One of Portland, Oregon’s iconic slogans is “Keep Portland Weird”, and the evidence of its fun quirks are scattered across the city. Portland is known for its unique culinary tastes and random trends whether it be independent movie theatres or thrift stores. The beautiful city embodies a spirit of creativity and love for the outdoors that sets it apart from other cities. However, in between all the quirks is a beautiful city that promises to keep you entertained. Here are the top activities for all foodies, fashionistas and outdoor lovers to experience in Portland.
Explore the Parks
Portland is blessed with one of the largest urban forests in the United States. The shade of giant trees enshrouds visitors in the beauty of nature while being just outside the city. There are over 70 trails in Portland which cover more than 8 miles. One of the most popular is the Wildwood trail which leads to the iconic Pittock Mansion. An hour of hiking takes many runners and hikers to a viewpoint of the city near a 16,000 square foot renaissance home. The mansion includes 23 rooms which were uniquely designed with round shapes to lookout over the city and Cascade mountains.
Nearby is Washington Park with its famous Japanese Gardens. The garden boasts 12 acres of gardens and even offers a traditional tea ceremony. The park is also home to the Oregon Zoo, an amphitheatre and a stunning rose garden.
In the middle of the city is Mount Tabor Park. It’s 191 acres and built upon an extinct volcano. It is a century old space with views of Mt. Hood, a reservoir, the city and beautiful trees.
Savour the Food Scene
One of the main contributing factors to Portland’s quirky characteristics are its variety of delicious coffee shops or restaurants. There is no better place to start than the 23rd street area. In 2003, French baker Dominique Geulin opened one of Portland’s best bakeries: The St. Honoré. Located on 2335 NW Thurman St, the bakery has a rustic and timeless feel with beautiful pastries that taste even better than they look.
A few blocks away is Salt & Straw, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic ice cream chains, which began as a small truck in Portland. Its ice cream flavours are reflective of the culture of the city: quirky, vibrant and completely unique. Some of the highlights are Strawberry Honey Balsamic w/ Black Pepper and Passionfruit Yuzu Mochi Donuts & Whey Curd. Across the street is Santa Fe Taqueria, which has been selling some of Portland’s best Mexican food for the last 35 years.
For anyone craving a pizza, 23rd has many options from Escape From New York and Life of Pie with their wood-fired pizzas. Lela’s Bistro offers an authentic taste of Vietnam with their banh mi and pho while Tara Thai has been serving Portland fresh and tasty Thai food since 1985.
However, this article wouldn’t be fully true to Portland without an honourable mention of Voodoo Doughnuts. Within its first month of opening in 2000, the shop made national news. Similar to Salt & Straw, Voodoo’s popularity is attributed to its unique flavours, like its maple bacon bar and ring of fire.
Go to a Soccer Game
Portland has also been known for its thriving soccer culture since 2009 when it joined Major League Soccer. In 2012, this extended to the National Women’s Soccer League with the creation of the Portland Thorns. Both teams are known for their roster of prolific players, such as Diego Valeri and Diego Chará, Sophia Smith and Becky Sauerbrunn, and Canadian legend Christine Sinclair. The fans’ dedication and energy make being in the sea of red and green fans a thrilling experience for everyone.
Explore Hawthorne and Division
Portland also has an abundance of thrift stores and boutiques. Hawthorne Boulevard covers 43 blocks and is known for its vintage shops, cafes, and boutiques. One of the most popular shops is House of Vintage, which contains 1,3000 square feet of everything vintage, including clothes, furniture, art, and more. Red Light Clothing Exchange also has some of the best vintage clothing options in Portland. For those looking for something more modern, check out Sloan Boutique for chic designer jackets and sweaters.
However, a trip to Hawthorne would not be complete without a stop at Cartopia Food Cart pods, which offer a culinary experience from Mexican food to poutine and Latin-style chicken. For alternate activities, check out McMenamins Bagdad Theater & Pub. McMenamins is one of Portland’s many quirky chains which began in 1983 to restore old buildings into bars, movie theatres, hotels and more. There are now over 56 locations which employ local artists, painters and historians.
Division Street is also home to one of Portland’s most stylish neighbourhoods. It also contributes to Portland’s reputation as a food city with restaurants like Bete-Lukas with their delicious homemade Ethiopian Injera and Nuestra Cocina, one of Portland’s most upscale Mexican dining experiences. One of its most popular boutiques is Wild Cactus Boutique, with its fashionable accessories and clothes. Division Street is also a paradise for comic lovers with Books with Pictures and Cloud 9 Comics.
Despite the array of fun quirks, what makes Portland truly special is the kind of people and tapestry of creativity, individuality, and natural beauty that every type of tourist can fall in love with. The aforementioned activities are truly just a drop in the bucket of all there is to enjoy, taste, and experience in Portland.
For more information, please check out Travel Portland for a further list of the best neighborhoods and activities.
