Local Guide
The first things to know about Portland.
A quick read before you go deeper. Everyday life, eating out, staying social, and the planning piece worth watching. Each one links to a source.
Everyday life
Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden
The Rose Garden is free and the roses peak in June, which is also the busiest time.
Source: Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Eating out and guests
OK Chicken & Khao Soi, in the old Pok Pok space
This corner has drawn out-of-towners for years, so weekend waits can be long.
Source: OK Chicken & Khao Soi (former Pok Pok)
Staying social
Free city courts at Columbia, Pier, and Sellwood parks
Outdoor play here slows down in the wet months, so summer mornings are the sweet spot.
Source: Portland Parks: Pickleball Courts
Worth watching
The gray season runs long, so plan for it
The damp dark stretch is the single biggest thing newcomers underestimate.
Source: Portland Winter Light Festival
Move tools
Thinking about moving to Portland? Run the rough math first.
Use these quick checks to test Portland as a retirement move. They are not the full map; they help you decide what deserves a deeper look.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Portland income picture.
Estimate how Oregon treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Mortgage
Test the payment or refi
Compare a current mortgage against a new rate, closing costs, and break-even timing.
Open mortgage checkWeather fit
Green, wetter rhythm
Portland has enough wet days that indoor backups and shoulder-season routines matter.
Avg
51°
Sun
165
Rain
115
Snow
10
Things to do
Things to do in Portland
Parks, trails, classes, and easy outings for an ordinary week.
Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden
Up in the West Hills, Washington Park holds the Portland Japanese Garden, the free International Rose Test Garden, the Oregon Zoo, and miles of forest trails. You could spend a whole gentle day here.
Why it matters
The Rose Garden is free and the roses peak in June, which is also the busiest time.
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town
A walled Ming-style garden tucked into Old Town Chinatown, with a teahouse, koi ponds, and quiet covered walkways. It is open daily and reachable on the MAX light rail.
Why it matters
It is a calm, sheltered spot that works even on a drizzly afternoon.
Powell's City of Books
Powell's City of Books, a full city block of books
Powell's is the largest new and used bookstore in the world, filling an entire downtown block. It has a rare book room, a coffee shop, and frequent author talks.
Why it matters
It is a great rainy-day refuge and easy to lose a couple of hours inside.
Portland Monthly: Portland Bucket List
Portland Monthly's bucket list of 50 things
A local magazine's rundown of the must-see hikes, museums, viewpoints, and neighborhoods. Good for filling in the days between the big-ticket gardens.
Why it matters
It leans on neighborhood spots, so it helps you get past the tourist core.
Browse by activity
Mapped places near Portland. Tap a category to open the full list with directions.
Golf
Public, resort, and municipal courses near retirement towns.
49 places tracked
Fishing
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
267 places tracked
Hiking trails
Named trails, parks, and nature reserves for a real walk.
536 places tracked
Boating and water
Marinas, ramps, and launches for getting on the water.
36 places tracked
Pickleball
Courts and public places to play.
190 places tracked
Gardening
Community gardens, botanical gardens, and places to dig in.
71 places tracked
Arts and culture
Museums, galleries, theaters, and cultural stops.
173 places tracked
Community
Senior centers, community centers, and places to meet people.
173 places tracked
Bocce
Where to roll a few games on a sunny afternoon.
15 places tracked
Where to eat
Where to eat
Local spots for an easy dinner or a visit from family. Rough prices included.
OK Chicken & Khao Soi (former Pok Pok)
OK Chicken & Khao Soi, in the old Pok Pok space
The address that made Portland a national food town is open again, now serving Northern Thai food from James Beard winner Earl Ninsom. Think khao soi curry noodles, roast chicken, and late-night karaoke in Southeast.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Khao soi and roast chicken
Why it matters
This corner has drawn out-of-towners for years, so weekend waits can be long.
