As part of an extended Labor Day trip, we opted to spend two nights in Portland. I hadn’t really been into Portland and wanted to see what it had to offer. I’m glad we went.

We only had about a day and a half in the Portland area, and in reality, we spent just one afternoon and two evenings actually exploring Portland. We spent the better part of our second day in the Columbia River Gorge and Hood River Valley. More on that in a later post.

So, no, we didn’t see everything Portland has to offer. Not even close. But we managed to fit quite a bit into a short amount of time, including one of the prettiest rose gardens I’ve ever seen, an enormous bookstore, a walk through the Pearl District and, unexpectedly, my first-ever professional soccer game.

Here are some of the things I’d recommend if you’re planning a trip to Portland, even if, like us, you don’t have much time.

Stop and Smell the Roses at the International Rose Test Garden

If there’s one place I’m really glad we made time for, it was the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park.

Getting there involved a bit of a huff up a hill, but once we arrived, it was absolutely worth it. The garden was gorgeous. There were roses everywhere in different colors and varieties, and some of them smelled incredible. Really incredible!  I want them in my yard! I’m usually more interested in scenery than stopping to examine individual flowers, but this was one of those places where you really do want to slow down and wander.

Washington Park itself is beautiful, too. Even if you only visit the Rose Garden, you’ll walk through some gorgeous, green scenery along the way. Coming from Arizona, all the trees and greenery were definitely a welcome change.

The park is also home to several other Portland attractions, including the Portland Japanese Garden, which I really wish we would have had time to visit. It looks beautiful and would definitely be on my list for a return trip.

You can also explore the Hoyt Arboretum for free. We considered walking around there, but it had rained, it was getting late, and we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. (Didn’t want to miss wine hour after all.)

Still, Washington Park is an area where you could easily spend a good portion of a day if you have more time than we did.

Get Lost in Powell’s Books

We went to Powell’s Books twice. That probably tells you everything you need to know.

Powell’s is enormous, and you could easily spend hours wandering through the different rooms and sections. There are books on just about everything imaginable, plus plenty of things you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find in a bookstore.

For book lovers, this place is a dream. But even if you aren’t someone who normally gets excited about bookstores, I still think Powell’s is a must-see when you’re in Portland. It’s more of an experience than simply a place to buy a book.

Make sure you check out the Rare Book Room, too. It’s a fun little detour from wandering the seemingly endless shelves throughout the rest of the store.

And if you’re anything like us, don’t be surprised if you somehow end up back there a second time.

Wander Through the Pearl District

While you’re near Powell’s, spend some time walking through the Pearl District.

I thought this area was really cute. There are restaurants, shops and older buildings mixed with newer development, but what I particularly liked was how leafy and green everything felt. Again, coming from Arizona, I’m probably more impressed by trees than the average person.

It’s an easy neighborhood to wander without necessarily having a specific destination in mind, and it was one of the areas of Portland where I enjoyed simply walking around and taking everything in.

Grab Dinner and a Beer at Deschutes Brewery

We stopped at Deschutes Brewery Portland Public House for dinner. The service was friendly, the atmosphere was casual and the menu was pretty much what you’d expect from a brewery or pub. I had the fish and chips, which hit the spot after spending the afternoon walking around Portland.

Deschutes is a well-known Oregon brewery, so if you want to work a local brewery into your Portland visit without making it a major excursion, this is an easy option, especially if you’re already exploring the Pearl District and downtown.

Go to a Portland Timbers Game — Even If You Aren’t a Soccer Fan

One of the biggest surprises of our Portland visit was something we hadn’t planned on doing at all. We went to a Portland Timbers game against Minnesota United at Providence Park.

It was my first-ever professional soccer game. And I am hooked.

The atmosphere was so much fun. People were genuinely excited to be there, and that energy made the entire experience better. There’s something very different about being surrounded by thousands of people who are completely invested in what’s happening on the field.

We also happened to be there for a stuffed goose keychain giveaway, which was a fun touch and gave us a slightly ridiculous souvenir from the night.  And, it was 15% off concessions night.

As the game started, we got to watch the sunset over the stadium, which made an already fun night even better.

This ended up being one of those unexpected travel experiences that I love. We hadn’t gone to Portland thinking, “We need to see a soccer game.” We saw that the Timbers were playing while we were there, decided to go, and it turned into one of the highlights of our time in the city.

Even if you aren’t a huge soccer fan, I’d absolutely consider checking the schedule if the Timbers are playing while you’re in Portland.

What We Didn’t Have Time to Do

With such a short visit, there were inevitably several Portland staples we didn’t get to experience. Portland’s food cart scene is probably one of the city’s best-known attractions, and we didn’t make it to any of the food cart pods. I’ve heard plenty of good things about them, though, and I’d definitely work one into a future visit.

I also wanted to stop by the White Stag Portland sign and walk along the waterfront, but we simply ran out of time. And, as I mentioned earlier, I would have loved to visit the Portland Japanese Garden while we were already in Washington Park.

We also skipped the Oregon Zoo. If you’re traveling with kids or you’re simply a zoo person, it’s another option in the Washington Park area and could easily be combined with some of the other attractions there.

If You Only Have One Day in Portland

Based on our experience, if I only had one full day in Portland, I’d keep things fairly simple.

I’d spend part of the morning or afternoon at Washington Park, making the International Rose Test Garden the priority and adding the Japanese Garden if time allowed. Then I’d head into the Pearl District, wander around and give myself plenty of time at Powell’s.

In the evening, I’d grab dinner at a local brewery or one of Portland’s food cart pods.

And if the Timbers happened to be playing? I’d go to the game.

Sometimes the things you don’t plan months in advance end up being the things you remember most.

Is Portland Worth Visiting?

Based on the small amount of time we spent there, I’d say yes, but you don’t necessarily need an extended period of time to get a feel for the city.

Portland worked well for us as part of a larger Oregon trip. We got some beautiful gardens, interesting neighborhoods, a truly fantastic bookstore and a completely unexpected night of soccer.

We certainly didn’t see everything, but I don’t feel like we wasted the limited time we had, either. And that’s really the tradeoff when you’re trying to see several places on one trip. Sometimes you don’t need to check off every attraction. You just need enough time to experience a few places you really enjoy.

For us, Portland delivered that.

Looking for a place to stay in Portland? We stayed at the Hotel Vintage Kimpton. Read more about that here.