Portland Area Attractions | Admissions

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Portland Area Attractions

Admissions: Portland Attractions

From the bustling art scene of the Pearl District to the natural majesty of Forest Park, Portland offers a unique travel destination for visitors with vast interests. The suggestions below provide an excellent resource for planning your trip to the City of Roses, with information on local culture, attractions, dining, and events.

Recommended Attractions

Only in Portland...

Powell’s
1005 W Burnside St
Known as “the best bookstore in the English-speaking world” according to author Susan Sontag. An entire city-block of over one million used, new and rare books. Includes 7 large rooms all devoted to different themes—one room is a coffee shop where customers can peruse through potential buys while sipping a cup of coffee. This is a MUST-SEE in Portland!
(information from www.powells.com)

Forest Park
Northwest Portland
Forest Park is the largest urban forested park in the nation with over 70 miles of trails devoted to outdoor recreation such as running, mountain biking and hiking. Located on the west side of the Willamette River (just across from The Bluff) it covers more than 5,000 acres and is home to 50 species of mammals and birds.
(information from www.friendsofforestpark.org)

OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)
1945 SE Water Ave
One of the nation’s top ten science museums, OMSI has provided Portland residents with hands-on science labs and interactive displays since 1944. Featuring an IMAX theater, the Northwest’s largest planetarium, laser shows, and special exhibits, OMSI is a great way for UP students and Portland residents to have some fun and learn something too! UP students also know OMSI as a location for school dances during the year. (information from www.omsi.edu)

Saturday Market
108 W Burnside St
Local artisans, international cuisine, live music—all of Portland’s creative minds seem to come alive at the Saturday Market. If you love beautiful pottery, handmade jewelry, and unique artwork, you’ll be sure to find a one-of-a-kind gift here. Walk across the street and you are at the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park where you can walk along the Willamette River to see the multiple bridges and city buildings.

Shopping

Pioneer Square Area
715 SW Morrison St
Even though Portland has many vibrant and bustling neighborhoods, downtown is truly the heart and soul of the city. Shopping is prime with dozens of high-end stores all within walking distance. Stores like Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack, Banana Republic, Saks 5th Avenue, J.Crew, Columbia Sportswear flagship store, and Niketown are located in the heart of the city—and right next to the Max-Line for easy and convenient access. Entertainment options near Broadway’s bright lights include Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland Art Museum, Portland Center for Performing Arts and the Fox and Broadway movie theaters.

Northwest 23rd
NW 23rd Ave
A destination for well-heeled shoppers and restaurant enthusiasts, this street has earned its nickname: Trendy-third. Since the streets are in alphabetical order (Burnside, Couch, Davis, Everett), it’s easy to find your way around from shopping to restaurant to coffee shop. You’ll find larger chain stores such as Pottery Bar, Urban Outfitters and the Gap closer to Burnside. Keep walking down the alphabet to find more eclectic wares at clothing boutiques like Elizabeth Street, Ipnosi, Monkey Wear and Baddoll Shoes.

Hawthorne District
Between SE 17th-43rd Hawthorne Ave
With its funky, bohemian feel and great variety of shops and restaurants, Hawthorne may be one of our city’s most diverse destinations. Find used clothing at Buffalo Exchange, vintage at Red Light and hip shoes at Imelda’s. If you’re shopping for a gift, Presents of Mind carries some of the best gifts and greeting cards in town. And don’t leave without browsing the Southeast annex of Powell’s Books or catching a flick at the fantastic brewpub/theater, the Bagdad.

Lloyd Center Mall
NE 2201Lloyd Ctr
This one-stop-shopping mall is located on the east-side of the river near the Portland Convention Center. If staying downtown, you can take the Max-Line directly to the front of Lloyd Center. Major department stores include Nordstrom, The Gap, Meier & Frank, Ross and American Eagle to name a few. Don’t miss the indoor skating rink or movie theater.

Entertainment and the Arts

Roseland Theater
8 NW 6th Ave
Tickets: 503-224-2038
One of many Portland concert venues for music fans to enjoy. Roseland Theater usually has a different show every night to fit every music taste. As a smaller venue, it offers great intimate and up-close performances so you can get close to your favorite musician!

Cinema 21
616 NW 21st Ave
503-223-4515
For independent and foreign film-lovers, this is the place to go. While there are several theaters in Portland, Cinema 21 offers an old-fashioned theater atmosphere showcasing harder-to-find films.

Portland Center for the Performing Arts
Downtown Portland
Tickets: 503-248-4335
The famous Arlene Schnitzer Hall, Keller Auditorium, and the New Theater Building comprise Portland’s Center for the Performing Arts. Every year, nearly 900 various Broadway plays and musicals, ballets, music performances, symphonies, and operas are showcased on these historic stages.

Portland Art Museum
1219 SW Park Ave
503-226-2811
Founded in 1892 by seven influential Portland business leaders, the Portland Art Museum is the oldest art museum in the northwest. It offers art from Asia, the Pacific Rim and Europe in addition to many traveling exhibitions that include local, national and international presentations.

Portland Area - Outdoors

Mt. Hood
For outdoor enthusiasts, you will find no better place to explore than Mt. Hood. The 11,235-foot mountain offers year-round skiing and snowboarding, summer hiking, mountain biking and camping and not to mention, beautiful views and vistas of Oregon’s stunning natural landscapes. About an hour and a half away, Mt. Hood offers both recreational and educational opportunities for UP students to explore in and out of the classroom.
(Directions: Take I-5 South to I-84 East. Take Exit #13 toward Gresham. Follow signs to US-26. Continue on US-26 for approx. 45 miles until you reach Government Camp.)

Oregon Coast
Beach-combing, surfing, hiking, camping, seafood-eating—the Oregon Coast provides hundreds of miles of Pacific Ocean fun and beauty. You can be at Cannon Beach in about an hour and a half (with no traffic!) to enjoy the outdoor recreations the coast has to offer. Like Mt. Hood, the coast can be your longest commute to class—several UP classes will go to the coast for educational purposes.
(Directions to Cannon Beach: Take I-5 South to I-405 South. Take exit# 1-D US-26 West toward Beaverton. After approx. 74 miles, take US-101 South toward Cannon Beach for 4 miles.)

Columbia River Gorge
Another haven for outdoor enthusiasts, but especially more so for hikers and wind-surfers. The Columbia River separates Washington and Oregon’s borders with incredible basalt cliffs and majestic waterfalls—this is the home of the famous waterfall, Multnomah Falls. Hood River boasts some of the best wind-surfing and kite-boarding around.
(Directions: Take I-5 South to I-84 East. Take I-84 for approximately 25 miles and the Columbia River Gorge will unfold before you. Multnomah Falls can be found at exit #30 from I-84).

Portland City Online Guides

Portland Oregon Visitors Association
Worldweb Travelguide to Portland
Go Northwest Portland
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