A Day in Portland, Oregon As a Newcomer

New to Portland? What To Do in Portland For a Day!

Curious about one of the best cities in the Pacific Northwest? Whether you’re a college student, a traveler briefly visiting, or just moved to the area, you may be wondering what to do in Portland, Oregon for a day. With a rich floral heritage, Portland has been crowned “the Rose City”, and paired up with its melting pot of worldly cuisine, the city has a flavor like no other!

Situated between the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, it also offers stunning views of nearby mountains, including the iconic Mount Hood. If it’s a weekend, you know there’s going to be at least three Farmer’s Markets spread around the neighborhoods. But if you’re looking for things to do over the week - look no further! Read on to plan your next day in the big city!

 

STOP #1 - Breakfast & Tea

Grand Central Bakery 

 

To start off the day in Portland, go to the nearest Grand Central Bakery, which has several locations around Portland. They provide a cozy place to read a book or study with your college roommates. Their mix of indoor and outdoor seating accommodates Portland’s changing seasons. In the surrounding area, several small shops and thrift stores make for the perfect outing.

Hours: 7am-4pm daily.

Suggestion: Go for breakfast and order one of their delicious breakfast sandwiches (with vegetarian and meat options) and a warm chai (or iced if it’s a hot day!).

STOP #2 - Thrifting

Description: Vintage Thrifting has never been made easier! When we think about places that keep Portland weird, Buffalo Exchange is definitely part of the canon. You can find unique pieces here from any and every era or you can marvel at all the extravagant second-hand jewelry this store has to offer! If your ethos coincides with sourcing your closet sustainably, this thrift shop offers a plethora of styles that you can experiment with and incorporate into your own! Depending on which location you choose to go to, you can either keep exploring Burnside or Sellwood.

Hours: 11am-8pm

Suggestions: If you have clothes that are in good condition that don’t particularly spark joy any longer, bringing them in in order to trade them can earn you some store points that you can use towards your newfound garments!

OR

Another good option to consider in Southeast Portland is Sellwood Union! Again, there are so many great vintage finds that will very likely prompt you to go a bit over your budget. This thrift shop is definitely more local than Buffalo, so the essence of Portlandia can be even more so found among these racks.

Hours: 11am-7pm

Suggestions: What’s great about this thrift store is that they offer the really unique pieces online as well! If you’re a vintage connoisseur, you can follow Sellwood Union on Instagram to have the first picks of their deliveries.

 

SPOT #3 - Relaxation

The Lan Su Chinese Garden, located in Old Town in North West Portland, provides a relaxing place to walk around, learn about history, and drink some tea in the tranquil teahouse. It’s the perfect place to relax in the afternoon by yourself or with your friends, offering an escape from the busy big city vibes. This little pocket of serenity features over 500 species of plants, many of which have symbolic meanings in Chinese culture.

 

Hours: 10am-6pm daily (hours change with the seasons).

Suggestions: After walking the loop around the gardens (it’s typically a quick walk), go to their Yun Shui teahouse for a snack of spicy hot & sour soup and mooncakes while sipping Oolong tea.

 

STOP #4 - Art

The curators and artists that comprise the exhibitions at the PAM are in great conversations with what is happening with the wider community. Disseminating a narrative that is rich in perspectives by combining divergent showcasing elements and artists with different backgrounds is what makes PAM so essential to Portland! There are so many ways the museum is engaged with kids, teenagers, college students among other groups and it’s one of those collectives that strives to offer holistic inclusion.

Hours: 10am-5pm, closed on Monday and Tuesday

Suggestions: The PAM is known for its rotating exhibitions, which often feature innovative themes and interdisciplinary approaches so keep checking out their collections and their amazing featuring guests. Paul McCartney’s “Eyes of the Storm” Photograph exhibition has captured so many Portlander’s attention!

 

STOP #5 - Books

All the bookworms, gather up! Powell’s Books, the largest new and used independent bookstore, is truly a Portland staple. Many LC students have spent hours here devouring tons of diverse authors, and we mean when we say there is absolutely something for everyone! Any genre and any author you can think of, it’s probably on the shelves of Powells.

Hours: 10am-9pm daily

Suggestions: The bookstore has a selection of books on rotation as new publishers and authors come to recognition, so your reading list can keep on expanding with the times. Currently, we’re seeing bestsellers such as “Intermezzo”, “The Wild Robot”, and “Normal People” in the hands of Portlanders! Make sure to visit Powell’s Rare Book Room with about 9000 special books!

 

STOP #6 - Dinner

It’s not a myth that Portland has the best cuisine. Our bias is that we are lovers of Thai food, which is exactly why we’re sharing one of our favorite restaurant with the most delicious recipes. Farmhouse Kitchen Thai serves modern takes on traditional Thai dishes that can be found in multiple locations across the city. Supporting a family business has never been easier - once you look at the decor and menu, you’ll realize why it’s that mouth-watering!

Hours: 11-2:30pm; 5-9pm

Suggestions: If you’re craving a soup, Tum Yum is the way to go! Spicy sour soup created with mixed vegetables such as mushrooms with hints of galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass and long coriander, there’s truly nothing like Thai cuisine. If you’re feeling something a little more carby, Thai Fried Jasmine Blue Rice is the dish of your dreams!

 

SPOT #7 - Dessert!

Salt & Straw is the place for late night sugar cravings! Their long hours and unique rotation of flavors creates exciting late-night ice cream trips with friends or a cute place for a date night. One location is conveniently located along the Portland Streetcar NS Line in busy Northwest Portland.

Hours: 11am-11pm daily.

Suggestions: Try one of the unique flavors (or a mix of them!), such as Pear and Blue Cheese or Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper. With Halloween season quickly approaching, it could also be fun to try one of Salt & Straw’s newly released spooky flavors, like Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread.

OR

 

If you’re not in the mood for ice cream, VooDoo Doughnuts is another great option for satisfying those late-night sugar cravings. They also offer unique flavors, such as Oh Captain, My Captain with Captain Crunch cereal, or a “Dirt” donut with crumbled cookies. Their unique selection of flavors includes award-winning donuts and an extensive selection of vegan donuts.

Hours: 6am-12am on weekdays and 6am-2am on weekends.

Suggestions: A VooDoo classic is the Maple Blazer Blunt (exactly what you assume). For the vegans, a fun option is the School Daze “PB&J” donut. As they add in their seasonal donuts, the Dashing Pumpkin donut could be a yummy choice for the fall season.

 

Conclusion:

We could talk for days about all of the spots and events to look forward to in this city year round, but we thought we’d give you a knack on some of the best options. Ranging from Sellwood to Northwest, Portland has so many pockets of culture that can keep you entertained throughout your day(s). Stay well-fed with our food suggestions, relaxed with our thrift and garden suggestions, educated and inspired with our art and book suggestions! After hopping around, we promise you that you will grow to appreciate the quirky, eclectic vibe the people of this city have been curating for years. Keep Portland unique, keep it your own, and keep it weird!