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Oregon

Portland guide built around its two defining things: an enormous, genuinely great food cart scene, and the parks and bookstore that make it an easy city to wander on foot.

Food Carts & Eats

NameInfoDetails
Prost MarketplaceFood cart pod · North MississippiOne of Portland's best food cart pods, home to standouts like Matt's BBQ. Good place to sample several carts in one stop.
Matt's BBQ$ · Texas-style brisketTexas-style smoked barbecue cart known for its brisket taco with pickled onions. Expect a line, but it moves and it's worth it.
Hawthorne AsylumFood cart pod · 20+ cartsLarge cart pod in the Hawthorne District with over 20 vendors to choose from. Good option when your group can't agree on one cuisine.
Voodoo Doughnut$ · only-in-Portland noveltyQuirky, colorful doughnut shop that's become a Portland institution and a regular tourist stop. Go for the novelty flavors, not a quiet moment.

Sights & Parks

NameInfoDetails
Powell's City of BooksFree to browse · world's largest indie bookstoreIndependent bookstore that covers an entire city block downtown, with new and used titles side by side. Easy to lose an hour or two in here.
Portland Japanese Garden$$ · Washington ParkWidely regarded as one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan, spread across twelve acres with eight distinct garden styles. A calm counterpoint to the food cart hopping.
Forest ParkFree · 70 miles of trailsOne of the largest urban forest reserves in the country, with trails right within city limits. Good for a morning hike without leaving Portland.