In July 2024, we combined our existing blogs (The Committee Blog and the Community Blog) into one: The NFA Blog. This space will be a landing page for the flute community to share their insights. Check back each month for new posts!
Soon, flutists from all over the world will be traveling to Portland for the NFA’s 54th Annual Convention. This short guide includes practical information on navigating the city and making the most of your trip.
Portland is a thriving metropolis, rich with culture and history. As the largest city in Oregon, with over 600,000 residents, Portland offers something for everyone. If you are looking to learn more about the city and its many attractions, Portland has an official city guide that can help you explore local shops, restaurants, events, and nearby nature. Want a personal guide to the city in your pocket? The Near Me Now app is Portland’s official app, and can help show you what is nearby!
Our friends at Travel Portland have also created a special website for NFA attendees to learn about all that the city has to offer, including restaurant, travel and attraction information, and special discount offers.
We have reserved discounted blocks of rooms at the following hotels:
Hyatt Regency Portland (375 NE Holladay St, Portland, OR 97232)
Please note: The Hyatt is sold out for all days of the convention except Saturday and Sunday. Rooms are available at the DoubleTree
DoubleTree by Hilton Portland (1000 NE Multnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232)
We strongly recommend staying at one of the official convention hotels, which transform into global flute hubs for the duration of the convention.
Please note that the Hyatt Regency Portland is closest to the Oregon Convention Center (across the street). We encourage guests with mobility concerns to reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency Portland.
The 2026 convention will take place in the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232). Situated in the heart of Portland's Lloyd neighborhood, the venue is just across the river from downtown and a short train ride away from Portland International Airport (PDX). The Oregon Convention Center is surrounded by hotels, public transit options, shopping, and iconic venues like the Moda Center and Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
When you need a break from the convention, Portland's natural wonders, eclectic culture, and culinary delights await. Sample from 500+ food trucks, dine at award-winning restaurants, go on a hike, or visit nearby wine country.
For venue accessibility information, visit the NFA’s accessibility page or the convention center’s website. Please note that the Hyatt Regency Portland is closest to the Oregon Convention Center (across the street). We encourage guests with mobility concerns to reserve a room at the Hyatt Regency Portland.
The Oregon Convention Center has 5 scooters and 5 wheelchairs that can be reserved free of charge. Reservations may be made within 30 days of a scheduled event (with an estimated time of arrival) by contacting guestexperience@oregoncc.org or 503-731-7800. These scooters cannot leave the convention center.
For addition scooter and wheelchair needs, please contact:
McAnn's Medical
855-622-2661
If you have specific questions about the Oregon Convention Center’s accessibility, we encourage you to contact them directly at 503-235-7575.
NFA Convention Attendees can receive special discounts at area restaurants, shopping, and attractions. Nature lover? Enjoy 20% off your purchase of gear for your next adventure at Columbia’s flagship store! If you want to see more of the city, enjoy 15% off a tour of Portland with Peak Tours and Transit. Visit Travel Portland to learn more.
Portland summers are warm, dry, and sunny with low humidity and long, comfortable evenings. August typically is the hottest month for the area. During the convention, we can expect daily highs in the 80s, with occasional heatwaves exceeding 95°F. Rain is very rare during this time, and nights remain cool and pleasant.
Public Transportation in Portland with TriMet!
Navigating through Portland is simple with the help of TriMet and their bus system, MAX light rail, or the Portland streetcar. There are MAX stops conveniently located in front of or very near each hotel and directly in front of the Oregon Convention Center. Using TriMet can also help you to navigate and explore the Downtown area! You can easily plan your trip and explore routes and schedules using their website.
