Portland is situated on the West Coast of the United States and is the largest city in the state of Oregon. A city once famed for its timber industry, Portland is now home huge corporations such Nike and Intel, who have brought with them creative minds that have helped transform the area into one of the hippest cities in not just America, but the world. Portland has become legendary for its weird and wonderful hangouts and attractions, ranging from parks to museum and libraries to restaurants. Here's our run down of the six best hipster attractions in Portland.
Go to a gig
It will come as no surprise that a city as vibrant as Portland has an excellent music scene. Many famous bands play the city's larger theatres and arenas during their tours of the USA, but we recommend heading to one Portland's smaller venues like the Doug Fir Lounge, to uncover the wealth of local musical talent on offer.
Visit the world's largest bookstore
Portland is home to some fantastic bookstores, but non-so famous nor as impressive as Powell's City of Books. Opening in 1971, Powell's started as a small bookshop and has now grown into the world's largest used and new bookstore, containing over 1.5 million books - so big in fact that maps are required to navigate it.
Portlandia Tour
The hipster vibe of Portland has been immortalised by the cult sketch comedy show Portlandia, now in its sixth season. Filmed in city, the show highlights the city's unique atmosphere through its array of weird and wacky characters. Visit the real-life filming locations and you'll discover how the show is a lot closer to reality than you might think.
Pearl District
Once an industrial area of town, Pearl District is now probably the trendiest of all of Portland's districts. You'll find an abundance of charming boutiques as well as some of the city's finest art galleries. If you happen to be in town on the first Thursday of the month, then head here for the popular street parties.
Hang out in the park
Portland has a wealth of parks to while away the hours in but we recommend heading over to the Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Situated on the west bank of the Willamette River, the spacious grassy areas combined with the inner city views make the park one of Portland's most popular. It's also great for people watching - you'll be sure to spot many bearded-hipsters skateboarding and cycling by.
Portland Art Museum
As the oldest museum in the American North West, Portland Art Museum is certainly well worth the visit. With a diverse and eclectic collection of artworks on display, the museum caters for art lovers of all tastes.
With all this on offer and more, it's clear to see why Portland is becoming so popular with the hipster generation. To make the most of your stay in the city, take advantage of car hire in Portland.