Portland and Vicinity Guidebook
Parks & Nature
A spectacular area formed by glaciers - take route 84 east or historic Columbia Highway
236 locals recommend
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area
A spectacular area formed by glaciers - take route 84 east or historic Columbia Highway
An absolute favorite destination - great views, good skiing, especially for the non-expert, and the lodge is beautiful and historically significant. I have had superb food in the lodge restaurant.
338 locals recommend
Timberline Lodge Ski Area
27500 E Timberline RoadAn absolute favorite destination - great views, good skiing, especially for the non-expert, and the lodge is beautiful and historically significant. I have had superb food in the lodge restaurant.
Charming beach town with good food and shopping, on the stunning Oregon Coast with miles of beaches and mountain cliffs. Haystack rock is a huge outcropping that you can walk out to at low tide
307 locals recommend
Cannon Beach
Center StreetCharming beach town with good food and shopping, on the stunning Oregon Coast with miles of beaches and mountain cliffs. Haystack rock is a huge outcropping that you can walk out to at low tide
Drive to this trailhead on Germantown for another hike
9 locals recommend
Wildwood Trailhead at Germantown Rd
11028-11192 NW Germantown RdDrive to this trailhead on Germantown for another hike
Beatiful, almost pre-historic beach with sandstone cliffs - try to catch it at low-low tide.
38 locals recommend
Hug Point State Recreation Site
Beach Access RoadBeatiful, almost pre-historic beach with sandstone cliffs - try to catch it at low-low tide.
Hiking trails with several beautiful waterfalls you can hike behind and around.
Silver Falls State Park - North Lodge Group Campground
20024 Silver Falls Highway SoutheastHiking trails with several beautiful waterfalls you can hike behind and around.
Sightseeing
Breathtaking waterfall and a great hike... there's a restaurant in the lodge at the base of the falls
974 locals recommend
Multnomah Falls station
Breathtaking waterfall and a great hike... there's a restaurant in the lodge at the base of the falls
A very casual and sporty town on the Columbia River - the wind surfing capital of the world or so I understand.
218 locals recommend
Hood River
A very casual and sporty town on the Columbia River - the wind surfing capital of the world or so I understand.
Our iconic mountain - enjoy it from afar, or visit it and hike, ski, snowboard, or tube
208 locals recommend
Mount Hood
Our iconic mountain - enjoy it from afar, or visit it and hike, ski, snowboard, or tube
This funky and up-and-coming town is at the base of our hill and across the beautiful St Johns bridge (designed by the architect who built the Golden Gate bridge). Restaurants, coffee and antiques
13 locals recommend
St. Johns
This funky and up-and-coming town is at the base of our hill and across the beautiful St Johns bridge (designed by the architect who built the Golden Gate bridge). Restaurants, coffee and antiques
The Pearl is great for strolling, people watching, food, drink, galleries and shops - all at the higher end but still with Portland flavor
264 locals recommend
Pearl District
The Pearl is great for strolling, people watching, food, drink, galleries and shops - all at the higher end but still with Portland flavor
Portland's outdoor "living room" - from here you can amble through this very walkable city's downtown and over to the waterfront to watch the boats on the Willamette
98 locals recommend
Pioneer Courthouse Square
701 SW 6th AvePortland's outdoor "living room" - from here you can amble through this very walkable city's downtown and over to the waterfront to watch the boats on the Willamette
Some of the best shopping, people watching, restaurants and nightlife in the city. Laid back and full of little shopping gems.
239 locals recommend
Northwest 23rd Avenue
Northwest 23rd AvenueSome of the best shopping, people watching, restaurants and nightlife in the city. Laid back and full of little shopping gems.
An absolute favorite - park in the lot on route 101 and hike a mile through the fir forest to Smugglers Cove on the coast, where you can explore, sunbathe and watch the intrepid surfers
76 locals recommend
Oswald West State Park
An absolute favorite - park in the lot on route 101 and hike a mile through the fir forest to Smugglers Cove on the coast, where you can explore, sunbathe and watch the intrepid surfers
Arts & crafts, occasionally street performers, food carts, people watching and the riverfront - an amusing way to spend a Saturday morning.
425 locals recommend
Portland Saturday Market
2 SW Naito PkwyArts & crafts, occasionally street performers, food carts, people watching and the riverfront - an amusing way to spend a Saturday morning.
Amazing 40 mile long trail - the Newton Road entrance is about a city block distance from our home
14 locals recommend
Wildwood Trail
Wildwood TrailAmazing 40 mile long trail - the Newton Road entrance is about a city block distance from our home
Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Southeast Hawthorne BoulevardLots of Portland on this street
This area is a nice walk along the river, with some cute eating and drinking establishments close by. In the summer, there are festivals most weekends.
