9 Best Things to Do in Portland, Oregon

Keep Portland Weird! Portland is a large city full of culture, character, good food, live music, and many fun things to do. You can have an incredibly made donut at voodoo doughnuts or go hiking through the many miles of trails at Mount Hood. Either way, you can experience downtown Portland and the west hills mixed with the beautiful Pacific Northwest

The best time to visit Portland is during the summer months, June-August. The weather will be warm and full of sunshine. If you can’t make it in the summer, just know, that the rainy season is from November to March. I would suggest avoiding travel during those months.

Old Town Portland is probably one of my favorite parts of downtown Portland and is a great place to stay when visiting. A few other great neighborhoods to stay in is the pearl district, Central Eastside, and Nob Hill & Northwest Portland. Airbnbs are always a great option but Portland does have many decently prices hotels as well.

The Best Things to Do in Portland

ONE: Spend Some Time in Washington Park

Washington Park is one of Portland’s most valued parts of town. It is a public park that includes many fun things to do. Washington Park is home to a few favorites including the Hoyt Arboretum and The International Rose Test Garden. The Hoyt Arboretum is Portland’s free museum, a botanical garden, conversation lab, nature education hub, and tree museum. It is where you can feel the serenity from the outdoors while also learning about it. The International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden home to over 10,000 rose bushes and 600 different rose variations. The blooming of the roses occurs from late April to Mid October. However, the best time to go is during the latter half of June.

Two: Hike through Forest Park

Located west of Downtown Portland, Forest Park is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. Forest Park is known to be the largest urban forest in the United States. The park is 8 miles along the Willamette River, perfect if you are looking to go hiking through it. The hike you should definitely do, especially if it is your first time, is Lower Macleay to the Stone House. It is stunning.

Three: Portland Art Museum or Oregon Museum of Science

The decision between the two museums will definitely be a personal choice. If, however, you have time to do both, I would suggest checking them both out. My personal favorite, because of my art background, is definitely the Portland Art Museum. The Portland Art Museum located in downtown Portland is intended to showcase diverse communities and cultures. They pride themselves on being an “open, inclusive, and welcoming” museum for all to enjoy. On the other hand, the Oregon Museum of Science focuses on the wildlife and natural environment. It is a science and technology museum that is known to be one of the best in the United States. Experiencing this museum will be a beneficial and highly educational journey.

Four: Go to a Cultural Garden

There are two very beautiful ones to choose from or to experience both. Both gardens I am specifically talking about are beautiful and will truly transform you into a different country. The first is the Portland Japanese Garden. The Portland Japanese Garden is located in Washington Park and expresses a relaxing aroma. The garden, close to 12 acres of land, includes a tea house, waterfall, and even a beautiful mountain view. Secondly, the La Su Chinese Garden is another beautiful culture-inspired garden. La Su Chinese Garden is located in Portland’s historic Old Town Chinatown Neighborhood. It is 14 USD for adults and is worth every penny, the architecture sweeps you off your feet.

Five: Go On An Outdoor Adventure

Chances are if you came to Portland, you are also wanting to experience the surrounding outdoors. Here is an incredible list of nearby adventures to experience: Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls, Tom Mccall Waterfront Park, Willamette Valley, and of course Mount Hood. Each is experience is dependent on what you are looking for and how far you are willing to travel past the city.

Six: Pittock Mansion

The Pittock Mansion holds a lot of the history of Portland and how it transformed from a pioneer town to and modern city. It showcases such history through the following and legacy of Portland’s most influential family. The Pittock Mansion displays stunning architecture on the outside and historical conversations on the inside. It costs 14.50 USD for an adult ticket and is very much worth it. The view from the mansion also showcases clear views of the city of Portland and Mount Hood.

Seven: Have a donut at Voodoo Doughnuts

If you are a donut lover like myself, this is an absolute must. Voodoo Doughnuts are made fresh every day and they have flavors ranging from a normal glazed to their famous Bacon Maple Bar. They have certainly set the bar high in the gourmet doughnut category. On top of all the flavors they have listed here, they can also create a unique flavor to your choosing.

Eight: Pioneer Courthouse Square

The Pioneer Courthouse Square, also known as Portland’s living room, is a public square located in downtown Portland. The square stretches 40,000 square feet and creates a space that benefits the entire community. It is a great place to find live music, food trucks, and many fun events.

Nine: Portland Saturday Market

Obviously, this is only available to experience if you are visiting Portland during the weekend. If you are visiting on a Saturday you definitely don’t want to miss the Portland Saturday Market. It is open from March 5 to December 24th. Portland Saturday Market is known to be the country’s largest arts and crafts market that is continuously open throughout most of the year. There are up to 150 vendors and are all local Pacific Northwest artisans. I am a sucker for outdoor markets and this one is one of the bests in the United States.