Things to Do Around Portland, Oregon
- Portland, OregonBridges image by photosfromoregon from Fotolia.com
Portland, Oregon has a vibe all its own. A model of urban planning, Portland has been named the "greenest" city in the U.S. by "Popular Science" magazine and American Cities Business Journals--the perfect mix of big-city style and outdoorsy attitude. Portlanders--be they tattooed hipsters or toned triathletes--are fiercely proud of their city, and it's no wonder why. There are plenty of things for visitors to do around Portland, Oregon too, including a lot of surprises. - A trip to Portland isn't complete without a visit to Powell's Books. Occupying an entire city block downtown, Powell's is a city unto itself. With over a million new, used, rare and even out-of-print books, Powell's is the largest bookstore in the world and, according to its legions of fans, the best. Even non-readers will be awe-struck by the floors and floors of tomes.
Powell's City of Books
1005 W. Burnside
Portland, Oregon 97209
800-878-7323
powells.com - Portland wasn't always the beacon of the Pacific Northwest. It has a dark past that is in stark contrast to its green present. For nearly a century--between 1850 and 1941--it was known as the "Unheavenly City," a place where hardy men--from sailors and loggers to laborers and drifters--were kidnapped along the waterfront and forced to work for no pay aboard ships bound for the Orient. The hapless victims were "shanghaied" by being dropped through trap doors into the "Portland Underground," a series of tunnels, complete with prison cells, hidden beneath the city. These days the tunnels are said to be haunted by the ghosts of the least fortunate captives. Several tours explore the tunnels and their hideous maritime history.
Portland Underground Tours
P.O. Box 398
Rhododendron, Oregon 97049
503-622-4798
shanghaitunnels.info - The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is world-renowned for its rotating interactive science exhibits and educational programs. Featuring five exhibit halls, an IMAX domed theater and a 200-seat planetarium, OMSI has something to offer every curiosity-seeker. Nearly a million visitors a year roam its corridors in order to be bowled-over by realistic earthquake simulations or to get up close and maybe too-personal with the workings of the human body. If visitors are looking for something to do in Portland, a visit to OMSI should be near the top of the list.
Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
1945 SE Water Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97214
800-955-6674
omsi.edu - Those who are wondering what a doughnut shop is doing in an article about things to do around Portland, Oregon, have never heard of Voodoo Doughnut. Voodoo Doughnut has been featured on the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, Good Morning America and in Ripley's Believe it or Not. Folks will line up for hours to get a taste of some of the most unique confections in the world, including doughnuts stuffed with bacon or covered with Fruit Loops.
Voodoo Doughnut
22 S.W. Third Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97204
503-241-4704
voodoodoughnut.com
