Funky Portland, Oregon, has earned a reputation as a city of individuals, thanks in part to the sketch comedy "Portlandia." But there's more to Portland than weird personalities. The Pacific Northwest city boasts views of Mount Hood, plenty of fern-studded parks, a thriving restaurant and bar scene, and interesting shops with handmade goods. Add to it that Portland is very walkable, so it's easy to find things to do with reach of any downtown starting point.
Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park
- Union Station is conveniently situated in Portland's bustling Pearl District, in the Northwest quarter of the city. An easy walk from the station is Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park, which stretches for 30 acres along the Willamette River. In spring, look for blooming cherry trees, which stand out against the starkness of Portland's steam-punk bridges. On Saturdays and Sundays from March to December, a sprawling craft market lives in the park, and on any day, it's a lovely spot to take a stroll along the river. Start at the southern end of the park, making your way toward the Steel Bridge at the northern end. From there, cross under the bridge. The park ends, but the trail continues along the water, quieting as it becomes more residential.
Powell's City of Books
- Powell's is famous for its size. The bookstore on W. Burnside Street, a 15-minute walk from the station, takes up an entire city block. Its incredible size has earned it the title of "the world's largest new and used bookstore"; it houses more than a million books. The books are divided into color-coded rooms, which sprawl over several floors. Though 6,000 people visit every day, it's easy to find a quiet spot to peruse the shelves. It's also easy to get lost!
Voodoo Doughnut
- If the perpetual line snaking around the corner from the entrance is any indication, Voodoo knows its doughnuts. The tiny store on W. Burnside Street is just a 12-minute walk from Union Station, and it's worth every step -- and the inevitable wait. The shop sells handmade doughnuts, crafted fresh every morning, that range from the traditional Portland Cream to the weird Mango Tango, the Bacon Maple Bar and the signature doll-shaped Voodoo Doll doughnut. If you happen to come at the end of the day when they're throwing out doughnuts to make room for tomorrow's fresh batches, you might even snag some freebies.
Food Carts
- Portlanders know how to eat well. One of the latest food trends -- which you'll now see taking off in other cities -- is the food cart craze. Food carts cram a kitchen into a trailer and sell made-to-order fast food. But in Portland, fast food is elevated to an art form. At the massive food cart city taking up the city block on SW 9th Avenue and SW Washington Street, your choices range from Thai food to wild boar sandwiches to Indian fare. The choices are overwhelming. When you finally decide, head to O'Bryant Square across the street, where there are plenty of places to sit and eat.
