We know Go players love to play Go and it’s hard to drag yourself away from the biggest Go gathering of the
year so we’d just like to note that you can play at any/all of the places local organizers are suggesting for the mid-week Day Off at this year’s U.S. Go Congress, set for July 13-21 in Portland, OR; book now before rates increase on June 15.
The 4-Ts: The 4-T’s is a really cool circumnavigation of the city that is done entirely on foot or using public transportation. The T’s stand for Train, Trolley, Tram and Trail, and the route goes literally right past where Congress is taking place. You ride the Portland Streetcar (Trolley) through downtown to hop on the Max Train (kinda like Portland’s wannabe-subway) which takes you up to the Portland Zoo and Forestry Center. From there you take a beautiful hike across the ridgeline of Portland’s West Hills, overlooking the whole city and Mt. Hood with panaoramic views to arrive at the Oregon Health and Science University. Then you hop on the Portland Sky-Tram and get a final scenic voyage down from the hills to the South Waterfront area. From there you can go take a walk along the Willamette river (if you have more walking in you), pop-in to a coffee-shop or restuarant for a pick-me up, or rush on to complete the cycle by hopping back on the Streetcar to Smith Memorial Student Union and a fine, refreshing self-paired game of Go.
Hiking: Our nearby Forest Park is a 5100-acre park just outside Portland and is accessible via public transit. This is part of the 4T's trail and is also home to the Portland Japanese Garden and Portland Zoo, but the park itself is over 8 miles long and features over 80 miles of trail. For those of you who will have access to a car, there are other great hiking opportunities nearby, including Angel's Rest, which is a moderately-difficult 5-mile hike about 45 minutes from the Go Congress with a 270-degree panoramic view of the Columbia Gorge.
Kayaking: The gentle current of the Willamette River is very amenable to kayaking, and there are various operators who can rent you a single or tandem kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard! This is a very pleasant way to enjoy an active day off during the Go Congress in true Portland style. One such vendor is the Portland Kayak Co.
Click here to see more Portland Day Off excursion options.