Portland Tour Review Tour, Portland, Review

myversa

I just came back from a 3 day Portland tour and just want to share you my thought.  This was not a shopping only tour but also had some sightseeing too.  This is the tour I went with: http://www.honeyholidays.ca/chinese/westore3d.html.

We mainly went to 4 places.

    * Mt. St. HELENS聖海倫斯火山旅遊中心(自費成人∕小童 US$3)；
      住宿：春田市SPRINGFIELD / SHILO INN 或同級酒店
    * 北美洲"撒哈拉沙漠" FLORENCE﹣乘坐沙灘車(自費成人US$10);
    * 參觀2500萬年歷史之海獅洞，乘坐電梯深入地下208呎，
      了解海獅生活習性 (自費成人US$8 小童6-15歲 US$4.5);
     * 天主教露天教堂﹣建於1924年，佔地64英畝，以一樓高十層之天然岩洞作為禮堂；

The only thing that I would recommend is 乘坐沙灘車.  It was fun ride even though we were in a big car.  I think riding in small group would be much more fun.  We were lucky to see some sea lion in the sea lion cave but it was pretty far away.  Not really worth the trip.  As for the church, the tour guide gave us too little time staying.

Tips for joining tour:

1.  Read the itinerary carefully, like this time it says 聖海倫斯火山"旅遊中心" so he only took us to "旅遊中心" not the volcano itself.  In addition, it says "海獅洞" so he did not guarantee us to see the sea lion.
2.  When you book the tour, make sure the travel agency book you the right tour.  We have two girls who intended to book the "shopping tour", which supposed to go to Portland downtown to shop but the agency book them this tour instead.
3.  Also put spare small bill for last day because you need them for paying tips.  I had to ask for change for small bill at that moment...

myversa

14# fibbi

I should have walked the garden... I thought we did not have time so I omitted that part of the walk...

gleaner

I looked at the things you did within 3 days and must admit that's quite a bit!

Mt. St. Helens is a huge place. It would take a couple of days to trek up to the viewing pts let alone going up to the rim (which is not allowed anyways). As for the Sea Lion's cave and the Catholic church, I find them too 'tourist' and can't stand going with a group.

I never went with a tour group as I like to have my own pace. I am a bit surprise the tour does not have the columbia gorge in it...it's such a spectacular site.

Maybe I am getting old now...I don't buy much at these shopping outlets anymore so I don't worry about taxes....and I rather pay taxes (using my Nexus) than trying to cheat them over $50 bucks....just my thought.

fibbi

Picture from the upper level garden (the Catholic church in portland...)

news

went for the same tour few years back...the sand dune was fun!

myversa

pictures please?
shutterbug 發表於 2009-10-13 15:51

still in my camera.

will post some pictures this week after my dad leave for Taiwan tonight.

shutterbug

pictures please?

myversa

yes I like the 天主教露天教堂 and I paid $3.75 if I remember correct to use the elevator.  However, we only got to stay 30 minutes and lineup to buy tickets already took us 10 minutes; therefore we did not have enough time to finish the garden...

fibbi

天主教露天教堂 I went last time on my own and enjoy it much more than on tour. There is actually a nice garden on the 2nd level (we paid $2 and take the elevator up).

myversa

that was the most fun 30 minutes of the whole trip.. if I have driven the car my car, I do not think I dare to go down hill like he did.  so taking the 20 person car has it own advantage too.