Fun Things to do in Portland Oregon

Portland Oregon is a historic town, located some 70 miles from the Pacific. It is nestled between the waters of the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Portland enjoys a cosmopolitan culture that blends well with the warmth radiated from its small towns. Portland can be reached by air, road, rail and water. A trip planned to Portland will definitely raise your spirits. I have listed some of the fun things to do in Portland Oregon, for all those who love to travel and seek new places.

Places to Visit in Portland Oregon

Portland Rose Garden
The Portland Rose Garden is one of oldest garden in the world. It contains over 7,000 plants, with over 500 varieties of roses that bloom in early summer, making the garden a visual treat. Adding to the allure of the roses are the numerous hand crafted sculptures, and many fountains and pools. There are many other theme-based gardens here like the Royal Rosarian Garden, Miniature Rose Garden, Gold Medal Garden, and the Shakespeare Garden. It also plays host to many famed musicians and singers in its amphitheater - the Rose Garden Arena Portland.

Portland Saturday Market
The Portland Saturday Market, also known as the Portland Farmers Market, was started in 1974, by Sheri Teasdale and Andrea Scharf, residents of Portland Oregon. From a simple 2 to 3 stalls, it has evolved into a bustling market. The uniqueness of this market is that it is put up every weekend, between March and December, every year. It is the largest, continuously running outdoor market of its kind in America. The market features the 'Festival of the Last Minute', where one will find hundreds of vendors selling homemade food and plenty of arts and crafts gifts.

Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum was opened to public in 1892, and since then has become an important feature of Portland. The museum is famous for housing the best collection of Native American artwork and over 32,000 pieces of other art forms as part of its permanent collection. The first building of the museum is known as the Belluschi Building, name after its architect Pietro Belluschi. To house an ever increasing art collection and make room for large exhibitions, the museum has been continuously renovated and expanded. It is open seven days a week, the tickets are inexpensive, with discounts given to students and groups.

Oregon Zoo
One of the fun things to do in Portland Oregon with kids is a visit to the Oregon Zoo, which draws more than 1.3 million animal lovers, every year. Started with just a small collection of donated animals; today, it is home to more than 200 species, with thousands of different specimens living in the most comfortable manner. The Oregon Zoo prides itself on its long drawn tradition of emphasizing on protecting endangered species. Today, it has the largest zoo collection of elephants in the world. It is also a premier elephant breeding site, which shot to fame with the birth of 'Packy', an Asian elephant, in 1962.

Fun Things to do in Portland Oregon at Night

Portland Oregon offers many bars and nightspots for all those nocturnal animals, especially in its Pearl District. Portland is noted for its microbrewing, with many nightspots combing the concept of a theater with a bar. Portland offers its travelers many kinds of nightspots, from chic spots to downright fun spots, from ones that can burn a hole in the pocket to those that cost little. Portland has a thriving cultural center that regularly features orchestra, ballet, and performances by multiple theater companies.

Tax-free shopping in upscale boutiques and restaurants, Portland's Japanese and Classical Chinese gardens, ski resorts like Timberline Lodge, Ski Bowl and the Mt. Bachelor, Powell Book Store, cruises down the Columbia River Gorge and Willamette River, etc., the list of fun things to do in Portland Oregon is endless. Portland's charm lies in its easy blend of cosmopolitan culture and natural beauty.