Discover Portland
We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite places and things to do in town. Portland is known for its great restaurants, top notch food carts, and endless outdoor activities. We hope you have time to experience all Portland has to offer while you’re here.
sights
Portland Japanese Garden
The Portland Japanese Garden is where we went on our second date. It is located minutes from downtown in the hillside. There is a fee to tour the garden. Enjoy touring around the garden taking in the surrounding nature. Stop by the traditional Japanese tea house. It is a steep climb into the garden, so make sure you’re prepared. When His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, the former Ambassador of Japan to the United States, visited the Portland Japanese Garden, he proclaimed it to be “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan.”
Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion was built by one of Portland’s founding families. Henry Pittock owned and operated The Oregonian which is the newspaper in Portland that still exists today. The best surprise of the mansion is that it has one of the best views of Portland from its grounds. If museums aren’t your thing you can skip the inside as the grounds are open to the public. If you need a starting point to hike Forest Park, you are also able to access a trailhead from the mansion’s parking lot.
Washington Park - International Rose Test Garden
The primary purpose of the Garden is to serve as a testing ground for new rose varieties. In the beginning, while World War I was raging, hybridists sent roses from around the world to Portland’s garden for testing. Now, more than 10,000 individual rose bushes bloom in the International Rose Test Garden (IRTG) from late May through October, representing over 610 different rose varieties.
Multnomah Falls
About 45 minutes east of Portland (and just off the freeway) sits the #1 Natural tourist attraction in the Pacific Northwest! A must-see for first time visitors to the area, Multnomah Falls boasts a massive 620-foot waterfall which can be seen with no hiking at all. If you’re able and interested in hiking up to the falls, you have the option of taking a moderate trail to “the bridge” (2.2 miles roundtrip) or a more strenuous trail to the very top (5.4 miles roundtrip). Reservations to visit the falls is required. See MORE INFO to link to the reservation website.
Cannon Beach (Oregon Coast)
Never been out west? If time allows, we highly recommend visiting the Oregon Coast! There are several small towns along the highway - Cannon Beach being one of our favorites. Only 90 minutes west of Portland, you’ll enjoy stunning coastline views coupled with a quaint village by the sea. If you like clam chowder, be sure to check out Mo’s! It’s worth the wait!
Food & Drink
Dining
Andina (Peruvian) - Ranked #1 in Portland for several years!
Nostrana (Italian) - Make sure you get the Insalata Nostrana!
Casa Italia (Italian) - From Sicily, with love!
Afuri Izakaya (Japanese Ramen/Sushi) - The first and only Afuri location outside of Japan!
Paadee (Thai) - Some of the best Thai in town!
Eem (Thai Bbq) - Portland’s full of fusion restaurants, and this one never ceases to disappoint!
Matador (Mexican) - We recommend visiting the NW 23rd location - a great area filled with shops & restaurants!
Breweries
PDX Eater
If you’re looking for more restaurant recommendations, we highly recommend checking out “Portland Eater”. Eater is a great website which highlights the best restaurants in big cities, and new spots are opening all the time!
Food Carts
If you’re looking to check out the Food Cart scene, we recommend Hawthorne Asylum. It has a lot of great options and plenty of seating. The people watching probably won’t disappoint either. “Keep Portland Weird” ;-)