Category: Portland OR

What’s Portland famous for? A lot! But because we don’t want to overwhelm you, we are going to limit our list to the city’s most famous attractions.

The Saturday Market

Portland is a hodgepodge of everything that’s hip in the US right now, and you can find it all at the Saturday Market. It’s a colorful event that runs on Saturdays and Sundays in Portland’s historic Chinatown. You’ll find everything from food and drinks to crafts and more from local artisans.

Food Truck Scene

Almost every city has a food truck scene, but the best food trucks in Portland, OR are totally unique. There are food trucks and carts offering five-star meals and desserts from countries around the world.

Are you craving Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Italian, or a mishmash of cultural flavors? There’s probably more options than you know what to do with. And to make finding the perfect truck to whet your appetite a breeze, there are apps like Truckster.

The Arboretum

If you love the outdoors, Portland is known for having fantastic trails, gorges, waterfalls, gorgeous parks, and more. But if you’d rather experience the beauty of the outdoors indoors, you need to try out the Hoyt Arboretum. It’s huge and contains various flora from different continents. Simply put, it’s Portland’s own Garden of Eden.

Thriving Art Scene

Portland is the origin of several talented creatives, like Matt Groening, Elliot Smith, Gus Van Sant, and others. More artists are being born in the city every day and it’s evident in the works that come out of the Oregon College of Art.

The school’s Centrum Gallery and Retail Craft Gallery showcase the works of various artists. You can also visit the Museum of Contemporary Craft or simply stroll through the Alberta Arts District to view its amazing murals.

Distillery Row

Portland is famous for its local breweries. Each brewery is different and offers something unique, from heady black beers to organic IPAs. Take a tour of the breweries and you are bound to find several with something special to please your taste buds.

But if beer is not your preferred poison, you should head to Distillery Row, just east of the Willamette River. It’s a neighborhood of distilleries and you’ll find everything from gin and vodka to whiskey and brandy from various brands.

Most of the distilleries are open to tours, which is the perfect opportunity to sample the unique craftsmanship of each distillery.

Coffee Like No Other

How do you like your coffee? If you are a fan of quality roasts, you should know that Portland’s coffee is some of the best in the US. Stumptown is probably the city’s most famous roaster, selling to people in New York and other states.

Other famous Portland roasters are Coava, Courier Coffee, Extracto Coffee, and Coffeehouse Northwest.

Foodie Paradise

Aside from the food trucks and carts, Portland also has regular brick-and-mortar establishments that feed the masses. Check out Laurelhurst Market for an epic meat dinner that even Vikings would envy, or visit Le Pigeon for something fancy.

And if you’re craving desserts, Voodoo Donuts, Crave Bake Shop, and many more are waiting to load you with enough tasty treats to keep you grinning all day.

As long as you are in Portland, going hungry or running out of cuisine options isn’t likely.

Bicycle Rides

Portland is one of the few cities committed to going green. Because of this, cycling is very popular. Since there are so many scenic bike trails, you’ll definitely have a great time exploring the city from behind handlebars. It’s also a great way to burn off some of the calories from sampling Portland’s numerous food trucks and foodie joints.

Liberal Politics

Portland is known for its vibrant culture, activism, and commitment to social justice. Liberal politics in Portland tend to prioritize issues like environmental sustainability, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, affordable housing, and healthcare access. The city has a strong tradition of grassroots activism and community engagement, with residents actively participating in protests, advocacy groups, and local politics to promote progressive policies and challenge systemic inequalities. Liberal politicians in Portland, both at the local and state levels, often champion policies that aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society, making the city a hub for progressive thought and action in the Pacific Northwest. So whether that is your particular cup of tea or not, it’s definitely something to consider, when considering Portland. 

Willamette Valley Wines

Portland is known for its micro-brewing and distilling scene, but the city has more than just beer and liquor. Portland sits right in the middle of one of the nation’s most famous wine countries- the Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley houses a number of smaller microclimates, with differing elevations, temperatures, soil content, etc. These microclimates allow the winemakers to grow a huge variety of different types of grapes, making a seemingly endless menu of wines to try. Find tasting rooms right in town, or travel within an hour from the city and go explore the vineyards themselves. And don’t worry, this isn’t Napa Valley, you can leave the suit and tie at home. 

