Portland Things To Do

The Columbia River Gorge
If you can possibly carve out the time, go for a drive through the Columbia River Gorge. A full day or more is really required, but at minimum drive out to the Multnomah Falls, about 30 mins east of Portland on I-85.  Fantastic hikes are everywhere.  Contact us for recommendations if you think you are interested.

Powell's City of Books, 

A must-see bookstore that takes up an entire city block and holds more than a million volumes. Every Portlander must get lost here at least once. Beyond books, Powell’s also has a coffee shop where you can take any book to flip through while sipping latte, and almost a whole floor of architecture books in the Pearl Room. Map Link

The Pearl District
An old warehouse and industrial area that, in the short time we've lived here, has completely transformed into a vibrant inner city living and shopping area.  Great place to wander at will.  Many good restaurants and boutiques.  Map Link

Aerial Tram
The tram travels 3,300 linear feet between the South Waterfront near the river and  OHSU Center for Health & Healing high in the west hills. Traveling at 22 miles per hour, the Tram cabins rise 500 feet for the three-minute trip over I-5, the Lair Hill neighborhood and the Southwest Terwilliger Parkway.  From downtown you can ride the streetcar here, and catch the tram up the hill for a view. $4 round trip.  Map Link

Portland Art Museum

Exhibitions in August: The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis, A Pioneering Collection: Master Drawings from the Crocker Art Museum  Map Link

Eastbank Esplanade & Waterfront Park

Along the west bank of the Willamette River is the Waterfront Park, a large lineal green space where all summer long exists one big  festival/carnival/beer garden/concert. Nice place to walk along the river.  A good longer walk or jog loops across the Hawthorne Bridge to the Eastbank Esplanade (path along the other side of the river) and up to the Steel Bridge to complete a loop of about 3 miles.  Parts of the esplanade are floating docks and walkways.

Rose Garden (Portland International Rose Test Garden)

With more than 6,000 rose bushes and free tours each week,  Portland's International Rose Test Gardens are a long-time favorite and namesake of the "Rose City." Map Link

Japanese Garden

Whether you're trying to achieve harmony with nature or are simply a fan of aesthetic beauty, visiting the Japanese Garden is a lovely Portland activity. For a small entry fee, visitors enter an environment of peace, meditation and tranquility. The Japanese Garden is actually five separate themed gardens including tea, sand and stone gardens and an abundance of verdant foliage and flowing water. Map Link

Chinese Garden

Occupying an entire city block near Chinatown, this walled garden was designed by landscape architects from Suzhou, Portland's sister city. Conceived of as a microcosm of the natural world, the garden offers a series of composed vistas and symbolic positionings of rock, water and vegetation. Courtyards, pavilions, gateways, bridges and walkways add structure, while a two-story tea house contributes height and focus. Naturalistic plantings indicate how studied, yet beautiful the created environment can be. The garden's official name, Lan Su Yuan, means "Garden of Awakening Orchids. Map Link

Keller Fountain, Dramatic waterfalls characterize this fountain. Designed by Michael Lawrence Halprin, the fountain is really quite amazing as fountains go. Wading is permitted in most of Portland's fountains, and on hot days, you'll find youngsters and older people cooling off in the water. The fountain moves 13,000 gallons of water per minute.  Map Link

Jameson Square Park  

Jamison Square is an interactive fountain offering wonderful water fun for kids, and a great example of interactive public art.  The main element of park is cascading water that spills over tiered stone steps until it fills a pool, drains out; repeating the process all day long. Map Link

Tanner Springs Park

This tranquil city block features an underground spring that makes a brief appearance before settling into a carefully landscaped wetland. Only 2 blocks from Jameson Park, but a completely different scene.  Map Link

Saturday Market

The largest outdoor arts and crafts market in the nation, the Portland Saturday Market has been entertaining visitors and supporting vendors since 1974.  The Saturday Market hosts more than 250 small businesses and artists and features live music and food. Caution, hippies and other dubious craft making types abound.

Pioneer Courthouse Square

A public square right in the center of downtown, known as “Portland’s living room.” The square hosts hundreds of events each year, including concerts and cultural fairs. In the warmer months, it’s a great place to sit and people watch.  Also where street musicians and people who ask you for handouts like to congregate. Map Link

Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (mostly for kids)

This museum offers halls dedicated to earth science, computers, chemistry, traveling exhibits and hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, the Omnimax Theater , a submarine to tour, a motion simulator ride and a cafe.    Map Link

Pittock Mansion

Built in 1914 by Henry Pittock, founder of the "Daily Oregonian," the home is now owned by the city of Portland. Immaculately kept grounds look out across northeast Portland to Mt. Hood.  Map Link

Hoyt Arboretum

A botanical garden devoted to trees. Here, you can walk among more than 1,100 species. Twelve miles of trails wind through the park, and the Visitor Center provides maps, trail guides, and detailed plant information.  Map Link

Forest Park 

With more than 5,000 acres, Forest Park is the largest city park in the United States. There are 50 miles of trails and 30 miles of gated roadways for mountain biking. Visit Forest Park for a run, hike, bike ride, or horseback ride.

Maps at the Friends of Forest Park website

Brewery Tours

Learn about the brewing process and see the inner workings of some of Portland's breweries. You might even get to taste the suds. Call ahead to schedule your tour. There are lots of breweries to choose from. The most popular are: Widmer Portland Brewing Bridgeport Brewing McMenamins Edgefield

Macleay Park

A nice hiking trail in Forest Park.  You'll feel that you are worlds away from the city just minutes into your walk.  Map Link

Shanghai Tunnels

A tour through the tunnels under Portland, where legend has it, people were drugged and shanghaied onto sailing ships.  Possibly Haunted.  Possibly a rip-off.

The 24-hour Church of Elvis

no explanation suffices.  Map Link

Getting Around:
Portland has a very good public transportation system.
Buses, Light Rail trains, and Streetcars.
Link to the TriMet site with a useful trip planner to help you get there.

Mp3 Tours:
This web site offers 5 free audio tours of  Portland attractions:
Bridges, Fountains, Buildings, Parks, & General Highlights
Just download the Mp3 file to your phone or ipod and listen at your leisure as you tour.

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