Things to do in Portland, OR

Though Portland has plenty of dense, urban neighborhoods, it is surrounded by the natural splendor of the great Northwest. Mount Hood to the east and Canon Beach to the west are each less than a 90 minute drive. Within the city limits is Forest Park, the nation's largest urban forest. The park has over 100 miles of hiking and bike trails. Many additional parks and rose gardens adorn the town.  

With more than 30 craft breweries within the city limits, Portland has more beer makers than any other town in the world. For more than 30 years, Portland has been the vanguard of the craft beer movement. There are ales and largers here for every taste. Breweries includes some nationally known brands, such as Widmere, as well as small brew-pubs with suds known only to locals.   

Portland is home to many artists who have helped create the city's creative, DIY ethos. Numerous galleries throughout downtown and the Northwest Pear District show off local art of all genres and media. New exhibits open on the first Thursday of each month. Visitors have the opportunity to walk through the gallery districts visiting numerous receptions featuring art, wine and music. The Portland Art Museum...  

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Though Portland has plenty of dense, urban neighborhoods, it is surrounded by the natural splendor of the great Northwest. Mount Hood to the east and Canon Beach to the west are each less than a 90 minute drive. Within the city limits is Forest Park, the nation's largest urban forest. The park has over 100 miles of hiking and bike trails. Many additional parks and rose gardens adorn the town.  

With more than 30 craft breweries within the city limits, Portland has more beer makers than any other town in the world. For more than 30 years, Portland has been the vanguard of the craft beer movement. There are ales and largers here for every taste. Breweries includes some nationally known brands, such as Widmere, as well as small brew-pubs with suds known only to locals.   

Portland is home to many artists who have helped create the city's creative, DIY ethos. Numerous galleries throughout downtown and the Northwest Pear District show off local art of all genres and media. New exhibits open on the first Thursday of each month. Visitors have the opportunity to walk through the gallery districts visiting numerous receptions featuring art, wine and music. The Portland Art Museum is one of the nation's 25 biggest, with a permanent collection that includes works ranging from antiquity to Post Modern.   

Portland's music scene may not be as universally recognized as our neighbor's to the north, but since the Kingsmen recorded their famous version of Louie Louie in 1963, Portland has been a consistent force in popular music. The city also claims a world-class symphony orchestra and some of the best jazz clubs on the west coast. Music festivals and outdoor concerts occur constantly during the summer months.     

Bicycling is part of Portland culture. A higher percentage of Portlanders commute to work by bike than in any other American city. With 324 miles of designated bikeways, the city has been engineered for bike-friendliness. A 40 mile loop of mostly off-street, paved trails, allows cyclists to have safe access to many Portland neighborhoods and scenic areas.     

It's no wonder that Portland travel guides rate this city as one of the top centers for tourism in the nation. Thanks to a setting at the junction of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland boasts spectacular natural scenery and ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. It's also an increasingly influential city, known for its music scene, brew pubs, coffeehouses and postmodern design. There are countless things to do in Portland, so traveling is great no matter where your interests lie.

With a mild climate that creates ideal growing conditions, The "City of Roses" offers abundant waterways, lush greenery and numerous parks and gardens, including the magnificent International Rose Test Garden, the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, and the idyllic Japanese Garden. Portland travelers also flock to the Classical Chinese Garden located in Chinatown, a notable favorite.

Tourists on vacation in Portland will also enjoy strolling through the historic Old Town and charming McCall Waterfront Park. Known as "Portland's Living Room," Pioneer Courthouse Square is a European-style plaza that regularly hosts special events and public festivals, and serves as a general...  Read more »

It's no wonder that Portland travel guides rate this city as one of the top centers for tourism in the nation. Thanks to a setting at the junction of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, Portland boasts spectacular natural scenery and ample opportunity for outdoor recreation. It's also an increasingly influential city, known for its music scene, brew pubs, coffeehouses and postmodern design. There are countless things to do in Portland, so traveling is great no matter where your interests lie.

With a mild climate that creates ideal growing conditions, The "City of Roses" offers abundant waterways, lush greenery and numerous parks and gardens, including the magnificent International Rose Test Garden, the oldest official, continuously operated public rose test garden in the United States, and the idyllic Japanese Garden. Portland travelers also flock to the Classical Chinese Garden located in Chinatown, a notable favorite.

Tourists on vacation in Portland will also enjoy strolling through the historic Old Town and charming McCall Waterfront Park. Known as "Portland's Living Room," Pioneer Courthouse Square is a European-style plaza that regularly hosts special events and public festivals, and serves as a general meeting spot for area residents. Sports fans of all ages will relish a trip to hometown-shop Niketown, followed by a Blazers game at Rose Garden Arena.

One of the top Portland travel destinations, the Saturday Market attracts weekend shoppers of all descriptions. The nation's largest outdoor handicrafts market, the Saturday Market is a great place to ask locals for Portland travel info as well. Antique hunters head directly to the city's famed Sellwood and Westmoreland districts, filled with shops that carry precious treasures of yesteryear. Main shopping districts include downtown, the Pearl District, the Hawthorne neighborhood, NE Broadway and NW 23rd Avenue. Pioneer Place, located downtown, and Lloyd Center, located in Old Town, are two large area shopping destinations carrying all your favorite name brands.

The restaurant scene continues to impress Portland travelers and critics nationwide. The wealth of options is immense and spans a host of cuisines. The Nob Hill neighborhood, downtown and the Pearl District particularly are considered top dining destinations in what's affectionately known as "Stumptown." Organic produce, fresh seafood and free-range meats distinguish many of the area's best kitchens, and Pacific Northwest cuisine is created and served with pride.

Nightlife also holds its own sort of power over both regulars and those on vacation in Portland; the variety of clubs, bars and microbreweries is as diverse as the people who call this portion of the country home. Dubbed as "Beervana" and "Beertown," Portland is known to be the microbrewing capital of the US, with the most microbreweries in one city this side of the Atlantic. Area microbrew moguls, the McMenamin Brothers, own a number of quality establishments, but there is also a large selection of independent breweries in the competitive, but oh so refreshing, world of Portland's microbrewing. Be sure to schedule a tour during your Portland vacation. The city also offers a large roster of cultural activities, including ballet, opera, drama and symphony. The Willamette Weekly keeps residents in the know about cultural goings-on.

With the city's award-winning mass-transit system, including the Portland MAX Light Rail, city buses and the Portland streetcar, getting around to experience it all is a breeze.