Your Quintessential Portland Bucket List: 50 Things to Do in Town
It’s a question that befalls all of us: What should we do this weekend? Shouldn’t we get out on Saturday? Hmmm, I can’t think of anything to do. Let us help. Portland’s dining scene has been called the nation’s most delicious, and the hikes and views from our parks are second to none; our spectacular gardens are always worth a visit, and our movie theaters, bookstores, and coffee shops beckon with delights when the clouds hang low.
Whether you’re visiting for the first time or are a local falling back in love with your chosen city, here’s how to get out there with our bucket list as your trusty guide.
(Looking for more things to do? We’ve got you covered with this curated lineup of upcoming events.)
1. Get lost in the stacks at Powell’s Books’ flagship store
Pearl District
The Lowdown The world’s largest independent bookstore, with a treasure trove of new, used, and rare books, plus regular in-store events with authors of regional and national stature.
Pro Tip Any book you’re looking for is probably here, but it’s worth timing your visit to Friday, Saturday, or Sunday so you can stroll through the Rare Book Room. Buy a coffee at the in-house coffee shop, Guilder, which made our best coffee shops list. (Just keep the coffee out of the Rare Book Room.)
Don’t Miss Visiting authors. Big-name writers, including plenty of locals, make the upstairs Pearl Room an essential stop on their book tours; expect to find a full room most evenings.
Read More: What Does It Take to Land a Job at Powell’s?
2. Attend a concert or farm-to-plate dinner at Topaz Farm
Sauvie Island
The Lowdown Just 20 minutes from downtown Portland, this much-loved regenerative farm on Sauvie Island hosts a variety of activities and events, including berry picking and live concerts in the summer and harvest dinners and pumpkin hunting in the fall.
Pro Tip Tickets sell out quickly, so don’t hesitate when reserving your spot for an upcoming show or dinner.
Don’t Miss Topaz’s sprawling sunflower fields are a thing to behold and even include a maze (take that, corn). Bloom season typically runs August and September.
Read More: 11 Great Pumpkin Patches near Portland
3. Cheer on a hometown team in Soccer City USA
Goose Hollow
The Lowdown Portland has two major league teams, the Timbers (men) and the Thorns (women), each with enthusiastic followings. The men’s club dates to 1975, while the Thorns have been around since 2013—but their roots go further back, intertwined with the late Clive Charles, a former Timber who coached men and women at the University of Portland. The Timbers won the MLS Cup in 2015, and the Thorns won their third NWSL championship trophy in 2022.
Pro Tip Keep an eye out for free or discount tickets that can come through library summer reading programs. Also, as of 2024, a match-day ticket serves as TriMet proof of fare, giving fans a free ride to and from the stadium.
Don’t Miss Really, it’s more that you’ll be unable to miss the Timbers Army and the Rose City Riveters, the supporters groups for each teams—expect near-nonstop drumming, waving of scarves, and chanting during games.
Read More: What, Exactly, Will Thorns Players Do All Winter?
4. Sip tea at the Lan Su Chinese Garden
Old TOwn-Chinatown
The Lowdown A tranquil garden in Portland’s historic Chinatown, Lan Su Chinese Garden was built by artisans from Suzhou (known for its Ming dynasty gardens). With native plants, koi-filled ponds, intricate covered walkways and bridges, and a teahouse offering traditional gaiwan service, it’s somehow still an underrated sanctuary in the heart of the city.
Pro Tip Missed the group tour? You can still take a self-guided one by downloading the Discover Lan Su app, which includes an audio guide of the garden with all kinds of fun facts and history, as well as scavenger hunts for the little ones. (Or, use this mobile site.)
Don’t Miss Annual events like the Mid-Autumn Festival or Lunar New Year, which often involve lion dance performances, art shows, markets, and lantern viewing.
5. Graze your way through food cart pod Prost Marketplace
Boise
The Lowdown Portland was a pioneer in the pod concept: cluster a bunch of food carts together, add some seating, maybe a firepit and a sprawling bar to anchor the whole operation, and you’ve got a nice night out. Try the Prost Marketplace pod (4233 N Mississippi Ave) which adjoins the brick-and-mortar Prost taphouse and the all-day coffee and cocktail patio bar Bloodbuzz. Matt’s BBQ, Burger Stevens, Mole Mole, and more make this one of the city’s top pods.
Pro Tip A beverage at either bar gets you a covered, heated table to enjoy some burnt ends or enchiladas, or both—regardless of the weather.
Don’t Miss The hand-painted Talavera plates at Mole Mole. Made custom for the cart in Puebla, Mexico, chef and owner Roberto Flores’s hometown, the monogrammed terra-cotta dishes might be the fanciest of any food cart in town.
Read More: Revisiting Rose City Food Park
6. Wave at animals at the Oregon Zoo
Washington Park
The Lowdown The 64-acre Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi, with dozens of species including headliners like lions, polar bears, and elephants.
