The gem of the Pacific Northwest, Portland is a city that you have to visit at least once in your life. Laid back with an edgy vibe, the city is known for everything from unique microbreweries to a Japanese garden you need to experience in order to truly understand. Because it is a city that is rich in diversity and widely varied in its tastes, it is also becoming something of a haven for startups. Portland’s entrepreneurial spirit runs deep. Voted one of US News’ best places to live, Portland’s offbeat charm and hospitality are what help the city stand out. It’s unofficial motto: Keep Portland Weird, should certainly tell visitors a lot about the city’s way of life. From a giant chess set downtown, to the well-known Voodoo Doughnuts, to its overwhelming support of creativity, Portland is as eclectic as they come.
The array of restaurants and food choices will have visitors excited. Some have deemed this one of the best food cities in the country. James Beard himself was born here after all. You can expect sumptuous dishes to be found on just about every street corner.
Portland is regularly ranked as one of the top beer cities in the US. The city ranks 6th in the US for most microbreweries per capita.
Within driving distance there are a ton of activities. Mt. Hood is only about an hour away. While there are plenty of places to find great fishing, canoeing and hiking. And the Willamette Wine Country is certainly worth exploring. Within the city limits one of the more popular outdoor activities is the Saturday Market.
While not always recognized as one, Portland is most definitely a sports town. With the Trailblazers playing at Moda Center and the city’s soccer team, the Portland Timbers competing in the MLS’s western conference, sports enthusiast are certainly in for a treat.
Spanning just over 9 acres, this garden is one of the largest of its kind outside of Japan. It is composed of eleven separate garden areas, to include: the Tea Garden, Sand and Stone Garden as well as the Strolling Pond Garden. The park also features a 100 year old multi-tiered pagoda lantern—a gift from Japan.
Winter is generally considered the least desirable time to visit, as it is cool and rainy. However, the city has enough going on, that it is easy to find fun events year-round. If visiting in the winter, consider checking out a Trailblazers game.
Spring is fairly mild. The city has many parks and gardens, and they come to life with spring blooms. The Portland Rose Festival is a key event in late May.
Summer is an incredible time to be in Portland. The weather is warm and dry, with highs in the 80s. The city has fun events throughout the summer.
Early fall looks a lot like summer, but November is cool and rainy. Consider visiting in September or October for one of the numerous beer or wine festivals.