Portlandia...I actually think I have heard of the TV show of the same name before hearing the…read moreexistence of this statue. But the statue definitely came prior to the show. The trident wielding woman is enormous and is awe inspiring and beautiful and perhaps to a certain kind of man perhaps intimidating but that isn't necessarily a problem there. This statue is on the Portland Building and if you simply wall by or near it's nearly impossible to miss. This is also an attraction where there is no fee to take a look at it as it can literally be seen quite easily from the public sidewalk. Yet another iconic downtown Portland landmark that is not to missed!

Using imagination Portlandia emerged from the sea - all copper - and crouches vigilant on the…read morePortland building. Watching us! Her captivating eyes draw you to a closer look. With one hand reaches out to us. In a way we are like her as we all emerged from the sea (water) from our mothers womb. She reaches for us to live as one in peace the way John Lemon wrote is his song "Imagine" - "Imagine all the people livin' life in peace." In the one hand Portlandia holds a trident, perhaps symbolizing protection for the city dwellers - for Portlandian's. Portlandia reminds me we are one city! One people! One earth! That's just my spin of this beautiful copper lady.

I'm so glad Hopscotch exists in Portland. If you've heard of Meow Wolf or Team Lab, this is a…read moresimilar concept. It is an "immersive art experience." What does that mean in reality? It means big murals to look at, wall projections that are responsive to movement, sounds meant to augment what you see, and more. Two rooms (trampoline and ball pit) require shoes to be off, socks to be on, and stairs to be climbed, in order to access them. The rest of the place is flat concrete floors. They do also have a food and drink program that I have not personally gotten to enjoy. I recommend everyone who visits brings their sense of wonder and play. You may also want to dress confidently and snag some new photos of yourself. If neither of those (playfulness or selfies) are of interest, this may not be for you.

It was a fun activity for a couple hours but I wouldn't go again unless they updated or changed the…read moreart. Exhibits ranged from visual, audio, and interactive art. There's a "trampoline" that's more of a cushioned floor (probably due to safety and liability), a ball pit, snack/drink counter, and gift shop at the end. Lots of kids there and it feels a little awkward as an adult trying to balance enjoying your experience and watching out for the kids running around. Good for families to kill a an hour or two together.

I think this is my favorite Thomas Dambo troll yet. Part of the Way of the Bird King series, this…read moreguy is located at a Nordic cultural center where you can take a class on trolls, get a bite to eat and purchase a traditional troll doll. Parking on two sides of the cultural center with a path leading from each lot to the troll. It is located on a busy road so look for the 'sandwich board' that says "Ole Bolle Troll" to help locate the entrance to the lot. Great fun for adults and children.

If you are into finding something unique, like a massive troll, this is the spot to check out!…read more It's a quick spot that can be found using this Yelp address. There's a post that tells you a little about the location of the other troll sculptures, each with its own name as well! I found this pretty interesting and was on the hunt to find maybe a couple of them along my journey! The sculpture is really magnificent and so cool! I would say it is very worth it!

Woohoo! I just hit my 6,000th review! Whenever I hit a landmark review like this I go write about a…read morelandmark in the Pacific Northwest. Some say they haven't seen an account with this many reviews but there is indeed some accounts that have way surpassed my amount of reviews. I believe there is a Yelper out there (Bruce K.) that is from Charlotte, North Carolina that comes in with 23,000 reviews and 61,000 pictures for his reviews as of 2024 so I have waaaay more review writing to do to even get remotely close to this guy. The reviews I write is for something that is unique only to the place I have adopted as home ( or the region that I call home as opposed to a city). Previously I have written about the mountains of our region like Mount Rainier but this time around I wanted to write about something more urban and a place I always love visiting...Portland! The White Stag Sign is so signature Portland! We have seen it lit up at night and have seen it during the day. All of which we have managed to get different angles to look at. As other reviewers say the admission is free... which kind of makes sense since it's a sign. This sign at times seems to be so obvious that it's hard to miss but other times on the Interstate we miss it completely giving it that "camouflaged" notion in amongst the building and bridges... of course we may just be looking in the wrong place too...keeping one's eyes on the road is an upmost priority... which should go without saying. But you can still stroll by here as a pedestrian and get some great pictures of this Portland landmark and a landmark that totally smacks of Cascadia and the Pacific Northwest!

Finally got the chance to see and be where the stag sign is after many years! Street parking is…read moreavailable in the area and a quick walk towards the park where you have a better view of it. You can also go up the stairs and see it from a closer view. Tree branches do obscure the view a bit. Very satisfying experience!

