Things To Do

Powell's City of Books

It's a city of books. It's amazing.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Classy, gorgeous, and culturally enriching.

Portland Japanese Garden

A zen oasis in the middle of the city.

Oregon Zoo

Not only is the zoo itself pretty awesome, in December they have Zoo lights!

Art Museum

Portland Saturday Market

It's really Saturday and Sunday market. It's an art, crafts, souvenir and music fair (with some food, too).

Voodoo Doughnut, Too!

Voodoo Doughnuts are quintessential Portland. Moreover, it's Hanukkah, and thou must eat doughnuts on Hanukkah! :) This location generally features much shorter lines. Or, go to the main location downtown in the morning.

Blue Star Donuts

Organic, small-batch, delicious -- this is Portlandy doughnuts done the *other* way. Very good.

Salt & Straw

Delicious, weird ice cream. New flavors every month. The good thing about winter -- the lines will be much shorter! There are other locations around town.

Base Camp Brewing Company

There are many great breweries. We like this one because the beer is great; the food comes from the food carts just outside (how much more Portland can you get?), and it's not too big or too overrun, so you can actually hear yourself talk.

Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House

One of the best breweries in town, and one of the most famous. Getting a table can be tricky.

Pok Pok

Famous Asian cuisine. Very good.

Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen

Delicious Vietnamese food.

The Secret Society

Great cocktails + jazz music. Afterwards, go downstairs to Toro Bravo for high-class tapas.

Toro Bravo

Amazing tapas place.

Funhouse Lounge

They do comedy, they do burlesque, they do reenactments of Golden Girls episodes.... The name is apt. PG-13 at least.

Pioneer Courthouse Square and Downtown Neighborhood

The Center of downtown, the square has events, fun architectural details. The Portlandia statue is just around the corner.

Northwest 23rd Neighborhood

Wander the NW 23rd Neighborhood for fun/quirky window shopping and yummy snacks!

The Hawthorne/Belmont Neighborhood

For peak Portland hipsterdom, take the bus or drive to the 25-40th street blocks of these streets, and wander around among the coffee shops and the vintage stores.

Multinomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge

As you know, this area unfortunately just underwent a severe disaster -- it burned this summer. But not all of it burned; the river is still there; the waterfalls are still there. I suspect it is still beautiful. JUST -- not what it used to be. Go see it; support the local economy and replanting efforts; and teach your kids to be careful around fire -- this was an avoidable disaster.

Timberline Lodge

It's beautiful; the drive to it is stunning; plus, the lodge was the setting for Steven King's "The Shining"