Pro Tip Get there right when the zoo opens. You’ll have a better chance scoring a parking space (the zoo is also right by a MAX stop), and more animals will be out and about in the morning—especially during summer, when afternoons can be stiflingly hot.
Don’t Miss Seasonal evening shindigs and events. That could mean summertime concerts in the elephant-adjacent amphitheater or an elaborate holiday light display known as ZooLights. In the fall, it’s all about Zootoberfest, where animals smash pumpkins while zoo-goers crush pints.
Read More: A Closer Look at the Oregon Zoo’s Elephant Breeding Program
7. Take a hike in Forest Park (and see the Witch’s Castle)
Northwest Portland
The Lowdown Hikers of all stripes flock to Forest Park, stretching out from Portland’s northwest corner, for a quick hit of nature and selfies with the lichen-coated, graffiti-adorned stone structure known locally as the “Witch’s Castle.”
Don’t Miss The five-mile Macleay Park Trail to Pittock Mansion is Forest Park’s most popular, and for good reason. It has everything, including gurgling streams and epic views from the mansion, and it even passes the Bird Alliance of Oregon (which has its own trails) in case you’re looking for a detour.
Pro Tip This trail gets crowded, so aim for an early arrival or go on a weekday if possible.
Read More: 8 Essential Forest Park Hikes
8. Seek out the coolest kicks at Index
Old TOwn-Chinatown
The Lowdown Part sneaker museum, part sneakerhead holy grail. This athletic shoe consignment store has vintage kicks for sale, some of them at eye-watering prices. Recently spotted: a pair of “sunblush” Futura Laboratories collaborative Nike SB Dunks, which never saw a public release, for a cool $15,000.
Pro Tip If you’ve got sneakers in great condition, bring them in to try to consign them. The shop is picky about what it will take, but you might find that you can get some cash back toward your next great pair.
Don’t Miss Surprising finds. Watch the shop’s Instagram and other social media for big drops and hard-to-find shoes. The best and rarest finds move fast, so be ready to swoop in, or resign yourself to gawking.
Read More: Shoes Are Big Business in Portland
Central Eastside Industrial District
The Lowdown Part spa, part health and social club, this super-chic wellness temple has a primo location at the foot of the Burnside Bridge on the east side. A two-hour reservation gets you access to soaking pools—one warm, one hot—with city views, plus a cold plunge, sauna, and steam room.
Pro Tip You can book discounted springs visits during off-peak hours, and those who book a massage—Ashiatsu, hot stone, Thai, CBD-bolstered, etc.—can pregame with a complimentary dip in the soaking pools.
Don’t Miss The “rest and rehydrate” patio overlooking the Willamette River, with comfortable seating and a chance to luxuriate in fresh air after the humidity of the sauna or steam room. On colder days, help yourself to a cup of Knot Springs tea (two options, both designed specifically for the spa).
Read More: Welcome to Portland’s Flashiest New Spa
10. Eat gelato made with foraged Oregon fruit at Pinolo
Richmond
The Lowdown Skip the line at SE Division’s perpetually buzzy Salt & Straw and walk a few blocks east. Sandro Paolini is borderline obsessive when developing flavors for his gelato shop, whether he’s roasting fig leaves to pair with pine nuts or foraging Douglas fir tips and juniper berries for the botanical Foresta flavor.
Pro Tip Part of Pinolo’s charm comes from tasting your way through the menu, bellied up to the case. However, the shop does deliver pints of its Sicilian pistachio and Piedmontese hazelnut across Portland.
Don’t Miss Paolini’s seasonal flavors. Think cantaloupe-mint or Red Haven peach in the summer, fresh-pressed olive oil in the fall, and wintertime cassata, a play on the Italian candied fruit cake.
Read More: Pinolo Gelato Pays Homage to Oregon Farms and Italian Cuisine
11. Search for trilliums at Tryon Creek
Southwest Portland
The Lowdown Tryon Creek State Natural Area transports you to an oasis of lush, forested trails teeming with all kinds of flora, fauna, and wildlife.
Pro Tip Trilliums begin to bloom in late February and peak in April. Fall colors, meanwhile, pop in September and October, contrasting the oranges and browns of deciduous trees with the park’s evergreen backdrop. Also: navigating the sprawling park can get tricky, so have a good trail map handy.
Don’t Miss Guided hikes, which cover topics like raven and crows, beavers, and fungi, take place most Saturdays. And every April, the park welcomes spring with its Annual Trillium Festival, where you can go see the perennial white flowers peeping out.
Read More: 10 Portland-Area Flowers to Know
12. Drop some dough at the Nike Employee Store
Washington County
The Lowdown Shoes, gear, and apparel from Oregon’s most famous homegrown employer are available worldwide, but only the Portland area (OK, and Memphis, Tennessee) has a giant Nike Employee Store, where both new and previous-season merchandise is up for grabs, for at least 40 percent off sticker price.
