“Put a Bird on It” (quote from the IFC show Portlandia) – Bird wallpaper found in a Portland hotel
In the Pacific Northwest region of the United States is the city of Portland, in the state of Oregon. If your only experience of Portland is the IFC show Portlandia you may have a skewed perception of the city. The city’s unofficial motto is “Keep Portland Weird” and Portlandia does a good job of depicting Portland as a weird city. Portlandia’s characters in various sketches range from cultist organic farmers to cranky feminist bookstore owners to those who put a bird on everything. Tourists who’ve watched the show Portlandia before heading to Portland for the first time may think they will enter a land of misfits once they arrive.
Buildings surrounding Pioneer Square
The truth is first time visitors will find Portland quirky, charming, and nuanced. The city itself is clean with air that is refreshing, albeit sometimes breezy. Portland exudes scenery everywhere being surrounded by the best nature offers in this part of the world. Besides nature the city is a foodie paradise. Restaurants offer top-notch cuisine and a plethora of food trucks stationed throughout the city will make sure you will always have a sumptuous bite to eat. For lovers of food and nature Portland will find a special place in your heart.
Portlandia statue on the Portland Building
Beyond the food and nature Portland’s city itself does not boast many sights. This works for the city because travelers can just enjoy being in the city and not rushing off trying to knock of a laundry list of sights. Of the sights within the city tourists will want to visit the Portland Building. The statue in front of the Portland Building is named Portlandia. It is this statue’s name from which the Portlandia show borrows its name and the statue is seen in the show’s opening credits. Besides the Portland Building visitors can spend the day in trendy shopping areas such as those found in the Pearl District and Downtown. The streets in these areas are not bustling with crowds, and the wide avenues make for a nice stroll. While in Downtown visit Pioneer Courthouse Square. This urban park holds a variety of events and is a perfect place to people watch.
Pioneer Courthouse
To stay at a hotel in the Downtown district of Portland means walking access to the shopping areas around Pioneer Courthouse Square. You will be able to walk to various food truck stands within the city limits. Besides shopping and food within walking distance is Portland’s Chinatown and Washington Park. Within Washington Park you will find the International Rose Test Garden and the Portland Japanese Garden.
Chinatown Gates
To experience more of Portland and the surrounding landscape you will need to rent a car. A rental car will expand the number of restaurants available for you to try as many great restaurants are in the districts outside of Downtown. Having a rental car will allow you the freedom to explore nature spots accessible by car. Within driving distance are two waterfalls, Multnomah Falls and Wahkeena Falls. You can drive to the Vista House on Crown Point for scenic views of the Columbia River. Fans of wine will want to use that rental car to visit the various near by wineries.
Whatever you plan to do on your trip to Portland just remember, you are in the Pacific Northwest. If you travel to this region during the wintertime the weather will be low with a chance for snow. Even during the spring and summer times the weather may be brisk. Check the weather reports before you travel so your clothing choices won’t impede you enjoying your trip.
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 |  Portland: Keeping it Normal Portland Building, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Pearl District, Portland, OR, United States |
| Portland: Keeping it Normal Downtown, Portland, OR, United States |
| Portland: Keeping it Normal Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Chinatown Gates Portland, Northwest 4th Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland Washington Park, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland International Rose Test Garden, Southwest Kingston Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland Portland Japanese Garden, Southwest Kingston Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland Multnomah Falls, Multnomah County, OR, United States |
| Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland Wahkeena Falls, Multnomah County, OR, United States |
| Portland: Keeping it Normal Natural Portland Vista House, Historic Columbia River Highway, Corbett, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Voodoo Doughnut, Southwest 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Caffe Vita, Southwest 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Pine State Biscuits Alberta, Northeast Alberta Street, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Gaufre Gourmet, Southwest 9th Avenue, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Washington Square, Southwest Washington Square Road, Portland, OR, United States |
| Eat Your Way Through Portland Lardo, Southwest Washington Street, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Toro Bravo, Northeast Russell Street, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Pok Pok, Southeast Division Street, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland Hopworks Urban Brewery, Southeast Powell Boulevard, Portland, OR, United States |
 | Eat Your Way Through Portland De Ponte Cellars, Northeast Archery Summit Road, Dayton, OR, United States |
| Eat Your Way Through Portland Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Dayton, OR, United States |
| Eat Your Way Through Portland WillaKenzie Estate, Northeast Laughlin Road, Yamhill, OR, United States |
