Secrets Of Portlandia Free Walking Tour
Secrets Of Portlandia Free Walking Tour
5
This location was reported permanently closed
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IMPORTANT UPDATE: I have decided to permanently shut down my Free Walking tour. There will no longer be free tours offered of Portland's downtown every day at 11am. From 2012 until 2019 I had a privilege showing tourists and locals alike the beauty of Portland, Oregon! Being a Free Tour guide was the best job ever and I have so many wonderful memories of our time together. Thank you for all of your support over the years- Erik Kennon
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Secrets Of Portlandia Free Walking Tour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
730 reviews
Excellent
617
Very good
78
Average
20
Poor
8
Terrible
7
Melody211
Edmonton, Canada55 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
My partner and I attended this walking tour on a weekday in mid-July. We had a fantastic time! Erik, our guide, was animated, considerate, entertaining and informative. There were about 30 people who showed up the day we went and the tour lasted approximately 2.5 hours. The route is easy and the elevation change is minimal, but wear good walking shoes and bring water and a hat.
One final note: this is advertised as a "free" walking tour, but Erik clearly works very hard to ensure everybody has a good time on the tour. In my opinion, he deserves a fair tip from each person at the end. I was aghast that some folks in the group had the gall to go digging through their change purses at the end to tip less than a dollar. For shame! I'd suggest $15-$20 per person should be the standard.
One final note: this is advertised as a "free" walking tour, but Erik clearly works very hard to ensure everybody has a good time on the tour. In my opinion, he deserves a fair tip from each person at the end. I was aghast that some folks in the group had the gall to go digging through their change purses at the end to tip less than a dollar. For shame! I'd suggest $15-$20 per person should be the standard.
Written July 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChloNettletom
9 contributions
May 2018 • Friends
This tour is fantastic! Eric is personable, funny and knowledgeable and his tour was a wonderful way to get to know Downtown. Eric made us feel so welcome and had us laughing and learning throughout the 2 hour wander! I would highly recommend this to people visiting Portland, to get a feel of the place, and also to get to know some of the history and fun facts! 100% recommend
Written May 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rachaelknadivi
Renton, WA60 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
This was an terrific tour! I was in Portland for the weekend with my two teenage kids. We all really enjoyed Eric's walking tour. He's very personable and has great stories about what 'makes Portland weird'. We were all thoroughly entertained! I highly recommend this tour!
Written May 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noreen V
Bradley Beach, NJ36 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
I read the reviews of the tour and was excited. Overall it was a huge disappointment. The group was too large - a very very large tour group joined this tour - in addition to the single/doubles/families. It took 10 minutes to walk 2 blocks. Erik could not tell a story succinctly - for example the story about the water fountain was 10 minutes - it could have been 2 minutes. He kept asking people to stay on because he was designing a food cart tour. The tour stopped 3/4 way in for 5 minutes because the large tour group wanted photos with Erik. The "smallest park" section was stopped in an area that just reeked of urine - and again took 10 minutes when it should have been a 2 minute stop. NET - SKIP THIS TOUR. It may be "free" but it costs you time where you could be doing someone else.
Written June 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
evalyn w
Washington DC, DC5 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
Based on the reviews, I was excited to take this tour. Too bad the guide was somewhat lackluster. He used a mic the whole time, which is fine, IF you actually talk into it. He failed to do that the entire time which made it hard to hear him. In addition, he shared more jokes than history and facts. he also stopped at random places to share stories that had no relation to the site we were standing at. Laslty, at the end of the tour, he gave us suggested tip amounts, $15 if you liked it, and $20 if you really liked it. I understand he has to make a living, but the point of a tip based tour is I tip what I feel it was worth, not what the guide wants. For me, it screamed unprofessional. Overall, it was OK, and prolly wouldn't do it again.
Written November 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kim G
Fort Myers, FL233 contributions
Jul 2021
We went to the meeting place for this tour and an employee from the Pioneer Courthouse very rudely came out and told the 8 of us standing there that this tour has not been going on for 2 years. We ended up doing our own walking tour but book elsewhere, this one is not running.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tony D
Ellensburg, WA5 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
We arrived at the Pioneer Courthouse five minutes ahead of the scheduled 11 AM tour. We gave them 25 minutes, but nobody from the walking tour showed up. Very disappointing.
Written November 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FamGuy4
Knoxville, TN43 contributions
Jun 2019 • Friends
Eric the guide tries WAY too hard to be funny.....and he's not. Tour started with 58, yes 58 people in the group. Eric claims he's had up to 95 people at a time. First clue:TOO LARGE OF A GROUP. Eric spent way too much time at each of the 6 stops, mired in minutia and details that almost no one was interested in. At each stop though, he made a very clear appeal for tips at the end of the tour, and never missed an opportunity to solicited attendees for his paid food tour. His presentation was EXTREMELY scripted, and he buzzed through each stop, basically mailing it in. This was not a very good tour, but the icing on the cake was his behavior at the end. Clearly bored and impatient (texting with his friends), while crossing a street an elderly woman in our group fell out of her wheelchair in the street. Eric looked back, saw her get helped out be several members of our group, and said "Oh she seems fine, let's continue". Seriously, he made no attempt to help, and just continued on!
