Tom McCall Waterfront Park
Portland
Copyright: Kyle Sprague/Shutterstock.comTom McCall Waterfront Park
Before you head out to explore parks further afield, take a stroll through one of Portland's most popular urban spaces: the Tom McCall Waterfront Park overlooking the Willamette River. There's usually plenty of activity here, given all of the cyclists, skateboarders, joggers, and picnickers that come here, but even more, come to attend major outdoor events and festivals held here throughout the year. On hot summer days, many flock to the refreshing Salmon Street Springs.
Do & See
Portland is green, fun, and, at times, weird: the city's collection of museums contains not only the esteemed Portland Art Museum but also quirkier exhibits, such as The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium, with its "alien autopsy table", or the Movie Madness museum with the shower scene set-up from "Psycho". While this two and more help "Keep Portland Weird" — as the city's unofficial motto goes — a thriving food, coffee, and bar scene make for a seemingly endless exploration of world cuisines, craft brews, and coffee roasters.