It’s been called the City of Roses, the City of Bridges, Rip City, Portlandia and Beervana. As this wealth of nicknames suggests, Portland has much to offer. From food carts and farm-to-cone ice cream to breweries and books, Portland has something for everyone. With so much to see and do, it’s hard to know where to begin. Here’s our primer to get you exploring.
Forest trails
The famed Wildwood Trail winds through the wooded beauty of Forest Park. Thirty miles in total length, the trail connects various Portland greenscapes, including Washington Park and Hoyt Arboretum.
City of Roses
Located in the West Hills, the beautiful formal gardens of the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park range over 4.5 acres. The location makes it easy to visit the adjacent Oregon Zoo, Portland Children’s Museum, Portland Japanese Garden and World Forestry Center Discovery Museum.
Food carts
Portland’s 700+ food carts bring the culinary world to your doorstep. From international cuisines like those of Thailand, Greece, Hawaii, Egypt and Cuba to American takes like vegetarian Mexican, Beijing-meets-U.S. and gourmet grilled cheese, it’s all here. Visit FoodCartsPortland.com for maps and information.
Bike-friendly
Portland was named America’s Best Bike City by Bicycling Magazine in 2012. Portland has the most cyclists per capita of any town in the U.S. Now the city even has its own interactive digital Portland Bike Map, which shows the designated bicycle roadways and connections.
Bonus: See Portland by Bike
Sweet tooth
Salt & Straw broke the mold as one of the first “farm-to-cone” ice cream shops. Visit scoop shops on Alberta Street, Division Street and Northwest 23rd Avenue. We dare you to try the triple threat of strawberry honey balsamic vinegar with cracked black pepper, double fold vanilla and freckled woodblock chocolate.
Quirky hotels
At McMenamins Kennedy School on Portland’s East Side, you can get a beer, stop for dinner, relax in the soaking pool, spend the night or take in a movie in the former auditorium of this converted 1915 elementary school. It’s one of more than 50 properties owned by the company, which loves rescuing historic buildings and making good beer.
Bonus: McMenamins Keeps the Beat
Beervana
With 75 breweries and counting, Portland is the largest craft-brewing market in the U.S. What’s your pleasure? We’ve got IPAs, sour beers, Belgians, organic ales and everything in between.
4T trail
It’s easy to see the city without a car, thanks to the 4T trail, a self-guided tour via train, trail, tram and trolley. The iconic Portland Aerial Tram climbs 500 feet from the South Waterfront to Oregon Health & Science University’s main campus on Marquam Hill. The three-minute ride to the top costs $4.70. (It’s free to ride the tram downhill.)
Bonus: A Night Out, Portland Style
Foodies welcomed
People loved chef Andy Ricker’s Pok Pok so much that he opened the Whiskey Soda Lounge across the street for another taste of Thailand (and a place to relax while you wait for your table at Pok Pok).
Page-turners
Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore, takes up an entire city block. Browse the stacks for new and used literature, children’s, cooking, mystery, science fiction and more. If you can’t find what you are looking for, it hasn’t been written yet.
Bonus: Road Trip: Classic Portland
