15 Must Dos In and Around Portland

We love Portland! There are so many things to do in and around the city. Here is our list in no particular order. How many places have you been?

1. “Food Cart Friday”

The first on our list would have to be the SW Food Carts at 10^th and Alder. Every Friday the staff goes down to pick up delicious food from the wide variety of selections available.

2. Hiking in the Gorge

You cannot really say you live here until you have hiked the Multnomah Falls area at least once.

3. International Rose Garden & Japanese Gardens

Both places are just breathtaking, and offer a great view of Portland. Watching snow fall on the Portland Japanese Gardens should be on your bucket list.

4. Brunch

If there is one thing Portland loves, it is brunch. With so many delicious places to choose from, it is hard to pick just one. Olympia Provisions, Tin Shed, Screen Door, Veritable Quandary, and Verde Cocina are some of our favorites though. It’s important to take advantage of the only acceptable time to day drink in public.

5. Powell’s Books

You need a book that only had a print run of 100 copies with paper made from Palm Trees that only faced South? They have it.

6. Breweries

You can’t throw a rock in Portland without hitting a brewery. If you can’t decide what delicious brews you want to drink, see how many beers you can taste at Loyal Legion.

7. Saturday Market

An upscale flea market, and a great place to spend a Sunday morning with coffee in hand. Where else can you get handmade crocheted knee warmers? Nowhere.

8. First Thursdays / Second Saturday Art Walks

Explore galleries and artist exhibits during the summer, and it's a great way to flex the right side of your brain.

9. Happy Hour

A much needed cocktail and ‘appys is always a great way to end the week. Some of our favorite locations (in order of classiness): Departure, Matador, and Cheerful Bullpen.

10. OMSI

From Sea to Space, this place has it all. And you don’t need to be a kid to enjoy it!

11. Theater

Yes, Portland can be fancy! Newmark, Keller, Schnitzer, Winningstad, Brunish, and Portland Center Stage all offer a wide variety of entertainment.

12. Tom McCall Waterfront Park & Eastbank Esplanade Loop

One of the great pleasures of Portland’s downtown. Bonus points if you do it on a Segway!

13. Punch Bowl Social and Ground Kontrol

Video games, beer, bowling, darts, shuffleboard, corn hole and more! It’s like being at home, without having to worry that your tipsy friends will spill their drinks everywhere!

14. Shanghai Tunnels

Who doesn’t love the thrill of unexpected visitors getting drunk, kidnapped, and human trafficked in the late 1800’s? Beware, the Halloween tours are not for the faint of heart proclaiming itself as the most haunted place in Oregon.

15. Swift Watch

The ultimate team building exercise! A truly entertaining site to watch thousands of birds swirl down to roost for the night in the Chapman School’s chimney.