Is there anything to see in downtown Portland Oregon?

If you like books, I would highly recommend Powell's books. I think they have more used books than any store in the USA.

It's not downtown but if you can get out to run in Forest Park it is definitely worth it! The trails there are amazing.

If you have some free time and are interested in history, consider taking a tour of the Portland Underground.

http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/underground-portland-shanghai-tunnels-tour/

As previously mentioned, Powell's Books is cool if you're into that stuff.

Also, Voodoo Donuts.

Voodoo is wacky at best but the pizzeria next door is a good first stop.

The walking tour looks pretty interesting, thanks.

I'd have all day on a Sunday, probably not the best day.

If you go up to the top of a building, you can see the Impassable Wilderness in the distance.

Portland has some great strip clubs. Mary's was one of my favorites last time I was there.

There are several museums downtown including the Portland Art Museum, History Center, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

Do you like good beer? If so, it's difficult to beat Portland for craft breweries.

I second OMSI.

Eat at Santeria.

You walk through Mary's to get to their restroom.

not Fred Armisen wrote:

There are several museums downtown including the Portland Art Museum, History Center, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

OMSI is across the river.

For someone new to Portland, a run along the waterfront (and across a bridge or two) can be quite nice.

This. Plus. Forest Park trails up in the West Hills of Portland close to Downtown is nice.Apparently Portland has some world class restaurants in the Pearl District and some other scattered places. But you will have to do your own research on that. If you are talking about the greater area, then the Oregon Coast can be a nice trip. Or going the other way (East) there is Multnomah Falls. As Portlander those are the only things I can think of that are unique to Portland that you can't get in other cities. Otherwise it has the same crap here as any other place.

sdadfs wrote:

If you have some free time and are interested in history, consider taking a tour of the Portland Underground.

http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/tours/underground-portland-shanghai-tunnels-tour/

As previously mentioned, Powell's Books is cool if you're into that stuff.

Also, Voodoo Donuts.

Start your day at stump town coffee roasters, have some voodoo for breakfast, ride the bus to Mt Tabor park and walk for a couple hours, ride bus to a small neighborhood shopping district, Hawthorne? Then use yelp to find a delicious fast early dinner then walk over a bridge back to downtown to hangout at Powell books for 4 hours. I used to do this daily. I loved it.

you sound like a loser

Deshutes and Rogue are two great breweries located downtown.

Also, Killer Burger is a pretty cheap dinner that's solid. Their peanut butter burger is on point.

Also, hit up Blitz Tavern to get turnt

James96 wrote:

you sound like a loser

It's not easy being an 150k annual, sub 14, intellect.

Portland like all major cities has a butt-ugly center full of expensive yuppie attractions, loud traffic, and homeless people. Block after square block of conspicuously frivolous consumption. The only redeeming feature is that it is attracting many of America's most pretentious, elitist snobs onto a silt foundation to be buried in the Juan de Fuca earthquake.

I second badwiggins. I am a native portlander but left years ago to cali for sun and diversity. portland is white, hipster, and mostly non-natives, coming for the hipster dream. its a homogenous nightmare. true, downtown is carp, same as all cities.

the trick with portland, is the season. not what to see but when you are there. summer is rather awesome. anywhere. winter will be gloom. not helping you I know.

ok then, walkable from downtown... I'd hit stroll along the waterfront, over to (through) pearl district, and up to 23rd via burnside hitting powells books and music stores..once at 23rd, do a quick down and back to see, uh, more shopping. if you had more time and transport: west hills (forrest park is bomb running but really muddy all winter) or to SE hawthorne / mt. tabor

Don't. DO NOT go to a museum. total waste of a day or any time when you should be out and about getting a feel for the city. maybe OMSI after dark if you had to..

So I'm here and I honestly can't see why so many people love this place. I mean, it's a nice enough downtown, but the buildings and such and the riverwalk aren't any better than a dozen other places I've been. I was recently in Dubuque Iowa of all places and frankly the downtown architecture and river there were far more interesting.

And then, the place is absolutely loaded down with homeless people. You can't walk down a block without tripping all over them. They're everywhere, they're really rough, and they all want money.

There seems to be some decent shopping, the weather is nice, love the mass transit.

But in all honesty, I can't see why people make such a big deal about this place. I must be missing something.