Portland Activities
The convention schedule is packed. If you attend an event in every time slot, you might be sleep-deprived by the end of the week. But what do you do if you’re planning a longer vacation, bringing friends and family to the convention, or just want a breather from all of the plucked-string hoopla?
Below we’ve found some suggestions to make your visit to the Rose City truly memorable. All of the destinations can be reached by car and most can be reached by TriMet bus or MAX train. Use Tri-Met’s Trip Planner to work out transit: https://trimet.org/home/planner
Voodoo Doughnuts
https://www.voodoodoughnut.com
22 S.W. Third Ave., Portland OR 97204
503-241-4704
Voodoo made quite a splash when it opened, offering avant-garde treats like the Maple Bacon Bar with a slice of crispy bacon nestled in the maple frosting. Then, there’s the Ring of Fire, a devil’s food cake doughnut dusted with cinnamon sugar, cayenne pepper and topped with a whole, dried red chili pepper. More conventional confections are sure to please those with more traditional palates.
Open 24 hours a day, almost every day.
Wyrd Leatherworks and Meadery
https://www.wyrdleatherandmead.com
4515 S.E. 41 st Ave., Portland OR 97202
503-305-6025
Wyrd (pronounced “weird”) is a medieval fantasy-themed leather-goods shop with a hall that serves beverages made with local honey in the basement of a vintage Portland building in Southeast Portland’s Woodstock neighborhood. Boasting of resident ghosts and other paranormal activity, the proprietors urge patrons to arrive in period costume and play a board game while sipping the house mead.
Raven’s Manor
https://www.ravensmanorexperience.com
235 S.W. First Ave., Portland OR 97204
971-319-6182
For the more Gothically inclined, Raven’s Manor offers haunted-themed food and cocktails, featuring local spirits, an absinthe menu and zero-proof mocktails with the spirit – but not the spirits. It is said that a mad scientist, known as Dr. Raven, built his manor to throw lavish parties and distract from his questionable experiments. To honor Dr. Raven, the Manor offers a Dr. Raven Elixir Experience with two drinks – if you dare. Generally open 5 pm to 11 pm.
McMenamins Kennedy School
https://shorturl.at/nYr8d
5736 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211
503-249-3983
With several small bars and a brewery, McMenamins Kennedy School is an unusual place to get an education in hops and barley. Now home to a 57-room hotel, the decommissioned 1915 schoolhouse features a movie theater and a soothing saltwater soaking pool along with a restaurant in the former school cafeteria and even a working brewery set in a former girls’ lavatory. Cigar smoking is permitted in the “Detention Bar.” The School’s website offers a walking guide and an events calendar. Generally open 6 p.m. to midnight.
You won’t find Northeast Marine Drive in any of Portland’s tourism guides – and that’s a good thing.
That’s because the road along the Columbia River’s banks is where you might see a deer or two. Or you might see a coyote. You will have a great chance of seeing geese, ducks, loons and grebes along with upland songbirds such as the American pipit, horned lark and western meadowlark. Maybe even a short-eared owl.
You definitely will see boats of all kinds on the water, as well as planes taking off and landing at Portland International Airport – the “PDX” on your tickets and luggage.
You also may enjoy walking the Marine Drive Trail, a paved, 18.2-mile walkway between Marine Drive and the river that is popular with hikers and bicyclists. But you will have to be extra careful walking on the road, where too many drivers regularly confuse Marine Drive with a dragstrip.
Salty’s
https://www.saltys.com/menus-portland
3839 N.E. Marine Dr, Portland, OR 97211
503-288-4444
If you’re driving, you might enjoy a meal at Salty’s on the Columbia River, an elegant restaurant overlooking the river. Northwest fish and seafood are the focus of the menu.
Sextant Bar & Galley
https://sextantbargalley.shop
4035 N.E Marine. Drive, Portland, OR 97211
503-281-5944
For something a little more casual, you might like Sextant Bar & Galley. Burgers, chicken wings, fish and chips, clam strips, deep-fried prawns and clam chowder are house favorites. Ask the hotel desk clerks for advice on the best ways to enter Marine Drive and the Marine Drive Trail. But most of all, have fun!
Portland Japanese Garden
https://japanesegarden.org
611 S.W. Kingston Ave, Portland, OR 97205
503-223-1321
Nestled in the west hills of Portland’s iconic Washington Park, the garden overlooks the city, providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike. Designed in 1963, it encompasses 12.5 acres with eight separate garden styles, and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and a spectacular view of Mount Hood.
