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City Guide to Portland, Oregon | Must See Attractions, A Photo Essay

One of our favorite parts about Portland, Oregon is the unique things we get to see when walking throughout the city. From street art to foot paths and bridges, the city stays true to its reputation and slogan ‘keep Portland weird’. Come along with us and see some of our favorite off the beaten path must see attractions!


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We saved our favorite photos from our travel in the United States in our Photo Album! Don’t worry, we think it’s more fun than sitting through your grandparents vacation slideshows…


We’re a digital nomad couple pursuing financial independence, retire early (FI/RE) and in 2016, we sold most of our belongings, planned to be ‘homeless’ and traveled 3 continents, 23 countries, and 60 cities in a year!

After a year traveling full time internationally we decided it was time to come home to the United States. However, our life as digital nomads wasn’t something we wanted to give up. So, in 2017 we continued our house sitting adventures throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

We hope our city guides might inspire your wanderlust. And, since a picture is worth a thousand words, we’re sharing our favorite sightseeing images from the cities we’ve visited in photo essays!

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What to See in Portland, Oregon

Most of our city guides are extremely thorough since we sightsee as if we’ll never return to a place. Not because we don’t want to come back, but because there are more places in the world that we want to see than we’ll have the time to.

With that said, there are some places we’ve been to many times. Portland, Oregon is one of those places. We lived in the area for a couple of years and we have family here. So when we visit, our days of sightseeing and exploring are much more off the beaten path than that of the typical tourist.

We hope you enjoy the sights we’ve found while walking this fun and unique city!


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Steel Bridge, Portland Oregon

The Steel Bridge in Portland is one of the many bridges that cross the Willamette River. You can drive across it, take the MAX light rail over it, or like us, enjoy a nice walk via the bridge into downtown Portland.

Steel Bridge, Portland Oregon

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White Stag Portland Sign

The White Stag Sign is synonymous with Portland, so much so that it’s also known simply as the Portland Sign.

If you’re looking for a close up view of this must see sign, head towards the Burnside Bridge. The sign sits on top of the White Stag Building (70 NW Couch Street) in downtown Portland.

As a bonus, if you’re visiting in the winter, the nose of the reindeer will light up red for Christmas!

White Stag Sign in Portland, Oregon

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Portland’s Old Town Chinatown

When in Portland, we highly recommend visiting Old Town Chinatown!

Chinatown Gateway

Be sure to see the beautiful Chinatown Gateway that was built in Taiwan and installed in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown in 1986.

You can find it at 22 NW 4th Ave, Portland OR 97209.

Chinatown Gateway in Portland, Oregon

Hung Far Low Sign

While the restaurant is permanently closed, the large Hung Far Low sign has become a favorite of Portlanders. The community came together to take it out of storage and have it restored and hung for all to see at the intersection of Northwest Fourth Avenue and Couch Street in Old Town Chinatown.

Hung Far Low Sign in Portland, Oregon

Lan Su Chinese Garden

While in Old Town Chinatown, be sure to make a visit to the Lan Su Chinese Garden where you can see over 400 species of plants, of which 90% are indigenous to China.

But it’s more than just a beautiful garden, and aims to be an experience that brings together Chinese tradition through art, architecture, design and nature.

Lan Su Chinese Garden can be found at 239 Northwest Everett Street, Portland, Oregon 97209.

Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon

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Tilikum Crossing AKA Bridge of the People

Tilikum Crossing bridge serves the MAX Orange line, the Portland Streetcar, pedestrians, cyclists, and buses crossing the Willamette river.

It’s beautifully designed, has amazing views of the river and mountains on a clear day, and at night is wonderfully lit. In fact, the lighting is designed to change based on the speed, depth, and temperature of the Willamette river!

Tilikum Crossing AKA Bridge of the People in Portland, Oregon

Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People in Portland, Oregon


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Portland’s Street Art

There are a few cities around the world that we’ve been to that have beautiful street art that stands out. Athens, Greece was a city with a street art culture that caught our attention. Portland, Oregon is another city that’s full of impressive and inspiring street art by very talented artists!

People's History of Hawthorne by Chris Haberman 2013, 4904 SE Hawthorn Blvd, Portland, Oregon.

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Sunnyside Piazza

We didn’t go looking for this brightly painted intersection, in fact, we didn’t even know of it’s existence. However, on a walk exploring the local neighborhood of one of our house sits, we were lucky enough to stumble on the ginormous flower painted by the Sunnyside neighborhood!

