I lived in portland for just about a year and I'm going to be moving back there later in the year. Portland is a very good city--much friendlier than Seattle, with the pacific northwest charm. Bring your parka because it rains frequently.
Public Transportation, namely the street car and MAX , are free if you use them downtown (Locals call this area "fairless square"). It is called Fairless Square because it is free to ride. since you are a tourist you might be able to argue with a fair inspector that you are from out of town and it's your first time on the MAX--they will usually let you go with a warning.
The MAX is the light rail.runs on red lines, blue lines, and yellow lines. Yellow line trains usually head towards downtown portland, while blue line trains run from surrounding Gresham/Beaverton areas. Take the red line east, to the end of the line, and you will be taken to the PDX airport. Announcements are made which let you know which trains/buses are fairless and which are not. Check out the Pioneer Courthouse Square, Washington Park (just a max ride into the side of the hills).... if you like scenery you can go to Washington Park, the Rose Test Garden near washington park (excellent view of the city), Laurelhurst Park....
Oh and if you need weed DO NOT BUY IT AT THE WATERFRONT PARK. This is BY FAR the most notorious place in portland if you want to get HUSTLED AND RIPPED OFF. Seriously , these people are tweeker drug addicts and they'll snatch your money. Oh and the people who hang out at the Saturday Market might try to sell you weed--they're usually the same people who try to hustle at the waterfront park.
If you really need weed, go into a bar or some coffee shops in the immediate downtown area-- (some good bars are yamhill tavern, my father's place in SE portland, and I recommend portland coffee house if you like the cafe). Chances are if you don't act like a damn fool tourist, you can probably have a conversation with someone in a bar/coffee shop and get a decent sack for a decent price. Just be warned that if someone doesn't know you, they'll usually try to take you for a fool and try to short you.
and always ALWAYS OPEN THE BAG OF WEED AND INSPECT THE NUGS before you buy it. make sure it's not oregano!
If you really want to have a good time in portland, book your hotel in a reputable location. You might want to avoid chinatown, skidmore fountain, the historic district (aka the poor-and-homeless district). I would recommend Hotel Monaco if you can afford it--or any hotel in the SOUTHWEST part of downtown. If downtown is too pricey, go across the river to North East portland and see what you can find--I would strongly advise AGAINST Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, especially if you are white and not on crack !
Good Luck!
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