Conference & Events Planning

Portland Attractions

With its friendly people, cultural amenities, and ubiquitous green spaces, Portland presents visitors with great opportunities for exploration and entertainment.

Museums, hiking trails, theaters, restaurants, parks, coffee shops, music clubs, bookstores, and one-of-a-kind businesses are just some of what Portland has to offer. Reed College is located in the Eastmoreland and Woodstock neighborhoods. Many Portland attractions are within walking or biking distance.

Portland highlights

  • World-class exhibits at the Portland Art Museum, American Advertising Museum, Oregon History Center, Oregon Trail Museum, and World Forestry Center

  • Festivals on the Willamette River waterfront nearly every summer weekend

  • Gardens like the world-famous International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Chinese Classical Garden

  • Family attractions, including the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Zoo, CM2 Children's Museum, and Oaks Amusement Park

  • Distinctive shopping districts—and no sales tax—in downtown, the Pearl District, and Sellwood, as well as on NE Broadway Street, NE Alberta Street, NE Hawthorne Boulevard, and North Mississippi Avenue

  • Hoyt Arboretum, which features 50 miles of hiking, biking, and walking trails that criss-cross 5,000-acre Forest Park, the largest wilderness park inside any U.S. city

  • More than 40 microbreweries, making Portland one of the country's craft-brewing meccas 

  • Local handcrafted gifts, art, and food at downtown's Saturday Market (open Sundays, too)

  • The Portland Farmer's Market, with multiple locations and days and featuring locally grown produce, fresh-baked breads, seafood, and seasonal flowers

  • Professional soccer and baseball in the summer months

  • An extensive system of walking and biking trails  

  • Convenient public transit system featuring buses, light rail, and streetcars

Nearby Oregon Attractions

The mighty Pacific Ocean is a 90-minute drive west of Portland; the Cascade Mountains are 90 minutes east of the city. Within an hour's drive are the Columbia River Gorge and Oregon's wine country.

  • The Oregon Coast: Seventy miles to the west lies the Pacific Ocean, where historic lighthouses, breathtaking views, and picturesque coastal towns line 400 miles of public coastline.

  • The Columbia Gorge: An awe-inspiring National Scenic Area features 77 waterfalls, majestic mountain views, and watersports such as windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, and river rafting.

  • Mount Hood: Less than 60 miles from Portland stands Oregon's tallest peak, luring visitors with year-round skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and historic Timberline Lodge in a national forest.

  • The Willamette Valley: Stretching south from Portland is Oregon's wine country, where most of the state's 180 wineries reside and offer tastings and tours.

View the Travel Portland website

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