This place is weird--in a fun way. The Peculiarium is a quick, quirky stop that totally leans into…read morePortland's "keep it weird" vibe. Lots of odd displays, creepy mannequins, aliens, Bigfoot stuff, and random photo ops. It doesn't take long to go through, but it's entertaining and definitely memorable. The gift shop is actually one of the best parts--tons of strange, funny, and unique items you won't see anywhere else. Staff was chill and friendly, and the whole place feels like it doesn't take itself too seriously. Not a full-on museum experience, but if you're killing time, visiting Portland, or just want something different, it's worth checking out. Great for pictures!!

Fun random stop in Portland! Definitely worth checking out of your are in the area. So many wacky…read moreand fun things crammed in this place! Great Hollywood movie props and fun installations - a treat for the whole family! There is something for everyone here! Keep Portland weird!

Be prepared to walk…read more Bring a water bottle, they have a water fountain you can use, and comfortable walking shoes. The weather was nice during my visit It's so beautiful. They were holding bonsai exhibitions during my visit, and there's lots of seating in the center after you walk up. They also offer a shuttle up and down. There's a pretty good-sized coffee shop with treats and a gift shop. I ended up signing up for a 1-hour tour with a volunteer, not long to do the tour, but you have to sign up at a set time, and the maximum is 10 per group. But very knowledgeable and funny. You can also walk around on your own. They have volunteers across the country who can answer your questions. And they had our coloring activities for kids, which is nice. There are also benches all around if you need to sit

Date of visit: May 10, 2026…read more A wonderful, expansive garden, or rather series of gardens, built into the hillside, featuring a variety of flora over several acres. Despite its size, you can get through the entire property in about an hour, but if you have time, definitely take it. Use the various benches around the property and people watch or enjoy the various water features and waterfalls. While the website says otherwise, the gift shop is not available to non-members until 10 a.m., a disappointing oversight that ended up wasting some of our time when we came to visit. And plan ahead for parking, it can be a challenge. I wanted more explanation of the various plants on site, there were very few signs of any kind and staff were nonexistent so I felt that I lost out on some opportunities to learn more about what I was seeing throughout the grounds.

We have been aiming to see the grotto at Christmas since we've been in Oregon but haven't gotten…read morearound to it. This was the year! We love and miss drive thru zoo lights (should have been kept after the pandemic!! It was awesome!) and we're looking for a good substitute. The grotto is gorgeous. Peaceful, serene, lovely. However, minus one star for almost 40 bucks for 2 people. It's not a big installation, not a lot to do, and while lovely that is quite a bit of money. What I don't know is where the proceeds go, and I'm sure it's publicly accessible and no I haven't looked. So if it goes to a great cause, great - advertise that more. But I think ten bucks, maybe - would be about a good amount for this experience.

Peace solace always!…read more Love this place and best time to visit in Fall. Hopefully can visit during Christmas to see the lights

These are some cool modern takes on the northwest Totem Poles. They are located on one side of…read moreJamison Square. Brightly colored the full name is Tikitotmoniki Totems There are 4 of them in all. They are interesting and really fit into the area. Fun Fact: they hide poles for the trolley inside.

SSSSSS!!!!! Stellar! Sensational! Sensual! Scintillating! Stimulating! So-ssssss! Words can only…read moredescribe the beauty and profoundness viewing the mural by Faith47, South African artist! See it sizzle your emotions. Next-door is the new Stumptown coffee shop. Sit with coffee. Emotions sizzle sizzle with the kiss of ecstasy and wonderment - who is this mysterious lady and why are you here? You question - lost in your own muse!

The architect for the new building has been able to design the new building to preserve views of…read morethis mural! Thanks ZGF and developer! http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2017/07/eleven_west_tower.html and http://www.nextportland.com/2017/12/13/eleven-west/

A few friends and I went into WXYZ lounge to sit and get caught up…read more We started at the bar with a very well made margarita, then felt we wanted to order some appetizers so moved into the lounge area. The gal who made us our drink then served our food was very delightful. Food was decent and fair priced. Atmosphere was very relaxing. We were there from 5-6pm and there was a small crowd, but when we walked by later about it was very packed and pretty loud. Would stop in for a cocktail and appetizer again.

Excellent cocktails and booze selection. Bar food is super mediocre. Stuff you can put together at…read morehome super quickly. I opted for the cheeseburger. Drinks are good though and super convenient in the hotel. I would add a few stars if they actually put a bit of effort into the food quality. Service was quick and efficient for one person working the bar late at night. Thankfully they ARE open late for travelers. Lovely table and bar layout. Super friendly staff.