We have done over 15 of these types of tours around the world, and this the absolute worst. Rally, BY FAR the worst. Eric claims he gets recommended and is 5 Star, but that's a ruse. This guy is not funny, not informative, does not look out for the safety of the group, and thinks he's God's gift to the Tour Industry. Do yourself a favor and go into the Visitor Center 100 feet away from where you'd meet this guy, and let the TRUE EXPERT'S on Portland give you better advice on how to enjoy a day walking around town.
A complete waste of 2 hours......
We have done over 15 of these types of tours around the world, and this the absolute worst. Rally, BY FAR the worst. Eric claims he gets recommended and is 5 Star, but that's a ruse. This guy is not funny, not informative, does not look out for the safety of the group, and thinks he's God's gift to the Tour Industry. Do yourself a favor and go into the Visitor Center 100 feet away from where you'd meet this guy, and let the TRUE EXPERT'S on Portland give you better advice on how to enjoy a day walking around town.
A complete waste of 2 hours......
Written July 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Put-Dorozhka
Salem, OR222 contributions
Aug 2012 • Family
We did this tour with my husband, our son (22 ), his wife (21) and our daughter (10) in August, 2012. We recently moved to Oregon from Colorado and when our son came to visit we wanted to see Portland together. Please, do not take your small children on this tour! It is not PG-13 for sure. Several times I felt very uncomfortable with my 10 year old standing nearby and listening to our guide giving very colorful description of Naked Bike Ride or brothels and Shanghai tunnels. The tour is more suitable for college students rather than families with children. On the positive side, the tour is full of quirky and hilarious facts, all delivered by charismatic and enthusiastic guide who kept a good pace for the walk - not too fast and not too slow. But we all wished he gave us more information about Portland history and architecture. He guided us down many alleys where there was nothing to see or learn. He walked past some statues and beautiful buildings and didn’t give any info on them. Although we covered good ground, we were not able to get a great overall feel for the city.
Written September 7, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R06R
Perth, Australia19 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
I have done many walking tours and find the best to be candid, interactive and pointing out lesser known sites.
I am sure Erik has done some great walking tours (he told us), and Eric has a well rehearsed script, but this is essentially a long monologue about one or two elements in several places.
There are some interesting historic facts, but I got the sense the conversation sticks to the script rather than changing with new groups.
I am sure he has a lot of knowledge and could refresh his material if it was more interactive, with shorter (even impromptu stops) at more places.
Erik - as a consumer my feedback is that you don’t need to constantly repeat that the tour isn’t free. Most people get it the first hint and if they don’t, it’s a cost of your business model. One hint about your past experience is enough - you look like a seasoned professional so don’t need to tell people about what you used to do in Europe. Don’t plug your next food tour so much - again once is enough. I think you could take more questions and then go to new places depending on the crowd.
I am sure Erik has done some great walking tours (he told us), and Eric has a well rehearsed script, but this is essentially a long monologue about one or two elements in several places.
There are some interesting historic facts, but I got the sense the conversation sticks to the script rather than changing with new groups.
I am sure he has a lot of knowledge and could refresh his material if it was more interactive, with shorter (even impromptu stops) at more places.
Erik - as a consumer my feedback is that you don’t need to constantly repeat that the tour isn’t free. Most people get it the first hint and if they don’t, it’s a cost of your business model. One hint about your past experience is enough - you look like a seasoned professional so don’t need to tell people about what you used to do in Europe. Don’t plug your next food tour so much - again once is enough. I think you could take more questions and then go to new places depending on the crowd.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi, my boyfriend and I would like to join your tour tomorrow. What is the starting time, how long does it take and where is the meeting point?
Thanks,
Orsi
Written July 30, 2018
Yes according to his website there will be 2 tours on the 4th. Check out his website Secrets of Portlandia free tour. You’ll recognize Erik and his bright green FREE TOUR t shirt.
Written June 19, 2018
I gave him 25$, and I went on both his tours. I was a solo traveler.
Written July 2, 2018
Fernanda Moreno
Santiago, Chile
Are the free tours still running? In the website it says that the last one was on September 29th of 2017.
Written October 26, 2017
HI, When and where do we meet for the walking tour? We will be in town Friday July1. Thanks!
Laura
Written June 21, 2016
In front of court house across street from pioneer square. Eric starts tour at 11am everyday
Written June 21, 2016
Hi All:
How is it that everyone is getting in touch with this Eric of Portlandia Free Walking Tours? I will be in Portland in about a week and am interested in contacting him to join one of his tours. Not sure how to go about doing that.
Thanks in advance -
Michele
Written October 22, 2015
You don't have to contact him to take the tour. Just show up at Pioneer Courthouse Square a couple of minutes before tour time and he should be there.
Written October 24, 2015
Hi, we will be in your city from Oct 3-9, 2015 and didn't see where you had any tours after 9-6-15. Am I out of luck? :(
Written July 25, 2015
Hi! The only other tour I have heard of is the "Portlandia Tour"
is one that is a walking,riding tour.
I have never on it but from what I hear it is good. Shows alot of what Portland has to offer but not nearly as detailed or fun.
It is a bus, walking tour and cost $75 person. They probably have a web site you can go to for more details! Good luck and have a great time here in Portland!
PS don't forget your umbrella you never know when it will rain!
Written July 26, 2015
Aloha,
My wife and I are visiting Portland for a day Tue. June 16th and I would love to be a part of an informative walking tour of your downtown district. I'd like to know if you are doing any walking tours on this day and where/ when do you meet.
Mahalo, Garrett
Written June 15, 2015
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