Pro Tip You need to know someone who works at the swoosh factory to get a guest pass (there’s no sneaking in—they check at the door). Nearly everyone in the metro area knows someone who fits that bill, though, and passes are routinely distributed to folks who work at government agencies in Portland, so ask around and ye shall find.
Don’t Miss Adidas and Columbia Sportswear also have employee stores in the area, with passes similarly easy to score.
Read More: A Nike Historian Weighs In on What Air Got Right—and Wrong
13. Take a pilgrimage to Multnomah Falls
Columbia River Gorge
The Lowdown It’s an unspoken rule that anyone who sets foot in Oregon, whether you’re a resident or just passing through, must pay a visit to Multnomah Falls at least once. Located right off I-84, the majestic, 620-foot waterfall can be viewed from below, or you can get more up close and personal via the short hike to Benson Bridge and (literally) soak it all in.
Pro Tip From about Memorial Day to Labor Day, all visitors to Multnomah Falls must have a timed-entry permit. Want to make a day of the area? Rather than drive (parking can be a mess), catch a ride with the Columbia Area Transit bus from Gateway Transit Center, which drops you off right at Multnomah Falls.
Don’t Miss Multnomah Falls is just one of more than a dozen waterfalls packed into an 8.5-mile stretch along the Columbia River, so consider stopping by another cascade or two while you’re out here.
Read More: The Closest Attractions in the Columbia River Gorge
14. Rent a floating hot tub
Willamette River
The Lowdown Play captain for the day and cruise the Willamette River aboard a luxe six-person yacht tub, which is basically a floating soaking tub. No prior boating experience required.
Pro Tip For the best deal, round up five of your besties to come along.
Don’t Miss Ritzy add-ons ideal for dates or anniversaries, like rose petals, Epsom salts, and a cheeky little captain’s hat.
Read More: Floating Hot Tubs Offer Novel Way to Get Out on the Willamette River
15. Peep the view at Council Crest
Southwest Hills
The Lowdown Soaring more than 1,000 feet, Council Crest Park is Portland’s highest viewpoint, boasting panoramic views of the city and beyond.
Don’t Miss Spotting five peaks in the Cascade Range: Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson, all of which are visible on a clear day.
Pro Tip If you stand in the middle of the rock ring and clap (or speak), the stones echo the sound back to you. The coolest part? It’s only audible to those who stand in the center.
Read More: 34 Reasons to Love Portland’s Parks
16. Drink coffee (or mugwort) at Less and More
Downtown
The Lowdown Yes, Portland was a big deal during the rise of the specialty coffee movement, but there’s more to the city’s café scene than V60 pour over and Scandinavian-style roasts. This downtown coffee counter is a prime example: the beans on offer, roasted by international barista champion Joe Yang, are exceptional in their own right, available in 25- to 30-second espresso extractions. They also appear in fun flavored lattes, from the earthy black sesame to the iced tiramisu, topped with a coffee-scented cold foam made in house.
Pro Tip Less and More’s kiosk on SW Fifth Avenue may be better for a quick coffee to go, but the team also operates a full-blown café space a couple blocks away, ideal for rainier days.
Don’t Miss The shop’s ssuk latte uses Korean mugwort for a somewhat savory, herbal, caffeine-free wonder.
Read More: Less and More Coffee Is the New Café Downtown Portland Needs Right Now
17. Settle in for a flick at the Hollywood Theatre
Hollywood
The Lowdown One of Portland’s most lovable qualities is that it hasn’t abandoned neighborhood-y movie palaces in favor of soulless suburban multiplexes. The Hollywood is one of the city’s grandes dames, and its classic façade is a citywide landmark.
Don’t Miss Usual programming is a mix of new and classic films, but if you’re in town for one of its special events—Kung Fu Theater, B-Movie Bingo, Mondo Trasho, 35mm and 70mm screenings, and much, much more—run, don’t walk, to a showing.
Pro Tip Catch short films by PNW filmmakers at the Hollywood’s free, 22-seat “microcinema” in the Portland International Airport’s C Concourse.
Read More: Portland Is One of America’s Great Moviegoing Towns
18. Go kayaking or paddleboarding
Across the City
The Lowdown With loads of lakes and rivers a short drive from Portland (and access points within the city), there are plenty of options for getting wet on a hot day or seeking out solitude on a gray one. Boat ramps at Sellwood Riverfront and Willamette Park provide easy access to a gentle section of the Willamette River for those who want to paddle with the city as their backdrop.
Pro Tip Several local shops (Next Adventure, Alder Creek, Portland Kayak Company) will rent you whatever craft your heart desires and outfit you with paddles, life jackets, and anything else you might need for a day on the water.
Don’t Miss Out in Hood River, world champion paddleboarder Fiona Wylde runs a nonprofit devoted to making stand-up paddleboarding easier to access, hosting community paddles with free equipment and lessons in the summer.
