Visit the Portland Japanese GardenMust-See SightsPaid · Spring · SummerA formal Japanese garden in Washington Park with several distinct sections — a strolling garden, a tea garden and a sand and stone garden. Ticketed, well-maintained and less crowded on weekday mornings.0 Add to listVisit the Portland Japanese GardenMust-See SightsPaid · Spring · SummerA formal Japanese garden in Washington Park with several distinct sections — a strolling garden, a tea garden and a sand and stone garden. Ticketed, well-maintained and less crowded on weekday mornings.0 Add to list
Tour Pittock MansionMust-See SightsPaidA 1914 French Renaissance estate on a hilltop west of downtown with good city views and Mount Hood on clear days. Small ticketed museum inside; the grounds and viewpoint are free to walk.0 Add to listTour Pittock MansionMust-See SightsPaidA 1914 French Renaissance estate on a hilltop west of downtown with good city views and Mount Hood on clear days. Small ticketed museum inside; the grounds and viewpoint are free to walk.0 Add to list
Stroll the International Rose Test GardenMust-See SightsSpring · SummerA free open-air test garden in Washington Park with thousands of labeled rose varieties. Best in late spring when most are in bloom. Easy to combine with the Japanese Garden nearby.0 Add to listStroll the International Rose Test GardenMust-See SightsSpring · SummerA free open-air test garden in Washington Park with thousands of labeled rose varieties. Best in late spring when most are in bloom. Easy to combine with the Japanese Garden nearby.0 Add to list
Visit Lan Su Chinese GardenMust-See SightsPaidA compact walled garden in Chinatown built in the Ming Dynasty style with a tea house, koi pond and detailed stonework. Ticketed and walkable in an hour. Quieter than you'd expect given the location.0 Add to listVisit Lan Su Chinese GardenMust-See SightsPaidA compact walled garden in Chinatown built in the Ming Dynasty style with a tea house, koi pond and detailed stonework. Ticketed and walkable in an hour. Quieter than you'd expect given the location.0 Add to list
Find the White Stag Portland Oregon SignMust-See SightsThe White Stag sign at the edge of Old Town lights up at night with 'Portland Oregon' in neon, the stag's nose switching to red at Christmas. An easy evening stop near the Burnside Bridge.0 Add to listFind the White Stag Portland Oregon SignMust-See SightsThe White Stag sign at the edge of Old Town lights up at night with 'Portland Oregon' in neon, the stag's nose switching to red at Christmas. An easy evening stop near the Burnside Bridge.0 Add to list
Eat the Most Ridiculous Doughnut at VoodooLocal FoodVoodoo Doughnut on SW 3rd is the one with the maple-bacon bar and the Cock-N-Balls. Usually a short line, worth it once. Order the weirdest thing on the board and eat it immediately outside.0 Add to listEat the Most Ridiculous Doughnut at VoodooLocal FoodVoodoo Doughnut on SW 3rd is the one with the maple-bacon bar and the Cock-N-Balls. Usually a short line, worth it once. Order the weirdest thing on the board and eat it immediately outside.0 Add to list
Find 'Keep Portland Weird'Fun Side QuestsThe 'Keep Portland Weird' sign is on a wall on SE Belmont, a bit southeast of downtown. Easy to find with a quick search. Pose accordingly.0 Add to listFind 'Keep Portland Weird'Fun Side QuestsThe 'Keep Portland Weird' sign is on a wall on SE Belmont, a bit southeast of downtown. Easy to find with a quick search. Pose accordingly.0 Add to list
Explore Powell's Books Without the MapFun Side QuestsPowell's Books on W Burnside takes up a full city block and is organized into color-coded rooms. Skip the map, wander the stacks, and find a book on something you know nothing about.0 Add to listExplore Powell's Books Without the MapFun Side QuestsPowell's Books on W Burnside takes up a full city block and is organized into color-coded rooms. Skip the map, wander the stacks, and find a book on something you know nothing about.0 Add to list
Play Food Cart Roulette at CartopiaLocal FoodCartopia on SE Hawthorne is one of Portland's original late-night cart pods. A handful of carts, picnic tables and string lights. Point at something, order it, eat outside. Easy.0 Add to listPlay Food Cart Roulette at CartopiaLocal FoodCartopia on SE Hawthorne is one of Portland's original late-night cart pods. A handful of carts, picnic tables and string lights. Point at something, order it, eat outside. Easy.0 Add to list
