museum in Oregon—and one of the oldest in the country—and houses a large and wide-ranging art collection. The museum also incorporates the Northwest Film Center and includes more than 1,000 square feet of exhibition space, displaying 42,000 individual works. The museum has strong collections of prints and drawings, photography, and Asian, Native American (especially Pacific Coast), and Northwest art, and its European and American collections contain some extraordinary individual pieces, especially from the 19th and 20th centuries.
After the art museum, head over to the Oregon Maritime Museum, a floating nautical exhibition in the form of a stern-wheel tugboat called “The Portland.” The Portland was built in the late 1940s and is the only tugboat of its kind that is still in working condition. Docked on the Willamette River, The Portland is almost completely restored and houses a variety of maritime memorabilia.
#5: Grab a drink with new and old friends
Downtown Portland has a bustling craft beer scene, and the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront is surrounded by 60 breweries. Whether you love an IPA or lager, you’ll find something you enjoy, and maybe even discover a new favorite!
Don’t worry if you’re not a beer enthusiast. Check out the Portland Wine Bar, full of wines crafted in small vineyards of twenty acres or less in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest. While you’re there, try the truffle popcorn with grated pecorino cheese—you’ll thank us later.
#7: Get moving in Portland’s urban wilderness
If you’re looking for a beautiful place to escape the city and run, cycle, or hike, check out Forest Park’s 80 miles of trails. Located in the city’s northwest corner and covering 5,156 acres, the park is home to 112 birds and 62 mammal species. Forest Park stretches more than seven miles along the eastern slope of the Tualatin Mountains, overlooking Northwest Portland and the convergence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and provides a true Northwest forest experience without leaving city limits.
Portland’s picturesque landscape is the perfect backdrop to get inspired at the 2022 VetPartners Mid-Year Meeting. Early bird registration ends August 20, so register now to save!
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