# 36 Best Things To Do In and Around Portland

Kory W. Mathewson · 2014-07-25 · https://korymathewson.com/portland-36/ · A curated guide to 36 must-do activities in Portland, Oregon, from food and hiking to improv and photobooths.

With only 36 days in a brand new city, there exists slight battle between the time you have and the things that you get to do in that time.

With so many recommendations (online, in books and magazines and from anyone that I mentioned the city of Portland to),  it made me think about how little hype there is about awesome things to do in my home town of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. What's the deal with that? Could I make a similar list for Edmonton?

The 36 Best Things To Do In and Around Portland:

1. Eat/drink at [Branch Whiskey Bar](http://www.branchpdx.com/), [Salt & Straw](http://saltandstraw.com/), [Bollywood Theatre](http://www.bollywoodtheaterpdx.com/), [Grain and Gristle](http://www.grainandgristle.com/), [Tin Bucket](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tin-Bucket/475638412490835), [Lardo](http://lardopdx.com/), [Teote](http://www.teotepdx.com/), [Cultured Caveman](http://culturedcavemanpdx.com/), [Stumptown Dumplings](http://www.stumplings.com/menu.html), [Candy Babel](http://www.candybabel.com/), [Voodoo Doughnuts](http://voodoodoughnut.com/index.php), [Nong's Khao Man Gai](http://www.khaomangai.com/), Bailey's Taproom, [Podnah's](http://podnahspit.com/), Tasty n Sons, Screen Door, Ha VL, Le Pigeon, Pok Pok (noi)
2. Buy a book at [Powell's Books](http://www.powells.com/) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975580,00.html))
3. Explore the city on foot by running a bunch
4. Get a bike, and explore the city on bike ([Springwater Corridor Trail](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springwater_Corridor))
5. Get to the coast in Astoria
6. Perform a show at the amazing [Curious Comedy Theatre](http://www.curiouscomedy.org/)
7. Monster hike/run in Forest Park ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975577,00.html))
8. Show someone around town
9. Cross the Willamet on [every bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Willamette_River) (St. Johns, Fremont, Broadway, Steel, Burnside, Morrison, Hawthorne, Marquam, Ross Island, Sellwood) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975578,00.html))
10. Swim in the mighty Willamet River
11. Explore Vancouver, Washington by crossing the Columbia River
12. Dip in Maltinoma Falls
13. Explore sanctuary and tranquility at [The Grotto](http://www.thegrotto.org/) and the [Rocky Butte Natural Area](https://plus.google.com/116359923365654585696/about?gl=us&hl=en)
14. Hike to [Angel's Rest](http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Angel's_Rest) above the Gorge ("like you're on a balcony over a great auditorium")
15. Hike up the [Oneonta Gorge](http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Oneonta_Gorge_Hike)
16. Hike up Council Crest
17. Bike up and down Mount Tabor
18. Summit Mount Hood
19. Relaxing float down the [Clackamas River](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clackamas_River)
20. Hug a monster redwood in the [Hoyt Arboretum](http://www.hoytarboretum.org/)
21. Pull a petal in the International [Rose Test Garden](http://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/finder/index.cfm?&propertyid=1113&action=viewpark) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975581,00.html))
22. Photobooth ([Florida Room](http://www.photobooth.net/locations/browse.php?ddState=38&locationID=368), Dots, [Ace Hotel](http://www.photobooth.net/locations/browse.php?ddState=38&locationID=247), [Beulahland](http://www.photobooth.net/locations/browse.php?ddState=38&locationID=447))
23. Patron the [Saturday Market](http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/) and [Portland Farmers Market](http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/)
24. Visit the Nike Factory Store and the [Adidas Campus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NyD3uu5WEA)
25. Traverse the best streets in Portland: Alberta, Hawthorne, Burnside, Belmont, Fremont
26. Live eclectic at the McMenamins [Kennedy School](http://www.mcmenamins.com/KennedySchool) and the [Bagdad Theatre](http://www.bagdadmovies.com/) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975741,00.html))
27. Sip some hot stuff and soak in the vibe at the [Lan Su Chinese Garden](http://www.lansugarden.org/) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975583,00.html))
28. Develop a slight jealousy over the incredible grocers both local ([Alberta Co-op](http://www.albertagrocery.coop/)) and larger (Whole Foods, Trader Joes)
29. Nude soak and sauna at the [Common Ground Wellness Center](http://soakandsauna.com/)
30. Devour a steak at the [Acropolis](http://acropolispdx.com/) ([details](http://content.time.com/time/travel/cityguide/article/0,31489,1975826_1975753_1975585,00.html))
31. Shoot for a high score at the [Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade](http://groundkontrol.com/)
32. Train, Trail, Tram and Trolley on the [4T Trail](http://www.travelportland.com/article/4t-trail/) around the whole city.
33. See a main stage show at the [Keller Auditorium](http://www.portland5.com/keller-auditorium) ([Book of Mormon](http://www.bookofmormonbroadway.com/))
34. Attend a spectator sport like the Trail Blazers, Timbers, Winterhawks, Thorns
35. Kayak to Ross Island
36. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Being away from your home town makes you really think about the things you love in a city, what you find valuable, and what you miss. And some photos of the adventures are below: