10 Non-Touristy Experiences in Portland, Oregon
![Portland, OR Grain Tracks](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/29180129345_33347565c0_k.webp)
Portland isn’t just hipster coffee shops, vegan eateries, and microbreweries. There’s plenty of greenery to explore beyond the renowned rose garden and much more to see than the inside of a museum. Here are some ideas for how to venture off the beaten path.
Take in the views at Mount Tabor
Clear your mind in a natural sanctuary
Bridge
Explore the Columbia River Gorge
Leave town and head west along the Columbia River. Hidden treasures await, like creaky old railroad towns; beautiful green hiking trails dotted with dazzling creeks and cascades like Bridal Veil, Horsetail, and Multnomah Falls; the inviting waters of Trillium Lake; and Mount Hood itself.
![Wahkeena Creek-Columbia River Gorge](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/23633339220_459bb5c3e2_h-1.webp)
Pick your own produce
Or buy some straight from the source
Make a meal from ingredients sourced solely from items you find at one of Portland’s many farmers’ markets. Stay for a bite of freshly baked bread and local cheese or whatever treats the season’s vendors have in store. You might even catch some music; this city takes its farmers’ markets seriously.
![Carrots at Portland Farmers’ Market](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/27235592632_0d9681eb16_k.webp)
Catch a flick on the big screen
Get lost in the woods
Forest, Park
Bike everywhere
Portland’s one of the country’s bike-friendliest cities, and with traffic getting worse thanks to an influx of inhabitants, bicycles are an ever-increasingly popular mode of transportation. Hop on one of Biketown’s orange set of wheels (the city’s bike share), or rent one from a shop. And remember: it doesn’t have to be a fixie.
![Bicycle in Portland, OR](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8164337954_c65609a27d_k.webp)
Drink like a local
Bar