If you have the chance, make your way to the intersection of SE 33rd & Yamhill in Portland to see the mural that the community comes together to repaint yearly. And not only is the street worth your attention, but the homes and signs around the intersections are expressive pieces of art as well!

Sunnyside Piazza in Portland, Oregon

Sunnyside Piazza in Portland, Oregon


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Forest for the Trees Project

Forest for the Trees is a project that aims to pull people out of their everyday life and help them see Portland as a canvas. The project has been bringing international artists together to paint publicly accessible art since 2013.

Capax Infiniti (Holding the Infinite) by Faith47, 2014.

Located on the Carlyle Building at 114 Southwest Washington Street, Portland, Oregon.

Capax Infiniti (Holding the Infinite) by Faith47 in Portland, Oregon

Clarence the Cloud Creator by Michael Reeder, 2015.

Located at 1129 SW Washington Street, Portland, Oregon.

Always Falling by Troy Lovegates and Paige Wright, 2015.

Located at 412 SW 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

Left: Clarence the Cloud Creator by Michael Reeder in Portland, Oregon
Right: Always Falling by Troy Lovegates and Paige Wright in Portland, Oregon

Black Pepper by Caratoes and Smitheone, 2017

Located at N.W. 4th & Everett, Portland, Oregon.

Black Pepper by Caratoes and Smitheone in Portland, Oregon

Every Rose Has its Thorn by Rone, 2013

Located at SW 12th and Washington, Portland, Oregon.

Every Rose Has its Thorn by Rone in Portland, Oregon

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Portland Views of Rivers and Mountains

Depending on where you are in Portland, Oregon you’ll be able to enjoy wonderful views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, the Willamette River, and the Columbia River.

Views of the Willamette River

View of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

Looking towards downtown (north), view of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

View of the Willamette River taken from the balcony of a house sitting job, in Portland, Oregon

Looking away from downtown (south), view of the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

View of Mt. Hood

View of Mt. Hood from near Portland, Oregon

View of Mt. Hood and Willamette River

Mt. Hood behind the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

Sunsets over Mt. Hood and Willamette River

Sunset over the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

Sunset over Mt. Hood and Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

Sunset and rainbow over the Willamette River after a rain storm, in Portland Oregon

Sunrise over the Willamette River and Mt. Hood

Sunrise over Mt. Hood and Willamette River in Portland, Oregon

View of Mt. Hood from Mirror Lake

Taken near Portland, Oregon.

View of Mt. Hood from Mirror Lake near Portland, Oregon

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Spring in Portland

Early spring in Portland, Oregon typically brings substantial rain to the area. And while some might see this as a downside, the benefit is clearly visible in the lush landscape. From the beautiful flowering trees to the tulips and dandelions.

The beauty of spring in Portland, Oregon is not to be missed!

For those that look towards the earth, you’ll probably spot a few snails after a rain storm. However, not a single snail we’ve come across in Portland even comes close to the behemoth we found on a walk in Oslo, Norway!

Spring brings rain to Portland, Oregon and rain brings snails!

Spring in the Pacific Northwest usually means the geese are breeding and goslings are on their way. Just be aware, parent geese are very protective of their young family!

Geese and their goslings near the Willamette river in Portland, Oregon

More Fun Portland Sights!

We’re always looking around to see what new things we’ll find when we’re in Portland!

City of Roses

Even the grates in Portland, Oregon have roses on them!

Statues Around Town

Stealing a kiss from a sea lion in Portland, Oregon!

Stealing a kiss from a sea lion in Portland, Oregon

Tung & Xi'an Bao Bao, Shang Dynasty replica, 2002

Standing in the North Park Blocks (at the intersection of Northwest Park Avenue and West Burnside Street), the Da Tung & Xi'an Bao Bao sculpture is a symbol of safe and prosperous offspring. If you're curious about the carved design, it's a call back to ancient Chinese mythology.

Tung & Xi'an Bao Bao, Shang Dynasty replica, 2002 in Portland, Oregon

Facing the Crowd by Michael Stutz, 2001

Located at Providence Park in Portland Oregon.

Facing the Crowd by Michael Stutz in Portland, Oregon

River City Bicycles roof top bicyclist sculptures.

Located at 706 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97214.

River City Bicycles roof top bicyclist sculptures in Portland, Oregon

Final Thoughts

There’s something for just about every visitor and tourist to Portland.

We always enjoy our time in the city and appreciate house sitting in different neighborhoods. It allows us to uncover so many great sights we never would have seen otherwise!