Museums, parks, entertainment, attractions, and more! Discover 50+ things to do in the Portland area
Things to do in Portland, OR
Museums
Portland Art Museum: Did you know that the Portland Art Museum is the largest museum in Oregon? The museum’s collection consists of prints and drawings, photography, Asian art, Northwest Art, and Native American (especially Pacific Coast) art.
OMSI: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) features a planetarium, large-screen theatre, and exhibition halls with a variety of hands-on exhibits focused on natural sciences, industry, and technology.
World Forestry Center: Located in Portland’s Washington Park, the Discovery Museum has something to engage visitors of all ages. This indoor museum explores what makes woodlands important through an array of interactive displays and exhibits.
Oregon Rail Heritage Center: See Portland’s historic locomotives, railroad equipment, and artifacts at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center. A fun stop for anyone who loves trains!
Central Library: Opened in 1913, the Central Library is a three-story public library in the downtown core of Portland. Outside, large panels below the second-story arched windows are inscribed with the names of philosophers, poets, novelists, musicians, scientists, and inventors, and twenty-two benches inscribed with authors’ names. Inside is a grand staircase of etched black granite stairs, marble flooring, high-ceilinged rooms with columns and alcoves, and arches of molded plaster. The central library is also home to the Beverly Cleary Children’s Library.
Oregon Maritime Museum: Explore the last operating sternwheel steam tug in the United States. The Maritime Museum’s steam sternwheeler Portland is moored at the Willamette River in downtown Portland’s Waterfront Park.
The Oregon Historical Society: See the Portland Penny that decided the city’s name! The Historical Society is dedicated to making Oregon’s long, rich history visible and accessible to all.
Pittock Mansion: Picture-perfect views of the city and its surroundings and insights into Portland history.
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art: The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University (JSMA at PSU) presents exhibitions by regional, national, and international artists.
Bird Alliance of Oregon: Bird Alliance of Oregon’s free and family friendly 172-acre Wildlife Sanctuary hosts more than 4 miles of trails, a Nature Store, Interpretive Center, and the region’s largest and busiest Wildlife Care Center. (Formerly known as the Portland Audubon.)
Parks
There are more than 275 parks and gardens within city limits! From forested parks to marshlands and trails, here are a few favorites!
The Oregon Zoo: Founded in 1888, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River.
Portland Japanese Garden: Proclaimed to be the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, the Portland Japanese Garden features many styles of gardens in serene 5.5-acre space with waterfall, teahouse & mountain view.
Hoyt Arboretum: A public park in Portland, Oregon, the 189-acre arboretum is a free botanical garden, conservation lab, nature education hub, and tree museum in Washington Park.
Forest Park: This “forest in the city” covers 5,156 acres, supports more than 112 birds and 62 mammal species, and boasts 70 miles (113 km) of trails. The 30-mile (48 km) Wildwood Trail connects Forest Park, Pittock Mansion and Washington Park.
Washington Park: Originally acquired in 1871, Washington Park is one of the oldest parks in Portland. This 410-acre park is home to the Oregon Zoo, World Forestry Center, Hoyt Arboretum, International Rose Test Garden, and the Portland Japanese Garden. The park also features a Lewis and Clarke Memorial, Sacajawea Statue, and Oregon Holocaust Memorial.
Lan Su Chinese Garden: Modeled after China’s Ming dynasty scholars gardens, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is among some of the only authentic Chinese gardens in the country.
Cathedral Park: Riverfront views, swimming and fishing areas, boat dock and ramp, picnic tables, and grass amphitheater. Plus a stunning view of the St John’s Bridge.
Peninsula Park Rose Garden: with emerald-green lawns, playgrounds for toddlers and older youth, a rainbow-hued splash pad for hot summer days, and one of the Portland’s most beautiful destinations: the Peninsula Park Rose Garden.
Mills End Park: Named the smallest park in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records, this tiny urban park is a small circle 2 feet across, with a total area of 452 square inches (0.00007205784 acres).
International Rose Test Garden: See 10,000 roses consisting of more than 610 different varieties. On clear days visitors enjoy spectacular views of downtown Portland, Mt. Hood and other Cascade Range volcanoes.
Keller Fountain Park: 13,000 gallons of water per minute cascade through its terraces and platforms, emulating the Northwest’s abundant waterfalls.
Tanner Springs Park: An urban wetland, the park attempts to recapture the area’s past with its native wetlands and flowing runnels.
Tryon Creek State Natrual Area: Tryon Creek is Oregon’s only state park within a major metropolitan area. The park features 8 miles of hiking trails, 8 bridges and a boardwalk over a wetland.
Mount Tabor Park: Portland is one of six American cities with an extinct volcano within its limits! Walk atop an extinct volcano at this Southeast Portland park.
Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge: Home to over 175 species of birds, including bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and red-tailed hawks. You’ll also find river otters, beavers, and even deer roaming the landscape.
Grant Park: The setting for many scenes in children’s books by Beverly Cleary, Grant Park is home to the Beverly Cleary Sculpture Garden for Children. There are bronze statues of three of Cleary’s best-loved characters – Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Henry’s dog Ribsy, as well as granite plaques engraved with the titles of the Cleary books that take place in Portland.
Council Crest Park: Council Crest is one of the highest points in Portland. The park boasts a fantastic 180-degree view of Portland and surrounding towns.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park: Located in downtown Portland, along the Willamette River. Home to the cherry blossoms each spring!
The Grotto: text The Grotto is a 62-acres sanctuary located in Portland, Oregon with a mission to offer a sanctuary of peace, prayer and natural beauty for all people. Open year round, the Grotto hosts a Christmas Festival of Lights each year. The Grotto cave was carved out of the face of the cliff in 1923, and it houses a replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà.
Pioneer Courthouse Square: A 40,006 square foot urban park located at the heart of the downtown core. Pioneer Courthouse Square is one of the most visited public sites in Oregon and hosts more than 300 programmed events each year
Oaks Amusement Park: One of the oldest continually operating amusement parks in America. The park includes midway games, seasonal ride, a skating rink that is open all year, and picnic grounds. The park operates as a non-profit 501(c)3 community resource.
Sports
Portland Timbers: Did you know Portland is nicknamed Soccer City, USA? 2015 MLS Cup Champions, see how the Timbers celebrate goals with the cutting of the “log slab.”
Portland Thorns: Three-time NWSL champions, the Thorns play at Providence Park, a phenomenal 25,000+ capacity, soccer-specific stadium from February to October.
Portland Trail Blazers: Founded in 1970, the Portland Trail Blazers have always called Portland home.
Portland Winterhawks: The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League, the highest level of non-professional hockey.
Portland Pickles: The Portland Pickles are a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat team. The Pickles are also home to “the world’s weirdest mascot, Dillon.”
Rose City Rollers: Rose City Rollers is a league that consists of 4 home teams, an internationally-ranked travel team, 2 junior derby programs and a recreational program.
Portland International Raceway: Home of the only Formula E race in the United States, the track also hosts the IndyCar Series, ICSCC and SCCA and OMRRA road racing, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series West, and SCCA autocross events. The track is also home to Winter Wonderland each year, the most popular and largest light show in the Northwest.
Shopping and Dining
Pioneer Place: Spread over multiple blocks and connected by a skybridge, Pioneer Place is located in the heart of downtown Portland.
Powell’s Books: Browse through the country’s largest independent bookstore. Shop for new, used, and rare books.
Lloyd Center Ice Rink: Set in the mall’s atrium, this indoor ice rink hosts public & advanced sessions, plus lessons year round.
PSU Farmer’s Market: Browse as many as 100 vendor stalls featuring local farmers and food producers. Located on the Portland State University campus, the market is open on Saturday’s year round.
Portland Saturday Market: Nationally recognized as the largest continuously operating open-air arts and crafts market in the country, PSM is a marketplace featuring local small businesses creating handmade arts, crafts and foods from the Pacific Northwest.
Salt & Straw: Often included on lists of America’s best ice cream, Salt & Straw began as a food cart in Portland, before expanding to locations across the country. Make sure to get a scoop and check out their seasonal selections.
Discover James Beard award winning restaurants: coming soon
Seasonal
Cherry Blossoms: coming soon
Rose Festival: coming soon
Fleet Week: coming soon
Things to do in Vancouver, WA
Fort Vancouver: The fort served as the company’s headquarters west of the Rockies and housed the Northwest’s first hospital, school, sawmill, shipyard and more. Today, visitors can see authentic demonstrations of period blacksmithing, carpentry, gardening, cooking and baking.
Pearson Field and Museum: The oldest continuously operating airfield on the West Coast, Pearson Field is a favorite for aviation enthusiasts.
Officers Row: This historic drive is lined with 21 restored Victorian homes built for military officers of the Vancouver Barracks, including Ulysses S. Grant, General O.O. Howard House and George C. Marshall. Two of the homes are open for tours.
Clark County Historical Museum: Dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the cultural history of Clark County and the Pacific Northwest.
Esther Short Park: Dating back to 1853, Esther Short Park is the oldest public square in Washington. The park features a Glockenspiel-clad tower that announces the time throughout the day.
Vancouver Waterfront Park: One of the most popular destinations in Vancouver, located near local eateries, shops and wineries.
Cedar Creek Gristmill: A historical, water-powered, grain-grinding mill. Volunteers provide demonstrations and bags of fresh-milled flour and cornmeal to guests.
More Things to Do in the Greater Portland Area
Oregon City/Gresham/Lake Oswego
coming soon
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