Read More: 8 Glorious Spots to Kayak or Paddleboard near Portland
19. Join a Pedalpalooza ride
across the city
The Lowdown Portland’s love for all things two-wheeled is on glorious display during the summerlong bike extravaganza that is Pedalpalooza. Over three months, hundreds of themed rides hit the streets, celebrating everything from tacos to kilts to the Spice Girls.
Pro Tip Anyone can lead a ride by posting it to Shift’s open-source calendar. Shift also has tips for first-time ride leaders.
Don’t Miss For 15 years, the Working Theatre Collective has written and performed a play that unfolds over the course of a bike ride, complete with original music and choreographed dance numbers. The audience (that’s you) pedals from scene to scene. It’s a gleeful, heartwarming affair.
Read More: Portland’s 15 Essential Bike Rides
20. Hunt for treasures at the Portland Flea
Hosford-Abernethy/Central Eastside Industrial District
The Lowdown A trip to the Portland Flea is easily the best way to spend a weekend morning. The last Saturday and Sunday of each month, browse booths of more than 70 different vendors selling everything from floral ’60s dresses, fur coats, and preloved Levi’s to handcrafted rugs and mugs.
Don’t Miss @portlandflea on Instagram. If you’re a serious vintage hunter, you can scope the week’s haul beforehand and zero in on your top picks.
Pro Tip Bring a water bottle and suntan lotion. The Portland Flea is ground zero of the “but it was overcast!” sunburn.
Read More: An Under-the-Radar Vintage Fashion Museum
Washington Park
The Lowdown Cradled in the hills of Washington Park, the Portland Japanese Garden is made for leisurely ambles through the serene oasis, with trickling waterfalls, a teahouse, and eight gardens, each designed to represent a different style of Japanese gardening.
Pro Tip Some parts of the garden are steep, so be sure to wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes.
Don’t Miss Umami Café, the garden’s glass box of a teahouse, with panoramic views of the surrounding forest. Imported Japanese teas come with locally made cakes and pastries; for something heartier, go for the tea-scented rice dish ochazuke. You’ll have to get a reservation ahead of time, so be sure to plan ahead.
Read More: The Portland Japanese Garden Beckons You to Visit
22. Grab doughnuts at Pip’s
Cully
The Lowdown Doughnuts are to Portlanders what soccer teams are to English football fans: you pick one and remain loyal till death. By our reckoning, the hat tips to Pip’s. They’re smaller than the doughnuts at Voodoo or Blue Star, but each mini round is fried crisp to order and dolloped, drizzled, or stacked with whatever you like: nutella, raw honey, maple-candied bacon, or seasonal jams.
Pro Tip There’s no way around the lines, but come within seven days of your birthday for a free dozen.
Don’t Miss The chai. There are five flavors, all named for silky balladeers and mixed on premises.
Read More: Doughnuts and Chai at Pip’s Original
23. Go roller skating (and maybe ride the roller coaster) at Oaks Amusement Park
Sellwood
The Lowdown Who ever said amusement parks are just for kids? Opened in 1905, Oaks Amusement Park has one of the oldest roller rinks in the country, along with mini golf, classic carnival games like ring toss and balloon bust, and, of course, rides, which range from a family-friendly carousel to ones that are a bit more vertical.
Pro Tip The rides just run spring break through Halloween (weekends only when school is in session), but the roller rink is open year-round, and weekly skates include a kids skate, a gay skate, and a skate for those 18 and older.
Don’t Miss A few sessions a week feature a Wurlitzer pipe organ, which dates to 1926 and was installed at the rink in 1955.
Read More: Oaks Park’s Gay Skate Is on a Roll
24. Pursue pleasure at She Bop
Boise/Richmond
The Lowdown With cheerful locations in two of Portland’s most thriving indie-retail clusters, women-owned She Bop is the friendly neighborhood sex toy boutique of your dreams. Expect a rainbow of high-end vibrators and dildos, enlightening books, and a seriously impressive selection of lubes, all overseen by a crew of frank, enthusiastic staffers.
Pro Tip She Bop offers private, after-hours group parties—”a sex toys 101,” in the shop’s words—for up to 10 people.
Don’t Miss Classes cover a dizzying array of topics, including sex and aging, bondage, trans sex, kink, and improving your oral technique. Most are held on Zoom, allowing people to join from anywhere in the world.
Read More: How She Bop Changed the Sex Shop Game
25. Lend a helping hand with SOLVE
Citywide
The Lowdown Founded in 1969, SOLVE leads cleanup efforts around the city and state, maintaining and restoring natural areas like beaches and parks while also tidying our streets. SOLVE got its start by cleaning up Oregon’s beloved beaches (unlike in other states, the entire coastline belongs to the public—looking at you, California), and healthy waterways are still a primary focus. Sign up here.
