Things To Do In Portland Oregon
Mississippi Avenue is the place to experience Portland’s lively social atmosphere and offers colorful quirky shops and restaurants offering delicious food in an inviting, communal environment.
Pittock Mansion, built of sandstone and featuring 22 rooms reminiscent of Victorian design with elements from French Renaissance, should also be included on your tour itinerary.
Belmont Goats
Belmont Goats offer an entertaining way to connect with local animals while also getting some adorable shots! Established in 2012 on an abandoned lot near Buckman that was intended for development, their herd now reside in University Park neighborhood.
Portland’s iconic goat herd has become an emblem of Portland’s quirky spirit and enjoys an enthusiastic following. You can visit them at Lents Town Center or University Park grounds; both places provide more peaceful environments than inner Southeast.
Located in downtown Portland, Powell’s City of Books occupies an entire city block and should be on every bookworm’s must-see list of things to do in Portland. Take an guided tour and gain more insight into its rich history and culture!
Akebono Cherry Blossoms
Springtime brings visitors from across the country to Portland’s picturesque cherry blossoms, captivating viewers from every angle. Tom McCall Waterfront Park between Steel Bridge and Japanese American Historical Plaza is the best spot for viewing them, while early morning is ideal to avoid crowds of onlookers.
Visit Laurelhurst Park to discover even more stunning blooms, such as blooming rhododendrons. While not as popular, its garden still makes for an incredible stroll through nature.
If you’re craving a drink with your flowers, why not visit Backwoods Brewpub or Voodoo Doughnut brewpubs. Or watch a movie at Cinema 21, an iconic three-screen theater offering art house and foreign films. Portland is also an exciting neighborhood city; spend some time walking its streets exploring different areas – you will likely come across shops, restaurants, bars scattered throughout.
Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum is one of the oldest on the West Coast and hosts an extensive collection of artwork. Visitors can spend several hours wandering from room to room, marveling at all that art there is. Some travelers even admit getting lost within its three connected buildings!
Other must-see attractions in Portland include Tom McCall Waterfront Park’s Portland Saturday Market from March to December. Here, visitors can meet local vendors while also getting to know the community better; with plenty of food vendors such as award-winning craft breweries.
If you love beer, consider taking a guided brewery tour in order to discover some of the finest breweries in your city. Breakside Brewing, Migration Brewing, and Ecliptic Brewing are among the many outstanding options nearby; or head further afield into Columbia River Gorge for breathtaking natural scenery.
Rose City Rollers
Portland boasts an extensive collection of locally owned record stores for your music-collecting pleasure and gifts for children alike, featuring everything from rare vinyl releases to educational games and action figures. You may even catch some live music performances there too!
Bookworms will enjoy discovering Powell’s City of Books in Portland – one of the USA’s largest independently-owned bookstores! – an impressive bookworm’s paradise which covers an entire downtown block and serves as one of the highlights of PDX entertainment scene.
Rose City Rollers may have received some negative press in recent years, but nothing beats watching one of their bouts live to experience what makes roller derby so compelling. A roller derby bout not only requires athleticism and self-expression but also creates sisterhood in times of hardship; each bout features upbeat music from its house DJ as skaters break out into dance parties when called time-out by referees.
McMenamins Bagdad Theater
Portland is known for its quirky vibe and breathtaking natural landscape, but there’s much more than meets the eye here: amazing bar scene, fascinating museums and an impressive roster of once-in-a-lifetime events – such as clothing optional Naked Bike Ride that promotes environmental sustainability while giving riders an unforgettable Portland experience!
McMenamins Bagdad Theater provides an unforgettable movie-going experience, boasting intricate Arabian-style architecture and classic marquee. Sit back in leather chairs while enjoying your movie! Make your experience complete by ordering beer or pizza to accompany it.
Craft beer enthusiasts will delight in visiting Portland’s diverse and eclectic brewpubs for an afternoon of sampling Volatile Substance IPA or other locally produced ales, while foodies will discover some of Portland’s finest cuisine at restaurants like Proud Mary Cafe – an Australian-owned eatery offering mouthwatering dishes in a convivial environment – or The Proud Lion which provides vegan meals.
Oregon Historical Museum
Portland is an easily navigable city on foot or bike, and one of its popular activities is cycling around its many parks that line its waterfront. Bikes can be rented from local vendors or take part in guided bike tours for an unforgettable experience!
Take a break from city life and visit Tillamook Cheese Factory before rewarding yourself with one of America’s finest donuts at Voodoo Doughnuts.
The Oregon Historical Museum offers an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of Oregon’s rich history and culture. Their new permanent exhibit Experience Oregon showcases Oregon’s diverse geography and rich history while also housing the coin used by Asa Lovejoy and Francis Pettygrove to determine which town would become Portland.
Visit the International Rose Test Garden, with over 7000 rose plants of 550 varieties displayed, or browse a collection of Northwest and Pacific Coast Native American art at OMSI (the oldest museum on the West Coast & seventh oldest museum overall). OMSI also features interactive science labs, giant-screen theater, planetarium, retired navy submarine exhibits & traveling exhibits!
Portland Escape Room
Portland Escape Room provides an exciting adventure that engages critical thinking skills to crack codes, solve puzzles, and exit in time. Great for all ages; pirate-themed rooms or witchy wizard-themed ones provide immersive settings which engage brain power.
Powell’s City of Books is an absolute must for any book lover, covering an entire city block with this enormous independent bookstore. Book lovers love visiting this popular spot; the hardest part may be resisting purchasing even more titles!
Forest Park in southwest Portland is one of the top things to do in Portland. Home to one of America’s finest authentic Japanese Gardens and an elegant mansion reminiscent of fairytale, as well as numerous walking trails, it also hosts Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center.
Shakespeare in the Park
Portland is known for its arts scene, quirky atmosphere and miles of exceptional nature, not to mention an abundance of fun activities to do. As an outdoor adventure starting point it offers snow-capped mountains, majestic rivers, ample forested trails and abundant urban gardens – ideal conditions for an active lifestyle!
Pioneer Courthouse Square, known as Portland’s living room, is a massive 40,000-square-foot public space full of activities year round. Fashionistas will enjoy perusing its boutique shops while foodies will find plenty to savor in its independently owned restaurants – vegans should stop by Proud Mary for some delicious vegemite toast and root vegetable hash!
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is an inviting family attraction in downtown Oregon City, boasting five halls full of interactive exhibits and attractions designed to delight children of all ages. Some highlights of the Oregon Museum include its USS Blueback submarine, an IMAX theater and Planetarium. Furthermore, Oregon Historical Museum can also be found here for exploring Pacific Northwest region’s rich past.
OMSI After Dark
Portland boasts a wide variety of attractions to delight visitors, ranging from gourmet cuisine and thrilling sports events to world-class museums and world-class shopping opportunities. Additionally, you’ll discover great shopping, an active bar scene and plenty of outdoor activities that are sure to keep anyone occupied!
Experience some of the city’s top tourist spots, from a gigantic bookstore to an eerie castle! Locals and visitors alike love Powell Books – it stretches over an entire city block and boasts the world’s largest new/used bookstore with an outstanding cookbook section!
Pittock Mansion offers a thrillingly haunted experience for visitors looking for something eerie in Portland Oregon. This magnificent sandstone structure, which recalls Brothers Grimm fairytales, makes an excellent unique stop when visiting Portland Oregon. Hike along Wildwood Trail or Lower Macleay Park and discover nature. After hiking, unwind with drinks at one of Portland Oregon’s many local breweries or enjoy Cultured Caveman’s on tap kombucha!