Things to do in Portland, Oregon
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Shopping in Portland
Portland boasts the same amenities as most big cities, with various shopping malls and shopping streets dotted around the city. The biggest difference and best bit is that there is no sales tax in the city! So you can indulge in any amount of shopping without feeling like the tax man is taking too big a cut!
Downtown Portland is the city’s retail core. The shopping options are almost endless with department stores like Nordstrom, Mario’s and major international retailers like Pioneer Place mall. If you fancy smaller retailers, there is a plethora of boutiques and specialty shops on the West End.
Portland Guided Tours
Portland, Oregon is a walk-able city with a manageable nucleus. There are various tour companies offering guided walking tours, explaining the history of Portland. The best selling and award winning option is Portland Walking Tours, offering artisanal walks, food tours and even epicurean excursions.
If you prefer a specifically food-related tour, Forktown Food Tours and Third Wave Coffee Tours will cater to your needs.
Portland Parks and Gardens
Portland boasts many green spaces, ranging from flower-filled parks to polished gardens, urban forests and waterfront venues. Portland is home to Director Park, Mills End Park, Pioneer Courthouse Square and another nearly 200 parks!
For a floral experience, head to Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in the Southeast of Portland. The best time to visit Portland for a truly great experience is in the spring, when most trees and flowers bloom, covering Portland in a rainbow of colors.
Culture, Art and Music
Portland is home to venues that host live music, visual arts and dance. The city is also home to various museums and galleries so you will never have a boring moment in town.Visit Oregon’s historical society to learn about Native Americans and the early days of the city when the first pioneers set foot in the west. If you are keen to learn more about Portland’s history, visit the Shanghai Tunnels where the guides will tell you about life in Portland in the 1850s.
Portland’s Art Museum houses a large and wide-ranging collection, while its Center for Contemporary Native Art showcases the best works of modern day Native Americans. For a free tour, visit the Oregon Rail Heritage Center where you can learn about the US Bicentennial Freedom Trail that brought many of Portland’s original prospectors here.
For live music, head to Rose City where a number of A-list musicians will drum the night away for you. For more entertainment, head over to Old Town Chinatown, where Portland really comes to life after dark.
About the Author | ||
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Janos Gal// Solaris Traveller Janos Gal is the editor of Solaris Traveller, a website for leisure travelers. Check out his blog for more travel tips! | ||
