Things To Do
OMSI
OMSI, or the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is the perfect place for people of all ages to hang out. The museum has rotating exhibits, activities, and classes designed to help everyone understand how science works in our lives every single day. But don’t worry—it’s a whole lot of fun, too. You could spend days upon days here. Make sure to check out the planetarium, motion simulator, and the science playgrounds.
Pittock Mansion
Pittock Mansion is an iconic turn-of-the-century home surrounded by 46 acres of beautiful land. It was owned by Henry Pittock, who was also the owner of The Oregonian newspaper. After being badly damaged in the 1960s, the home has been restored and is a wonderful, authentic glimpse into Portland’s past. Don’t miss the holiday light display, which runs from right before Thanksgiving through the end of the year.
Oregon Zoo
The zoo is arranged in five areas that range across different continents and ecosystems: Great Northwest, Elephant Lands, Africa, Primate Forest and Discovery Zone. Within each zone you’ll find animals and habitats such as Africa Savanna or Polar Passage that recreate the habitats of specific animals. Spend a day in one area or circle the planet on your visit to the Oregon Zoo.
The Garden sits nestled in the hills of Portland, Oregon’s iconic Washington Park, overlooking the city and providing a tranquil, urban oasis for locals and travelers alike. Designed in 1963, it encompasses 12 acres with eight separate garden styles and includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways, and a spectacular view of Mt. Hood.
International Rose Test Garden
Portland has long had a love for roses, even known as “Rose City.” Founded in 1917, the International Rose Test Garden is a rose garden in Washington Park with over 10,000 rose bushes of approximately 650 varieties. Free public tours are offered daily at 1pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day Weekend.
Just a 30-minute drive outside of Portland, you can soak in the views of Multnomah Falls. Experience the power of nature underneath these 611-foot-tall falls. Not only is this a beautiful site to see, but it is also a great starting point for hikers visiting several other falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Stop by Multnomah Falls Lodge for a cup of hot cocoa or a hot toddy to reward yourself after a day hike!
Timberline Lodge At Mt. Hood
Dating from the 1930s, this mountainside ski resort in the Mt. Hood National Forest served as a location in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. It’s 6 miles from Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum, and 7 miles from Malibu Raceway. This return to this beautiful lodge complete with three-story fireplace after a long day of skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or tubing on Mt. Hood.
Haystack Rock
Cannon beach is a small coastal town on the Pacific Northwest coast. Take in a stunning coastal view and discover magic of the ecosystem living on Haystack rock. Ride bikes along the shore, feel the ocean breeze, and grab a delicious cup of coffee from the sleepy monk cafe. This iconic beach is just 90 minutes from Portland, famous for making cameos in cult-classic movies including the Goonies and Twilight.
Oregon Wine Country
It is in the Dundee Hills where Oregon Pinot noir first won its worldwide reputation for greatness. Located only 28 miles from Portland, the Dundee Hills Wine Country is the perfect place for a weekend getaway. Dundee is home to dozens of Oregon vineyards and wineries including Sokol Blosser, Argyle, Erath, Domaine Serene, Duck Pond, Durant, and many more.
Places To Eat
Screen Door
If you want some traditional southern cooking, get yourself over to Screen Door. This southern food is made with natural, local, and organic ingredients, and it’s as tasty as it sounds. We recommend the fried chicken and waffles, the Cajun scramble, or the shrimp and grits. Don’t forget to leave room for some Creole pecan or lemon coconut pie.
Tabor Tavern
Tabor Tavern stands out in Portland for its cozy ambiance and robust menu of comfort food favorites. Enjoy signature dishes like gourmet burgers and bangers and mash, paired with a fine selection of local beers and cocktails. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed, satisfying meal.
Eem
Dive into new waters at Eem! From island-inspired cocktails to enticing curries, Eem is a destination for food that makes you feel like you’re about to experience a whole new world of flavors. This modern take on Thai cuisine will have you kicking that tofu Pad Thai to the curb without ever looking back. Does it get better than Thai barbeque?
Luc Lac
Luc Lac legit Vietnamese food. This Vietnamese kitchen has received all kinds of local accolades. Start off with the vegetarian crispy rolls—these are a step up from your average spring roll. And if you’re like most people, you’ll want some pho (though we hear the tofu banh mi is pretty delicious, too).
G Love
Veggie lovers, this is for you! G-Love is taking its own niche approach to modern American dining. At Portland’s first-ever ‘Reverse Steakhouse’ vegetables harvested at their peak run the game, while proteins stand in salutation. Start off with the Crusty Avocado and make your way to the Blackened Salmon, you won’t regret it!
Por Que No
If you’re feeling the need for some tacos, check out Por Que No! This is the only place you need to go for great tacos (in fact, they were just voted the best tacos in Portland). This delicious, authentic, street-style Mexican food. If you like fish, you definitely have to try the fish tacos. Bryan’s Bowl is another favorite.
Portland Is the Backyard You Never Have to Leave
Portland has built its reputation on the things that make daily life genuinely enjoyable: an exceptional food scene, independent retail that resists chain homogenization, year-round access to natural beauty, and a culture that prizes creativity, sustainability, and community. It’s no coincidence that EkoLiving has chosen to build and manage apartment communities exclusively in Portland and its surrounding area—this is one of the most livable cities in the country, and we’re proud to help people call it home.
Portland’s neighborhoods are its greatest asset. Each has its own identity, its own rhythm, and its own roster of local institutions worth knowing. Understanding how Portland’s neighborhoods work—and which one is right for you—is one of the most important parts of choosing where to live.
Portland’s Key Neighborhoods at a Glance
The Pearl District and NW Portland offer the most walkable urban experience in the city, with acclaimed restaurants, coffee roasters, galleries, and the Tanner Creek and North Park Blocks green spaces all within easy reach. The Mississippi Avenue and North Portland corridor has a more artsy, independent character, with great bars, vintage shops, and a strong cycling culture. Southeast Portland—from Ladd’s Addition to the Tabor neighborhood—balances residential calm with access to some of the city’s best food and nightlife. And St. Johns, at the northern tip of the peninsula, has an increasingly vibrant small-town-within-a-city feel, anchored by Cathedral Park, the St. Johns Bridge, and a growing independent business community.
EkoLiving has properties in all of these neighborhoods and more. No matter which part of Portland calls to you, there’s a good chance we have a community nearby—and we’re happy to help you figure out which one is the best fit for the way you want to live.