FREE Hop Card Available
NFA Convention attendees will receive a FREE Hop Card courtesy of Travel Portland. This will be available to pick up at registration and is good for use on bus, light rail or streetcar. Simply scan your card as you enter the train or bus. You can use this for unlimited trips through the end of the day Monday, August 10. We encourage you to explore Portland after the convention! Please note: because these won't be available until registration opens on Wednesday, Aug. 5, all trips from the airport upon arrival will need to be paid for separately. The cost for a MAX Light rail trip is $2.80, and your pass remains valid for 2.5 hours.
Airport Transfer Details via MAX Light Rail:
MAX is a direct connection from the airport to the convention center, the Hyatt Regency, and the DoubleTree by Hilton. There is a MAX Light Rail Station location within PDX Airport. Use the links below to view the route to each location via TriMet. Travel time from the airport to the hotels or the convention center is approximately 30 minutes.
Portland International Airport to Hyatt Regency/ Oregon Convention Center: The Airport MAX station (Red Line) can take you can take you directly from the airport to the Convention Center MAX station, which is located next to both the Hyatt Regency and the Oregon Convention Center.
Portland International Airport to DoubleTree by Hilton: From the Airport MAX station, take the Red Line to the Lloyd Center/ NE 11th Ave MAX Station. Upon exiting the station, turn right on NE 11th Avenue from NE Holladay Street and walk north. The entrance to the DoubleTree by Hilton will be on your left.
Routes to and from the airport that utilize public transport can be planned using Trimet, Google Maps, or Apple Maps.
Portland is accessible via Interstates 5 and 84. In fact, the Oregon Convention Center is located at the intersection of these two highways! If arriving to the city by car, be sure to use a GPS to plan your route; traffic may affect travel routes. The Oregon Convention Center is located at 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97232.
Have a parking plan before you leave home! Our friends at Travel Portland have provided a Parking Map of the area (external link opens in new window). We also recommend checking a discount parking service (like SpotHero) to reserve your parking in advance.
The Hyatt Regency Hotel has a restaurant and a market in the lobby; however, they can be expensive. More affordable options are available at other locations near the hotel, including the Pine Street Market. Located just across the river, the Pine Street Market offers gourmet food vendors and a wide variety of food options. The market is accessible via car or MAX light rail from the convention center. The convention center does not have a traditional food court, but offers several bistros, cafes, and food stall options. The NFA will be providing food trucks in the convention center’s North Plaza on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am to 2pm.
Stocking up on groceries and snacks to keep in your room can be a more affordable option than eating out. All rooms at the Hyatt Regency Hotel have mini-refrigerators and coffeemakers. A microwave is located in the market in the hotel lobby of the Hyatt Regency. Check with hotel staff to find out if there are other microwaves throughout the hotel.
The rooms at the DoubleTree Hilton do not come with a fridge or microwave; however, both appliances can be brought up to your room upon request at check-in. A microwave is also located in the hotel lobby of the DoubleTree Hilton.
There are several grocery store options close to the convention center. A Whole Foods is located 1.5 miles from the convention center, and there are two Trader Joe’s within 10 minutes (driving) of the convention center. Please note that while Whole Foods is located along a bus line, the other listed locations are most easily accessed via car. If transportation is a consideration, instacart will deliver to the hotel. Please check the Instacart app for a complete list of participating stores.
For any health or pharmacy needs, a CVS store is located 1.7 miles away from the convention center at 105 NW 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97209.
The NFA cannot print documents for you during the convention. For documents and small print jobs, there are business centers located at both the Hyatt Regency and Doubletree by Hilton that can assist you with any printing needs.
If you are in need of more advanced printing capability, there are several businesses located nearby. For information about the services and pricing at each location, please click on the name of the business:
Office Depot is located at 323 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97214.
FedEx Print & Ship is located at 1605 NE 7th Ave, Portland, OR 97232.
Minute Man Press is located at 1308 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97201.
This section was written by our Local Arrangements Chair, Gabriela Gimenes, and originally published in The Flutist Quarterly.
If there is a list of ideal summer city destinations, Portland, Oregon, is on it! It’s especially beautiful during the summertime—we get so much rain during the winter that the roses and pine trees become incredibly lush in August, adding to the gorgeous scenery surrounding the town.
The Oregon Convention Center is located on the Northeast side of town. If you’re arriving from PDX airport, you can head Max Light Rail station inside the airport and take the Red line towards the Convention Center station. It will take about 30 minutes and costs $2.50. Ride share is also about 30 minutes, and the average price is $30–50.
The convention center is just a short walk from Burnside Street and several local restaurants and bars. If you go south on MLK or Grand Avenue, you’ll find tea, beer, bourbon, and wine tasting companies, as well as award-winning restaurants such as Kann, Olympia Provisions, Shalom Y’all, and Afuri, among others in the area. Be sure to plan for some of them!
Hawthorne is another street where you will find lots of local shops, vintage clothes, and Portland’s famous food carts—a few of which will be parked outside the convention center so you can grab something quick in between sessions and have a taste of some Portland’s best.
Downtown is just a few MAX Light Rail stations across the Willamette River. Take advantage of the MAX train pass you will get for free thanks to travelportland.com (you can pick them up at the NFA registration desk) and head to downtown’s Pioneer Courthouse Square, where you will find several dining options as well as some really nice shopping (Portland is a tax-free city). Experience some iconic Portland locations like Powell’s City of Books (the world’s largest independent bookstore taking up a full city block), Smith Teamaker, Stumptown Coffee, and don’t miss out on the Arlene Schnitzer Hall, the home of the Oregon Symphony.
Don’t forget to check out our music scene! We have several bars and concerts all over the city! Including my favorite jazz club The 1905. (For those staying in town an extra day, flutist Ali Ryerson will be performing at The 1905 on Monday, August 10. Details are available here!). At Kelly’s Olympian (theater), jazz flutist Dave Desrochers will host a “Jazz Flute Open Mic Convention After Party” on Sunday, Aug. 9 from 7:30pm-10:30pm. Details will be available soon on the theater’s website.
Portland is the home of the Portland Trailblazers and Fire, though they will be out of season. Instead, check out one of our soccer teams, Portland Timbers or Thorns, at Providence Park near Downtown.
For outdoor activities, this is the place to be—Portland is full of trails! You can catch the MAX train all the way to the Oregon Zoo and walk down the Wildwood Trail to the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden. Further along is the Pittock Mansion, which has one of the best views of the city and Mount Hood. The Wildwood Trail is a premier 30.2-mile forested pedestrian trail running the length of Portland’s Forest Park, stretching from Washington Park (near the Oregon Zoo) to NW Newberry Road. As a National Recreation Trail, it is the longest urban trail.
If you are adventurous and have a car, get some friends and head to Multnomah Falls, a beautiful waterfall right off the highway. On the way you can stop at Vista House for a beautiful view of the Columbia Gorge, and drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway to experience even more beautiful waterfalls along the way! Need a treat on the way back? Stop by Sugarpine, an old bait and tackle shop turned drive in, for lunch and one of their amazing sundaes
If you plan to spend some extra time in the area, spend the day exploring the beautiful Oregon Coast, you can stay the night or just spend a long day. Some favorite spots include Cannon Beach (home to the iconic Haystock Rock), Tillamook for some ice cream and cheese at the Tillamook Creamery visitor center, Seaside for a more family-friendly day, and Astoria if you are a fan of The Goonies! Maybe mountains are more your style? Spend the day up at our famous Mount Hood, take a hike and explore Timberline Lodge where The Shining was filmed.
You can also head to Wine Country at Dundee Hills for the best Pinot Noir tasting experience with incredible views. Or head to Stoller Family Estate, Ambar Estate, or Ponzi Vineyards. There are so many options to choose from, and it’s fun to just take the day to explore! You can find more tips on Travel Portland’s website.
I hope to see you all here in beautiful Portland for some flute fun in one of the US’s coolest cities!
