Spring 2010 Graduation at Marylhurst University

Things To Do

With just a couple days to spend in the area you may find yourself overwhelmed with all of your options. Our suggestion…stay in town a few extra days to get everything in. If you can’t, make sure to visit the Waterfront Park while near the Convention Center and be on the lookout for the crows leaving their rookery near the Willamette River roost on the Marylhurst campus.

Culture

Portland Art Museum – Visit the oldest art museum in the Northwest. Housing more than 40,000 pieces of art in more than 110,000 square feet of space, it is one of the crown jewels of Oregon.

Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park – Once four lanes of automotive clutter, since 1974 the space has been transformed into a waterfront park on the eastern edge of downtown Portland.

Salmon Street Springs – 185 jets of water fun, controlled by a central computer, is a must-see for visitors with children visiting Waterfront Park.

Oregon Zoo – The largest in the state features animals from around the globe including: polar bears, sea lions, monkeys, and giraffes.

Portland Rose Gardens – Known as “City of Roses” Portland reinforces that moniker by running the oldest continuously operating Rose Test Garden in the United States, located in Washington Park overlooking downtown Portland. In addition, the Peninsula Park Rose Garden and Ladd’s Addition Rose Garden in other parts of the city (also hold breathtaking views of one of Portland’s namesakes)

Willamette River – The river snakes through the mountains and through Portland, providing residents both water and recreational opportunities, including speed boat rides, jet skiing and fishing.

Columbia River Gorge – This gorge is a nationally protected scenic area east of Portland. It splits Oregon and Washington with North America’s fourth largest river, formed eons ago when glaciers molded the land at the end of the last ice age. The natural assets of the gorge, including the breathtaking Multnomah Falls cascading 620 feet, offer almost all outdoor enthusiasts a place to play. Activities include: hiking, fishing, windsurfing, sailing, hiking and kayaking.

Saturday Market – The market is an open-air showcase for arts, crafts, shopping and exotic food. Considered a must-see by all locals, it is the oldest continuously operating market of its kind in the United States. It runs Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

Wine Country – The Willamette Valley is home to more than 200 wineries divided into six sub-regions. The valley has become synonymous with producing some of the best Pinot Noirs in the world. View Map of Vinyards

Microbrews – Portland is one of the leading producers of microbrews in the country. There are at least 28 active microbreweries within the city limits.

Powell's City of Books (Burnside) – Last but not least…for anyone who loves books, a trip to Portland would not be complete without a visit to Powell’s. The largest used and new bookstore in the world, this Portland institution takes up an entire city block. It’s huge and you’ll never see it all, but it’s a must-see if you love books.

Restaurants in the area

The Portland area has hundreds of restaurants featuring almost every cuisine you could ever want. Bolstered by the fresh ingredients grown in the area, which are utilized by local chefs, you will find award-winning restaurants everywhere you travel, from downtown Portland to the wineries in the Willamette Valley. We can’t possibly list all the great restaurants you might like to try, but our AOP staff in Portland wanted to share some of their favorites. Bon appétit.

West Side of the River

Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Look around for great coffee and you’ll find a hometown favorite – what some call “coffee done right” and “hands down the absolute best” in Portland.

Adina – Located in the restaurant row of Portland — the Pearl District, just northwest of downtown — Andina serves scrumptious tapas dishes based on Peruvian cuisines.

Portland City Grill – With its breathtaking view of the city, this restaurant is considered one of the most romantic spots in Portland.

Pazzo Ristorante – Located downtown, this restaurant serves a unique Italian-Pacific Northwest cuisine.

Salvador Molly’s – (Home to specials featured on the Food Network) This spicy turn on Caribbean and South American cuisine is quite popular.

Pearl Bakery – It’s considered by many the best in the town, for good reason.

Heathman Restaurant and Bar – At this winner of the James Beard award for culinary excellence, Executive Chef Philippe Boulot mixes Normandy inspirations with the available fresh ingredients from the area, creating sumptuous culinary dishes that inspire.