Stammtisch (German pub)
Stammtisch for sausages and a warm German pub night
When the rain sets in, this Northeast pub is where you want to be. Order a plate of sausages or the Maultaschen, leek-filled pasta, with a tall German beer.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Sausage plate and Maultaschen
Why it matters
It is a cozy, low-key room that suits a relaxed dinner rather than a scene.
CityCast Portland: Best Things We Ate 2026
Somtum Thai Kitchen for papaya salad done right
Local food writers named this one of the best things they ate this year. The som tum papaya salad and the punchy, herby plates are the draw.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Som tum papaya salad
Why it matters
Portland takes its Thai food seriously and this is one of the spots people argue about.
Voodoo Doughnut and Salt & Straw
Voodoo Doughnut and Salt & Straw for the sweet tour
Two Portland sugar institutions. Voodoo does the wild, pink-box doughnuts downtown, and Salt & Straw scoops inventive ice cream flavors that change with the season.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Doughnuts and seasonal ice cream
Why it matters
Both draw lines, so go off-hours if you would rather not wait.
CityCast Portland: Best Things We Ate 2026
Sincerely Bagel for a proper Portland breakfast
Hand-rolled bagels and good coffee, named among the best bites in town this year. An easy, friendly stop to start a morning before you walk the city.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Fresh bagel sandwiches
Why it matters
Breakfast spots fill up on weekends, so mornings move faster midweek.
Eater Portland: Best New Restaurants
Eater's running list of the best new restaurants
Portland's food scene changes fast, and Eater keeps a map of the most exciting places that opened in the last six months. A good way to find what is new and worth the trip.
Approx. price
$$
Why it matters
Newer rooms can be small, so a reservation helps on Friday and Saturday.
Pickleball and rec
Pickleball in Portland
Where to play, drop in, and meet people. Court times, fees, and how busy it gets.
Portland Parks: Pickleball Courts
Free city courts at Columbia, Pier, and Sellwood parks
Portland Parks lists public outdoor pickleball courts around town, including Columbia Park and Pier Park in North Portland and Sellwood Park on the southeast side. No fee, first come first served.
Why it matters
Outdoor play here slows down in the wet months, so summer mornings are the sweet spot.
Jumbo's Pickleball
Jumbo's Pickleball, indoor courts in town and Beaverton
A dedicated indoor club with locations in Portland and nearby Beaverton, built for year-round play. Open play, lessons, and league nights for all levels.
Why it matters
Indoor courts keep you playing through Portland's long rainy stretch.
The People's Courts
The People's Courts, open seven days a week
A public indoor pickleball spot that takes reservations for courts and welcomes drop-ins the rest of the time. A reliable place to land a game any day of the week.
Why it matters
Reserving ahead beats the guesswork on a busy evening.
Now Serving Pickleball
Now Serving, two indoor courts in the Central Eastside
A small private indoor facility in Southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood with two hard courts and permanent lines. Easy to get to from the east side.
Why it matters
With only two courts it fills fast, so book a slot rather than walking in cold.
RECS Indoor Pickleball
RECS, indoor play in Clackamas and Tualatin
If you settle south of the city, RECS runs indoor open play, leagues, and lessons in Clackamas and Tualatin. A friendly community-minded room for all skill levels.
Why it matters
It is an easier drive than downtown if you land in the southern suburbs.
Senior help and discounts
Help and discounts for Portland seniors
Programs, classes, free city services, seasonal help, and useful local deals.
Portland Parks Lifelong Recreation
Portland Parks Lifelong Recreation for 55-plus outings
The city parks department runs van trips, day excursions, wellness classes, and sports aimed at older adults all over Portland. An affordable way to get out and see the area.
Why it matters
The van trips handle the driving, which is handy when winter roads turn slick.
The Community for Positive Aging (The Center)
The Community for Positive Aging, the senior center downtown
Formerly known as The Center, this nonprofit runs classes, social programs, and services built around older adults. A good first call for making friends after a move.
Why it matters
Having one anchor place to drop in makes a new city feel smaller quickly.
