If you’ve ever watched Portlandia, you’re probably itching to see if the city is anything like how the show portrays it. To really get a feel for the city, ditch the touristy spots and take a dive into Portland’s local treasures. Here are 8 things to do in Portland that won’t disappoint.
Events and activities in Portland
- Portland Japanese Garden
- Portland Trailblazers game
- Oregon Museum of Science
- Food trucks
- McMenamins bars and restaurants
- Explore the outdoors
- Portland Thorns
- Portland Saturday Market
1. Visit the Portland Japanese Garden
What’s not to love about this place? The Portland Japanese Garden is filled with beautiful trees, many of which create stunning foliage in the fall. Unique moss, shrubs, and other plant life add to the 12-acre, idyllic space. Head here on any day and you’re sure to find something fun to do; from wine tastings and cultural performances to a learning center and rotating art exhibitions, there’s always something going on at the Portland Japanese Garden. Grab a tea at Umami Cafe, the garden’s own tea room, and enjoy the tranquil and serene atmosphere around you. The Japanese garden is located inside Washington Park, right next to the International Rose Test Garden.
2. See a Portland Trailblazers game
If you’re a basketball fan then you’ll want to head to Moda Center where you can watch the Portland Trailblazers take on the competition in an official NBA game. Tickets sell as low as $23, so this is also an affordable Portland activity to consider. Be sure to check out the full event calendar at Moda to catch concerts and other special events throughout the year.
3. Visit the Oregon Museum of Science after dark
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry isn’t your average museum, and its After Dark events have the 21+ crowd heading there every Thursday night. The museum features 5 halls filled with interactive exhibits, a movie theater, a planetarium, and even a submarine with tours offered daily. The After Dark events give you access to all of this, plus the option to purchase little booze to make the evening that much more entertaining. At After Dark, adults can explore the museum while enjoying specialty food, wine and beer, and some old-fashioned interactive fun. From hands-on rocket launching to talks with beer brewers about the science behind the brewing process, the OMSI After Dark nights generate a lot of buzz. Be sure to get your tickets early, as these events tend to sell out!
4. Explore the food truck scene
If you’re anywhere near downtown, don’t skip out on the massive food truck scene. Although trucks and carts are clustered in different parts all over the city, those adjacent to O’Bryant Square tend have a great selection of grub. Flew the Coop’s fried chicken sandwiches are tossed in a sweet & spicy Korean chili sauce, and topped with pickled daikon, pickled carrot, sesame seeds, & slaw; El Pilon’s Colombian food is mouthwatering; and, A Little Bit of Smoke does Carolina BBQ justice. You’ll definitely want to do your research on which food trucks to try before moving to Portland.
5. Check out a McMenamins spot
McMenamins is a company that takes dilapidated or unoccupied buildings and transforms them into bars, restaurants, hotels, breweries, and trendy hangouts. From the renovated school houses-turned-pubs to the restored historic hotels, McMenamins establishments have quickly become beloved Portland institutions.
6. Get outdoors
Portland has no shortage of outdoor spaces, and Powell Butte Park is certainly among the best of them. The park is an extinct volcano and is also Portland’s second-largest, just after Forest Park. Hit the 9 miles of multi-use trails and you’ll catch a glimpse of the wildlife species (especially all the different butterflies!) that call the park home. For outdoor-enthusiasts, this might be one of the coolest things to do in Portland, and it’s right in your backyard. Both Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood National Forest are within easy driving distance from Portland. They make for the perfect weekender if you’re looking for a little time away from the city.
7. Cheer on the Portland Thorns
If there’s one women’s soccer team that has the most supportive fans in the league, it might just be the Portland Thorns. The women’s team plays in the NWSL and locals show up in droves to see them in action. It’s no surprise, though; the Thorns currently boast 3 players who have been named to the U.S. women’s national team–Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, and Midge Purce. With some of the best players in the league, let alone the nation, it’s easy to see why Portland loves its Thorns games.
8. Spend a Saturday at the market
Once you experience it for yourself, you’ll see what makes the Portland Saturday Market so unique. For starters, it’s the largest continuously-operated outdoor market in the country. Every Saturday and Sunday from March through Christmas Eve, the Portland Saturday Market brings more than 250 arts and crafts vendors to Chinatown and transforms it into an open-air bazaar. Spend a weekend strolling through the market and pick out a few gems; it’s open rain or shine, so don’t let a little drizzle keep you from exploring!
Although the list of things to do in Portland is ever-growing, these are a few of them to start you off. There isn’t much this city doesn’t have, and you’ll want to explore it all once you get here. Just make sure to find your apartment before moving to Portland so you’re all set and ready to hit on the town.
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