YOUR WEEKEND GUIDE TO PORTLAND, OREGON

I had wanted to go to America for as long as I could remember. Growing up, I would watch so much American TV that friends started commenting on my strange accent, and I would slather my bedroom in posters of NYC and paintings of Oregon landscapes. I had so many images of the States in my head before I finally touched down on American soil, that when I arrived under a cloud of darkness in the very dreary north of the country, I was a little underwhelmed. That was until I took a coach to Portland – a city which I’d dreamed about for years.

I fell in love with the place instantly – from its art culture, to its even bigger food culture, to its exceedingly welcoming locals. Since arriving in the Rose City, I have exhausted both every Tourist-orientated and Local-orientated thing you could possibly do – and so, I bring you the complete weekend guide to Portland. 

Powell’s city of books

Due to the fact that I am a massive bibliophile (is it not obvious from my posts about Lisbon and Madrid?), one of my favourite places in the whole city is this ridiculously massive bookstore. Not only is it perfect for die-hard book nerds like yours truly, but it’s also pretty cool to just wander around the maze-like corridors, pausing every now and then to fondle an old copy of 1001 Arabian Nights. It’s a must-see landmark, where you can take a couple hours out of busy city life to sit back with a hot coco and enjoy a good book. 

The Historical Society

Easily the best place in the city to go to learn about the history of Portland, the Historical Society illustrates the Oregon territory explorations, the growth of business and industry, the development of artwork and crafts, and it’s surprisingly detailed maritime history. My favourite part of the museum is the wind tunnel, which replicates the storm from the 60s that wrecked havoc on local life – and in doing so spends a good few minutes whipping hair into your mouth. 

oregon museum of science and industry

Due to the fact that I spent many a year in my childhood wanting to become an astronaut (btw NASA, I’m still waiting for that big approval letter), this place seemed like a pretty perfect place to inspire jealously. The highlight of the whole place is definitely the planetarium, where you’re able to kick back and watch a show as the universe plays out around you and a guide talks softly about all the intricacies of the galaxy. The museum features a giant-screen theatre, a  retired navy submarine (USS Blueback), hands-on exhibits and laboratories, and a lovely little cafe which sells stunning ice-cream from Salt and Straw. 

pittock mansion

Definitely the coolest mansion you’ll ever go to, with decrepit old medicine cabinets, obnoxiously patterned walls, and amazing views. The whole place is super interesting and is just filled to the brim with art and gorgeous antiques and impressive architecture. The US as an established “country” really isn’t very old, so the fact that this mansion has been standing for over 100 years is pretty impressive – and means that by American standards, it is basically prehistoric. 

portland japanese garden

A very pretty place which can be absolutely freezing when visited out of summer seasons. Proclaimed to be one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside of the island nation, these gardens are filled with the most gorgeous cherry blossoms, a medieval castle wall, and the essence of tranquility flowing through every little detail. It’s the perfect place to go to clear your head, as the gardens transport you out of the hustle and bustle of the city and into an entirely serene place filled with nothing but beauty. I challenge you to find anything better than a day in the gardens with a good book, looking out as all four seasons envelope you, stopping for lunch at their absolutely gorgeous cafe. 

portland art museum

I absolutely LOVED the paintings in this art museum, as they’re exactly the sort of artwork you can actually spend hours looking at. With portraits of people in faraway lands painted at a time when tourists didn’t exist, and landscape images of places so gorgeous that you’re not even entirely sure that they actually ever existed – or if the artist was simply hallucinating in a fevered state encouraged by the chemicals in the paint. As this is the eleventh oldest museum in the United States, the whole place is full of history and really does make for a great day trip. Even my travel companion finds it hard to stay in galleries for more than ten minutes at a time – and we stayed for approximately four hours.

lan su chinese garden

These Chinese Gardens sure are cute – but also pretty jarring as behind the traditional Suzhou-style buildings are the towering skyscrapers of the city. Incorporating the five elements of a traditional Chinese garden, this site features plants, water (in the form of Lake Zither), stone, architecture, and poetry – and it all comes together to create a beautiful and relaxing, place. They hold many events here, with recent ones including summer jazz sessions, brush painting demonstrations, and talks about travels on the Silk Road – with the majority of events being FREE!

take a food tour

Honestly, one of the highlights of my whole Portland trip was going on a food tour around the city. Being able to visit the foodie highlights of Oregon was the best way to spend a day – and I wrote a whole post about Portland food and the tours offered here. After experiencing the food tours in Portland, I can quite confidently say that there’s no better way to see such a vibrant, compact city than through its stomach.

Where to Stay

Having checked into multiple hotels across the city, I have come to the conclusion that my absolute favourite place to stay was at the Jupiter Hotel. It’s a quiet little haven to return to after a long day filled with bustling adventures – with a reception that doubles as an art gallery (in true Portland style), and a bedroom filled with travel magazines. The apartments feature small writing tables with metal-thatched chairs, massive feature walls depicting local photography, massive double beds which are just perfect for starfish-ing across, and a chalk board on the back of the door to really get your creative juices flowing. Our room had an en-suite filled with eco-friendly and paraben-free hair and skin products, and a bar of “ergonomically shaped waste-reducing” soap with a massive hole in it. There’s a condom and some earplugs on the side, and bottomless green tea and coffee in the lounge. It’s very local, very comfortable, and reasonably priced – perfect when you want to splurge your budget on the sights rather than a place you spend less than an hour awake in.

And so, have you guys ever visited Portland, or plan on travelling to the Rose City? If so, let me know in the comments below!         

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