What’s coming up
What’s coming up in Portland
Local events worth putting on the calendar. Check the host page for dates and parking before you go.
Portland Parks Summer Free For All
Summer 2026 (schedule on the city site)
Summer Free For All concerts and movies in the parks
When
Portland Parks puts on free concerts, outdoor movies, and a free lunch series in neighborhood parks all summer long. A low-cost, easy way to enjoy the long northern evenings.
Why it matters
It is free and spread across many parks, so something is usually close by.
Portland Winter Light Festival
February 6 to 14, 2026
6 to 10 p.m.
Portland Winter Light Festival
When
For nine winter nights, colored lights and art installations splash across Montgomery Plaza and sites around the city. It is free, all ages, and a real reason to leave the house in February.
Why it matters
It is one of the few big outdoor draws in the dark heart of winter.
Portland Shamrock Run Fest
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Walk starts around 9:50 a.m.
Shamrock Run Fest
When
Portland's St. Patrick's weekend tradition, with a half marathon plus shorter 8K, 5K, and a 5K walk so you can pick your pace. Live bands and a party follow at the finish.
Why it matters
The 5K walk option makes it easy to join without training for a race.
Portland Saturday Market
Saturdays, March through December 24
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Portland Saturday Market
When
The big open-air arts and crafts market sets up under the Burnside Bridge every Saturday from spring into the holidays. Handmade goods, food carts, and live music along the river.
Why it matters
It runs into late December, so it doubles as holiday shopping.
PSU Farmers Market
Saturdays, year round
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PSU Farmers Market
When
Portland's flagship farmers market gathers around 100 farmers and food vendors on the Portland State campus every Saturday, year round. The place to load up on Oregon produce.
Why it matters
Being year round, it is a steady weekly habit even in the rainy months.
Rose Festival Grand Floral Starlight Parade
June 6, 2026
6:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Rose Festival Grand Floral Starlight Parade
When
The flagship parade of Portland's century-old Rose Festival, with flower-covered floats winding through downtown after dark. A whole season of waterfront events surrounds it.
Why it matters
Grandstand seats sell out, so claim a curb spot early if you go free.
Rose Festival CityFair
Opens May 22, 2026
Evenings, plus weekend afternoons
Rose Festival CityFair on the waterfront
When
The carnival heart of the Rose Festival, with rides, food, and music set up along Tom McCall Waterfront Park over several days and weekends in late spring.
Why it matters
It is right on the river downtown and easy to reach by light rail.
Portland Book Week (Literary Arts)
June 5 to 14, 2026
Portland Book Week and the Rose City Book & Paper Fair
When
Ten days of author talks and literary events organized by Literary Arts, ending with the Rose City Book & Paper Fair. A treat in a town that loves its books.
Why it matters
Most events are indoors, which suits a still-damp early June.
Waterfront Blues Festival
July 2 to 4, 2026
Waterfront Blues Festival
When
Three days and three stages of blues over the July 4th weekend at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. One of the largest blues festivals on the West Coast.
Why it matters
It lands on the holiday weekend, so downtown gets crowded and lively.
Portland Pride Parade & Festival
July 18 to 19, 2026
Parade Sunday at 11 a.m.
Portland Pride Parade and Festival
When
Oregon's largest parade and a two-day waterfront festival, drawing tens of thousands downtown. The parade runs Sunday morning and the festival fills the riverfront both days.
Why it matters
It is one of the biggest summer gatherings in the city.
Oregon Brewers Festival
Late July 2026 (check the calendar)
Oregon Brewers Festival
When
A long-running celebration of craft beer set up on the downtown waterfront, with dozens of breweries pouring. Portland is a beer town and this is its big summer party.
Why it matters
It is on the river and walkable from light rail, so no need to drive.
Portland Book Festival
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Portland Book Festival
When
Books take over downtown for a day every November, with hundreds of authors, poets, and readings hosted by Literary Arts. One of the city's signature fall events.