Voodoo Donuts

As self appointed foodie gurus, we of course have to mention Voodoo Donuts. Portland is where it all started. Since opening in a rented storefront back in 2003, Voodoo Donuts is now pushing their pink boxes of donuty-delight at 17 locations in six different states. They blew the doors off the donut making business with their unconventional flavors and quirky appeal. Bacon strips and maple icing on a donut? Who would have thunk it!  So even though Voodoo Donuts can be found all over the country now, they just hit different in their origin city of Portland. Maybe because they’re both a little…weird. 

Now that you know a few things that Portland is known for, head on over to experience these activities and more firsthand. And don’t forget to support the local food trucks!

Find Portland Food Trucks

Portland is simply awesome. Not just because it’s Oregon’s biggest city, but also because of its rich history, tasteful sights and sounds, and charming personality.

What to Do While in Portland, Oregon

If you plan on visiting anytime soon, here are some of the best activities to indulge in to make your Portland adventure even more memorable.

Take a Hike

Portland has lots of gorgeous hiking trails, parks, and natural sites. Some of the most popular ones are Sauvie Island, Horsetail Falls, Oneonta Gorge, Mill Ends Park (fondly known as the world’s smallest park), Forest Park (Portland’s largest park), and the gorgeous Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

But if you want something truly unusual, hike to the Witch’s Castle in Forest Park for a cool, spooky tour. It’s an old mansion with a pretty intriguing backstory of love and murder to make your tour of the scenery even more interesting.

Hit a Food Truck

Portland’s eclectic food scene is enough to satisfy the hankering of any foodie. There are lots of unique restaurants and diners to try out. But the city truly sets itself apart with its food truck scene. There are Portland food trucks representing cuisine from Asia, Africa, South America, the Mediterranean, and more.

These food trucks are not hard to find, but since some of the more popular ones are always changing locations, you can use apps like Truckster to hunt them down. Alternatively, you could head over to one of Portland’s food truck Meccas—food truck pods—where various food trucks congregate to serve the masses.

Take a Booze Tour

Portland has enough restaurants, diners, and food trucks to make sure you never have to eat the same thing twice throughout your stay in the city. But if you’re more of a drinker than an eater, Portland has you covered.

Whether you are into fine wines, craft beers, or matured spirits, the city has several wineries, breweries, and distilleries to wet your beak. Visit Distillery Row, just east of the Willamette River, to find various distilleries within walking distance of one another. For breweries, check out the Lucky Labrador, Ecliptic Brewing, and Stormbreaker Brewing.

If you are looking for red and white wines, check out Willamette Valley, which is just outside the city and one of the few places in the world where Pinot Noir grapes grow. Or, you could stay within the city and check out Fullerton Wines for a tasting.

Take a Donut Tour

Portland wants you to indulge your sweet tooth. It’s the only explanation for the city’s many tasty pastry shops. The city’s donut shops are extremely tempting, especially the infamous Voodoo Donuts, where everything you eat seems to cast a spell on you.

Blue Star Donuts is another great choice with irresistible selections like the Mexican Hot Chocolate, Cointreau Crème Brûlée, Blueberry Bourbon Basil, and more.

Check out the Art Scene

Do not underestimate Portland’s art and music scene. There’s a lot of street art around the city, meaning simply moving around is as good as visiting a modern gallery. If you want the neighborhoods with the best and most street art, check out the Alberta Arts District.

Live music from upcoming and famous performers is also plentiful around the city. You can catch a show on any day of the week at McMenamins.

Party Hard

Portland might not have the wildest parties, but the parties aren’t that tame either. Recreational marijuana is legal in the city and the rest of Oregon, so you know you are going to have a good time. Just remember that you can only hang out with Mary Jane indoors.

Fun places to visit in the city for a wild night out include Alibi Tiki Bar, Darcelle XV (for those who want something a bit weird), Southland Whiskey Kitchen, the 1905 Jazz Club, and Al’s Den.

Trust us, the above list doesn’t cover nearly all of the awesome things that you can do in Portland. Pay a visit to discover even more of the awesomeness the city has to offer.