Pro Tip If trash pickup isn’t your jam, SOLVE also hosts events more focused on gardening or flora care—get ready to tackle some weeds and invasive species.
Don’t Miss SOLVE’s active calendar of cleanup events, both in Portland and in the surrounding area.
26. Get crafty at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store
Milwaukie
The Lowdown Pendleton’s iconic woolen blankets, jackets, and westernwear might share a name with the town 200 miles east, but the company’s headquarters are in Portland. And its flagship factory store is just outside the city, in the suburb of Milwaukie, and has hundreds of bolts in stock for your home sewing projects.
Pro Tip Watch the store’s blog for community crafting events, like garment mending and flower and sun dyeing workshops.
Don’t Miss The bins of selvage edges and fabric scraps, available for purchase by the pound.
27. Wander through the Portland Farmers Market
Downtown
The Lowdown The city’s flagship market at Portland State University runs all year long (though winter markets are heavy on leafy greens and tubers). It’s a thrill to find the first local asparagus and rhubarb in the spring, followed by Hood strawberries, Maryhill peaches, and the mountain-grown apples of fall.
Pro Tip Come hungry! The prepared food stalls cluster at either end of the market, with coffee stands strategically placed between. Enchanted Sun attracts staggering lines for its New Mexico–style breakfast burritos; if you can order one without a wait, you should.
Don’t Miss Only-at-the-market finds like Mio’s Delectables (Earl Grey Swiss roll with Oregon-grown pears, anyone?), or the farms perpetually named-dropped at Portland restaurants (Gathering Together and Groundwork are the biggies, but Eloisa gets mobbed every Saturday for a reason).
Read More: Fabulous Farmers Markets in Portland, Beaverton, and Beyond
28. Order a flight at Upright Brewing
Lloyd district/Cully
The Lowdown Portland, as you may know, offers an abundance of excellent beer. For top-notch suds that fly somewhat under the radar, look no further than Upright, which operates two locations: an airy taproom steps from the Moda Center and a satellite spot in the Cully neighborhood. Since founding Upright in 2009, Alex Ganum has used a variety of fermentation techniques to produce a near-endless stream of creative quaffs.
Pro Tip Upright’s Cully spot, located in a former gas station, shares space with Junior’s Roasted Coffee, meaning you can guzzle one sort of brew till 3pm and then transition seamlessly to another.
Don’t Miss While Upright now makes a little bit of everything, the brewery made its name on Belgian- and French-inspired beers, so make sure to at least sample a saison.
29. Be a patron of the arts at the Portland Art Museum
Downtown
The Lowdown A Roy Lichtenstein sculpture sits outside the city’s highbrow art museum. Inside: Impressionist paintings, nineteenth-century Japanese woodblock prints, Tom of Finland drawings, and a breadth of works by Oregon artists, like Mickalene Thomas and Robert Colescott. Outside of its permanent collection (currently condensed to a few rooms during construction of its forthcoming Rothko Pavilion), the museum hosts a constant stream of internationally traveling exhibits.
Pro Tip Walk a couple of leafy blocks to Hi Books, the nearby photobook-focused shop.
Don’t Miss Across the river, the museum’s Tomorrow Theater is a movie house that prominent filmmakers often take over for fleeting survey shows.
Read More: 10 Must-Visit Museums in Portland
30. Catch a show at the Crystal Ballroom
Downtown
The Lowdown Established in 1914, this funky hotel/concert venue/bar combo is one of the best places to catch a show in PDX. Though it’s a hot spot for big names, it’s small enough to feel intimate and a little underground.
Pro Tip Don’t worry about getting there early to score a spot in the front—if you’re over 21, just enter the venue through the somewhat hidden Lola’s Room Bar and you’ll somehow emerge in the very front, just to the right of the stage.
Don’t Miss Well, you couldn’t miss it, but a note to first timers: yes, the floor does bounce a little bit.
Read More: Bounce On, Crystal Ballroom
31. Take in a show at Portland Center Stage
Pearl District
The Lowdown Portland’s largest theater company operates out of a converted armory with two stages: a 590-seat venue upstairs and an intimate studio theater downstairs. Its seasons include a crowd-pleasing blend of familiar plays (often given fresh takes) and new ones.
Pro Tip If budget is a concern, the theater offers $25 tickets to all shows, but book early because they sell out.
Don’t Miss PCS’s annual new plays festival, JAW, is a weekend-long spree of readings of just-written works. It happens annually in July and is a very cool peek into the creative process of making theater.
Read More: How Portland Center Stage Is Refreshing Rent
32. Find gender-inclusive, genre-evading fashion at Wildfang
Downtown
The Lowdown Say yes to fun, splashy prints and all the coveralls your heart has ever desired, plus the best suiting this side of Savile Row. The gender-flexible Portland brand keeps its downtown store stocked with both essentials and statement pieces, plus fun one-off collabs with Blondie icon Debbie Harry or local animation studio Laika.