Why it matters
It is mostly indoors across downtown venues, good for a gray November day.
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
September 17 to 20, 2026
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
When
About an hour south in the Willamette Valley, this Bavarian festival brings pretzels, polka, oompah bands, and a biergarten. A classic fall day trip from Portland.
Why it matters
Many of the events are free, with tickets only for the beer and wine gardens.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the area
City services, neighborhood updates, seasonal notes, and the everyday details that matter.
Portland Winter Light Festival
The gray season runs long, so plan for it
Portland's rain is rarely heavy, but it is steady and the skies stay gray from late fall well into spring. Locals lean on indoor draws like Powell's, museums, and the Winter Light Festival to get through it.
Why it matters
The damp dark stretch is the single biggest thing newcomers underestimate.
Portland Monthly: Portland Bucket List
Light rail, no sales tax, and a very walkable core
Portland runs on the MAX light rail and a tight grid of bikeable, walkable neighborhoods, and Oregon has no sales tax, so the price you see is the price you pay. Travel Portland is the city's main visitor guide for getting your bearings.
Why it matters
Living near a MAX line cuts down how much you need to drive in the rain.
City decisions
City decisions to watch
Council agendas, hearings, and public meetings that can change access, housing, services, or costs.
Multnomah County Property Taxes
How property taxes work in Multnomah County
Your bill is based on an assessed value, which is usually capped and lower than the market value, multiplied by the combined rates of every local taxing district. The county assessor's site lets you look up any property's value and statements.
Why it matters
The assessed value is capped on how fast it can rise, but new levies still push bills up.
Health and Medicare
Health and Medicare
Care, Medicare counseling, caregiver help, transportation, and the local senior support to line up.
Oregon SHIBA Medicare Counseling
Free Medicare help from Oregon SHIBA
SHIBA is Oregon's free, unbiased Medicare counseling program, with certified volunteers who help you compare plans, handle drug coverage, and sort out enrollment. Multnomah County hosts local counselors.
Why it matters
It is free and not tied to any insurer, so the advice is not a sales pitch.
OHSU Hospital
OHSU, the region's major medical center
Oregon Health & Science University runs the area's main academic hospital up on the hill, with specialty care that draws patients from across the state. Providence and Legacy round out the big systems in town.
Why it matters
Having a top academic hospital nearby matters for complex or specialty care.
Upcoming events in Portland
See all eventsMusic & concerts
7:30 PM
Providence Park · Portland, OR
Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show
Providence Park
Music & concerts
7:30 PM
Providence Park · Portland, OR
Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show
Providence Park
Music & concerts
8 PM
Aladdin Theater · Portland, OR
Music & concerts
8 PM
Dante's · Portland, OR
FANG with Roundeye, The Besmirchers, & NOR/ME
Dante's
This event is 21 and over. Any ticket holder unable to present valid identification indicating that they are at least 21 years of age will not be admitted to this event, and will not be eligible for a refund.
Music & concerts
9 PM
The Get Down Music Venue · Portland, OR
Theater & film
Star Theater · Portland, OR
PRIDE IN DEMAND: PORTLAND QUEER TAKEOVER
Star Theater
Pride in Demand: Portland Queer Takeover lands at Star Theater July 1718 for a two-night Pride Weekend celebration spotlighting Queer and Trans excellence across music, drag, and comedy.Night One features co-headlining sets from MORGXN and iLoveMakonnen, alongside comedy from Guy Branum and Mx. D...
Common questions
What people ask before retiring in Portland
Short answers to the questions most people ask first. The full source trail sits in the guide above and the sources panel below.
Is Portland, OR a good place to retire?
Plenty of people do retire here, so it is a real option worth a look. What matters is whether the home costs, the health and senior support, the things to do, and the family side all fit your life. Not just how it ranks on a list somewhere.
Source: Portland Monthly: The 50 Best RestaurantsWhat costs should you check before moving to Portland?
