Oregon's largest city, Portland, has a reputation for being one of the most quirky cities in the US. And the hype is not wrong. With a fun food truck scene and some of the best bars and cafés on the West Coast, visitors will not be disappointed by this unique city. Check out some of these off-the-beaten-track things to do in one of the US's most up-and-coming cities!
10 Get Served Dinner By A robot
A unique dining experience in Portland can be found at Top Burmese. This family-owned restaurant serves traditional home-style Burmese dishes such as Moh Hinga, as well as many excellent vegan options. The untraditional part about the restaurant is that they recently were joined by autonomous robots to help reduce nonessential close human contact and speed up serving. Their newest addition to the team, Milo, is a food-running robot who brings meals right to each customer's table. An experience not to be missed in Portland!
9 Drink Cocktails While Playing Board Games
When most people think of board games, they don't imagine fine food and cocktails. Mox Boarding House in downtown Portland changes this completely. Stepping inside the beautiful Parisian-inspired building, it is difficult to believe this place is centered around playing games. It is only once you spot their extensive free board game library and realize the quiet chatter around the room is actually strategic gameplay that it is clear that Mox is so much more than tasty food and cocktails. It's a place where playing board games is undeniably cool.
8 Stroll Through A Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden is a special corner of Portland. Designed to be a place of tranquil beauty and harmony, this beautiful garden is modeled after traditional Chinese gardens and is filled with plants native to China. There is also a little garden teahouse that serves a wide variety of teas which can be sipped with views over the garden. For those craving a quiet oasis in the city center, Lan Su Gardens is well worth a visit.
7 Grab A Bite From A Food Truck
Portland is renowned for being a quirky, food-centric city, and in true hipster fashion, it is not hard to find a food truck in the city! Serving everything from street tacos to burgers, and Korean fusion to Ethiopian specialties, the options are endless. Some of the best places for sampling them all are to visit one of Portland's food truck pods where the trucks are permanently serving tasty treats. The Portland Mercado is a great example of this, with 18 permanent small businesses serving food from a diverse range of cultures.
6 Explore Portland's Underbelly
When most people imagine Portland, they think of quirky bars, chic cafés, hiking, and waterfalls. But, for a whole different experience, why not try heading underground to Portland's Shanghai Tunnels? Underneath Chinatown, which was Portland's original downtown, the city's catacombs stretch for miles. Surrounded by rumor and legend, these eerie tunnels give a whole new perspective on the city, and visitors can discover the rich history and decide for themselves what is truth and what is a myth in the Sincity Portland walking tour of the catacombs.
5 Eat A Wacky Sugary Snack
Donuts have become an iconic part of Portland over the past few years. One of the city's most popular spots is Voodoo Donuts. What started as a hole-in-the-wall has shot to fame with a variety of wacky flavors, including Dirt, Oh Captain, My Captain, and the Memphis Mafia. But ask a local, and they will roll their eyes at the mention of Voodoo. Instead, they will recommend Blue Star Donuts which is often described as having donut flavors for grownups, including Blueberry Bourbon Basil, Passion Fruit Cocoa Nib, and Apple Cider Fritter.
4 Stop By The Freaky But True Peculiarium
If you are a true fan of the quirkiness of Portland, look no further than the FreakyButTrue Pecularium. This art gallery dedicated to learning and terror is full of interactive art and installations for all senses. They have life-size monster statues, a three-eyed dog sculpture, edible insects, and plenty more one-of-a-kind oddities. If you want a piece of Portland wackiness to take home, there is a gift shop filled with zany souvenirs and quicky gifts.
3 View The City From Above
Sometimes the best way to get to know a city is to see it from a whole new perspective. One of the best views in Portland is just 10 minutes from downtown, nestled 1,000 feet up in Portland's West Hills at Pittock Mansion Park. Not only is there a spectacular view of downtown, but on a clear day, it is possible to enjoy vistas of five Cascade Mountains: Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Adams.
2 Jump Aboard A Submarine
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry offers a unique opportunity to get aboard an actual historic Navy submarine. Visitors have the chance to see how the crew lived on the vessel, touch a torpedo, and peer through a periscope to get a true submarine experience. Timed entry tickets have to be purchased online in advance.
1 Visit The Smallest Park In The World!
Mills Ends Park is a tiny urban park that consists of one tree. Officially dubbed the smallest park in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1971, this 452-square inch 'park' was originally intended to be the site for a light pole. But, when the pole was never installed, Dick Fagan, who wrote for the Oregon Journal, planted flowers in the hole and named it after his column in the paper, "Mills Ends". The park is too small to step in, but is worth a stop to indulge in a little of Portland's unique charm!