Portland, OR Travel & Vacation Guide

What to Know

This environmentally friendly town is currently experiencing rapid growth, with trendy new neighborhoods frequently emerging and attracting visitors with innovative restaurants, wine bars, jazz clubs and street fairs. What was once a city visited primarily for its parks, lakes and beautiful greenery has also become a destination for trendy dining, shopping and culture--particularly in revitalized areas like the Pearl District, Nob Hill and the Hawthorne District. Downtown Portland centers around Pioneer Courthouse Square, which hosts more than 300 events a year, such as political rallies, festivals and concerts.

Culture buffs will have plenty to choose from, with the Oregon Symphony, the Oregon Ballet, the Portland Opera and several thriving theater companies. And don’t miss the funky side of P-town with attractions like the Voodoo Doughnut, which serves doughnuts with bizarre ingredients like Tang and bacon (sounds weird, but fans swear they’re good!), and Velveteria, a museum of velvet paintings.

The nightlife scene in Portland has a lot to offer, with an array of clubs, bars, and most importantly (at least to Portlanders), brewpubs. Portland has more brewpubs per capita than any other city wordwide. In fact, the city now sports brewpub-cinemas, brewpub-hotels and brewpub-concert venues. Portland is also a big jazz town, with many local musicians performing at jazz clubs around town. Jimmy Mak's is very popular and features live jazz every night but Sunday.

Portland’s restaurant scene is also all the buzz with many eateries specializing in "Northwest cuisine" that uses fresh, local ingredients (many of which are organic). Paley’s Place and Higgins are known for serving "Northwestern" dishes utilizing freshly caught seafood, farm-raised meats and locally grown produce.

Love to shop? Portland’s got you covered-from the trendy boutiques of the Nob Hill District (on Northwest 23rd Avenue and 21st Avenue) to the exclusive shops of the Pearl District (between NW Ninth and 14th Avenues), there’s something for everyone. In downtown Portland, Pioneer Place is brimming with boutiques, restaurants and a cinema. Also a huge draw is Powell's City of Books, a legendary shop in the Pearl District that is the largest independent new and used book store in the world.

Where to Go

It’s not called the "City of Roses" for nothing. The biggest event of the year-the Portland Rose Festival-is celebrated each June and features a grand floral parade and various events. If you can’t visit in June, check out the Rose Garden in Washington Park featuring lovely gardens with thousands of many-hued roses. You’ll also be able to take in one of the best city views, looking east to gorgeous Mount Hood.

Portlanders call Pioneer Courthouse Square the city’s "living room" because it is at the center of so many of the city’s activities-featuring various events and festivals-as well as a beautiful fountain, bronze chessboards and the famous Weather Machine, which every day at noon displays either a sun (for good weather), a dragon (for bad) or a blue heron (for overcast skies).

Portland’s Cultural District, which borders the South Park Blocks, offers everything from the Portland Art Museum to opera and ballet. More popular than the mainstream culture is the independent art and culture scene--street fairs, jazz performances, local artists--emerging out of Portland’s unique neighborhoods.

For those who love artisan markets, check out the Portland Saturday Market, which runs every weekend from March to late December in the area near the west end of the Burnside Bridge. Here, hundreds of local artists sell goods ranging from funky candles to fine jewelry.

When to Go

What they say about rain in the Pacific Northwest is true-it rains a lot-with the wettest months from November through January, though the rain does continue throughout springtime. If you want to see clear skies, the best time to visit Portland is July, August and September, when temperatures are mild in the 70s and 80s.

Unless you want to attend the annual Rose Festival, avoid Portland in June when huge crowds make it hard to get hotel reservations and almost impossible to get decent rates. If you want to attend the festival, plan at least three months in advance.