Riverplace Marina
0315 SW Montgomery StThis area is a nice walk along the river, with some cute eating and drinking establishments close by. In the summer, there are festivals most weekends.
Arts & Culture
Interesting North Portland area with galleries, restaurants
217 locals recommend
North Mississippi Avenue
North Mississippi AvenueInteresting North Portland area with galleries, restaurants
Great restaurants, shops, and creative vibe... in the summer attend Last Thursday for the complete Portlandia experience
North Alberta Street
North Alberta StreetGreat restaurants, shops, and creative vibe... in the summer attend Last Thursday for the complete Portlandia experience
Not sure how to categorize this one.. bar, restaurant or entertainment? Watch a movie in the living room area with full bar and food service. Very Portland.
98 locals recommend
McMenamins St. Johns Theater & Pub
8203 N Ivanhoe StNot sure how to categorize this one.. bar, restaurant or entertainment? Watch a movie in the living room area with full bar and food service. Very Portland.
Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park AveFood Scene
Thai Cottage
8620 N Lombard StGood Thai food and they deliver!
My favorite Indian restaurant... a little high end (white tablecloths etc), but very tasty, innovative food.
East India Co. Grill & Bar
821 SW 11th AveMy favorite Indian restaurant... a little high end (white tablecloths etc), but very tasty, innovative food.
Pepino's Mexican Grill
914 NW 23rd AveSuper great burritos, and not expensive
A must on any trip to the coast. Eat like a lumberjack in huge log structure -
8 locals recommend
Camp 18 Restaurant
42362 US-26A must on any trip to the coast. Eat like a lumberjack in huge log structure -
Elephants Delicatessen
115 NW 22nd AveGreat selection
Really cute, funky café - lots of neighborhood flavor, very Portland
39 locals recommend
Stepping Stone Cafe
2390 NW Quimby StReally cute, funky café - lots of neighborhood flavor, very Portland
Great vegetarian food with strolling and window shopping in the Pearl afterwards
176 locals recommend
Laughing Planet
3765 N Mississippi AveGreat vegetarian food with strolling and window shopping in the Pearl afterwards
The classic Portland breakfast place right downtown, walkable to the waterfront, Pioneer Place, and Saturday market
31 locals recommend
Bijou Cafe
The classic Portland breakfast place right downtown, walkable to the waterfront, Pioneer Place, and Saturday market
Very cool, inventive place with Indian street type food - absolutely delicious, and right on Alberta street for funky shops and people watching
625 locals recommend
Bollywood Theater
2039 NE Alberta StVery cool, inventive place with Indian street type food - absolutely delicious, and right on Alberta street for funky shops and people watching
A must if you like ice cream - wildly inventive flavors in the Albert St area
1078 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StA must if you like ice cream - wildly inventive flavors in the Albert St area
A must if you like ice cream - wildly inventive flavors in the northwest neighborhood
1078 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
2035 NE Alberta StA must if you like ice cream - wildly inventive flavors in the northwest neighborhood
Vita Cafe
3023 Northeast Alberta StreetGreat vegetarian/vegan breakfast
El Nutri Taco
2124 NE Alberta StMexican health food (really)
E'Njoni Cafe
910 N Killingsworth StEthiopian food - spicy, exotic, veggie or not
My favorite vegan restaurant. Oh yeah, it's all vegan so if you must have animal products, this is not your place.
80 locals recommend
Blossoming Lotus
1713 NE 15th AveMy favorite vegan restaurant. Oh yeah, it's all vegan so if you must have animal products, this is not your place.
Very popular Asian restaurant, especially for lunch - loud, crowded, great food and great value
152 locals recommend
Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen
835 SW 2nd AveVery popular Asian restaurant, especially for lunch - loud, crowded, great food and great value
On the 8th floor in the Nines Hotel building - good food, beautiful light and ambience - a bit pricey
16 locals recommend
Urban Farmer Portland
525 SW Morrison StOn the 8th floor in the Nines Hotel building - good food, beautiful light and ambience - a bit pricey
Essentials
Safeway
3707 Main StClosest large grocery store
Trader Joe's
2122 NW Glisan StInteresting selection
Whole Foods Market
1210 NW Couch StGreat selection and lots of carry out items
Fred Meyer
3805 SE Hawthorne BlvdConvenient full service store to visit when in the city
A favorite place for food - high end local chain with excellent selection, deli/carry-out and bakery.
974 locals recommend
New Seasons Market
1954 SE Division StA favorite place for food - high end local chain with excellent selection, deli/carry-out and bakery.
Getting Around
Portland International Airport
7000 Northeast Airport WayEasiest to do if you are flying to Portland
Entertainment & Activities
OMSI/SE Water MAX Station