Places

The City of Roses is where we found our dream home and spent 2023 taking root in the Pacific Northwest. We're helping to Keep Portland Weird and we hope you'll enjoy exploring our new home city as well.

Places To Explore

From museums and gardens to shows and festivals, there is never a shortage of fun things to do in Portland. There are all manner of guided tours you can find, but if you're interested in venturing out on your own, here are a few of our personal recommendations.

Downtown

In addition to a variety of restaurants downtown, check also for the food cart alley just north of the Sentinel. Food carts are a big part of Portland food culture and offer an incredible variety to the city.

The Skeleton Key Odditorium

The Skeleton Key (oddity shop) and Odditorium (museum) feature a variety of spooky and macabre items.

Darcelle XV

Darcelle XV (named after its late, great founder) is a drag bar in downtown Portland. Known for many titles and accolades throughout the years (oldest drag queen, longest running cabaret, longest running drag show*), their classic cabaret revues continue to inspire audiences.

Portland Saturday Market Saturday Morning

The Portland Saturday Market is an outdoor arts and crafts market in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest continuously operated outdoor market in the United States.

Lan Su Chinese Gardens

A lovely little garden and tea house nestled in the Chinatown area of downtown

Powell's City of Books

Powell's City of Books, located in the Pearl district, is the world's largest independent bookstore. This Portland staple occupies an entire city block and houses approximately one million books. They also have a great cafe, where you can enjoy a cappucino and a pastry while reading your latest literary find.

Ground Kontrol Arcade

Vintage video games and pinball machines in a futuristic two-storey arcade with bar. (all-ages noon to 5 on Friday-Sunday; 21+ after 5pm)

Washington Park

Located just a short ride West of downtown, Washington Park is home to many beautiful attractions, as well as stunning views of nearby Mount Hood.

Portland Japanese Garden

When His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, visited Portland Japanese Garden, he proclaimed it to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.” That high praise is well-earned, as this painstakingly curated 12 acre garden transports its visitors with some of the most serene viewing experiences in the Pacific Northwest.

International Rose Test Garden

Just a couple blocks away, you'll find the International Rose Test Garden, where (during the blooming season of May to October) over 10,000 individual rose bushes bloom. The garden represents more than 610 different rose varieties, with new popular varieties cycling in each year. This really is a must-see for floral garden lovers.

Hoyt Arboretum

Many local flora make their home at Hoyt Arboretum, a 90-year-old museum of trees curated from around the world, with a focus on species found in the wild. With multiple trails to choose from, you could lose a whole afternoon just enjoying the scenery.