A Guide to Discovering Weirdly Wonderful Portland

Image: PHOTO: Fast food vendors in Downtown Portland, Oregon. (photo via csfotoimages/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
Image: PHOTO: Fast food vendors in Downtown Portland, Oregon. (photo via csfotoimages/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)
by Codie Liermann
Last updated: 12:55 AM ET, Fri May 31, 2019

Located in America's Pacific Northwest, Portland, Oregon is a wonderful vacation destination for travelers looking to enjoy a blend of good food, craft breweries, site seeing and the outdoors.

A trip to this city reveals how well it lives up to its unofficial motto: "Keep Portland Weird." Since visitors can do just about anything in this interesting place, it's helpful to have a guide for planning out the trip and making the most of each day.

Excite Holidays makes things easy for travel agents as they are planning out their clients' trips with a guide to Portland available to download. This allows people to have a plan prior to departure without wasting too much time figuring it out upon arrival.

Foodies will be able to eat their way through the city with all the unique dining options available. Two of the popular fine dining options include Beast, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant, and Le Pigeon, an upscale French restaurant. Travel agents will want to remind their clients that reservations in advance will be needed.

There are several restaurants flaunting the farm to table concept including Aviv, Paley's Place and Farm Spirit, and food carts are also a popular option for meals. Visitors can enjoy BBQ at Matt's BBQ or breakfast sandwiches at Fried Egg I'm In Love.

Whether it's beer, wine or coffee, travelers looking to enjoy a few drinks will find something they like in Portland. The city is home to several craft breweries and distilleries, so visitors will have no problem finding unique, local options on tap.

With more than 700 wineries in the state of Oregon, a handful of them landed right in Portland and offer delicious wine to taste. Coffee lovers will also be in paradise after spending time at Coava Coffee, Proud Mary or Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

In addition to Portland's food and drink scene, there are also several activities to do to stay busy. As far as art goes, the city is filled with galleries, museums and even historical sites. Artists also set up shop right on the streets of downtown so tourists can browse local work as they are strolling around town with a latte in hand.

A fun way to plan a vacation is around an event, and Portland has an abundance of entertainment to choose from. Live music and festivals are among the popular events. Consider suggesting a client's a long weekend trip be planned around a concert or one of the many festivals to make it one to remember.

And when guests to this city need a breath of fresh air, Portland has easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and mountain climbing. These activities are perfect for those who aren't into the craft brewery scene or for clients traveling with families.

There is a little bit of everything in this weirdly wonderful place. Visit www.exciteholidays.com to learn more.


For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore

More From TravelPulse

Codie Liermann

Managing Editor

Codie Liermann is Managing Editor for TravelPulse. She has worked in the travel industry for almost ten years and has visited...

Grow Your Travel Business With Certified Courses

Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Majestic Resorts Specialist ProgramDiscover all-inclusive luxury at Majestic Resorts in paradise.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Los Cabos Specialist ProgramSell the magic of Los Cabos: luxury, adventure, and endless sunshine.
Travel Agent Academy
Travel Agent Academy
Allianz Specialist ProgramProtect every journey with Allianz Partners Travel Insurance.

Don't Miss These Travel Agent Events and Trainings

Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...
Upcoming Webinar
Beyond the Ice: Explore the Poles the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Way.Friday, September 25, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join Darrell Wyatt, Regional Sales Director, and Kevin Rattue, Naturalist, to discover what makes...
Upcoming Webinar
Journey to HawaiiWednesday, September 30, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
Join us on Wednesday, September 30th, 2026 as we take a virtual journey to the islands of Hawaii....
Upcoming Webinar
The Return of Grand VoyagesThursday, October 1, 2026
2:00pm Eastern
As luxury travelers seek deeper, more immersive ways to explore the world, demand for extended voyages...