Portland is full of awesome places to explore and things to do. Some are more well known than others. Our list is about connecting you to things to do that will allow you to find community in Portland.
1. Portland Saturday Market – There might not be one single activity that is more Portland than the Saturday Market. And now the market is year-round. Every Saturday a section of Old Town/China Town is transformed into an open air market full of arts, crafts, food and uniquely Oregon goods. portlandsaturdaymarket.com
2. Farmers Markets – From about March to October you will find farmers markets all around the city. This is a great place to connect with local farmers and pick up fresh organic produce, meats and specialty foods. The mission of the Portland Farmers Market is to bring the best of the country to the heart of the city. portlandfarmersmarket.org
3. Brunch – Portland is wild about Brunching and there are spots all over the city to partake in the feast. There’s no better way to connect with the community than over a meal. Why not make it brunch? Eater PDX put together an awesome map of the best places to brunch. pdx.eater.com
4. Visit Edgefield – From the McMenamin’s empire, Edgefield is a brewpub resort with a pitch-n-put golf course, restaurants, bars, movie theater, concert venue, hotel, spa and beautiful gardens. There is no shortage of fun to be had here. mcmenamins.com
5. Urban Farm Store – Portland is all about sustainable living, and one major part of that is farming. Learn to farm city style at the Urban Farm Store. Take classes, shop and connect with other Portlanders at this hub for Urban Farmers. urbanfarmstore.com
6. Brewvana – Portland is known for having some 65+ breweries within city limits and has been dubbed with the name Beervana. We love our micro-brews. Brewvana offers a unique way to experience those beers with guided walking and bus tours. Experience the ultimate craft brew experience. experiencebrewvana.com
7. Japanese Gardens – A trip to the Japanese Gardens in Portland is both educational and relaxing. There are five gardens that all beautifully tell a story of history and culture. japanesegarden.com
8. Portland Art Museum – The Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum on the west coast and houses permanent collections of American and European art. It is testimony to the art scene being deeply rooted in Portland culture. portlandartmuseum.org
9. First Thursday – First Thursday is a monthly art gallery walk in the Pearl District that has taken on a festival atmosphere. Local businesses and restaurants usually offer specials to coincide with the festivities and the launch of new galleries. firstthursdayportland.com
10. Bike Tours – Cycle Portland Bike Tours offers a great way to learn more about the city and enjoy a healthy activity. Some of the tours include “Essential Portland”, “Breweries By Bike”, and “A Taste Of Portland.” portlandbicycletours.com
11. Foodie Tours – Food lovers will love indulging in Forktown Food Tours which provides an insiders look at the vibrant Portland food scene. From fine dining to food carts, you’ll learn to eat like a Portlander. forktownfoodtoursportland.com
12. Powell’s Books – The iconic book store in Downtown Portland is the largest independent new and used book store in the world. Stroll through the seemingly endless isles of rare books. Grab a cup of coffee and relax. powells.com
13. Food Cart Tour – Getting out and sampling food at any of the cities food truck pods is a great way to connect with the city. However now there is a guided tour called Flavor Street which offers a walking tour that will help you visit the best and skip the rest. portlandwalkingtours.com
14. Coffee Tour – Im not sure which is more popular in Portland, beer or coffee. Third Wave Coffee Tours offers coffee lovers an opportunity to sip your way through Portland’s artisan coffee scene. Experience some of the best roasters and baristas in the city. thirdwavecoffeetours.com
15. Urban Wine Tasting – PDX Urban Wineries is an association of wineries that are producing wines within the city from grapes grown all over the Pacific Northwest. The group is working hard to create a culture where you can walk, ride a bike, cab it or drive to the many different urban winery tasting rooms. So go wine tasting but, stay in town! pdxurbanwineries.com
16. Home Brewing Class – As more and more craft brewers find success in Portland more beer lovers are looking to home brewing as a hobby. Uptown Market has become that hobby store for the Portland beer scene. Offering supplies and classes to master the craft. uptownmarketpdx.com
17. Cooking Classes – Ok so this isn’t a home-ec class or even typical training for those wanting to learn to cook. No, this is a fun and engaging epicurean experience. Hip Cooks offers a way for people to connect over fresh flavors in their inviting urban kitchen. The best thing is, every class ends in a dinner party! hipcooks.com
18. Architectural Heritage Center – The Architectural Heritage Center is home base for heritage preservation in Portland. They offer exhibits, tours and events that help people appreciate and preserve older buildings, neighborhoods and commercial areas. visitahc.org
19. Museum Of Contemporary Craft – Where art meets craft. The Museum of Contemporary Craft in partnership with the Pacific NW College of Art provides a studio gallery where the exploration of craft is dialogued through exhibitions. museumofcontemporarycraft.org
20. Brew ‘n View Theaters – The Laurelhurst Theater, the Baghdad Theater and The Kennedy School are just a few of the many spots where you can enjoy a movie with a pitcher of beer and a pizza. laurelhursttheater.com
21. Buy Local PDX – Go shopping at one of the many commercial districts around the city. Places like The Pearl District, NW 23rd, Alberta Arts, Hawthorne, Mississippi and Sellwood. These Urban Villages offer boutique shops for local ( and tax free) shopping. Get out and support the local community.
22. Give Back – Bridgetown Inc. is a non-profit organization that puts on a weekly gathering under the Burnside Bridge called Night Strike. This is a unique opportunity where the community of Portland can give back to the homeless in the city by providing a hot meal, giving haircuts, and replacing old worn out clothing. Join in the movement to make people matter. bridgetowninc.org
23. Last Thursday – Much like First Thursday, this is a gallery walk event in the Alberta Arts District. Last Thursday is the largest Art Event in Portland and is also the most entertaining place to buy local art. lastthursdayonalberta.com
24. Visit a Fountain – From Jamison Square to the Beaverton Round, there are fountains all over the metro area. And when the weather heats up, fountains are a great place to take your kids and connect with the community.
25. Hike the 4T Trail – The four T’s is a really fun way to see the city. It stands for train, trail, tram and trolly. Start in downtown portland and take the train to the zoo. Then follow the signs through the west hills trail to OHSU. From there ride the tram down the hill and take the trolly back to where you started.
There are a million fun things to do in Portland Or, these will help you engage the culture and build community.