Pro Tip Wildfang’s bold approach to fashion makes it a natural stop for folks reinventing their style—whether that means getting into suits or experimenting with gender presentation. You can book an appointment with Wildfang’s onsite stylist to talk through a new look, prepare for a wedding, or finally figure out why most suits make you look like David Byrne in Stop Making Sense.
Don’t Miss Wildfang’s commitment to inclusive sizing. Rifle through the thoughtfully tailored collection for sizes 1x–4x, still woefully underrepresented in most brick-and-mortar boutiques.
Read More: Wildfang Foments a Feminist Revolution
33. Geek out at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry
Hosford-Abernethy
The Lowdown Trusty OMSI has been serving Portland-area families since 1944, and its now-iconic waterfront space (opened in 1992)—complete with a planetarium, movie theater, and tourable US Navy submarine—makes every trip feel like a certified event.
Pro Tip The on-site café, Theory, is surprisingly great for a museum café.
Don’t Miss OMSI’s monthly After Dark nights, for those 21 and over, mix education with fun.
Read More: I Spent the Night at OMSI’s Adult Sleepover
34. Go back in time at the Oregon Historical Society
Downtown
The Lowdown The city’s most underrated museum, the Oregon Historical Society Museum has three floors of historical artifacts and information about how they inform the present. It doesn’t shy away from the systemic racism that threads through Oregon’s history, whether against Japanese residents during World War II, the Black population that came to build railroads and were subject to redlining, or the Indigenous tribes displaced by the doctrine of westward expansion.
Pro Tip Always free for residents of Multnomah County.
Don’t Miss OHS’s newest permanent exhibit, Rivers, Roses, and Rip City, collects modern artifacts that shaped the city’s culture, like Darcelle XV’s crown, a vintage Jantzen swimsuit, and the Blazers’ 1970 offer letter to Bill Schonely, the announcer who coined the moniker “Rip City.”
Read More: Where Governors Go Shopping: The Oregon Historical Society Vault
35. Thumb through a Parisian-inspired mess of books at Mother Foucault’s
Buckman
The Lowdown Mother Foucault’s is no doubt the city’s most idyllic book den. It’s loosely inspired by Shakespeare & Company, the famed Paris bookshop where its owner, Craig Florence, learned the trade. Kill an hour or three browsing the tippy stacks of used books, made up mostly of literature, philosophy, theory, foreign language, and poetry collections.
Pro Tip Try not to go in looking for something specific. “You’ll find stuff in the piles that you never knew existed, which is what a bookstore is for,” says Portland author Jon Raymond.
Don’t Miss Other People’s Poems. The first Friday of each month, an informal intelligentsia gathers to recite poems strictly from memory.
36. Mingle under the lights at a night market
Buckman/Central Eastside Industrial District
The Lowdown A handful of times each year, the Portland Night Market takes over a warehouse and adjacent parking lot, bringing dozens of vendors, food carts, cocktail bars, and, at least once, a replica of the Delorean from Back to the Future.
Pro Tip If you’re planning to shop, get the Fast Pass, which lets you skip the lines. It’s worth it. And don’t miss the on-site celebrity alpacas.
Don’t Miss Each iteration has something, um, novel. But we’ve seen: cocktails in light bulbs (and mini disco balls), neon dance floors, hair tinseling, glass blowing demonstrations, and a tattoo truck
Read More: Portland Night Market Returns
37. Drink jaw-dropping Oregon wines (that aren’t pinots) at Bar Nina
Vernon
The Lowdown If you’re looking to drink killer wine in Portland, it’s hard to go wrong. Combination restaurant-wine bars like Heavenly Creatures, Bar Diane, and Ok Omens all have star-studded lists and knowledgeable servers, and urban tasting rooms like Division Winemaking Company, Statera Cellars, and Fossil & Fawn showcase undersung varietals from the region. For something in between, this tucked-away, subterranean spot off Alberta is both an ultra-cool wine bar with rare bottles and the tasting room of Ovum, an Oregon label with a strong lineup of critically acclaimed white wines. In the warmer months, the upstairs patio becomes Big Salt Bar, focusing on its eponymous best-selling blend.
Pro Tip You may have to awkwardly crawl a bit to get up there, but the cubby built into the wall, complete with a couch and coffee table, is the best seat in the house. Reserve “the nook” online to ensure your spot.
Don’t Miss The bar’s “mystery pour,” a selection picked by the team. It could be one of the La Luz selections, Iberian bottles from owner John House’s import company, or a decades-old port from the back of the House family’s cellar. Or, it could be a fun little glass of Macedonian red. As the menu says, “Don’t think, just drink.”
Read More: The Team Behind Big Salt Just Opened Two New Wine Bars
38. Dance up a storm at the Goodfoot
Kerns
The Lowdown Since 2001, Southeast club the Goodfoot has been ground zero for sweaty, inclusive dance nights. The upstairs pub has pool and pinball, but it’s the basement where you’ll find dance music and DJs, including the long-running Soul Stew most Fridays.