Price the month, not the postcard. Keep separate lines for home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, getting around, health, and everyday spending. A low-tax headline can quietly hide a high insurance bill, or the other way around.
Source: Multnomah County Property TaxesWhere do you find things to do in Portland?
Start with parks and rec, the local event calendar, the visitor bureau, the senior center, and the restaurants people actually go to. The real question is whether they are close enough, and happen often enough, that you would use them all year. Not just visit once.
Source: Portland Monthly: The 50 Best RestaurantsWhat health and senior support matters in Portland?
Look at Medicare counseling, the nearby hospitals, pharmacies, ways to get around, caregiver help, and one emergency contact. These can decide whether the move works, even when the rest of life looks great on paper.
Source: The Community for Positive Aging (The Center)What should your family ask before you move to Portland?
Talk through driving, airport access, local services, who to call in an emergency, care backup, home upkeep, and how often someone would be needed. The point is to see the move as a real support plan, not just a nice address.
Source: Multnomah County Property TaxesRetirement Life Score
A quick read on the life you would actually live.
Portland scored across eight things that decide whether a move feels good: monthly affordability, home costs, restaurants and outings, activities, parks, health and senior support, weather, and getting around. The full numbers are below.
Portland Retirement Life Score
81
Strong fit with tradeoffs / 75-84
Outings is the strongest daily-life fit. Home costs is the piece to verify before treating the move as settled.
A city looks livable and useful for many retirees, but one or two planning areas need a closer look.
Strongest fit: Restaurants & outings
Verify first: Home, taxes & insurance
Everyday affordability
Counts a lot77/100
How the ordinary monthly life could feel once taxes, insurance, fees, utilities, meals, and errands are in view.
What’s good: Lower-tax signals, visible discounts or free programs, ordinary-cost dining and errands, and practical transportation backup.
What to check: High housing pressure, insurance or storm costs, HOA or assessment friction, resort pricing, and thin cost evidence.
Price the month, not the postcard.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden · Watch: The Community for Positive Aging (The Center)
Evidence weighed: Tax, housing, insurance, senior-service, transportation, and local deal sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Home, taxes & insurance
Counts a lot47/100
Property taxes, assessments, homeowners insurance, storm exposure, maintenance, and local housing friction.
What’s good: Clear assessor or property-appraiser sources, homestead or senior relief signals, and plain-language housing-cost context.
What to check: Coastal or wildfire exposure, insurance pressure, high home prices, amenity fees, HOA or district assessments, and missing local tax sources.
Separate the house from the lifestyle.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Light rail, no sales tax, and a very walkable core · Watch: Multnomah County Property Taxes
Evidence weighed: County assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, insurance, emergency management, and housing sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Restaurants & outings
89/100
Restaurants, coffee, arts, downtown meals, family visits, and low-friction places to go without over-planning.
What’s good: Specific restaurants, coffee shops, arts districts, downtown routines, visitor-hosting ideas, and source links that feel repeatable.
What to check: Only generic visitor copy, heavy seasonal crowds, hard parking, expensive dining signals, or no specific local outing ideas.
Look for repeatable evenings, not only famous spots.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: OK Chicken & Khao Soi, in the old Pok Pok space · Watch: Portland Monthly: The 50 Best Restaurants
Evidence weighed: Restaurant sites, tourism boards, chambers, downtown groups, event venues, and local dining guides.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Activities & social calendar
89/100
Events, clubs, classes, pickleball, senior programs, volunteer options, and the weekly social rhythm.
What’s good: Dated events, parks and rec classes, senior-center programming, clubs, pickleball options, volunteer leads, and repeatable weekly activities.
What to check: Undated or stale calendars, few senior-friendly programs, heat or traffic timing issues, and no clear way to register or show up.
Make sure the week has more than errands.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden · Watch: Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Evidence weighed: City calendars, recreation departments, senior centers, libraries, clubs, parks districts, and community event pages.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Parks & outdoor life
89/100
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens, preserves, water access, golf, and everyday outdoor routines.