Ringside – The “original” Portland steakhouse, it’s been open since the 1940s. It may be dark inside, but if it’s not broken, why fix it?

Besaws Café – Established in 1903, you can’t go wrong with this one unless you get there too late! If you happen to be staying at the Northrup Inn, you can just walk over here. For many Portlanders, it’s a Saturday morning ritual to stand in the rain while waiting for a table.

Bar Mingo – Described as “a new way to eat,” it provides one of the city’s best happy hours with lots of easy-to-share plates.

Café Mingo – This part bistro, part diner and part dinner theater features Tuscan Italian cuisine with local favorites like penne with espresso-braised beef sauce.

Veritable Quandary – In the heart of downtown, several blocks off the river, the VQ also has a great brunch. Experience classic, Old Portland charm; it’s a Portland landmark and has a lovely outdoor dining area for al fresco dining/drinks.

Meriwether’s Restaurant - This spot has a beautiful outdoor garden area for dining year-round.

Park Kitchen – Across the street from North Park Blocks in the Pearl District, founder Scott Dolich leverages Northwest ingredients into creative, very tasteful dishes.

Higgins Restaurant & Bar – Northwest regional cuisine is perfected at this downtown dining spot. All dishes are made with fresh, locally grown produce.

VooDoo Donut – If you allowed a candy maker, a chef and a donut maker to design a menu together, this is what you would get.

East Side of the River

Flying Pie Pizzeria – Many locals consistently cite this pizza stop as the best place to get a pie in Portland.

Vindalho – This restaurant features wonderful spice route cuisine with an Indian twist.

Lauro Mediterranean Kitchen – This playful take on Mediterranean food surprises as well as satiates the hungry palette.

Gravy – That’s not only what you can get with your biscuits -- it’s the name of the restaurant!

Tin Shed & Garden Café – This very quirky, very Portland, and very fun café is casual & pretty cheap!

Por Que No? – Located on Hawthorne Boulevard in southeast Portland, this fun taqueria has room to spare and a garden out back. This is NOT your run of the mill taqueria. It’s colorful, fun, quirky and very Portland with great food and popular pomegranate margaritas.

Autentica – Everything is made fresh, including the corn tortillas that are made by hand in the kitchen and delivered hot off the griddle. Family owned, traditional cooking from the Guerrero region of Acapulco. Great ambiance and bar with nice wine selection.

Pix Patisserie (on Williams Avenue in northeast Portland) – This shop carries out-of-this-world desserts and chocolates, and features a beautiful bar that serves European beers, wines and digestifs. It also features an array of pastries, cakes, and chocolate creations. Blue cheese truffles, anyone?

Le Pigeon – Sample unique French food paired with a variety of adventurous wines in an intimate dining room.

Screen Door – Looking for a little southern cooking to warm your bones? Screen Door creates what many call the best food from the South in the North. Come try their biscuits and gravy.

Pambiche – Cuban food in Portland? Only if you go to Pambiche. Look for the line and cars packing the parking lot.

Pok Pok Restaurant – Unique is not a descriptive enough word to describe Pok Pok and its Whiskey Soda Lounge. The restaurant claims influence from all of the Orient, and guests are frequently happily surprised by the one-of-a-kind creations. Who’s ready for fish sauce wings?

Wine Country Restaurants

Wildwood Restaurant – Utilizing farm-fresh local ingredients, Wildwood offers the epitome in Northwest cuisine. A bonus: parking is free.

Nick’s Italian Café – Turning heads in McMinnville wine country since 1977, Nick’s features a five-course meal of dishes from northern Italy.

The Painted Lady – More wine country fine cooking can be found at this award-winning restaurant in Newberg. Wine Spectator gave this venue its “Award for Excellence.”

Tina’s – This is another multi-award-winner. Considerd by Zagats and Wine Enthusiast not only one of the best restaurants in Oregon, but one of the best in all of the Northwest.

Additional Links to Things and Do in Portland