Skip New York, LA and Vegas: Here’s what to do in Portland Oregon in 2016
When planning a trip to the United States, most Australians (and traveller’s world over) would be hoping to tick the big names like LA, Las Vegas and New York City off their bucket lists. While these cities are great destinations for an all-American holiday, the rest of the country seems to be overlooked.
Online travel website Kayak has released their first Travel Hack Guide, which revealed Portland, Oregon as the third most trending destination for 2016, with a 45 percent increase in flight searches.
Perhaps this inflation is due to the raging popularity of IFC’s Television production "Portlandia," a sketch comedy series that parodies life in Oregon. However, with the United States being the third most popular destination for Australian Travellers, Portland is definitely not a city you want to miss in 2016!
So why not skip the hype of LA, the buzz of New York City and instead immerse yourself in the quirk that is Portland, Oregon?
Voodoo Doughnut
22 SW 3rd Avenue, Portland Oregon
Established in 2002, Voodoo Doughnut is an independent doughnut shop based in Portland. It is well known for its outlandish doughnuts, eclectic décor and bright pink boxes with the company logo on it.
With over 100 varieties of doughnuts on offer (including vegan friendly options), there is bound to be enough option to settle any sweet tooth. Be prepared to queue as these God-sent treats attract a lot of attention. And be sure to have plenty of cash with you, as eftpos is not accepted!
Powell’s City of Books
1005 W Burnside St, Portland Oregon
Powell’s City of Books is the largest bookstore in the world, taking up an entire city block and housing over one million books. A not-to-be-missed store for any booklover, it is an easy location to spend a day in as you lose yourself in a world of books. Whilst the size may seem daunting, navigating is easy as you receive a store map upon entry, each level is colour-coded per genre and there are plenty of staff available to help you out.
Once you start to feel tired or need some rejuvenating, refresh yourself at the café on site. Coffee, cakes and books - it doesn’t get much better than that!
BrewCycle
1425 NW Flanders St, Portland Oregon
https://www.brewgrouppdx.com/brewcycle/
It’s not unusual to step outside of your accommodation in Portland and be greeted by the vision of these odd multi-bicycle looking contraptions. The people on-board are always joyous and laughter fills the air that surrounds them.
These giant bikes are known as BrewCycles, a large bike that accommodates up to 15 riders as you partake in a two hour pub-crawl of the city. A fun way to see Portland and learn about its brewing history!
Music
The music scene in Portland is one of the most vibrant in the country. There are venues all over the city that host a diverse range of music. Here are a few music venues in Portland that are definitely worth visiting:
Mississippi Studios
3939 North Mississippi Avenue, Portland
Once a Baptist Church, Mississippi Studios hosts an array of music. Its quaint balcony above-bar setting and recently designed acoustics make for an enjoyable, intimate evening.
Aladdin Theatre
3017 SE Milwaukee Avenue, Portland
The Chinese Theatre of Portland. The Aladdin Theatre hosts indie-rock music in a sit-down area. Once a week, this venue hosts a live audience radio show.
Holocene
1001 SE Morrison St, Portland
Portland’s premier dance/electro club. Founded by two San Francisco-ans, Holocene adopts a mix of the nightlife that can be seen in San Francisco and Berlin.
Shopping
Shopping is a must when in Portland. Oregon is one of five states in America that are tax-free, making the term "shop til you drop" a very easy task! There are plenty of stores for you to spend your hard earned cash in while in Portland, or if you prefer shopping in mega malls, Oregon’s largest shopping centre – Lloyd Centre - is only a short light rail ride away. Lloyd Centre has over 150 specialty stores, an indoor ice-skating rink, 10 cinemas and several food outlets. You can get to Lloyd Centre on the Blue, Green and Red Light rail lines.
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