Name Portland's Bridges from Tilikum CrossingActiveTilikum Crossing is car-free and gives a clear view of several of Portland's 12 Willamette River bridges. Walk out to the middle and see how many you can name — Portland's 'Bridgetown' nickname starts making more sense from here.0 Add to listName Portland's Bridges from Tilikum CrossingActiveTilikum Crossing is car-free and gives a clear view of several of Portland's 12 Willamette River bridges. Walk out to the middle and see how many you can name — Portland's 'Bridgetown' nickname starts making more sense from here.0 Add to list
Find the Best-Smelling Rose at the Rose Test GardenActiveWith KidsSpring · SummerThe International Rose Test Garden is free, walkable in 30-40 minutes and has thousands of labeled varieties. Late May through June is peak bloom. A low-key stop in Washington Park with a good view of the city below.0 Add to listFind the Best-Smelling Rose at the Rose Test GardenActiveWith KidsSpring · SummerThe International Rose Test Garden is free, walkable in 30-40 minutes and has thousands of labeled varieties. Late May through June is peak bloom. A low-key stop in Washington Park with a good view of the city below.0 Add to list
Run the Vera Katz Eastbank EsplanadeActiveLocal RitualsA flat, mostly car-free loop along the Willamette — run south along the Eastbank Esplanade, cross the Hawthorne Bridge, and return via the waterfront park. Around 3 miles for the full loop. Good for early mornings before the path fills up.0 Add to listRun the Vera Katz Eastbank EsplanadeActiveLocal RitualsA flat, mostly car-free loop along the Willamette — run south along the Eastbank Esplanade, cross the Hawthorne Bridge, and return via the waterfront park. Around 3 miles for the full loop. Good for early mornings before the path fills up.0 Add to list
Power up the Mount Tabor stairsActiveLocal RitualsMount Tabor Park sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone in SE Portland. Jogging up through the trees to the reservoir takes about 20 minutes. The city view from the upper paths is a good reward.0 Add to listPower up the Mount Tabor stairsActiveLocal RitualsMount Tabor Park sits on an extinct volcanic cinder cone in SE Portland. Jogging up through the trees to the reservoir takes about 20 minutes. The city view from the upper paths is a good reward.0 Add to list
Get soaked at Salmon Street SpringsActiveWith KidsSummerSalmon Street Springs is a free splash pad in Waterfront Park right downtown. It cycles between gentle mist, bollard jets and the full fountain — all timed by an underground computer. Pack a towel and go on a warm day.0 Add to listGet soaked at Salmon Street SpringsActiveWith KidsSummerSalmon Street Springs is a free splash pad in Waterfront Park right downtown. It cycles between gentle mist, bollard jets and the full fountain — all timed by an underground computer. Pack a towel and go on a warm day.0 Add to list
Find Mill Ends, the World's Smallest ParkFun Side QuestsWith KidsMill Ends is a two-foot circle of grass in the median of Naito Parkway near the Salmon Street Springs — officially one of the world's smallest parks. Easy to walk past without noticing, which is half the point.0 Add to listFind Mill Ends, the World's Smallest ParkFun Side QuestsWith KidsMill Ends is a two-foot circle of grass in the median of Naito Parkway near the Salmon Street Springs — officially one of the world's smallest parks. Easy to walk past without noticing, which is half the point.0 Add to list
Stand Under a Steam Engine at Oregon Rail HeritageFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Oregon Rail Heritage Center near OMSI has three full-size steam locomotives including a Bicentennial Freedom Train engine. Inexpensive to enter and a genuinely impressive scale — most people are surprised by how big they are.0 Add to listStand Under a Steam Engine at Oregon Rail HeritageFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidThe Oregon Rail Heritage Center near OMSI has three full-size steam locomotives including a Bicentennial Freedom Train engine. Inexpensive to enter and a genuinely impressive scale — most people are surprised by how big they are.0 Add to list
