How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Portland, Oregon

The ‘City of Roses’, just south of the Washington border on the banks of the Willamette River, is undeniably one of the hippest and most attractive metropolitans in the American West. Dotted with fountains and parks and surrounded by a host of white-capped peaks, Portland furnishes the weekend warrior with a lively cultural scene and countless attractions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Visit the Portland Rose Garden, the oldest operating rose ‘testing’ garden in America and an iconic symbol of the city. April through October is blooming season for the over 500 varieties of roses on hand; two neighboring attractions are also worthwhile—the Oregon Zoo and the Portland Japanese Garden.
2. Families with children will not want to miss OMSI—the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry—a bastion of hands-on exhibits that also plays home to an OMNIMAX theater and tour-able submarine.
3. Have a festive outing at the Portland Saturday Market. Actually open Sundays as well, the market is in the Old Town neighborhood by the Burnside Bridge and has countless artisans on hand, an international food court, live music, and children’s activities.
4. Have a picnic on the grounds of the Pittock Mansion, a magnificent structure with an eclectic design and beautiful vistas of the mountains and city. Daily tours of the home and its incredible furnishings are also available.
5. Go on a shopping spree in one of Portland’s most appealing neighborhoods. The Pearl District is home to stores specializing in everything from off-beat home décor to handcrafted jewelry; restaurants ranging from South American cuisine to Northern Italian fare wait at the end of a long day.
6. Visit the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest—the Portland Art Museum on S.W. Park Avenue. With a 2005 expansion into the handsome and historic Mark Building, the museum is more extensive than ever in displaying its eclectic collection of art and artifacts that span the globe.
7. Take a stroll along Tom McCall Waterfront Park, a pretty plaza and walkway along the west side of the Willamette. A battleship memorial and popular fountain area are among the highlights.

Tips & Warnings

• Portland is famous for its ‘liquid sunshine’—aka rain!—so plan accordingly regardless of the season.