Impending Travel Alert

Mother Vel-DuRay and I are planning a madcap weekend get-a-way to Portland and points south in July. Think round pink suitcases, and matching Mother/daughter outfits (Mother suffers under the delusion that people think we're sisters, even though she's CONSIDERABLY older than I am, and looks it) We'll be taking the train, of course, and staying at a rather exclusive downtown location.

There's several places I never fail to stop at: The Space Room Lounge for instance. And all of the funky junky shops on the way there, along Hawthorne Boulvevard. Meir & Frank, even though it has now been absorbed into the Macy's chain, is also fun. (Their downtown store is being revamped, and God only knows how that will turn out, but we hope springs eternal.) Lastly, the Benson Hotel is always nice (such a cute bartender!) even though I haven't really trusted them since they replaced their Trader Vic's with a (gulp) el Gaucho.

But what other things? Are there other places for two ladies of A Certain Age to have a stately adventure? We know all about Stark Street, of course, so don't bother with that. And we really aren't the museum or Garden type, so that's out. And we don't like to walk long distances (our feet hurt) and we won't have a car, so don't bother with things not on a bus route. And don't bother telling us about Powell's - we're not illiterates, you know. We just need something new to do.

So?