Portland, Oregon, offers its residents and visitors art museums, gardens and fine dining. But if you're looking for something a little more adventurous and want to do as the bumper stickers say and "Keep Portland Weird", there are a number of awesome activities to take part in.
Sure, Mount Saint Helens is off in the distance, but Portland has its own volcano right in the heart of the city. It's dormant now, but is a location for many awesome activities. Besides being a great spot to walk the dog, on summer Wednesday evenings, Mount Tabor is where cyclists show their stuff. Going at top speed, racers do anywhere from 6-15 laps up and down the volcano. If you aren't that ambitious, Mount Tabor is also home to the Adult Soap Box Derby in August. There are very few rules--just build a human-powered racer and try to make it to the bottom the fastest.
Not as explosive as it sounds, but it's not for the faint of heart. Bring your bike--the sillier the bike, the better--to Washington Park, where the Oregon Zoo is located. You can race down the twisting and steep roads as fast as possible into downtown Portland. Afterwards, the Bombers stop at Rocco's for a slice of pizza. If you are too scared to try this, you can always hang out at Rocco's to watch the arrival of the Bombers.
Rocco's Pizza
949 Southwest Oak Street
Portland, Oregon 97205
roccospizza.org
Roller Derby is alive and well in Portland. Grab a pair of skates, don your attitude and join the tryouts if you've got the guts. If not, the Rollers host many events and bouts that you can watch safely (or not) from the stands. They hold all events at the historic skate rink at Oaks Park.
Oaks Park
7805 SE Oaks Park Way
Portland, OR 97202
rosecityrollers.com
Or, rather, ride where the cars race. Portland International Raceway (PIR) is home to car and motorcycle races. However, in the summer and fall, slightly slower vehicles get to take the concourse. Every Monday night during the summer, various levels of cyclists race around the track competing for glory. Anyone is welcome and the organizers will place you in the proper class based on your racing experience. If getting dirty is more your thing, areas near the concourse are turned to mud in the fall for Portland's favorite craze: cyclocross. You can take lessons in the sport and then battle your way through the sludge with some of the best.
Portland International Raceway
West Delta Park
1940 North Victory Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97217
503-823-RACE
Portland is fanatical about coffee, beer and books. With small-batch roasters and family-owned coffee shops all over the city, it's not hard to find an awesome cup of coffee without having to visit a chain shop. Microbrews are king in Portland. Numerous festivals throughout the year are dedicated to brewers showing off what they've done for the season, or you can just pop into a pub and sample the creative selections. Once you've quenched your thirst, you should go shopping at one of the world's largest independent book shops: Powell's Books. The downtown store takes up an entire block. The inside is divided into colored rooms based on topic. It's easy to get lost, but no one seems to mind.
Powell's Books
1005 West Burnside Street
Portland, OR 97205
503-228-4651
powells.com