Multnomah Falls
https://oregon.com/attractions/multnomah_falls
503-695-2376
A picturesque double waterfall located the Columbia River Gorge, east of Troutdale, about a half-hour drive from Portland. The waterfall is accessible from the Historic Columbia River Highway and Interstate 84. Spanning two tiers on basalt cliffs, it is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon at 620 ft (189 m) in height. The Multnomah Creek Bridge, built in 1914, crosses below the falls, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Multnomah Falls Lodge contains a restaurant and a gift shop.
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
https://www.nps.gov/fova
1501 E. Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 816-6230
Located on the north bank of the Columbia River, this 166-acre park has a rich cultural past. From a frontier fur-trading post to a powerful military legacy, the magic of flight and the origin of the American Pacific Northwest, history is shared at four unique sites that include the fort, Pearson Air Museum, Vancouver Barracks and the McLoughlin House. Discover stories of transition, settlement, conflict and community.
Portland Spirit Cruises
https://www.portlandspirit.com
1010 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
503-224-3900
Starting in downtown Portland, cruise the Willamette River on the Portland Spirit, a 150-foot yacht with three public decks, two of which are enclosed and climate-controlled. It has a seating capacity of up to 340 guests on the two interior decks for dining. The menu features delicious Northwest cuisine prepared by chefs in an onboard galley. The Portland Spirit also offers two full-service bars, two baby grand pianos, a ship-wide sound system and a marble dance floor.
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
https://www.evergreenmuseum.org
500 NE. Captain Michael King Smith Way, McMinnville, OR
503-434-4180
The home of the famous Spruce Goose, the largest wooden airplane ever built, is about a 1.5-hour drive from downtown Portland. The plane was conceived during World War II as a way to airlift troops and equipment across the Atlantic Ocean, avoiding the German submarines that were preying on transport ships. The museum also is home to a DC-3, an SR-71 Blackbird, an F-117 Nighthawk, a Titan II SLV rocket and an extensive collection of aircraft from the early days of flight.
Powell’s City of Books
https://www.powells.com/bookstore/powells-city-of-books
1005 W. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97209
800-878-7323
Opened in 1971, Powell’s quickly grew until it occupied an entire city block. Today, the four-story operation is considered the world’s largest independent, new-and-used bookstore, with more than one million books offered for sale. A popular draw is Powell’s Rare Book Room, which houses more than 9,000 valuable books, including autographed books, first editions and collectible volumes. But Powell’s isn’t scary-big. The store has maps indicating subjects and related items for each floor, along with help desks.
Portland Art Museum
https://portlandartmuseum.org
1219 SW Park Ave, Portland OR 97205
503-226-2811
The oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum boasts more than 112,000 square feet of pleasantly lighted gallery space. The museum’s permanent collection contains more than 42,000 works of art. The museum has several strong collections featuring thousands of talented artists. Vincent Van Gogh’s “Ox-Cart” painting (1884) is one of the museum’s most valuable and well-known artworks. Other notable pieces include Claude Monet’s “Waterlilies” (1914), Kehinde Wiley’s “Likunt Daniel Ailin” (2013), and work by famous artists such as Ansel Adams, Pierre Renoir and Diego Rivera.
Hoyt Arboretum
https://www.hoytarboretum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd, Portland, OR 97221 (in Washington Park)
503-865-8733
Founded in 1928 to conserve endangered species and educate the community, Hoyt Arboretum encompasses 190 ridge-top acres and 12 miles of hiking trails just minutes from downtown Portland. Home to 2,300 species The Arboretum is a place of beauty and serenity no matter the season. The Arboretum offers a variety of programs to help visitors deepen their knowledge of trees and botany and meet fellow nature-lovers in the community. Guided tours on the weekends are a wonderful way to learn about trees in small portions.
Music Millennium
https://musicmillennium.tuneportals.com
3158 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
503-231-8926
Music Millennium is worth a visit if you’re looking for vintage vinyl, cassettes, reel-to-reel, 8-tracks, DATs, compact discs, mini-discs, DCC and/or CD-ROMs. The inventory covers all genres and eras. Generally open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The store, open since 1969, also hosts in-store performances.
