If you’re hosting out-of-town guests for the holidays, it’s time to step into the role of “official Portland tour guide.” We’ve got plenty of recommendations for you to build the perfect itinerary for your visitors.
🏙️ Sightseeing
Is it even a trip to Portland without seeing Forest Park? While you’re in the area, you can swing by Pittock Mansion for the perfect holiday family photo. And if there are any animal lovers in the group, head to the Oregon Zoo to see 1-year-old orangutan Jolene, basketball-playing otters, elephants, and more.
Produce Row in Southeast Portland is a gastropub with no shortage of festive cheer.
Photo by @producerowpdx
🥘 Eat and drink
If your guests need a caffeine pick-me-up, Either/Or, Adapt Cafe, and Keeper Coffee are all offering a range of seasonal drinks. If you’re looking for a different kind of brew, the City of Roses is home to 70+ breweries with Great Notion and Wayfinder being two local hot spots.
Get ready to get your grub on because we’ve got plenty of articles to help you navigate the local food scene. You can’t miss these restaurants that offer heated outdoor seating. Or if you’re craving award-winning cuisine, check out one of these James Beard Award-recognized spots. Plus, satisfy your holiday sweet tooth at Papa Haydn.
Multnomah Falls is the most-visited natural recreation site in the PNW, seeing more than 2 million visitors annually.
Photo by Pixabay via Pexels
📚 Activities
If your visitors are ready for some outdoor fun, head into the Columbia River Gorge to see world-famous Multnomah Falls. Spend a few hours taking in the exhibits at one of the oldest art museums on the West Coast, the Portland Art Museum, or immerse yourself in the interactive, mind-bending experiences at Hopscotch Portland. And don’t forget to make a stop at Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world.
🛏️ Stay
If your visitors aren’t planning to crash with you, here are some places they can stay:
The Benson Portland, 309 SW Broadway | $132+
Every holiday season for over 50 years, this historic hotel in downtown Portland has displayed incredible gingerbread masterpieces. Master pastry chef David Diffendorfer recreated Neuschwanstein Castle this year using 150 pounds of gingerbread, 50 pounds of marzipan, 20 pounds of chocolate, and 10 pounds of Rice Krispies Treats.
Cozy urban cabin, Alberta Arts District | $142
Get the full Portland experience with a stay in this tiny house located in one of the city’s most hipster neighborhoods. Wake up and walk to a coffee shop, find art galleries and street art, do some shopping at small businesses, and get a bite to eat at one of the area’s many restaurants.
The fun doesn’t stop there… Be sure to send your visitors the link to our events page in advance to get a feel for what they’ll want to see and do while in town.
