Vacation In Portland
Hey there, I’m Wes. I’m the creator of VacationInPortland.com , where I interview entrepreneurs seven days a week and do some blogging of my own. I’m also a (sometimes) stand-up comedian who performs at The Funny Farm, here in town.
Portland has a reputation for having the best things to do in Oregon and it seems to live up to the hype. We visited last August for 4 days, and there was no shortage of things to do.
In the last couple of years, Portland has really become a vacation destination on many people’s “bucket list”‘. It’s combining food and drink, natural beauty, an eclectic mix of young professionals, hipster culture and access to nature have made Portland one of America’s most exciting cities. Many Americans find it surprising that a city like this can exist up in the state of Maine. But, “Portlandia” is starting to break out of its own little niche and provide people with a vacation experience they won’t forget.
With magnificent vistas, a lively waterfront, and an attractive skyline, there are countless exciting things to do in Portland.
Places to visit while in Portland: Look, I’m not going to lie. Portland isn’t the sexiest city in the country (that goes to Miami) or the most historically important (Washington D.C.), but it is one of the most fun cities in the world! So go visit and have the time of your life with these handy suggestions!
Vacation In Portland
Portland, Oregon, is one of America’s most unique cities. While it often gets overshadowed by Seattle to the north, Portland is one of the US’s best and most interesting metropolises. With a world-class food scene, plentiful local breweries, and postcard-perfect scenery, it’s surprising that more people don’t visit this eclectic city.
Nicknamed “the City of Roses” (after roses became a common garden staple in the late 19th century) and “Stumptown” (due to lots of tree stumps remaining after the city expanded and clear-cut the surrounding area in the mid-19th century), Portland is known for its liberal tendencies, its food trucks, and its hipsters (thanks, Portlandia).
My first trip here was back in 2011 for Thanksgiving. While in Spain, I made friends who lived in Portland and paid them a visit on my way to Asia. What started as “like” during my first trip turned into love on my second.
And, since then, I’ve visited nearly every year. Portland is on the very tiny list of cities I would actually live in (the nearby Oregon coast is stunning too!
What I really love about Portland is the high quality of life. It’s compact and easy to get around, there is good public transportation available, the locals are friendly, it’s environmentally conscious, and, most importantly, the food and beer scene here is amazing.
While the city has developed a bit of a bad rap the last year, the overwhelming majority of that has been overblown by the media. While Portland isn’t perfect (no city ever is), it’s not nearly as “dangerous” as certain people would like you to believe. A city of over 600,000 people, it’s not being burnt to the ground and problems are confined to a small section downtown. Don’t let the media make you afraid to visit this incredible city.
To help you make the most of your visit, here are my favorite 14 things to see and do in Portland:
1. Take a Walking Tour
I always start my visits to a new city with a walking tour. It’s the best way to learn about a destination, get the lay of the land, see the main sights, and have an expert local guide answer all your questions.
Portland Walking Tours offers more than half a dozen different tours around town, focusing on food, the main sights, and Portland’s underground and alternative culture. Tours last a couple hours and cost around $23 USD. They’re a great way to kick off your visit. I really liked their Underground Tour, which focused on a series of tunnels below the city that have been used for all kinds of nefarious purposes.
2. See Pittock Mansion
Built in 1914, this is a stunning French Renaissance-style mansion located in the western part of town. The 46-room estate, originally owned by a wealthy couple from England, is part of the National Register of Historic Places and contains beautiful artwork and furniture collected by the original owners. You can explore the grounds (which span over 40 acres) and buildings by yourself or take a guided tour (the price is the same; however, guided tours are only scheduled when volunteers are available).
3229 NW Pittock Dr, +1 503-823-3623, pittockmansion.org. Open Thursday-Monday from 10am–5pm (4pm in the winter). Admission is $12 USD.
3. Hike Forest Park
Located on the northwestern edge of town, Forest Park is one of the nation’s largest urban parks. Covering a sprawling 5,000 acres, it’s home to over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. There are over 100 species of birds here, as well as 62 different species of mammals. It’s also home to the Witch’s Castle, an abandoned stone building covered in moss. (It has no connection to witches. The name came from students who used to use the site for secret parties in the 1980s).
Some trails worth checking out are the Wildwood Loop trail (easy, 2 hours), Forest Park Ridge Trail (moderate, 1.5 hours), and the Dogwood Wild Cherry Loop (easy, 1.5 hours).
4. Browse at Powell’s City of Books
This is the largest independent and used bookstore in the world, home to over a million books. Established in 1971, the store takes up an entire city block and has 3,500 different sections. It buys upwards of 3,000 new and used books each and every day so if you’re a book lover like me, you could easily spend a good chunk of time here!
1005 W Burnside St, +1 800-878-7323, powells.com/locations/powells-city-of-books. Open daily 9am–10pm.
5. Devour Delicious Donuts
Portland is known for its donuts. If you Google the city or search for it on social media, donuts will inevitably pop up. Voodoo Doughnut put the city on the map with its weird and wonderful combinations, such as Cap’n Crunch or maple bacon. It also makes cream-filled phallic donuts as well — so you can see why it’s become a quirky staple of the city.
Some locals might argue that Voodoo is for tourists, preferring donuts from Blue Star instead. You can’t go wrong with either choice. Why not try both and see for yourself. You only live once, after all!
6. Wander the International Rose Test Garden
Home to over 10,000 rose bushes and 610 varieties, this garden is where many companies test new varieties of roses (some are tested here years before they are commercially available). It’s the oldest rose test garden in the country. During World War I, roses from all around the world were sent here for testing and safekeeping. They also host an annual competition for the city’s best rose. The roses are in bloom between April and October, though there is also an amphitheater here that holds all kinds of events, such as classical music performances and plays. Don’t miss the Shakespeare Garden, which only has types of roses referenced in Shakespeare’s plays.
400 SW Kingston Ave, +1 503-823-3636. Open daily 5am–10pm. Admission is free.