What’s good: Specific parks, trails, beaches, gardens, water access, golf, outdoor classes, and low-friction places to be outside often.
What to check: Extreme heat, smoke, flooding, storm seasons, winter driving, crowding, parking friction, or thin park-level detail.
Check whether outdoor life works in the season you will actually live there.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden · Watch: Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Evidence weighed: Parks departments, park districts, conservancies, recreation sources, tourism sources, and trail or beach authorities.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Health & support access
Counts a lot83/100
Medicare help, aging agencies, caregiver backup, transportation support, pharmacies, and local service depth.
What’s good: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP or SHINE counseling, senior services, caregiver support, transportation help, and credible health-resource depth.
What to check: Weak care-radius evidence, no benefits counseling source, unclear transportation backup, or hints that specialist access requires long drives.
Do not let a fun town hide a weak care radius.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Community for Positive Aging, the senior center downtown · Watch: The Community for Positive Aging (The Center)
Evidence weighed: Area Agencies on Aging, county health and human services, senior services, Medicare counseling, transit, and hospital or clinic sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Weather comfort
72/100
Heat, storms, flooding, smoke, winter, seasonal swings, and how much resilience planning the move demands.
What’s good: Evidence that outdoor life works in ordinary seasons, plus clear planning sources for heat, storms, winter, smoke, or emergency readiness.
What to check: Sustained heat, hurricane or flood exposure, wildfire or smoke risk, winter driving, evacuation complexity, and missing resilience sources.
Plan the hard season, not the best week.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Washington Park: Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden · Watch: Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo) · 51F annual average, 165 sunny days
Evidence weighed: Emergency management, weather-resilience, utility, health, parks, insurance, and local government sources.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Getting around & family visits
79/100
Driving, parking, airport access, golf-cart life, visitor logistics, medical trips, and family backup.
What’s good: Airport or transit access, shuttle or senior transportation, walkable routines, golf-cart usefulness, and simple family-visit logistics.
What to check: Traffic, parking scarcity, seasonal congestion, night-driving issues, long medical trips, or no car-light backup.
Test the drive on an ordinary Tuesday.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Community for Positive Aging, the senior center downtown · Watch: Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Evidence weighed: Transit agencies, airports, city transportation pages, senior services, tourism access pages, and guide items with location detail.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
How we keep this current
Sources for Portland
A mix of city pages, community calendars, senior services, council agendas, official tourism, restaurant sites, and registration pages. Every claim above links to where it came from.
See the 33 sources behind this guideEvery claim above links to where it came from.ShowHide
community / weekly
Portland Monthly: The 50 Best Restaurants
Portland Monthly's seasonal ranked list of the city's best restaurants.
community / weekly
OK Chicken & Khao Soi (former Pok Pok)
Oregonian on the reopening of Portland's most famous restaurant space with a Northern Thai menu.
community / weekly
Stammtisch (German pub)
Portland food guide highlighting Stammtisch sausages and Maultaschen.
community / weekly
Voodoo Doughnut and Salt & Straw
Local guide to Portland's iconic foods including Voodoo Doughnut and Salt & Straw.
community / weekly
Eater Portland: Best New Restaurants
Eater's running map of exciting Portland restaurants opened in the last six months.
community / weekly
CityCast Portland: Best Things We Ate 2026
CityCast Portland roundup of the best dishes around town, including Somtum Thai Kitchen and Sincerely Bagel.
institutional / weekly
Explore Washington Park (Japanese Garden, Rose Garden, Zoo)
Official hub for Washington Park attractions: Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden, Oregon Zoo, Hoyt Arboretum.
institutional / weekly
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lan Su Chinese Garden in Old Town Chinatown, open daily 10am to 6:30pm.
institutional / weekly
Powell's City of Books
Travel Portland page for Powell's City of Books, the world's largest new and used bookstore.
