Portland is hard not to love. But in the case that you need some more reasons to love our great city, here are 18 reasons that make Portland great.
- Hoyt Arboretum
Mary Anne Thygesen / Flickr If you want to wander in the trees, Hoyt Arboretum is the place to start. This gigantic forest of over 6,000 trees in Washington Park is an experience in any season.
- Portland Bridges
Aki Sasaki / Flickr We have one of the most picturesque skylines around and the bridges just add to the allure.
- Portland Japanese Garden
Joe Parks / Flickr Said to be the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, this is an amazingly beautiful place to spend the day.
- Columbia Gorge
Peter Roome / Flickr Just a stones throw away from the city, the gorge is packed with incredible scenery for you to explore.
- Forest Park
Robert Tuck / Flickr If you want to spend some time in the woods, we have Forest Park. At over 5,000 acres, our biggest park is also one of the largest urban forests in the country.
- Portland Public Library
jpellgen / Flickr Our libraries are great, with the most notable being the downtown Central Library built in 1913.
- Oregon Zoo
Joshua Smith / Flickr The Oregon Zoo is a world class zoo right in our city. Enjoy the young lions, polar bear cub, and expansive elephant lands at our ever-changing zoo.
- OMSI
GraysonChalmers / Flickr If you love science, OMSI is your stomping ground. This hands-on museum is a joy for people of all ages.
- Portland Art Museum
CTG/SF / Flickr The Portland Art Museum features local, national, and international artists in its two-building spread.
- Portland Parks
Thomas Le Ngo / Facebook Portland parks are the best! We have countless green spaces, awesome community gardens, and great swimming pools and community education programs.
- Mt. Hood
Paul Weeks / Flickr Sure it is not in Portland, but we love it still and it is a part of us. Mt Hood is both a winter and summer play spot and it adds so much to the area.
- The Blazers
Cory Grove / Flickr Our Blazers are the best, and Blazer spirit can’t be beat.
- Portland Timbers
Ryan Harvey / Flickr Speaking of Portland athletics, the Timbers are pretty amazing too. They won the Western Conference final in 2015, and have accomplished a ton since their inception in 2011.
- Wine, Beer & Liquor Galore
Roger / Flickr We have so many wineries, breweries and distilleries that you can drink local and not miss a thing. We even have a Multnomah Whiskey Library where you can sample rare whiskeys from around the world.
- Donuts Galore
Jessica Spengler / Flickr We have the market on donuts. Whether you like Voodoo, Blue Star, Pip’s or somewhere else, we have the answer to donut cravings covered.
- Lan Su Chinese Garden
Susan Smith / Flickr The Chinese garden is hiding in plain sight, and it is a beauty when you find it. Nestled behind a wall in Old Town Chinatown, this garden is a lovely place to relax.
- Portland Thorns
Troy / Flickr The Portland Thorns are our local champs, and won the NWSL Shield in the 2016 season.
- The International Rose Test Garden
TravelUSA / Flickr There is always the International Rose Test Garden if you feel compelled to stop and smell the roses. Or you could just walk around the city and smell all your neighbors’ roses, as you can surely find these beauties everywhere in the City of Roses.
The list of reasons to love Portland could go on and on. What are your favorite parts of the City of Roses?
Mary Anne Thygesen / Flickr
If you want to wander in the trees, Hoyt Arboretum is the place to start. This gigantic forest of over 6,000 trees in Washington Park is an experience in any season.
Aki Sasaki / Flickr
We have one of the most picturesque skylines around and the bridges just add to the allure.
Joe Parks / Flickr
Said to be the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan, this is an amazingly beautiful place to spend the day.
Peter Roome / Flickr
Just a stones throw away from the city, the gorge is packed with incredible scenery for you to explore.
Robert Tuck / Flickr
If you want to spend some time in the woods, we have Forest Park. At over 5,000 acres, our biggest park is also one of the largest urban forests in the country.
jpellgen / Flickr
Our libraries are great, with the most notable being the downtown Central Library built in 1913.
Joshua Smith / Flickr
The Oregon Zoo is a world class zoo right in our city. Enjoy the young lions, polar bear cub, and expansive elephant lands at our ever-changing zoo.
GraysonChalmers / Flickr
If you love science, OMSI is your stomping ground. This hands-on museum is a joy for people of all ages.
CTG/SF / Flickr
The Portland Art Museum features local, national, and international artists in its two-building spread.
Thomas Le Ngo / Facebook
Portland parks are the best! We have countless green spaces, awesome community gardens, and great swimming pools and community education programs.
Paul Weeks / Flickr
Sure it is not in Portland, but we love it still and it is a part of us. Mt Hood is both a winter and summer play spot and it adds so much to the area.
Cory Grove / Flickr
Our Blazers are the best, and Blazer spirit can’t be beat.
Ryan Harvey / Flickr
Speaking of Portland athletics, the Timbers are pretty amazing too. They won the Western Conference final in 2015, and have accomplished a ton since their inception in 2011.
Roger / Flickr
We have so many wineries, breweries and distilleries that you can drink local and not miss a thing. We even have a Multnomah Whiskey Library where you can sample rare whiskeys from around the world.
Jessica Spengler / Flickr
We have the market on donuts. Whether you like Voodoo, Blue Star, Pip’s or somewhere else, we have the answer to donut cravings covered.
Susan Smith / Flickr
The Chinese garden is hiding in plain sight, and it is a beauty when you find it. Nestled behind a wall in Old Town Chinatown, this garden is a lovely place to relax.
Troy / Flickr
The Portland Thorns are our local champs, and won the NWSL Shield in the 2016 season.
TravelUSA / Flickr
There is always the International Rose Test Garden if you feel compelled to stop and smell the roses. Or you could just walk around the city and smell all your neighbors’ roses, as you can surely find these beauties everywhere in the City of Roses.
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