As a traveler, you definitely want to explore as many lands and cultures as you can, right? Well, here’s one city you definitely should explore in The States.
Portland, the capital city of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest, is blessed with lots of destinations to visit and sites to explore.
Let’s talk about the 15 Best Places to Visit in Portland.
The City of Roses holds its own charm. Its gardens, zoos, and parks are to live for.
So if you happen to find yourself in the neighborhood, then this article is the tour guide you’d definitely need to never be bored on your visit to Portland!
- Pioneer Courthouse Square
This bustling square, fondly called Portland’s very own ‘living room’, radiates with energy from the population of people that gather here at a time.
Visit Pioneer Courthouse Square to interact with people and explore some of Portland’s street art and sculptures, like the “Allow Me” sculpture and the weather-predicting “Weather Machine” that has some interesting degree of accuracy.
You could simply partake in this normal communal gathering, and maybe your stay could even coincide with an event or festival adding more flavor to your trip.
- Portland Japanese Garden
Portland Japanese Garden is a testament to the rich history of Portland, Oregon.
This wonderful little garden feels like getting teleported to Japan.
It has its origin going back to the end of World War II when the concept of sister cities was introduced (Portland’s sister city is Sapporo, Japan). Here, you can explore the 5 styles of Japanese landscaping in the Strolling Pond Garden, the Natural Garden, and the 3 other areas in Portland’s Japanese Garden.
This garden offers you a variety of Japanese cultural activities to participate in like ikebana, a form of flower folding, tea ceremonies, watching the koi ponds, and several others.
Portland Japanese Garden Is a breathtaking place that you definitely should stop by and explore.
- International Rose Test Garden
You may have wondered why Oregon is the City of Roses.
Well, thousands of roses were planted during the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in 1905 and for that reason, the city was nicknamed “Rose City”.
To this day, there are still lots of roses in the streets of Portland, especially in the International Rose Test Garden.
When you’re in Portland, make sure to stop at this picture-perfect garden where a variety of roses from across the globe are grown and the image of the skies with the city’s skyline just combine to give a wholly immersive feeling of awe.
- Powell’s City of Books
If you’re a book lover, hold on to your hats! Powell’s City of Books is a well-known bookstore in Portland that occupies a whole block plus several floors. It is rich in any kind of book you may want to read, old and new to have you explore the minds of people past and present.
- Portland Art Museum
A visit to the Portland Art Museum will take you through a breathtaking collection of artworks spanning through different eras and mediums that will leave you in awe.
- Oregon Zoo
Explore a diverse community of wildlife at the Oregon Zoo.
Oregon Zoo is dedicated to preserving endangered animals and providing ample space required by each animal while mimicking their natural habitat as much as possible.
This creates a good atmosphere at the zoo, where you can see and learn more about a lot of species beneficial to the balance of our ecosystem.
- Portland Saturday Market
You should also try Portland Saturday Market, this open-air market open on Saturdays and Sundays.
You can find a variety of homemade and locally made items like artwork, jewelry, home decor, and souvenirs to take a bit of Portland with you when your stay is over and you have to get back home.
- Portland Food Cart Pods
We all know how the food tells a lot about the culture! Well, Portland has an interesting number of food trucks with local dishes and other foreign delicacies like Thai, Ethiopian, Mexican, and Vietnamese cuisines.
There are quite several food trucks or carts in places like Prost! Marketplace, Cartropia, Alder Street Food Cart Pod. Portland food carts are definitely worth a try!
- Forest Park
Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the whole of America, should be your next stop in your tour of Portland.
In this park, you can see extensive acres of land blossoming with shrubs, tall trees, and lush green meadows.
You can also explore the diverse wildlife here like deer, raccoons, amphibians, and a wonderful collection of birds.
If you love birdwatching, make sure you don’t miss out on this spot! It’s just excellent how Forest Park, Portland conserves the natural habitat.
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)
Are you a curious cat? Do you love to learn more about STEM-related fields? Or are you just an enthusiastic person who wouldn’t mind a tour? The Oregon Museum of Science and Learning presents an extensive number of exhibits to satisfy your curiosity and teach you more about the science of the world we live in. And if you’re up for a little fun, try out “OMSI After Dark”, an adult-only event where you get to explore parts of the museum in specifically themed activities to give you a time to remember.
- Portland’s Waterfront
Portland’s Waterfront is a mesmerizing sight to explore.
From the waterfront, the view of the Willamette River and Portland’s skyline is so stunning.
At the Portland Waterfront, you can also explore Tom McCall Waterfront Park, and appreciate the street art and year-round events that usually take place at Portland’s Waterfront.
- Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden, also known as Portland’s Chinese Garden is a jaw-dropping sight you must explore.
It presents a cultural immersive experience of Chinese gardens featuring Chinese rock formations, koi ponds, and tea houses where you can feel the tranquility of it all.
- Hawthorne District
You can visit Hawthorne District to check out the unique items at their boutiques and stores, explore the neighborhoods, have lovely picnics at the green spaces, and have an enjoyable nightlife experience.
- Portland Brewery Tour
A Portland brewery tour can be just as interesting as it sounds.
You can choose to go on a guided or self-guided tour of the multiple breweries of Portland.
This could also be a fun experience for friends or couples to share together.
- Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion was the historic home to the Pittock family in the 20th century that is now a testament to luxury and exquisite architecture.
It is located in the West Hills of Portland and is a recognized home museum open for tours and exploration.
It also makes a great stop when you visit Portland to appreciate the surrounding landscapes and the majestic interiors.
Conclusion
Portland, Oregon has a lot of interesting places to explore.
When you’re on a visit to Portland, make sure to stop at these locations to enjoy everything Portland represents, and let us know about your experience!