community / weekly
Portland Monthly: Portland Bucket List
Portland Monthly's quintessential list of 50 things to do in town.
official / weekly
Portland Parks: Pickleball Courts
City of Portland Parks list of public outdoor pickleball courts.
community / weekly
Jumbo's Pickleball
Indoor pickleball club with Portland and Beaverton locations.
community / weekly
The People's Courts
Public indoor pickleball venue open seven days a week with reservations.
community / weekly
Now Serving Pickleball
Two indoor hard courts in Southeast Portland's Central Eastside.
community / weekly
RECS Indoor Pickleball
Indoor pickleball community with open play, leagues and lessons in Clackamas and Tualatin.
institutional / weekly
The Community for Positive Aging (The Center)
Portland nonprofit senior center offering programs and services for older adults.
official / weekly
Portland Parks Lifelong Recreation
City Parks program of excursions, wellness, arts and sports for older adults.
institutional / weekly
Portland Winter Light Festival
Free outdoor light festival, February 6 to 14, 2026, 6 to 10pm.
institutional / weekly
Portland Shamrock Run Fest
St. Patrick's weekend run and walk, Sunday March 15, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Portland Saturday Market
Open-air arts and crafts market, Saturdays March through December 24, 10am to 5pm.
institutional / weekly
PSU Farmers Market
Year-round flagship farmers market on the PSU campus, Saturdays 8:30am to 2pm.
institutional / weekly
Portland Book Week (Literary Arts)
Ten-day literary celebration June 5 to 14, 2026, ending with the Rose City Book & Paper Fair.
institutional / weekly
Rose Festival Grand Floral Starlight Parade
Rose Festival's flagship parade, June 6, 2026, 6:30 to 10:30pm.
institutional / weekly
Rose Festival CityFair
Waterfront carnival and food during the Rose Festival, opening May 22, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Waterfront Blues Festival
Three days of blues at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, July 2 to 4, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Portland Pride Parade & Festival
Oregon's largest parade and waterfront festival, July 18 to 19, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Oregon Brewers Festival
Stay Portland events calendar listing the Oregon Brewers Festival in late July at the waterfront.
official / weekly
Portland Parks Summer Free For All
City Parks free summer concerts, movies and festivals across Portland parks.
community / weekly
Mt. Angel Oktoberfest
Bavarian festival in the Willamette Valley, September 17 to 20, 2026.
institutional / weekly
Portland Book Festival
Downtown festival with hundreds of authors, Saturday November 7, 2026.
official / weekly
Multnomah County Property Taxes
County page for looking up property value, statements and how taxes are calculated.
official / weekly
Oregon SHIBA Medicare Counseling
Oregon's free, confidential Medicare counseling program (the state SHIP).
institutional / weekly
OHSU Hospital
Oregon Health & Science University, the region's major academic medical center.
Activities & recreation in Portland
What there is to do here, with the sources.
The things people retire for, in Portland. Each links to the full activity guide and the states that fit it.
The Willamette River and Columbia River both flow through Portland, with salmon, steelhead, bass, and sturgeon among target species; the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife issues licenses and publishes annual season regulations. Kelley Point Park at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia offers shoreline fishing access with no fee.
Portland Parks and RecreationForest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the United States at over 5,100 acres, runs along the Tualatin Mountains within city limits and has more than 80 miles of trails. The 40-Mile Loop, a regional trail network, links Forest Park to the Columbia River waterfront, Powell Butte, and several other natural areas.
Published local price
Oregon State Parks 12-month day-use parking permit (resident); daily permit $10/vehicle for residents. Annual permit covers all fee-charging day-use parks statewide.
Published range: $10 to $60.
Oregon State Parks - Day-Use Parking Permit · as of 2026Portland Parks and Recreation maintains several water access points on the Willamette, and the city's Poet's Beach and Cathedral Park are popular put-in spots for kayakers and paddleboarders. The Oregon State Marine Board licenses and registers motorized boats; non-motorized craft generally do not require a launch fee at city sites.