Portland Music Company
https://portlandmusiccompany.com
2502 N.E. Broadway, Portland, OR 97232
503-228-8437
The Portland Music Company operates three music stores in the Portland metro area, offering an array of instruments, sheet music and accessories since 1927. The company’s Broadway Store, 2502 NE Broadway, Portland, OR 97232, consistently has the most and best mandolins in its ever-changing inventory. Generally open 10 am to 6:30 pm.
Old Town Music
https://www.oldtownmusicportland.com
55 S.E. 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97214
503-295-6808
The store does a lively trade in used instruments of all sorts, including vintage bowl back and arch-top mandolins. The company recently purchased an estate that included several Vega cylinder-back mandolins. Generally open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The 12th Fret
https://www.the12thfret.com
2402 S.E. Belmont St., Portland OR 97214
503-231-1912
The store’s staff luthiers have been offering stringed-instrument repairs since 1979. The store also does consignment sales, making it a wild-card spot to check. Generally open Wednesday through Friday, 11am to 6pm, and Saturdays noon to 4pm.
Portland Fret Works
http://www.portlandfretworks.com
3027 N.E. Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211
503-249-3737
The shop has six luthiers on staff, including some who focus on repairs to mandolins and may be able to help in case emergencies arise. Generally open Wednesday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., and Saturdays 10am to 2pm.
Mt. Tabor Park
https://www.portland.gov/parks/mt-tabor-park
Southeast 60th Avenue and Salmon Street, Portland OR 97215
503-823-4000
Portland is one of only six American cities with an extinct volcano within its limits, thanks to the 636-foot-tall (194 m) Mount Tabor. Experience this novelty by exploring 191-acre Mt. Tabor Park, a century-old public space known for its open-air reservoirs, annual PDX Adult Soapbox Derby, and, yes, its volcanic cinder cone. This popular park features expansive views, picnic areas, natural-surface and paved paths, a dog off-leash area, a playground and a performance stage, plus tennis, volleyball and basketball courts. Pack a lunch, and have a picnic, or start here in the morning and have lunch at any of the great spots on Southeast Belmont, Division and Hawthorne streets.
Cascade Station
https://www.shopcascadestation.com
10243 NE Cascades Parkway, Portland, OR 97220
503-477-9381
Conveniently located along Tri-Met’s MAX Light Rail Red Line, just two stops from Portland International Airport, Cascade Station is one of Portland’s top spots for big-box shopping.
The shopping center is home to more than 40 stores, including Oregon’s only IKEA, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, J.Crew, Marshalls, Old Navy, Shoe Mill, Ross Dress for Less and the Banana Republic Factory Store.
Cascade Station also features 12 restaurants, including ParkStone Wood Kitchen + Taps, Baba’s Mediterranean Grill, Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que, Jersey Mike’s and Starbucks.
Jantzen Beach Center
1405 Jantzen Beach Center, Portland, OR 97217
833-800-4343
Located on Hayden Island, in the middle of the Columbia River, Jantzen Beach Center is an expansive outdoor mall with nearly 30 stores, including Lane Bryant, TJ Maxx and Ulta Beauty. Formerly an amusement park, this 800,000-square-foot mall provides shopping and dining and has become a haven for bargain-hunters looking for big-name brands at low prices. The Jantzen Beach Bar & Grill, located inside the Holiday Inn Portland, Columbia Riverfront on Hayden Island, serves everything from a traditional breakfast to its Seasonal Selection board, which features Northwest-inspired cuisine for the changing seasons.
Pioneer Place
https://www.pioneerplace.com
700 S.W. Fifth Ave, Portland, OR 97204
503-228-5800
This indoor mall complex in downtown Portland’s bustling business district, is home to a bevy of upscale shops, including Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Saint Lauren and Gucci, among a variety of fashion and beauty brands. Dining options include Bridge City Café, a fast-casual restaurant, along with Din Tai Fung, a Chinese restaurant originating in Taiwan that specializes in gourmet soup dumplings and noodles.
Portland Saturday Market
2 S.W. Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
503-222-6072
The Portland Saturday Market and Portland Skidmore Market are a pair of seasonal outdoor arts, crafts and food markets held every Saturday from March through December. The Saturday Market, established in 1973, is the largest continuously operated outdoor market in the United States. The Market’s current home is in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, with booths under the Burnside Bridge. Hand-crafted weavings, pottery, jewelry, carvings, clothing and more are sold by independent artists directly to the public. Dining options can be summed up as carnival food with special healthy and/or ethnic twists.
Check out https://www.travelportland.com for more shopping options.