Explore Portland

Our Portland hostel is the ideal crash pad for checking out the city and gearing up for your next adventure. 
"We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again -- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more."   -Pico Iyer

OUTDOOR ​
Travelers' House has partnered with Travel Portland and the local outdoor retailer Next Adventure to help you plan the best outdoor adventures the Northwest has to offer beyond the hostel. 
  • ​Oregon Zoo​ Five minutes from downtown on Highway 26 West, or about 10 minutes via MAX light rail (Blue or Red line, Washington Park stop).
  • The Rose Garden  or our personal local favorite located just a few blocks north is Peninsula Park.  The best rose-viewing months are May-September.   
  • Portland Japanese Garden
    Encompassing 5.5 acres and five separate garden styles, the garden includes an authentic Japanese Tea House, meandering streams, intimate walkways and an unsurpassed view of Mount Hood. 
  • Portland is very well known for it's mardi-gras like Last Thursday on Alberta that takes place outdoors typically from May - September each year right down the road from us on Alberta St. 
  • TREE TO TREE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PARK  
    Experience the thrills of moving from platform to platform (tree to tree) via wobbly bridges, tightropes, zip lines and more!
  • NATURE IN THE CITY
    At 5,100 acres, Forest Park boasts more than 80 miles of trails. 
  • THE INTERTWINE — the name for the Portland system of parks, trails and natural spaces.  We recommend using the interactive trip planner. 
  • COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE - check out our waterfall tours with Confluence Tours
    If you love hiking, it’s almost impossible to imagine a visit to Portland that doesn’t include a side trip to the Gorge. 
As you'd expect from this off-the-wall city, Portland has a huge variety of unusual independent restaurants.   Along with self catering options, these dining options are all within walking distance from Travelers' House and are vetted by our staff.
Travelers' House has entry level bikes for rent for 20 USD per day.  Discounts applicable for multi day rentals. We also sport secure and covered storage for all bikes if requested. 

LOCAL BIKE TOURS/RENTALS
  • Everybody's Bike Rental, within walking distance from the hostel they offer hourly or daily rides and bike tours. 10% off with confirmed hostel booking
OUR LOCAL BIKE SHOPS Best Places To Ride
  • 11 miles – Our most popular route! The “Waterfront Loop” leads you along Portland's meandering Willamette river, through Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, and then back along the west side of the waterfront.
  • 15 miles – The “North East Ramble” A staff favorite, this route takes you through the historic Irvington district, and close to the bustling section of Alberta street between 9th and 30th where good food and eats are never far away.
  • 15 miles – “Short, Steep, and Sweet” Don’t say we didn’t warn you…This ride takes you through some of the best hills in town, perfect for those energetic riders, pesky relatives (just tell them it’s an adventure) and earning some wonderful descents through the city.
  • Further route choices here: Best Rides Around Portland

    TOURS​
  • Confluence Tours (summer only) - the most affordable tour company geared to backpackers and young at heart travelers. They offer custom, 1/2 day, and full day tours. Discounts available to Travelers' House guests with a confirmed reservation. 
  • Food tour? Yes, this is your spot.  Check out Forktown Food Tours. They offer tours of our neighborhood Fridays 2-5pm and Sundays from 1-4.  
SELF CATERING
  • Cherry Sprout, 722 N. Sumner St Portland, OR 97217  Our personal favorite local market that boasts a big enough selection for all your shopping needs along with local events. 
  • New Seasons Market 
    Another local market that leads itself to the "super" category, but maintains its community feel by hiring the friendliest folks in all of Portland.
COFFEE?  THIS IS PORTLAND.
  • Fresh Pot
    Closer to the bustle of Mississippi this is another great cafe in and amongst the action yet still only a few minutes walk from Travelers' House.  
  • Albina Press is another option two minutes walk from our doorstep for great coffee and hipster tattooed staff. 
  • Coffee House Five
    Another great option just north of us.  ​

RESTAURANTS/PUBS
  • Sweedeedee - (Staff favorite) Incredible breakfast and brunch available just up the road...next to Mississippi Records.
  • Gravy - Another breakfast or brunch option with hearty portions and very close. 
    3957 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227
  • Tin Shed - Another staff favorite located on the hustle and bustle Alberta St. 
  • Monsoon Thai -  the most scrumptious Thai food you can find stateside. 
    4236 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
  • Red Fox - Our favorite neighborhood pub right down the road. It's tagline is the "darkest bar in Portland" 
  • Saraveza - another local pub crawl visit.  This bottle shop has it all.  
  • The Bye and Bye – A Portland pub, and one of our local favorites, located down the road on Alberta St. 
  • Mississippi Pizza - (Staff favorite) Exceptional pizza and the occasional gem of a live music hangout.  This place also has GF options!
MUSIC
Portland is a hub for music. Our go-to place to find the best shows in PDX is the Abstract Earth Project.    Also, the PC-PDX.com is another helpful database.  

Venues just around the corner from us? Click the link to find out what is playing.  Venues easily accessible via Portland's fantastic public transit or bike?...oh wait, that's most of them!
ATTRACTIONS 
Portland’s fun and unexpected attractions range from gardens and museums to (tax-free) retailers of coffee, doughnuts and books.  Here are a few must-sees.
  • Ground Kontrol -  is the West Coast’s premier classic arcade, preserving and celebrating video gaming’s “golden age” by operating over 60 classic video games and 27 pinball machines.
  • POWELLS' CITY OF BOOKS (Staff favorite)
    From humble storefront beginnings in 1971, Powell’s has grown into a Portland landmark and one of the world’s greatest bookstores. 
  • LAN SU CHINESE GARDEN
    A year-round wonder, the Lan Su Chinese Garden is an authentically built Ming Dynasty style garden. 
  • PORTLAND FARMERS MARKET (Staff favorite)
    Undoubtedly this is one of the world’s finest farmers’ markets - check it out and tell us your thoughts. 
  • PORTLAND SATURDAY MARKET
    Enjoy a distinctive experience at Portland Saturday Market, the nation’s largest weekly open-air arts and crafts market. 
  • OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY (OMSI)
    One of the nation’s leading and largest science museums.  
  • PORTLAND ART MUSEUM
    Find out why the oldest museum in the Northwest, the Portland Art Museum, is internationally renowned for exciting art experiences.
  • THE WILLAMETTE VALLEY wine country in the beautiful region surrounding Portland, is home to over 200 wineries.
HEALTH & WELLNESS 

Gather.    Explore.    Sleep. 
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