35 Unique, Cool & Weird Things to Do in Portland, Oregon Visual Story

By Andrew Sayles

Introduction

35 Unique, Cool & Weird Things to Do in Portland, Oregon Visual Story

These 35 unique, cool, and weird things to do in Portland will show you why...

THING TO DO 1

Walk around Downtown Portland

Downtown Portland encompasses many of the locations on this list, but it deserves its own...

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THING TO DO 2

Go medieval at the Oregon Renaissance Faire

At the intersection of history nerds, cosplayers, LARPers, and theatre geeks lies the refreshingly large...

THING TO DO 3

Unmoor yourself at the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium

One part freaky museum and one part Island of Misfit Toys, this place lovingly embraces...

THING TO DO 4

Wander through Alberta Arts District

Alberta Arts District is packed with cool stuff to do in Portland. One of the...

THING TO DO 5

Eat at Blue Star Donuts

These donuts for grownups are a staple among Portlanders, and their deep-fried pastries range from...

THING TO DO 6

Peruse Powell's City of Books

At the literal and figurative heart of Portland, an entire city block of downtown real...

THING TO DO 7

Delve into the Shanghai Tunnels

An interesting Oregon fact relating to Portland is that the city has lots of underground...

THING TO DO 8

Visit the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

This eighty-mile river canyon was cut from eons of volcanic activity and flooding and now...

THING TO DO 9

Head to Mox Boarding House

If you love socializing through food, drinks, and board games, you should definitely head to...

THING TO DO 10

Dare to hope at the Wishing Tree

An otherwise unremarkable chestnut tree in Northeast Portland bears some uniquely optimistic fruit. In 2014...

THING TO DO 11

Eat healthy at Casa Diablo Vegan Strip Club

It's hard to have a list of weird stuff to do in Portland without including...

THING TO DO 12

Hike through Forest Park

The Pacific Northwest is famous for its rainfall, which brings thick, jungly vegetation. Forest Park...

THING TO DO 13

Experience Wyrd Leatherworks and Meadery

Shopping for handmade leather goods while drinking artisan mead may not have been something you...

THING TO DO 14

Go to the International Rose Test Garden

The International Rose Test Garden contains over 610 rose varieties and is one of only...

THING TO DO 15

End up in detention at McMenamins Kennedy School

In this elementary-school-turned-hotel, former classrooms are now bedrooms, and a boiler room has become a...

THING TO DO 16

Learn about science and local nature at OMSI

If you're traveling with kids, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry has interactive exhibits...

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THING TO DO 17

Squeeze into Mill Ends Park

Spanning a whopping 452 square inches and holding a single tree, Mill Ends Park is...

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THING TO DO 18

Stay at the Tiny House Hotel

This tightly packed collection of tiny houses with a common courtyard makes for a one-of-a-kind...

THING TO DO 19

Have a pint at Treebeard's Taphouse

Treebeard's Taphouse is a must for the Lord of the Rings and craft beer crossover...

THING TO DO 20

Walk to Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls cascades more than 600 feet down the mountainside and is one of the...

THING TO DO 21

Make furry friends at Purrington's Cat Lounge

At Purrington's Cat Lounge, you can grab a coffee, tea, or beer at the cafe...

THING TO DO 22

Probe the UFO Boat on Sauvie Island

You may not be surprised to find that Portland is home to a nude beach...

THING TO DO 23

Go Axe Throwing

Axe throwing has reemerged as a surprisingly popular activity in Portland, with several locations popping...

THING TO DO 24

Get ghosted at Rimsky Korsakoffee House

"The Rimsky" is a spooky town staple and one of the weird Portland attractions you...

THING TO DO 25

Lick the plate clean at Pine State Biscuits

If you hail from the American South, the home-cooking at Pine State Biscuits may not...

THING TO DO 26

Visit the Pittock Mansion

Henry Pittock, an Oregon Trail migrant and later industrial tycoon, built this mansion overlooking Portland...

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THING TO DO 27

Stroll through the Portland Japanese Garden

It's easy to get lost in Portland's Japanese Garden in Washington Park, a famous Oregon...

THING TO DO 28

Get rocked by the Rose City Rollers

For a shockingly brutal evening, catch a Rose City Rollers derby match. Several teams call...

THING TO DO 29

Go shopping at the Portland Saturday Market

For a true taste of Portland, the Saturday Market in the city's historic Old Town...

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THING TO DO 30

Try unique ice cream flavors at Salt & Straw

The Salt & Straw was born from the desire to bring people together, and ice...

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THING TO DO 31

Walk along Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Tom McCall Waterfront Park is an urban bastion of recreation, art installments, green space, and...

THING TO DO 32

Explore Washington Park

Washington Park describes itself as a "community of destinations" and holds fifteen miles of trail...

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THING TO DO 33

Wear your birthday suit to the World Naked Bike Ride

This is exactly what it sounds like. The purpose of the annual event is to...

THING TO DO 34

Find the Witch's Castle

The Witch's Castle is saturated with dark history and the slosh of high school keggers...

THING TO DO 35

Get tipsy and read at Rose City Book Pub

The Rose City Book Pub doesn't differ much from a typical bookstore cafe, except that...

Conclusion

Conclusion

Portland may be a bonanza of the bizarre, but it leaves you with an appreciation...

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