Pro Tip While the bar takes cards, it’s cash-only at the door, so come prepared.
Don’t Miss Inimitable DJ duo Anjali and the Incredible Kid host regular “Tropitaal” parties, serving up a high-energy mix of Indian and Latin American sounds.
39. Crane your neck to see the swifts
Northwest District
The Lowdown Every year, thousands of Vaux’s swifts roost in the giant chimney at Chapman Elementary School. And every year, Portlanders gather there, too, to picnic and watch when the sky swirls with birds before they appear to be swallowed up by the chimney for the night. Catch the swifts in September and maybe early October, too, though they do taper off.
Pro Tip If you have kids, bring along the biggest piece of cardboard you can find, so they can join everyone else under the age of 12 in sliding down the hill next to the school.
Don’t Miss The hawk who circles nightly, looking to seize a swift for dinner. Depending on your perspective, the predator is the villain of the peace or natural arbiter of the bird world.
Read More: The Definitive Guide to Watching the Vaux’s Swifts in Portland
40. Pick up a few kinds of greenery at Somewhere
Northwest
The Lowdown Recreational weed has been legal in Oregon since 2015—we legalized it for medical use way back in 1998—and it’s safe to say some of the thrill has worn off. Which is why Somewhere, a dispensary nestled on a quiet block in Northwest Portland, is so welcome (also welcoming, thanks to its big windows). While the shop has a thoughtful selection of cannabis products, including freshly cured flower, tinctures, and topicals, it also sells all variety of exotic plants, from cacti to carnivorous varieties. There has rarely been a better two-in-one shopping stop.
Don’t Miss Flower deals can be found every day of the week.
Pro Tip Chocolate specialist Grön makes eminently balanced bars; ask a staff member for a recommendation.
Read More: How the American West Became the Wild Cannabis Frontier
41. Meet Dillon T. Pickle
Lents
The Lowdown Amateur baseball team the Portland Pickles is made up of collegiate players from all over the West, some future major leaguers among them. Home games are at Walker Stadium in Southeast’s Lents Park.
Pro Tip Watch for the team’s special promotions, and you might leave with a rug, a souvenir, or a free permanent pickle tattoo.
Don’t Miss A photo opp with the most recognizable figure in the stadium, the seven-foot mascot. He’s run for president, set off a Twitter scandal after posting a photo of an indeterminate green appendage, and survived an alleged kidnapping.
Read More: Gaming Out the Brine Lives of Baseball Mascot Dillon T. Pickle
42. Drop in to Darcelle XV Showplace
Old Town-Chinatown
The Lowdown Before her death in March 2023 at age 92, Darcelle XV held the Guinness World Record for oldest living drag performer. The Portland nightclub and drag theater she established in 1969 is one of the oldest of its type in the country, hosting cabaret-style revues and lively brunches. While the grand matron of drag may no longer grace the stage, her spirit lives on.
Pro Tip Find your new favorite up-and-comer at Catch a Rising Star, a Tuesday evening show where new drag performers hit the stage alongside experienced acts.
Don’t Miss Sunday Funday Drag Brunch with Portland drag legend Poison Waters, whose audience interactions are as delightful as you’d imagine.
Read More: Darcelle Has Died. Long Live Darcelle.
43. Bike the waterfront loop
Downtown/Central Eastside Industrial District
The Lowdown Portland’s bicycle culture is ubiquitous, and it’s safe to say you haven’t truly done Portland till you’ve taken a two-wheeled jaunt around the scenic waterfront (including a run over the car-free Tilikum Crossing). And with plenty of bike rental options, including the city’s bike share program, Biketown—which has an all-electric fleet—you’ll be on your merry way in no time. Go for a 10.6-mile loop between the Sellwood and Steel bridges, or keep it simple with a 2.6-mile pedal.
Pro Tip Park your bike at the SW Moody Aerial Tram Terminal station (which btw, has a free bike valet) and enjoy 360-degree views of Portland’s cityscape from aboard the tram. On weekdays, the tram operates until 9:30pm, so if you wait till after rush hour you can make it a twilight ride.
Don’t Miss A statue of Vera Katz, a beloved former mayor of Portland, sits along the Eastbank Esplanade.
Read More: The Portlander’s Guide to Having More Fun on Your Bike
44. Take a walk with Ramona Quimby
Hollywood & Grant Park
The Lowdown The late, great children’s author Beverly Cleary, who introduced us to the beloved character Ramona Quimby, grew up in Portland. And if you’ve ever read the book series you might recognize some of the Northeast Portland locations—Klickitat Street, anyone?
