ACM SIGAda 2008 Travel Information

Conference Hotel	Hotel Reservations and other Information
Flying to Portland	Portland has a very nice medium-sized airport that wins awards for convenient business travel. However, it is not a major hub, so there are only a few nonstop flights from the East Coast. If you must change planes, consider doing so in Seattle, which has more nonstop flights and is a more manageable airport than Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, or Dallas. Seattle is about 160 miles -- a short regional-jet hop -- from Portland. If you're flying from Europe, Portland is served nonstop by Lufthansa/United from Frankfurt. In Spring 2008, KLM/Northwest is beginning nonstop service from Amsterdam. Seattle has more nonstop service from Europe.
Local Transportation	There should be no need to rent a car, unless you're planning a side trip outside the city. The hotel charges $12 per night for parking. Taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is typically about $40.00. This is the best way if you're arriving late in the evening. Portland has better public transportation than most American cities. You can get to the conference hotel from the airport by TriMet Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) light rail -- every 15 minutes, about 30 minutes to downtown -- followed by a short bus ride. The MAX station is just beyond Baggage Claim #1; the fare to downtown is $2.05. To plan your trip, go to www.trimet.org and enter From: "Portland Airport" To: "310 SW Lincoln". This site will give you real-time schedules of the next few trains and buses. You'll be directed to the MAX to downtown, followed by the #17 bus, which also runs at roughly 15-minute intervals (30 minutes on weekends) and will leave you at 1st and Lincoln. The hotel is 2 short blocks to your right. If you like to walk and the weather is nice, skip the bus and take the MAX to SW 3rd, then turn left and walk south on 3rd Ave. About halfway, the street ends at a short staircase leading to a landscaped walkway which ends right at the hotel. The hotel is about one mile from the MAX station at SW 3rd.
Downtown Attractions	Downtown Portland is accessible by foot, bus, or streetcar from the conference hotel. Portland has an active (and at times quirky) nightlife, and this is never truer than around Halloween. Downtown blocks are only 200 feet long, so walks are often shorter than they look on a map. Popular attractions downtown: River Place -- a short walk from the hotel. Several restaurants and cafes; a microbrewery; a great view of the Willamette (Will-AM-ette) River. Pioneer Courthouse Square -- "Portland's Living Room" Powell's Bookstore -- The world's largest independent bookstore, notable for being the first major bookstore to shelve new & used books together. Has a good coffee bar, and is open till 11 PM 365 days a year. The Streetcar stops by the door. (Powell's also has a technical annex for just math and science a few blocks from the main location) Saturday Market (outdoor market, mostly crafts, operates both Saturday and Sunday) Classical Chinese Garden (in Chinatown, largest garden of its type in the U.S.) -- a block-square replica of an old Chinese mansion. Pearl District -- Home of numerous restaurants and microbreweries. Portland has excellent craft beer and more breweries than any other city. Museums and shopping and dining, just like everyplace else!
Weather	Oregon weather is always unpredictable, so knowing "average" weather is not very helpful. In late October, you should be prepared for anything from 45-70 degrees. Most visitors expect rain. It does rain frequently Nov-March; however, a Portland rain is generally a light shower in the afternoon. Umbrellas are primarily a means to identify tourists. On the other hand, the Pacific Northwest sun is glorious, and the sun does shine frequently in October.
Helpful Facts	All the downtown attractions listed above are within 2.1 miles of the conference hotel, and all are a free trip on Portland's public transit system. Oregon has no sales tax. Portland is ranked as the 3rd highest city in per capita coffee consumption. You can find espresso on almost every block.