Published local price
Oregon motorboat registration (2-year calendar basis); fee is $8 base plus $5.95 per foot of vessel length. A 20-foot boat costs approximately $127 for 2 years ($63.50/yr).
Published range: $30 to $150.
Oregon State Marine Board - Agency Fees · as of 2026Portland Parks and Recreation designates Sellwood Park as a shared tennis and pickleball site, and Multnomah Arts Center and East Portland Community Center host organized indoor pickleball sessions. PP&R's Lifelong Recreation Program serves adults 55 and older with discounted drop-in rates (seniors pay $5 per visit at community centers).
Portland Parks and RecreationThe Portland Art Museum holds a substantial permanent collection of Northwest Coast Native art and European works, and the Oregon Symphony performs its season at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall downtown. Portland Parks and Recreation's Multnomah Arts Center offers year-round visual arts classes for all ages, including programs specifically for older adults.
Portland Parks and RecreationPortland Parks and Recreation's Lifelong Recreation Program offers low-cost fitness and social programming for adults 60 and older at five community centers, and the bureau ranked in the national top 10 for park access for the fourth consecutive year in 2026 per the Trust for Public Land. Multco Aging and Disability Services, Multnomah County's Area Agency on Aging, coordinates senior nutrition, rides, and legal assistance.
Portland Parks and RecreationPortland Parks and Recreation operates two public golf courses: Heron Lakes Golf Course in North Portland and Eastmoreland Golf Course in Southeast Portland, the latter ranked among the top public courses in the Pacific Northwest. Senior and twilight rate schedules are available at both facilities.
Portland Parks and RecreationPortland Parks and Recreation manages over 40 community gardens citywide, with plot waitlists varying by location; the program prioritizes lower-income residents and coordinates with neighborhood associations. The Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener program in Multnomah County offers a helpline and free public clinics.
Portland Parks and RecreationGolf
Golf near Portland
Courses around Portland worth a round, with how to book each one.
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,902 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Water in play on most holes, the area's toughest test · Robert Trent Jones Jr.
This is the city's championship muni, built on the old Vanport site with water on nearly every hole. Walking is welcome, and weekday rates stay reasonable for a course this good.
Opened 1992 · $$ · Slope 139
Photo: David Van Horn (CC BY 2.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,513 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Narrow tree-lined fairways through a historic 1918 layout · H. Chandler Egan
One of the oldest public courses in the country, with mature trees lining tight fairways close to home. You can walk it any time, which makes it an easy regular round.
Opened 1918 · $$ · Slope 124
Photo: Another Believer (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,552 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Flat, open parkland that plays like a city park · George Otten
A friendly northeast Portland muni that stays mostly flat and open, so it is gentle on the legs. Walking is allowed all day and the price stays low, a good spot to play often.
Opened 1923 · $ · Slope 123
Photo: Ian Poellet (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Par
- 71
- Back tees
- 6,931 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Sunken fairways and big bentgrass greens with a red barn clubhouse · Bob Cupp and John Fought
South of town near Aurora, this one feels polished, with depressed fairways and large greens framed by a farmhouse clubhouse. Walking is allowed if you would rather stretch your legs.
Opened 1995 · $$$ · Slope 135
- Par
- 71
- Back tees
- 6,839 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Holes weave through natural wetlands and stands of fir · Bob Cupp
The public side of nationally ranked Pumpkin Ridge, out past North Plains, winding through wetlands and forest. It is a splurge round and worth it for a special day out.
Opened 1992 · $$$$ · Slope 140
Photo: M.O. Stevens (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,840 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Open links-style mounding that recalls coastal dunes · Bob Cupp
West of Portland in Aloha, the North course opens up with native-grass mounds and a links feel. It runs semi-private, so call ahead, but most days you can get on.
Opened 1998 · $$$ · Slope 135
Photo: M.O. Stevens (CC BY-SA 3.0)