Pro Tip Retrace Ramona’s steps with help from Portlander Laura O. Foster’s guide, Walking with Ramona: Exploring Beverly Cleary’s Portland. The book takes you meandering through Beverly Cleary’s Northeast Portland neighborhood, and what became her namesake elementary school, where Ramona was headed when she got her boots stuck in the mud and had to be rescued by Henry Huggins.
Don’t Miss In the summer, the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden in Grant Park becomes a spray park, providing a nice spot for the kids to cool off post-tour.
Read More: What Ramona Quimby Taught Me about Taking Up Space
45. Eat a raspberry fool off a rotating table at Rimsky-Korsakoffee House
Buckman
The Lowdown Those raised in Portland all have stories from this charmingly unsettling coffee shop in a converted Craftsman. Groups of teenagers and decades-long regulars grab tables that rotate or randomly jiggle, attributed to the alleged ghosts that haunt the house. Awaiting orange-scented borgias and chocolate raspberry fools (an indulgent parfait of mousse, compote, and whipped cream), patrons will wander over to the piano for an impromptu concert.
Pro Tip Rimsky’s can get busy on the weekends. If you want to grab a table, arrive as soon as it opens at 7pm. Alternatively, kill time while you wait by reading through the shop’s scattered guest books and journals.
Don’t Miss The bathroom. Bring goggles.
46. Grab a produce-loaded slice at Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty
Boise
The Lowdown Lovely’s pizza is the ultimate barometer of what’s in season in Portland at any moment. Naturally leavened dough made from locally-milled flours holds a kaleidoscope of whatever’s popping up in the fields of local farmers or in the baskets of local foragers. The menu changes often—we’re talking micro-seasonal—so try not to fall in love with what you see on Instagram.
Pro Tip Trust the chef. If you’re wary of so-called adventurous toppings, this is the place to try pizza with goosefoot greens, flowers, and cheeses you’ve never heard of.
Don’t Miss The other fifty: housemade ice cream. Our favorites include rum raisin, made with house-dried raisins, and Oregon strawberry buttermilk.
47. Shop the formalized flea market that is the Cargo Emporium
Buckman/Central Eastside
The Lowdown Think of this sprawling warehouse market as a highly curated bazaar with regular business hours. Find letterpress prints, craft supplies, vintage and handmade home goods and furniture, and several outposts from local shops, like modern houseware retailer Woonwinkel and Primrose Apothecary.
Pro Tip Watch Cargo’s website for upcoming workshops with local artists and craftspeople.
Don’t Miss Art prints, paper goods, toys, and textiles at Portland artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon’s stall.
Read More: Why Cargo Moved Its Hoard of Global Designs across the River
48. Let chicken and rice change your life at Nong’s Khao Man Gai
Buckman & Downtown
The Lowdown If you haven’t had paper-wrapped khao man gai from this iconic spot, you haven’t been to Portland. What started as a cart is now two brick-and-mortar restaurants on either side of the Willamette, where locals sip Thai tea floats and dunk cucumbers in peanut sauce. We’re not really sure how the white rice, poached chicken, and ginger-heavy Nong’s sauce is as powerfully delicious as it is, but Nong Poonsukwattana has turned a humble Thai-Chinese dish into a Portland icon.
Pro Tip Nong’s quintessential chicken and rice arrives with a bowl of soup featuring a profoundly flavorful, pandan-bolstered chicken broth. You can order the broth by the 32-ounce container for $6, so keep your freezer stocked (no pun intended).
Don’t Miss Fried chicken skins! Salty and savory cracklings are made daily and served as an optional add-on, though quantities are always limited.
Read More: Farewell to Nong’s Original Downtown Cart
49. Feast your eyes at the Portland Saturday Market
Old Town-Chinatown
The Lowdown It’s not a trip to Portland if you don’t visit the Saturday Market. It’s the largest continuously operating outdoor arts and crafts market in the country, featuring more than 150 booths and 300 artisans.
Pro Tip Those in search of a holiday present should know that the market is open all day, every day for the week leading up to Christmas, in what has been dubbed the “Festival of the Last Minute.”
Don’t Miss The weird. Pick up a painting of a cat drinking a beer, a voodoo doll, or tie-dyes of items that it wouldn’t occur to you to tie-dye.
50. Jump in the river
Willamette River
The Lowdown There was a time when skin contact with the Willamette River was not recommended. But thanks to Superfund projects, some serious new city infrastructure (don’t get us started on the Big Pipe), and a lot of advocacy work, the river that separates Portland’s east and west is now dotted with designated beaches and swim docks from Sellwood to St. Johns. Near downtown, find Poet’s Beach under the Marquam Bridge.
Pro Tip There are no lifeguards on duty, and the river is unpredictable. Swim at your own risk, wear a personal flotation device, and heed warnings.
Don’t Miss The brand-new Cathedral Park dock, specifically designed for swimmers; its multiple swim ladders and dive platforms make it way easier to take a dip.
Read More: Portland Is a Beach Town. It’s True.
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