Things To Do
Oregon Zoo
One of Sarah's favorite places to visit, make a day of it! You can easily get there by public transit if you don't feel like driving or getting a Lyft.
Powell's City of Books
The world's largest independent bookstore! Even if you're not interested in reading it's amazing to look around and a nice place to stop in if you are already in the area.
McMenamins Kennedy School
As the name gives away, Kennedy School, is an old school that has been converted into a hotel/restaurant/bar. There are multiple bars inside such as the Boiler Room and the Detention Bar. This is one of our go-to places to take our out-of-state guests!
Pioneer Courthouse Square
If you are interested in exploring the downtown area of Portland this is a good central location to start.
Hawthorne Asylum Food Cart Pod
Food carts are HUGE in Portland! That was one of the first things we noticed when we moved out here. We love the ability to go out to eat and try a little bit of everything! There are tons of different food pods around the city, the website link has a huge list of ones you can look through. There is probably one within walking distance.
Salt & Straw
Salt and Straw is a must! They are an ice cream shop with some unique flavors, but we promise it is worth it. They have a rotating menu each month along with their usual flavors. Sarah's favorite is Honey Lavender. While you're there, head across the street to Nick's favorite burger place, Little Big Burger.
¿Por Qué No?
Imagine yourself with a margarita in one hand, a taco in the other, the sunshine beating down on you, and gossiping with your best friends. Needless to say, we love Por Qué No. While you're here if you walk a bit further up Mississippi Ave there are some great bars and restaurants to explore.
Portland Japanese Garden
The Japanese Gardens are a true work of art. The koi fish are our favorite part. You can take it slow or go through it fairly quickly, I would set aside around 1.5-2 hours to walk through. You'll also but closely located to the zoo, the rose garden, and Hoyt Arboretum.
Hopscotch Portland
Hopscotch is an immersive art exhibit. There is a bounce house and a ball pit and drinks! The location has been open for awhile now, which is nice because the initial crowd has died down a lot. It's a great place for lots of photos and feeling like a kid again.
